[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20169-20171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10868]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 041798A]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1147,
1149) and a request for modification 2 to permit 1011; issuance of
scientific research permits (1065, 1114, 1115, 1116)
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fish Commission at Portland, OR (CRITFC) has applied in due form for
permits (1147, 1149) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at
La Grande, OR (ODFW) has applied in due form for a modification to a
permit (1101) that would authorize takes of anadromous fish species
listed under the Endangered Species Act for the purpose of scientific
research/enhancement.
Notice is also given that NMFS has issued scientific research
permits that authorize takes of ESA-listed species for the purpose of
scientific research and/or enhancement, subject to certain conditions
set forth therein, to: Humboldt Fish Action Council (HFAC) (1065);
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at Olympia, WA (WDFW)
(1114); Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (PUDCC) (1115);
and Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County (PUDDC) (1116).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
applications must be received on or before May 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permits 1101, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1147, and 1149: Protected
Resources Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500,
Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
For permit 1065: Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 777
Sonoma Avenue Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 (707-575-6050).
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 1101, 1147, and 1149:
Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).
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For permits 1114, 1115, and 1116: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR
(503-230-5438).
For permit 1065: Thomas Hablett, Santa Rosa, CA (707-575-6066).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
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 above application summaries
are those of the applicant 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.
Species Covered in this Notice
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Applications Received
CRITFC (1147) requests a 5-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 Johnson Creek of the South Fork Salmon River in ID. The
objectives of CRITFC's program are to: (1) supply broodstock for
supplementation, (2) restore and maintain natural spawning, (3)
increase nutrient enrichment into Johnson Creek, and (4) reestablish
sport and tribal fisheries for chinook salmon. CRITFC proposes to
capture ESA-listed adult salmon, tag and/or mark them, inoculate them
for diseases, retain a percentage for hatchery broodstock, and release
the rest above the weir to spawn naturally. Progeny of the broodstock
would be reared at McCall Fish Hatchery, 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.
CRITFC (1149) also requests a 3-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 Lostine River
in OR. The supplementation program would be a component of a
coordinated enhancement effort already begun by ODFW under the
authority of permit 1011 (see below). The objectives of CRITFC's
supplementation program are to: (1) Collect broodstock for production
for acclimated releases back into the Lostine River; (2) provide
monitoring and evaluation of returning adults from captive brood,
conventional, and natural production; and (3) provide acclimation
release facilities for captive brood smolts produced under the
authority of permit 1011. CRITFC proposes to capture fish at the
Lostine River weir, tag and/or mark them, innoculate them for diseases,
retain a percentage for hatchery broodstock, and release the remaining
fish above the weir to spawn naturally. Progeny of the broodstock would
be reared at Lookingglass Hatchery, 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.
Permit 1011 authorizes ODFW annual direct takes of adult and
juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a captive
broodstock program for Catherine Creek, upper Grande Ronde River, and
Lostine River populations. Modification 1 to permit 1011, issued on
June 20, 1997, authorized ODFW to collect naturally-produced returning
adults from the three watersheds in 1997 only to begin a
supplementation program. For modification 2 to permit 1011, ODFW
requests to collect returning adults from Catherine Creek and the upper
Grande Ronde River to continue the supplementation program. CRITFC will
be primarily responsible for operating adult trapping and smolt
acclimation facilities at the Lostine River as proposed in their
application for a permit (1149, see above). The ESA-listed adult salmon
not retained for broodstock, including all adult salmon from captive
brood production, will be tagged and/or marked, sampled for tissues and
scales, and released above the weirs to spawn naturally. ODFW proposes
to transport the collected adults to Lookingglass Hatchery where they
will be spawned, the resulting eggs incubated, and the juveniles
reared. ODFW believes that the collection of ESA-listed adults for
hatchery supplementation will increase the persistence of the
populations because of the survival advantage provided by the hatchery.
Releases of juvenile fish from the supplementation program are
requested. An annual incidental take of ESA-listed species associated
with juvenile fish releases is requested. Modification 2 is requested
to be valid for the duration of the permit which expires on December
31, 2000.
Permits Issued
Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364) that an
application had been filed by WDFW for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1114 was issued to WDFW on April 9, 1998. The permit authorizes
takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead associated with a smolt
monitoring program at Rock Island Dam on the Columbia River. The
purpose of the program is to collect information on juvenile fish
migration timing, survival, travel timing, and general fish health. The
data will be used to make in-season adjustments to water releases from
upstream reservoirs that optimize downstream migration conditions.
Permit 1114 expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364) that an
application had been filed by PUDCC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1115 was issued on April 10, 1998 and authorizes the takes of
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
upper Columbia River steelhead associated with research. The purpose of
the research is to: (1) Evaluate the juvenile fish bypass system
installed at Rocky Reach Dam, and (2) monitor juvenile fish gas bubble
trauma at Rocky Reach and Rock Island Dams on the Columbia River.
Permit 1115 expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364) that an
application had been filed by PUDDC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1116 was issued
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to PUDDC on April 10, 1998 and authorizes takes of juvenile,
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, upper
Columbia River steelhead associated with two research studies. Study 1
is designed to determine the survival and migration differences of
juvenile fish as they pass downstream through Lake Pateros and Wells
Dam. The information will be used to determine the appropriateness of
utilizing selected surrogate stocks in future survival studies in the
mid-Columbia River. Study 2 is designed to understand the status of
juvenile salmonid migration at Wells Dam. ESA-listed juvenile fish will
be lethally taken by fyke nets. Permit 1116 expires on December 31,
2002.
Notice was published on December 17, 1997 (62 FR 66053) that an
application had been filed by HFAC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1065 was issued to HFAC on April 15, 1998. Permit 1065
authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/
northern California coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in
California, associated with fish population studies in the Freshwater
Creek drainage within the evolutionarily significant unit. The studies
consist of coho salmon abundance and spawner surveys for which ESA-
listed fish are proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured,
handled, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities
associated with the research are also authorized. Permit 1065 expires
on June 30, 2003.
Dated: April 20, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10868 Filed 4-22-98; 8:45 am]
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