[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