[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14069-14071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7631]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 031698C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research/enhancement 
permits (1128, 1129) and modifications to scientific research permits 
(900, 946, 1056). Issuance of scientific research permit #1113.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife at La Grande, OR (ODFW) (1128) and the Washington Department 
of Fish and Wildlife at Olympia, WA (WDFW) (1129) have applied in due 
form for permits and that the Fish Ecology Division of the Northwest 
Fisheries Science Center at Seattle, WA (NWFSC) has applied in due form 
for modifications to permits (900, 946, 1056) that would authorize 
takes of endangered and threatened anadromous

[[Page 14070]]

fish species for the purpose of scientific research. Notice is also 
given that NMFS issued Research Permit number 1113 to Dr. Sylvia 
Galloway, Laboratory Director of the National Ocean Service - Marine 
Forensics Laboratory for the purpose of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
requests must be received on or before April 23, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The application, permit, and related documents are available 
for review by appointment in the following offices:
    For permits 900, 946, 1056, 1128, and 1129: Protected Resources 
Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 
97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    All documents are available for review by appointment in the 
Endangered Species Division; Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permits 900, 946, 1056, 1128, and 
1129: Robert Koch, PRD (503-230-5424).
    For Permit 1113: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species Division, Office 
of Protected Resources, (301-713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Permits are requested 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).
    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 following application 
summaries are those of the applicants and do not necessarily reflect 
the views of NMFS.
    Issuance of these permits, modifications, and amendments, as 
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits, 
modifications, and amendments: (1) Were applied for in good faith; (2) 
would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which are 
the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes 
and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. These permits, 
modifications, and amendments were also issued in accordance with and 
are subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS regulations 
governing listed species permits.
    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 30-day public comment period on the application, 
including its proposed take of Snake River steelhead, does not 
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations.

Applications Received

    ODFW (1128) requests a five-year permit that would authorize an 
annual direct take of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook 
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a supplementation 
program at the Imnaha River and Lookingglass Creek Hatcheries. The new 
permit is proposed to replace permit 847, which is due to expire on 
June 30, 1998. The objectives of ODFW's program are to: (1) Restore 
natural populations of chinook salmon in the basin to ESA delisting 
levels, (2) reestablish traditional tribal and recreational fisheries 
for chinook salmon, (3) maintain the genetic and life history 
characteristics of the endemic wild population while pursuing 
mitigation goals and management objectives, and (4) operate the 
hatchery program to ensure that the genetic and life history 
characteristics of the hatchery fish mimic the wild fish. ESA-listed 
adult salmon that return to the watershed each year are proposed to be 
captured at the Imnaha River weir, marked, and inoculated for diseases. 
ODFW proposes to retain a percentage of the ESA-listed adult salmon 
that return to the weir each year for hatchery broodstock and to 
release all of the ESA-listed adult salmon not retained for broodstock 
above the weir to spawn naturally. In a given year, if more hatchery-
origin adult salmon are available than are needed to release above the 
weir or to keep for broodstock, ODFW proposes to transport the excess 
hatchery-origin adults to Big Sheep and/or Lick Creeks and outplant 
them for natural spawning. ESA-listed adult salmon retained for 
broodstock are proposed to be transported to the hatcheries and 
spawned. The resulting progeny are proposed to be reared in the 
hatcheries, tagged with coded-wires and passive integrated 
transponders, and released when ready to outmigrate to the ocean. An 
annual incidental take of ESA-listed species associated with juvenile 
fish releases is also requested.
    WDFW (1129) requests a five-year permit that would authorize an 
annual direct take of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook 
salmon associated with a supplementation program at the Tucannon River 
and Lyons Ferry Fish Hatcheries. The new permit is proposed to replace 
part of permit 848, which is due to expire on June 30, 1998. The 
objectives of WDFW's supplementation program are to: (1) Enhance the 
number of potential spawners in the natural environment; (2) preserve 
the genetic integrity of the stock to prevent extinction; and (3) stop 
the decline in run sizes and eventually, to rebuild the natural 
population over time. ESA-listed adult salmon that return to the 
watershed each year are proposed to be captured at the Tucannon River 
weir, marked, and innoculated for diseases. WDFW proposes to retain a 
percentage of the ESA-listed adult salmon that return to the weir each 
year for hatchery broodstock and to release all of the ESA-listed adult 
salmon not retained for broodstock above the weir to spawn naturally. 
ESA-listed adult salmon retained for broodstock are proposed to be 
transported to the hatcheries and spawned. The resulting progeny are 
proposed to be reared in the hatcheries, tagged with coded-wires and 
passive integrated transponders, and released when ready to outmigrate 
to the ocean. An annual incidental take of ESA-listed species 
associated with juvenile fish releases is requested. In addition, WDFW 
requests an annual direct take of adult, threatened, Snake River 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with a research/monitoring 
program at the Tucannon River adult trap. WDFW proposes to monitor ESA-
listed adult steelhead returns to the Tucannon River watershed annually 
in anticipation of the need to initiate a supplementation program, 
using locally-adapted populations, in the future. ESA-listed adult 
steelhead are proposed to be captured, enumerated, and released. ESA-
listed adult steelhead indirect mortalities associated with research/
monitoring activities are requested.
    NWFSC requests modification 5 to permit 900. Permit 900 authorizes 
NWFSC annual 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

