[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27055-27058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12844]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050798B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for a scientific research permit (1148) 
and for modifications to scientific research permits (1114, 1115); 
Issuance of scientific research permits (1059, 1072, 1088, 1102, 1119, 
1130, 1131, 1133, 1136, 1137) and modifications to scientific research 
permits (1042, 1103)

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes 
of scientific research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received a permit 
application from the Resource Enhancement and Utilization Technologies 
Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA 
(NWFSC) (1148); NMFS has received applications for modifications to 
existing permits from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at 
Olympia, WA (WDFW) (1114) and Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan 
County at Wenatchee, WA (PUD CC) (1115); NMFS has issued permits 
subject to certain conditions set forth therein, to: Carl Page (1059), 
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at Shasta Lake, CA (BOR) (1072), Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM)(1088), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 
at Vancouver, WA (WDFW) (1102), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 
Leavenworth, WA (FWS) (1119), the U.S. Geological Survey at Cook, WA 
(USGS) (1130), the Port of Portland at Portland, OR (POP) (1131), Andre 
M. Landry, of Texas A&M University (1133), the Oregon Cooperative 
Fishery and Wildlife Research Unit at Corvallis, OR (OCFWRU) (1136), 
and Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA (NWFSC) 
(1137); and NMFS has issued modifications to scientific research 
permits to William M. Kier Associates (WKA) (1042) and California 
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) (1103).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications must be received on or before June 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For permits 1102, 1114, 1115, 1119, 1130, 1131, 1136, 1137, and 
1148: Protected Resources Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, 
Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    For permits 1042, 1059, 1072, 1088, and 1103: Protected Species 
Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 
(707-575-6066).
    For permit 1133: 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 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permits 1102, 1130, 1131, 1136, 
1137, and 1148: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).

[[Page 27056]]

    For permits 1114, 1115, and 1119: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR 
(503-230-5438).
    For permits 1042, 1059, 1072, 1088, and 1103: Thomas Hablett, 
Protected Resources Division, (707-575-6066).
    For permit 1133: Michelle Rogers, Endangered Species Division, 
Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401)

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 below 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

    The following species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Green 
sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys 
imbricata), Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Loggerhead 
sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), and 
Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

New Application Received

    NWFSC requests a 5-year permit (1148) for authorization to take 
adult and juvenile, endangered, artificially propagated, Snake River 
sockeye salmon to continue its captive broodstock responsibilities 
currently authorized under Permit 1005 which expires on May 31, 1998. 
The captive broodstock program is a cooperative effort among the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), NMFS, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, 
the University of Idaho, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, 
the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the Bonneville 
Power Administration (BPA). Funding is provided by BPA. The captive 
broodstock program is helping to preserve and perpetuate the species 
and will provide Snake River sockeye salmon for future recovery 
actions. NWFSC proposes to rear, maintain, breed, tag, and mark the 
fish, which will then be used to complement recovery efforts at 
Redfish, Pettit, and Alturas Lakes in Idaho.

Modification Requests Received

    WDFW requests modification 1 to scientific research permit 1114. 
Permit 1114 authorizes a take of juvenile, endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated, upper Columbia River (UCR) 
steelhead associated with a smolt monitoring program at Rock Island Dam 
on the Columbia River. For modification 1, WDFW requests authorization 
to take adult, endangered, UCR steelhead. WDFW proposes to collect 
adult fish in a permanent inclined screen trap, handle them to 
determine hatchery or wild origin, and release them. The information 
will be used to design operational measures to enhance adult passage 
survival at the dam. WDFW requests that Modification 1 be valid for the 
duration of the permit which expires on December 31, 2002.
    PUD CC requests modification 1 to scientific research permit 1115. 
Permit 1115 authorizes a take of juvenile, endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with two 
research studies. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the 
juvenile fish bypass system installed at Rocky Reach Dam, and to 
monitor juvenile fish gas bubble trauma at Rocky Reach and Rock Island 
Dams on the Columbia River. For modification 1, PUD CC requests 
authorization to take adult, endangered, UCR steelhead. PUD CC proposes 
to collect ESA-listed adult fish at a permanent bypass pipe at Rocky 
Reach Dam, handle them to determine hatchery or wild origin, and 
release them. The information will be used to design operational 
measures to enhance adult passage survival at the dam. PUD CC requests 
that Modification 1 be valid for the duration of the permit which 
expires on December 31, 2002.

