[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26781-26782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12804]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050997C]


Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of modification 4 to permit 900 (P770#66), 
modification 3 to permit 946 (P770#68), and modification 2 to permit 
914 (P770#67).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
three permits to the Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division, 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA (CZESD) that 
authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed species for the 
purpose of scientific research, subject to certain conditions set forth 
therein.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Environmental and Technical Services Division, 525 NE Oregon 
Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modification to permits were issued 
under the authority of section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-
listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-222).
    Notice was published on February 28, 1997 (62 FR 9178) and March 7, 
1997 (62 FR 10544) that an application had been filed by CZESD for 
modification 4 to scientific research permit 900 (P770#66). 
Modification 4 to permit 900 was issued to CZESD on April 18, 1997. 
Permit 900 authorizes CZESD annual direct and incidental takes of 
juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); 
juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha); and juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon 
(Oncorhynchus nerka) associated with a study (Study 1) designed to 
determine survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids 
through the dams and reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. For 
modification 4 to permit 900, CZESD is authorized to continue the take 
of ESA-listed species associated with Study 8, the Trestle Bay habitat 
restoration study, through December 31, 1997.
    For modification 4, CZESD is authorized an additional annual take 
of ESA-listed juvenile salmon associated with a new study (Study 9) 
designed to determine the relative survival of juvenile salmon passing 
through the spillway of The Dalles Dam. Also for modification 4, CZESD 
is authorized an additional annual take of juvenile, threatened, 
artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon 
associated with a new study (Study 10) designed to: (1) Describe the 
vulnerability of juvenile salmonids to predation by northern squawfish 
and gulls below The Dalles Dam, (2) provide an estimate of juvenile 
salmonid migratory success below The Dalles Dam, and (3) compliment and 
enhance information obtained from Study 9. For Study 10, ESA-listed 
juvenile fish will be surgically implanted with radio transmitters, 
released at The Dalles Dam, and tracked electronically. Also for Study 
10, ESA-listed juvenile fish will be sacrificed to measure 
physiological attributes related to stress and smoltification 
readiness. Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey are 
authorized to act as agents of CZESD under permit 900 in the conduct of 
Study 10. The authorization for the takes of ESA-listed species 
associated with Studies 9 and 10 expires on December 31, 1999.
    On April 23, 1997, NMFS issued modification 3 to CZESD's scientific 
research permit 946 (P770#68). Permit 946 authorizes CZESD annual 
direct and incidental takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, 
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/
summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, threatened, 
Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and 
juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) 
associated with two studies. Study 1 is designed to compare the 
survival to adulthood of spring/summer chinook salmon smolts 
transported by barge to below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River with 
the survival to adulthood of smolts migrating volitionally under 
prevailing river conditions. Study 2 is designed to assess the 
migration timing and relative survival of transported and inriver 
juvenile chinook salmon migrating volitionally from Bonneville Dam to 
the mouth of the Columbia River. For modification 3 to permit 946,

[[Page 26782]]

the take of ESA-listed adult fish associated with Study 1 is authorized 
annually for the duration of the permit. The take of ESA-listed 
juvenile fish associated with Study 1 continues to be authorized for 
the three specific years approved by the Director of the Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS in Silver Spring, MD for such take. Permit 
946 expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on February 28, 1997 (62 FR 9178) that an 
application had been filed by CZESD for modification 2 to scientific 
research permit 914 (P770#67). Modification 2 to permit 914 was issued 
to CZESD on April 25, 1997. Permit 914 authorizes CZESD annual takes of 
juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with the conduct of a dissolved 
gas supersaturation study in Priest Rapids Reservoir and the Hanford 
reach of the Columbia River, Ice Harbor Reservoir and tailrace on the 
Snake River, and downstream from Bonneville Dam. For modification 2 to 
permit 914, CZESD is authorized an increase in the take of juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with 
the dissolved gas supersaturation research. Also for modification 2, 
CZESD is authorized an additional annual take of juvenile, threatened, 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a new study 
designed to determine whether the signs of gas bubble disease change as 
a result of changing hydrostatic pressures experienced by juvenile 
salmonids during their passage through the turbine intakes and 
gatewells at John Day Dam on the Columbia River. Modification 2 is 
valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 914 expires on December 
31, 1998.
    Issuance of the modifications to permits, as required by the ESA, 
was based on a finding that such actions: (1) Were requested/proposed 
in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the ESA-
listed species that are the subject of the permits, and (3) are 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed species permits.

    Dated: May 9, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-12804 Filed 5-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F