[[Page 14071]]

chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with three studies 
designed to determine the relative survival of migrating juvenile 
salmonids at hydropower dams and reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia 
Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. For modification 5, NWFSC requests an 
increase in the takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the 
studies, and annual takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally-produced 
and artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss); juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss); and juvenile, threatened, lower Columbia River 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with the research. ESA-
listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured, handled, and released 
or captured, tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT) or radio 
transmitters, and released. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect 
mortalities are requested. Modification 5 is requested to be valid for 
the duration of the permit which expires on December 31, 1999.
    NWFSC requests modification 4 to permit 946. Permit 946 authorizes 
NWFSC annual takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon; 
adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-
propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon associated with two 
scientific research studies. Study 1 is designed to compare the 
survival to adulthood of spring/summer chinook salmon smolts 
transported by barge to below Bonneville Dam with the survival to 
adulthood of smolts migrating volitionally under prevailing river 
conditions. Study 2 is designed to assess the migration timing and 
relative survival of transported and inriver juvenile chinook salmon 
migrating volitionally from Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the Columbia 
River. For modification 4, NWFSC requests an increase in the takes of 
ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the studies. Also for 
modification 4, NWFSC requests annual takes of juvenile, endangered, 
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River 
steelhead; juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead; and juvenile, 
threatened, lower Columbia River steelhead associated with the 
research. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are requested. 
Modification 4 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit 
which expires on December 31, 1999.
    NWFSC requests modification 1 to permit 1056. Permit 1056 
authorizes NWFSC annual takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook 
salmon associated with two scientific research studies. The objectives 
of Study 1 is to characterize the run-timing of wild fish over a period 
of years to determine if consistent patterns are apparent and to use 
this information for real-time management decisions regarding water 
allocation during the smolt outmigrations. The objectives of Study 2 
are to monitor the nature and extent of genetic change over time in 
supplemented and unsupplemented populations, to correlate the genetic 
changes with measures of productivity, and to provide information on 
population structure and effective population size. For modification 1, 
NWFSC requests annual takes of juvenile, threatened, Snake River 
steelhead associated with the research. ESA-listed juvenile steelhead 
are proposed to be captured, handled, and released or captured, 
handled, PIT-tagged, and released or lethally taken. ESA-listed 
juvenile steelhead indirect mortalities are requested. Modification 1 
is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit which expires 
on December 31, 2001.

Permits Issued

    Notice was published on December 31, 1997 (62 FR 68260) that an 
application had been filed by Dr. Sylvia Galloway, Laboratory Director 
of the National Ocean Service - Marine Forensics Laboratory,requests 
authorization to possess and conduct research on listed, non-marine 
mammal, non-reptilian species using tissue samples (fin clips, barbels, 
blood, muscle, skin) to provide technical support that is responsive to 
NOAA goals involving protected and endangered species, via law 
enforcement. The application requests the ability to maintain samples 
of non-marine mammal, or reptile listed species obtained from permitted 
individuals and by Federal, state or local law enforcement agents for 
the purposes of archival as authorized by the ESA.
    The permit holder is not authorized to conduct any field collection 
exercises to obtain the samples. All of the samples must be obtained 
from previously authorized sources (permitted researchers, law 
enforcement authorities). All tissue samples will be maintained in a 
laboratory at the National Ocean Service - Marine Forensics Laboratory, 
Charleston, South Carolina.

    Dated: March 18, 1998.
Joseph R. Blum,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7631 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F