[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38068-38069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18727]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 062497E]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification 8 to permit 825 (P513), modification 2 
to permit 994 (P497D), and modification 2 to permit 956 (P45S).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
permits to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission at Portland, 
OR (CRITFC); the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at 
Moscow, ID (ICFWRU); and the U.S. Geological Survey at Cook, WA (USGS) 
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
    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 March 12, 1997 (62 FR 11416) that an 
application

[[Page 38069]]

had been filed by CRITFC for modification 8 to scientific research 
permit 825 (P513). Modification 8 to permit 825 was issued to CRITFC on 
May 2, 1997. Permit 825 authorizes CRITFC annual takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, 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 six 
studies. For modification 8, CRITFC is authorized increases in the 
takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook 
salmon associated with additional sampling locations and a new study. 
Also for modification 8, CRITFC is authorized a take of adult, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon associated with Studies 3 
(spawning ground surveys) and 4 (acquisition of scale samples). 
Modification 8 is valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 825 
expires on December 31, 1997.
    Notice was published on April 9, 1997 (62 FR 17178) that an 
application had been filed by ICFWRU for modification 2 to scientific 
research permit 994 (P497D). Modification 2 to permit 994 was issued to 
ICFWRU on May 19, 1997. Permit 994 authorizes ICFWRU annual takes of 
adult, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and 
adult, threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a study designed to assess 
the passage success of migrating adult salmonids at the four dams and 
reservoirs in the lower Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, 
evaluate fish responses to specific flow and spill conditions, and 
evaluate measures to improve passage. For modification 2, ICFWRU is 
authorized an increase in the take of adult, threatened, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a new study designed to 
determine if adult salmon successfully return to natal streams or 
hatcheries and if homing is affected by mode of seaward migration (in-
river versus transport). Modification 2 is valid in 1997 only. Permit 
994 expires on December 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on March 11, 1997 (62 FR 11158) that an 
application had been filed by USGS for modification 2 to scientific 
research permit 956 (P45S). Modification 2 to permit 956 was issued to 
USGS on May 21, 1997. Permit 956 authorizes
    USGS an annual take of juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and 
artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a study designed to obtain 
data on the distribution, abundance, movement, and habitat preferences 
of the anadromous fish that migrate through Lower Granite Reservoir; to 
evaluate the operation of a surface bypass collector in the forebay of 
Lower Granite Dam; and to verify species of hydroacoustic surveys. For 
modification 2, USGS is authorized an annual take of juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
associated with research designed to evaluate juvenile fall chinook 
salmon use of the surface bypass collector at Lower Granite Dam. 
Modification 2 is valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 956 
expires on September 30, 1999.
    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: July 9, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18727 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
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