[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51340-51341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25730]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 091798A]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit
(1083) and modifications to scientific research permits (994, 1025,
1058).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 permit
applications from the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project in
Davenport, CA (MBSTP)(1083); NMFS has received applications for
modifications to existing permits from: the Idaho Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Unit at Moscow, ID (994) (ICFWU), the California Department of
Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division, Sacramento, CA (CDFG)(1025),
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Ahsahka, ID (FWS)(1058).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
applications must be received on or before October 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permits 1025 and 1083: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777
Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066).
For permits 994 and 1058: Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525
NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
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 1025 and 1083: Tom
Hablett, Santa Rosa, CA, (707-575-6066).
For permits 994 and 1058: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).
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 through 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.
Species Covered in This Notice
The following species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (O. kisutch), and Steelhead
trout (O. mykiss).
To date, protective regulations for threatened central California
coast (CCC), south-central California coast (SCCC), and Snake River
(SnR) 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 threatened CCC, SCCC, and
SnR steelhead. The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on
these applications, including their proposed takes of threatened CCC,
SCCC, and SnR steelhead, does not presuppose the contents of the
eventual protective regulations.
New Application Received
MBSTP (1083) requests a 5-year permit for takes of adult and
juvenile, threatened, CCC coho salmon, and adult and juvenile,
threatened, CCC and SCCC steelhead, associated with population studies,
obtaining broodstock for propagation purposes, and releasing
artificially-reared juveniles into area watersheds. MBSTP will conduct
a cooperative adult sampling program in Santa Cruz County. These
studies are to determine: (1) population estimates; (2) hatchery to
wild salmonid ratios; (3) stream utilization; and (4) genetic heritage.
Adults will be trapped, measured, sampled for tissues and/or scales,
marked and released (if not being retained for broodstock). Spawner
surveys are also proposed, including the handling and sampling of
carcasses. The propagation program conducted at the MBSTP's Big Creek
Hatchery is to rebuild depleted populations of coho salmon and
steelhead to naturally self-sustaining levels. Both wild and hatchery
produced adults will be used for broodstock. The control of disease,
maintenance of genetic viability, and the annual releases of juveniles
are in accordance with the guidance of NMFS, CDFG, and (for coho
salmon) the State of California's Coho Salmon Biological Recovery Team.
The coho salmon element includes the taking of broodstock from Scott
and Waddell Creeks, and outplanting of fry or pre-smolts into Scott,
Waddell and Gazos Creeks. The steelhead element includes the taking of
broodstock from the San Lorenzo River and Scott and Waddell Creeks, and
outplanting of fry or pre-smolts into watersheds of Santa Cruz and
Monterey Counties.
Modification Requests Received
ICFWU requests modification 5 to scientific research permit 994.
Permit 994 authorizes takes of ESA-listed adult Snake River (SnR)
spring and summer chinook salmon as well as SnR fall chinook salmon for
migration research. For modification 5, ICFWU requests authorization
for takes of threatened, adult SnR steelhead associated with a research
study. Adult steelhead that were PIT tagged as smolts would be radio
tagged at Lower Granite Dam and released to determine if PIT-tagged
fish will return to the original point of release. Modification 5 is
requested to be valid until December 31, 1998.
CDFG requests modification 3 to permit 1025 for authorization to
include an additional study site location above Knights Landing, and
increase take numbers of adult and juvenile, endangered, Sacramento
River winter-run chinook salmon associated with extant fish population
studies in the Sacramento River. 1997-98 carcass surveys indicate that
juvenile salmon emigration numbers will be significantly higher than in
previous study years. Requested limits would increase the take: (1) of
juveniles from 2,500 to 3,500 for Study One; (2) of juveniles from
6,000 to 12,000 for Study Two, and (3) of adult carcasses from 100 to
4,000 for Study Two. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be
observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from
the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed juvenile salmon indirect
mortalities are also requested. Modification 3 is requested to be valid
for the duration of permit 1025, which expires on June 30, 2001.
FWS requests modification 1 to scientific research permit 1058.
Permit
[[Page 51341]]
1058 authorizes takes of adult, threatened, SR fall chinook salmon
associated with research designed to determine the proportions of wild
and hatchery fish in the run. For modification 1, FWS requests an
increase in the take to record length information and collect scale
samples. Data from the larger sample would be used to estimate age
composition of the run which would provide better information for
regulating Columbia River harvest. Modification 1 is requested to be
valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 1058 expires on December
31, 2002.
Dated: September 18, 1998.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-25730 Filed 9-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F