Permits and Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on November 17, 1997 (62 FR 61295), that an 
application had been filed by WKA for a modification to a scientific 
research permit. Modification 1 to permit 1042 was issued to WKA on May 
5, 1998. Permit 1042 authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, 
threatened, central California coast (CCC) coho salmon associated with 
fish population and habitat studies throughout the Evolutionarily 
Significant Unit (ESU). ESA-listed fish may be observed or captured, 
anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. Indirect mortalities are also authorized. The modification 
authorizes takes of juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/northern 
California (SONCC) coho salmon associated with fish population and 
habitat studies throughout the California portion of the ESU. ESA-
listed juvenile fish are proposed to be observed and counted. 
Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit which expires on 
June 30, 1999.
    Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364), that an 
application had been filed by Carl Page for a scientific research 
permit. Permit 1059 was issued on April 24, 1998. Permit 1059 
authorizes Carl Page takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, SONCC 
coho salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC coho salmon; and adult 
and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast steelhead 
associated with fish population and habitat studies in coastal 
drainages throughout California. The studies consist of habitat and 
biological inventories, and project monitoring and evaluation studies 
for which ESA-listed fish will be taken. ESA-listed fish will be 
captured, anesthetized, handled (identified and measured), allowed to 
recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities 
associated with the research are also authorized. Permit 1059 expires 
on June 30, 2003.
    Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364), that an 
application had been filed by BOR for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1072 was issued to BOR on May 4, 1998. Permit 1072 authorizes 
takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon in 
California within the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon 
distribution, abundance and spawner surveys for which ESA-listed fish 
are proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured, 
anesthetized, handled (identified and measured), allowed to recover 
from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect

[[Page 27057]]

