[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]


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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).

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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 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