[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63317-63318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31246]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 102097D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of three applications (1071, 1081, 1093) and one 
modification (1044) for scientific research permits; issuance of 
modifications to two scientific research permits (1028, 1051).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific 
Southwest Research Station (USFS) in Arcata, CA (1071), the U.S. 
National Park Service, Redwood National and State Parks (NPS) in Orick, 
CA (1081), and the U.S. Geological Survey, Humboldt Cooperative Fishery 
Research Unit (USGS) in Arcata, CA (1093) have applied in due form for 
permits, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center (SWFSC) in Tiburon, CA (1044) has applied in due form 
for a permit modification authorizing takes of a threatened species for 
scientific research purposes. Notice is hereby also given that on 
November 12, 1997, NMFS issued Modification #1 of Permit #1028 to Mr. 
Steven Serfling, of Mote Marine Laboratory, and that on November 19, 
1997, NMFS issued Modification #1 of Permit #1051 to Mr. Jorgen 
Skjeveland, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications or the modification request must be received on or before 
December 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The applications, permits, and related documents are 
available for review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Applications for Permits 1071, 1081, and 1093, and modification 
request for permit 1044: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma 
Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066).
    Modification requests and Permits 1028 and 1051: 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 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Permits 1044, 1071, 1081, and 
1093: Tom Hablett, Protected Resources Division, NMFS Santa Rosa Office 
(707-575-6066).
    For Permits 1028 and 1051: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species 
Division, Office of Protected Resources, (301-713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USFS (1071), NPS (1081), USGS (1093) and 
SWFSC (1044) have requested permits or modifications to permits under 
the authority of section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) 
(16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed fish 
and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227). NMFS has issued 
modifications to permits held by Mr. Steven Serfling, of Mote Marine 
Laboratory (1028), and by Mr. Jorgen Skjeveland, of the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (1051) under the authority of section 10 of the ESA 
and NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed fish and wildlife permits. 
USFS (1071) requests a five-year permit for takes of juvenile, 
threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast (SONCC) coho 
salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) associated with fish population studies 
in the Eel and Van Duzen River Drainages within the Evolutionarily 
Significant Unit (ESU). The studies consist of juvenile coho salmon 
distribution for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken. ESA-
listed juvenile fish will be captured, anesthetized, handled 
(identified, and measured), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. ESA-listed juvenile salmon indirect mortalities associated 
with the research are also requested.
    NPS (1081) requests a five-year permit for takes of juvenile, 
threatened, SONCC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) associated with 
fish population studies in NPS regulated drainages within 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) 
habitat quality evaluation, and 4) spawner surveys. ESA-listed fish are 
proposed to be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled (identified 
and measured), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. 
ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities associated with the research are 
also requested.

[[Page 63318]]

    USGS (1093) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with defined fish population studies throughout the ESU. 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 quality 
evaluation. ESA-listed fish will be observed or captured, anesthetized, 
handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect 
mortalities are also requested.
    SWFSC (1044) requests a modification to its five-year permit to 
include takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon 
(Oncorhynchus kisutch) associated with fish population and habitat 
studies throughout the ESU. 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 quality evaluation. ESA-listed fish will be 
observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from 
the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities are also requested.
    Mr. Serfling is authorized under Permit 1028 to hold shortnose 
sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) eggs and yolk-sac fry obtained from 
the Huntsman Marine Laboratory, in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, 
at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida to determine the effects of toxins 
on egg viabilty and yolk-sac survival rates. These viability and 
survival rates will be compared against those of fish from the USFWS 
hatchery in South Carolina and the St. Johns, St. Marys and Altamaha 
Rivers in Florida and Georgia, the collection of which was previously 
permitted on March 6, 1997. The volume of eggs and fry will not exceed 
1.0 liter in volume.
    Mr. Skjeveland is authorized under Permit 1051 to take up to thirty 
(30) listed shortnose sturgeon from the Chesapeake Bay, an increase of 
5 from the original permit, and to take up to thirty (30) listed 
shortnose sturgeon from the Delaware Bay/River estuary to determine the 
genetic relationship of these two stocks and to determine if there is 
migration back and forth between the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The 
sturgeon will be measured, tagged, tissue sampled, and released.
    Issuance of these modifications, as required by the ESA, were based 
on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith, (2) 
would not operate to the disadvantage of the 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.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on these requests for 
permits 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 application summaries 
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of 
NMFS.

    Dated: November 21, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-31246 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F