[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11222-11223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5837]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022698C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for modifications to scientific 
research permits 956, 1035, and 1036.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Geological Survey at 
Cook, WA (USGS) has applied in due form for modifications to permits 
that would authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed steelhead 
for the purpose of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications must be received on or before April 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Protected Resources Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, 
Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing should be 
submitted to the Chief, PRD in Portland, OR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Koch (503-230-5424).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USGS requests 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).
    USGS requests modification 3 to permit 956. Permit 956 authorizes 
USGS annual takes of 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 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 3, USGS requests an annual take 
of juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
associated with the research. ESA-listed juvenile steelhead are 
proposed to be acquired from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and/
or the Smolt Monitoring Program (SMP) (operating under the authority of 
separate permits), collected by purse seine, or collected from the 
juvenile bypass facility at Lower Granite Dam; transported as necessary 
to Lower Granite Dam; surgically implanted with radio transmitters; 
released at Lower Granite Dam; and tracked electronically. USGS 
requests indirect mortalities of ESA-listed juvenile steelhead, and 
requests that Modification 3 be valid for the duration of the permit 
which expires on September 30, 1999.
    USGS requests modification 1 to permit 1035. Permit 1035 authorizes 
USGS an annual take of juvenile, threatened, artificially propagated, 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a study 
designed to determine the vertical and horizontal distribution of 
juvenile salmonids exposed to high levels of total dissolved gas during 
their seaward migration in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The vertical 
and horizontal distribution of juvenile salmonids exposed to high 
levels of total dissolved gas must be further defined to assess the

[[Page 11223]]

risk of mortality from gas bubble disease. For modification 1, USGS 
requests an annual take of juvenile, endangered, artificially 
propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and an 
increase in the annual take of juvenile, ESA-listed, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon associated with the scientific research. 
ESA-listed fish will be acquired from the SMP (under the authority of a 
separate permit) at Lower Monumental, Ice Harbor, or McNary Dams; 
transported as necessary to Ice Harbor Dam; surgically implanted with 
radio transmitters; released at Ice Harbor Dam; and tracked 
electronically between Ice Harbor and McNary Dams. USGS requests 
indirect mortalities of ESA-listed juvenile fish, and requests that 
Modification 1 be valid for the duration of the permit which expires on 
December 31, 1999.
    USGS requests modification 1 to permit 1036. Permit 1036 authorizes 
USGS annual takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall 
chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon associated with a study designed to determine the post-
release attributes and survival of hatchery and natural fall chinook 
salmon in the Snake River. For modification 1, USGS requests annual 
takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead and juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River steelhead associated with the research. Also 
for modification 1, USGS requests an increase in the takes of ESA-
listed species associated with two new studies. Study 1 is designed to 
predict the effects of reservoir drawdown on juvenile salmonids and 
their predators. Study 2 is designed to collect data to characterize 
the size, age structure, and growth of salmonid predator populations in 
free-flowing river reaches. USGS proposes to collect ESA-listed fish 
using beach seines and/or electroshocking, handle and release them 
while seeking northern squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) and 
smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in the Snake River and the 
Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. USGS requests indirect mortalities 
of ESA-listed juvenile fish, and requests that Modification 1 be valid 
for the duration of the permit which expires on December 31, 2001.
    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 applications requesting takes 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 30-day public comment period on the applications, 
including their proposed takes of Snake River steelhead, does not 
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing on any of the above 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 application summaries are those of the 
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

    Dated: February 26, 1998.
Marta F. Nammack,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5837 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F