mortalities associated with the research are also authorized. Permit 
1072 expires on June 30, 2003.
    Notice was published on January 15, 1998 (63 FR 2364), that an 
application had been filed by BLM for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1088 was issued to BLM on April 24, 1998. Permit 1088 authorizes 
BLM takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon in 
California, associated with fish population and habitat studies in the 
Eel and Mattole River Basins, and Humboldt County coastal stream 
drainages within the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon 
distribution, abundance and spawner surveys for which ESA-listed fish 
are proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be 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 authorized. Permit 
1088 expires on June 30, 2003.
    Notice was published on October 31, 1997 (62 FR 58942), and 
February 25, 1998 (63 FR 9505), that an application and an amendment to 
the application had been filed by WDFW for a scientific research 
permit. Permit 1102 was issued to WDFW on April 24, 1998. Permit 1102 
authorizes WDFW an annual take of adult, endangered, UCR steelhead; 
adult, threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; and adult, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon associated with two 
scientific research studies. The purpose of the research is to 
determine the number and timing of wild and hatchery steelhead adults 
that pass Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and to determine the 
genetic stock identification of anadromous adult fish harvested in 
Columbia River fisheries. Data will be used to determine the fishery 
impacts to ESA-listed stocks and if possible, to shape fisheries to 
reduce impacts to ESA-listed or depressed stocks while focusing harvest 
on healthy stocks. Permit 1102 expires on January 31, 2003.
    Notice was published on November 5, 1997 (62 FR 59848), that an 
application had been filed by CDF for a modification to a scientific 
research permit. Modification 1 to permit 1103 was issued to CDF on 
April 24, 1998. Permit 1103 authorizes takes of juvenile, threatened, 
CCC coho salmon associated with fish population and habitat studies 
throughout the ESU. ESA-listed fish may be observed or captured, 
anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. Indirect mortalities are also authorized. The modification 
authorizes takes of juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated 
with fish population and habitat studies throughout the California 
portion of the ESU. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be 
observed and counted. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the 
permit which expires on June 30, 2003.
    Notice was published on March 2, 1998, (63 FR 10198), that an 
application had been filed by FWS for a 5-year scientific research 
permit. Permit 1119 was issued on May 4, 1998. Permit 1119 authorizes 
direct takes of juvenile fish released from Winthrop Hatchery. The FWS 
is authorized takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with two 
scientific research studies. The purpose of the research is to gather 
data on emerging juvenile salmon and steelhead, and to conduct snorkel 
surveys in various watersheds as part of inventory and artificial 
structure monitoring projects. The data obtained from both studies will 
be used to determine the survival and contribution of ESA-listed 
steelhead and other unlisted salmonids released from FWS mitigation 
hatchery programs in central Washington and to provide technical 
assistance to agencies, tribes, and interest groups using and managing 
aquatic resources in the mid to upper-Columbia River Basin. Some ESA-
listed juvenile fish will be captured with screw traps, handled, and 
released, and some adult and juvenile fish will be observed during 
snorkel surveys. Permit 1119 expires on December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on February 25, 1998 (63 FR 9505), that an 
application had been filed by USGS for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1130 was issued to USGS on April 24, 1998. Permit 1130 
authorizes USGS takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; 
juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, 
endangered, artificially propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead 
associated with research designed to determine the movement, 
distribution, and passage behavior of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids 
at Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day Dams on the Columbia River. The 
results of the research will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers to assess fish passage efficiency at John Day and The Dalles 
Dams and to increase bypass efficiency for juvenile salmonids at the 
dams by effectively designing and positioning prototype surface bypass/
collection structures. Permit 1130 expires on December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on February 25, 1998 (63 FR 9505), that an 
application had been filed by POP for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1131 was issued to POP on April 24, 1998. Permit 1131 authorizes 
POP takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon; adult 
and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; adult and 
juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and adult and 
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, 
UCR steelhead associated with research designed to determine the 
presence and distribution of fish in shallow water habitats between the 
lower end of Hayden Island and the Sandy River delta on the Columbia 
River. Information will be used to: (1) develop a comprehensive 
management plan for the lower Columbia River in cooperation with the 
states of OR and WA, (2) prepare environmental impact assessments 
associated with shoreline development projects, and (3) design 
mitigation plans to compensate for the loss of shallow water habitat 
due to future shoreline development projects. Permit 1131 expires on 
January 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on February 25, 1998 (63 FR 9505), that an 
application had been filed by Andre M. Landry, Texas A&M University, 
for a scientific research permit. Permit 1133 was issued on May 1, 
1998. Permit 1133 authorizes the take of up to 200 Kemp's ridley, 20 
hawksbill, 150 green, and 100 loggerhead turtles annually from 
locations within the Gulf of Mexico, primarily through the use of 
entanglement nets for the purpose of conducting studies on population 
status and recovery potential, habitat preference, movement and 
migration, foraging patterns, and impact of man's activities such as 
commercial and recreational fishing, dredging and habitat alteration/
pollution. All captured turtles may be weighed, photographed, measured, 
blood sampled, and PIT and flipper tagged. Certain turtles may be 
radio, sonic and/or satellite tagged, and fecal and tissue sampled. 
Additionally, stomach lavage techniques may be deployed where 
necessary. Permit 1133 expires on January 31, 2003.
    Notice was published on March 2, 1998 (63 FR 10198), that an 
application had been filed by OCFWRU for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1136 was issued to OCFWRU on April 24, 1998. Permit 1136 
authorizes OCFWRU annual takes of juvenile, endangered,

[[Page 27058]]

Snake River sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced 
and artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; 
juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, 
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR 
steelhead associated with research designed to compare biological and 
physiological indices of wild and hatchery juvenile fish exposed to 
stress from bypass, collection, and transportation activities at the 
dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The purpose of the research is 
to determine effects of manmade structures and management activities on 
outmigrating salmonids and to provide information that can be used to 
improve their survival. Permit 1136 expires on December 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11220), that an 
application had been filed by NWFSC for a scientific research permit. 
Permit 1137 was issued to NWFSC on April 24, 1998. Permit 1137 
authorizes NWFSC takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye 
salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead 
associated with four scientific research studies at hydropower dams on 
the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The purpose of 
the four studies are: To evaluate a prototype fish separator at Ice 
Harbor Dam; to establish biological design criteria for fish passage 
facilities at McNary Dam; to evaluate vertical barrier screens, outlet 
flow control devices, and methods of debris control at McNary and 
Little Goose Dams; and to evaluate extended-length bar screens at the 
first powerhouse of Bonneville Dam. Permit 1137 expires on December 31, 
1998.

    Dated: May 8, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12844 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
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