[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9204-9205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4579]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 021398D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for modification 4 to 
enhancement permit 895 and notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
at Walla Walla, WA (Corps) has applied in due form for a modification 
to Permit 895 that would provide authorization for takes of Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) listed steelhead for the purpose of enhancement. 
Notice is also hereby given that NMFS will conduct public hearings on 
the Corps' request for a modification to Permit 895 and the request 
from the Fish Passage Center at Portland, OR (FPC) for modification 5 
to scientific research permit 822, that authorizes takes of ESA-listed 
species associated with the Smolt Monitoring Program. Information 
received at the hearings will assist NMFS in the preparation of an ESA 
supplemental Section 7 biological opinion.

DATES: Public hearings are scheduled for March 10, 1998; March 11, 
1998; March 12, 1998; and March 17, 1998 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., or 
until all comments have been heard. The comment period for the permit 
modification application ends on March 27, 1998. Time is provided for 
concerned parties to respond to the testimony presented at the public 
hearings.

ADDRESSES: Public hearings will be held at the following locations:
    March 10 - Natural Resource Center, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID;
    March 11 - Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main Street, Lewiston, 
ID;
    March 12 - Columbia Basin Community College, 2600 N. 20th Avenue, 
Pasco, WA, and;
    March 17 - Federal Complex Auditorium, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, 
Portland, OR.
    The permit modification 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).
    Written comments should be submitted to the Chief, Protected 
Resources Division in Portland, OR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Koch, Protected Resources 
Division (503-230-5424).

Special Accommodations

    The hearings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Lisa Hensler at (503) 230-5414 at 
least five days prior to the date of the respective hearing.


[[Page 9205]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public hearings are being presented by 
NMFS as a forum for concerned parties to provide comments on the Corps' 
request for modification 4 to permit 895 and FPC's request for 
modification 5 to scientific research permit 822. A future notice is 
expected to be issued on the receipt of an application for modification 
5 to FPC's permit 822. Information received at the hearings will assist 
NMFS in the preparation of the supplemental biological opinion.
    The Corps requests a modification to Permit 895 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).
    Permit 895 authorizes the Corps annual direct takes of juvenile, 
endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka); juvenile, 
threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
associated with the Corps' juvenile fish transportation program at four 
hydroelectric projects on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific 
Northwest (Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and McNary 
Dams). Permit 895 also authorizes the Corps annual incidental takes of 
ESA-listed adult fish associated with fallbacks through the juvenile 
fish bypass systems at the four dams. The purpose of the juvenile fish 
transportation program is to enhance the survival of migrating 
anadromous salmonids that would otherwise be subjected to adverse 
environmental conditions at the dams and reservoirs on the rivers.
    For modification 4 to the permit, the Corps requests: (1) Annual 
direct takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally-produced and 
artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus 
mykiss) and juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead (Oncorhynchus 
mykiss) associated with the transportation program; and (2) annual 
incidental takes of ESA-listed adult steelhead associated with 
fallbacks through juvenile fish bypass systems. ESA-listed steelhead 
indirect and incidental mortalities associated with the transportation 
program are requested. Also for modification 4, the Corps requests an 
extension of the expiration date of permit 895 to December 31, 1999. 
Permit 895 is currently due to expire on December 31, 1998. The Corps 
is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate several alternatives to 
juvenile fish transport including: Removing parts of dams to restore 
natural river conditions, new bypass alternatives including surface 
collector systems, the role of the juvenile fish transportation program 
in long-term recovery efforts, and improving existing bypass systems. 
The study is scheduled to be completed by late 1999. An extension of 
permit 895 through December 31, 1999 will allow the duration of the 
permit to coincide with the completion of the feasibility study.
    To date, protective regulations for threatened Snake River 
steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have not been promulgated by 
NMFS. This notice of receipt of an application requesting a take of 
this species is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS issues 
protective regulations that prohibit takes of Snake River steelhead. 
The initiation of a public comment period on the application, including 
its proposed take of Snake River steelhead, does not presuppose the 
contents of the eventual protective regulations.
    NMFS is preparing a supplemental biological opinion to the March 2, 
1995 opinion that will analyze the impacts to ESA-listed steelhead due 
to the continuation of these activities. On March 2, 1995, NMFS issued 
a biological opinion that addresses impacts to ESA-listed Snake River 
salmon due to the operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System. 
That opinion also addresses NMFS' issuance of ESA section 10 permits 
that authorize takes of ESA-listed species associated with the Corps' 
juvenile fish transportation program and FPC's Smolt Monitoring 
Program. Relevant scientific and commercial information received at the 
hearings will also assist NMFS in the preparation of this supplemental 
biological opinion on the project.
    Anyone wishing to make a presentation at any of the public hearings 
should register upon arrival and be prepared to provide a written copy 
of their testimony at the time of presentation. Depending on the number 
of persons wishing to speak at each respective hearing, a time limit 
may be imposed. All statements and opinions summarized in this notice 
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of 
NMFS.

    Dated: February 18, 1998.
Nancy I. Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4579 Filed 2-18-98; 4:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F