[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 61295-61296] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-30123] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 110797A] Endangered Species; Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1070, 1091, 1097, 1105, 1106) and modifications to scientific research permits (1039, 1042) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPC) in Fort Bragg, CA (1070), the Santa Ynez River Technicial Advisory Committee (YTAC) in Santa Barbara, CA (1091), Resource Management International Inc. (RMI) in San Rafael, CA (1097), Hagar Environmental Science (HES) in Richmond, CA (1105), and Dr. David Wm. Owens of Texas A&M University (1106) have applied for scientific research permits authorizing the take of endangered or threatened species. Notice is also given that the Natural Resources Management Corporation (NRMC) in Eureka, CA (1039) and William M. Kier in Sausalito, CA (1042) have applied for modifications to their existing scientific research permits. DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of these applications must be received on or before December 17, 1997. ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for review in the following offices, by appointment: Application for permits 1070, 1091, 1097, and 1105, and modification requests for permits 1039 and 1042: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066). Application for permit 1106: Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813- 893-3141). All documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Permits 1039, 1042, 1070, 1091, 1097, and 1105: Tom Hablett, Protected Species Division, NMFS Santa Rosa Office (707-575-6066). For Permit 1106: Michelle Rogers, Office of Protected Resources (301-713-1401). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LPC, YTAC, RMI, HES, and David Wm. Owens, Texas A&M University, request permits and NRMC and William Kier request modifications to permits 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 217-227). These listed species covered by these permits include: coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). LPC (1070) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast (SONCC) coho salmon associated with fish population studies in Humboldt County drainages within the Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The studies consist of juvenile coho salmon distribution/abundance surveys and adult salmon spawner surveys. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured, anesthetized, handled (identified, measured, and sampled for tissues), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed adult fish carcasses are proposed [[Page 61296]] to be collected, measured and sampled for tissues, and returned to the water. ESA-listed juvenile salmon indirect mortalities associated with the research are also requested. YTAC (1091) requests a three-year permit for takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast steelhead associated with fish population studies in the lower Santa Ynez River and its tributaries within the Evolutionarily Significant Unit. The studies consist of five assessment tasks for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, (3) spawner surveys, (4) genetic sampling, and (5) habitat assessment. ESA- listed fish are proposed to be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA- listed adult and juvenile steelhead indirect mortalities associated with the research are also requested. RMI (1097) requests a three-year permit for takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast steelhead, threatened SONCC coho salmon, and threatened central California coho, associated with fish population studies in coastal waterways within the ESUs. The studies consist of five assessment tasks for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, (3) spawner surveys, (4) genetic sampling, and (5) habitat assessment. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities associated with the research are also requested. HES (1105) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast steelhead, threatened SONCC coho salmon, and threatened central California coho, associated with fish population studies in coastal waterways within the ESUs. The studies consist of four assessment tasks for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, (3) spawner surveys, and (4) habitat assessment. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities associated with the research are also requested. David Wm. Owens, Texas A&M University, (1106) requests a five year scientific research permit to take listed loggerhead , hawksbill, and Kemp's ridley turtles at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico. Up to 15 loggerhead and 5 hawksbill turtles will be captured over the five-year life of the permit. Although no Kemp's ridley turtles have been observed at the site in the past, the applicant requests authorization to take this species in the event one is observed during sampling. The turtles will be captured by hand using SCUBA and a catch bag at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary for the puposes of habitat utilization, migration, and reproductive biological studies. Captured turtles will be weighed, measured, blood sampled, and PIT and flipper tagged. Satellite transmitters will be attached to the carapace of each turtle. Additionally, ultrasonography, a non-invasive technique that allows imaging of a female turtle's ovaries, will be performed on captured turtles. NRMC requests modification 1 to permit 1039 for authorization to include takes of juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated with fish population and habitat studies throughout the ESU. The studies consist of four assessment tasks for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, (3) redd counts, and (4) habitat quality evaluation. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be observed and counted. Modification 1 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 1039 expires on June 30, 2002. William M. Kier requests modification 1 to permit 1042 for authorization to include takes of juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated with fish population and habitat studies throughout the ESU. The studies consist of three tasks for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, and (3) habitat quality evaluation. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed juvenile salmon indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 1 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 1042 expires on June 30, 1999. Those individuals requesting a hearing on any of these applications should set out the specific reasons why a hearing would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the above permit application summaries are those of the applicants and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS. Dated: November 10, 1997. Nancy Chu, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-30123 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F