[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 37560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18297]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 063097D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification 6 to permit 848 (P507D) and 
modification 1 to permit 1011 (P211J).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
permits to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at Olympia, 
WA (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at La Grande, 
OR (ODFW) that authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed species 
for the purpose of scientific research/enhancement, subject to certain 
conditions set forth therein.

ADDRESSES: The application 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
    Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 
500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modifications 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 April 16, 1997 (62 FR 18587) that an 
application had been filed by WDFW (P507D) for modification 6 to 
scientific research/enhancement permit 848. Modification 6 to permit 
848 was issued to WDFW on May 23, 1997. Permit 848 authorizes WDFW 
takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a 
supplementation hatchery program and scientific research/monitoring. 
For modification 6 to permit 848, WDFW
    is authorized takes of juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall 
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with scientific 
research designed to answer questions on fall chinook salmon production 
in the lower Tucannon River. Also for modification 6, WDFW is 
authorized to return adult, ESA-listed, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon carcasses from the supplementation program back to the 
Tucannon River for nutrient enrichment. Modification 6 is valid for the 
duration of the permit. Permit 848 expires on March 31, 1998.
    Notice was published on April 16, 1997 (62 FR 18587) that an 
application had been filed by ODFW (P211J) for modification 1 to 
scientific research/enhancement permit 1011. Modification 1 to permit 
1011 was issued to ODFW on June 20, 1997. Permit 1011 authorizes ODFW 
takes of juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a captive broodstock program 
for Catherine Creek, upper Grande Ronde River, and Lostine River 
populations. For modification 1, ODFW is authorized to collect 
returning adult, ESA-listed, naturally-produced fish from the three 
watersheds in 1997 to begin a supplementation program. ODFW anticipates 
sufficient adult returns to these watersheds in 1997 to allow the 
collection of ESA-listed adults for hatchery broodstock. ODFW believes 
that the collection of ESA-listed adults for hatchery supplementation 
will increase the probability of the persistence of the populations 
because of the survival advantage provided by the hatchery. The 
collection of ESA-listed adults for broodstock is authorized in 1997 
only. The incubation of eggs and the rearing of ESA-listed juveniles is 
authorized for the duration of the permit. Permit 1011 expires on 
December 31, 2000.
    Issuance of the permit modifications, as required by the ESA, was 
based on a finding that the modifications: (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) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed species permits.

    Dated: July 7, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18297 Filed 7-11-97; 8:45 am]
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