[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33632-33634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16373]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 061598D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1156, 
1159); Issuance of scientific research permits (1095, 1120, 1140) and a 
modification to a scientific research permit (994).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of listed species for the purposes of scientific 
research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received permit applications 
from: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at Corvallis, OR (EPA) 
(1156) and Robert L. Brownell, Jr., Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA (SWFSC) (1159); NMFS 
has issued permits to: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at Denver, CO (USBR) 
(1095); Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) (1120); 
and the Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries 
Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA (NWFSC-
ECD) (1140); and NMFS has issued a modification to a scientific 
research permit to the Idaho

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Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Moscow, ID (ICFWRU) 
(994).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications must be received on or before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For permits 994, 1095, 1120, 1140, 1156: Protected Resources 
Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 
97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    For permit 1159: Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310-980-4016).
    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 994 and 1120: Robert Koch, 
Portland, OR (503-230-5424).
    For permits 1095, 1140, and 1156: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR 
(503-230-5438).
    For permit 1159: 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 the permits and modifications, as required by the ESA, 
was based on a finding that such permits and modifications: (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 and modifications 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), 
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), Green sea turtle 
(Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), 
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Loggerhead sea turtle 
(Caretta caretta), Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and 
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).

New Applications Received

    EPA (1156) requests a 5-year permit for direct takes of juvenile, 
threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast coho salmon; 
adult and juvenile, endangered, Umpqua River cutthroat trout; juvenile, 
threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, threatened, Snake River 
fall chinook salmon associated with research designed to collect data 
in the South Upmqua, Rogue, and Snake Rivers. ESA-listed fish are 
proposed to be captured using electrofishing, examined, and released. 
The data will be used to enforce the Clean Water Act which will 
increase the recovery potential of listed species. ESA-listed juvenile 
fish indirect mortalities associated with the research are also 
requested.
    SWFSC (1159) has requested a 3-year scientific research permit to 
take listed sea turtles opportunistically during marine mammal research 
surveys in the eastern tropical Pacific. Authorization has been 
requested to take up to 400 turtles over the 3-year period to include 
the following species: olive ridley, green, leatherback, hawksbill, and 
loggerhead. The turtles would be weighed, photographed, flipper tagged, 
blood sampled, and tissue sampled. Additionally, stomach lavage would 
be performed on captured turtles to identify prey items and up to 30 
turtles would be outfitted with satellite transmitters. The purposes of 
the proposed research are to obtain data on the geographic distribution 
and stock assessment, migratory and dive behavior, and habitat needs 
and primary foraging areas of turtles at sea.

Permits and Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11220) that an 
application had been filed by ICFWRU for modification 3 to scientific 
research permit 994. Modification 3 to permit 994 was issued to ICFWRU 
on June 12, 1998. Permit 994 authorizes ICFWRU annual takes of adult, 
threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon and 
adult, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon associated with a study 
designed to assess the passage success of migrating adult salmonids at 
the four dams and reservoirs in the lower Columbia River, evaluate 
specific flow and spill conditions, and evaluate measures to improve 
adult anadromous fish passage. For modification 3, ICFWRU is authorized 
an increase in the annual take of adult, threatened, Snake River 
spring/summer and fall chinook salmon associated the study. Also for 
modification 3, ICFWRU is authorized an annual take of adult, 
threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a 
new study designed to determine if adult salmon successfully return to 
natal streams or hatcheries after passing Lower Granite Dam on the 
Snake River and if homing is affected by mode of seaward migration (in-
river versus transport). Modification 3 is valid for the duration of 
the permit which expires on December 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on 24 October, 1997 (62 FR 55394) that an 
application had been filed by USBR for a 1-year scientific research 
permit. Permit 1095 was issued to USBR on June 11, 1998. The permit 
authorizes USBR to capture, handle, and release juvenile, threatened, 
SONCC coho salmon associated with research designed to collect data on 
seasonal fish distribution and abundance, particularly during spring 
and late summer, in Bear Creek and its principal tributaries, Little 
Butte Creek and its tributaries, and Big Butte Creek in southwest 
Oregon. The purpose of the study is to support a proposal to implement 
habitat enhancement activities designed in part to increase instream 
flows, improve the reliability and efficiency of existing water 
supplies, improve water quality and environmental values, and conserve 
water. Permit 1095 expires on September 30, 1998.
    Notice was published on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8435) that an 
application had been filed by IDFG for a scientific research/
enhancement permit. Permit 1120 was issued to IDFG on June 11, 1998. 
Permit 1120 authorizes IDFG annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, 
endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon associated with the continuation 
of a captive broodstock program. The program will help to preserve and 
perpetuate the species and provide Snake River sockeye salmon for 
future recovery actions. The captive broodstock program is a 
cooperative

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effort among IDFG, NMFS, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the University of 
Idaho at Moscow, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and the 
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Funding is provided by BPA. 
Incidental takes of ESA-listed anadromous fish species as a result of 
releases from the captive broodstock program are also authorized. 
Permit 1120 expires on December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on 16 April, 1998 (63 FR 73) that an 
application had been filed by NWFSC-ECD for a 5-year scientific 
research permit. Permit 1140 was issued on June 12, 1998. Permit 1140 
authorizes direct takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River fall 
chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated 
with a research study designed to assess the relationship between 
environmental variables, selected anthropogenic stresses, and bacterial 
and parasitic pathogens on disease-induced mortality in juvenile salmon 
in selected coastal estuaries in Oregon and Washington. The results of 
the study will benefit listed species by providing a better 
understanding of how environmental factors influence disease. Permit 
1140 expires on December 31, 2002.

    Dated: June 15, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16373 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
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