[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57664-57665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28859]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101998J]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for an incidental take permit (1150).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Idaho Department of Fish and 
Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) has applied in due form for a permit that 
would authorize an incidental take of anadromous fish species listed 
under the Endangered Species Act.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application must be received on or before November 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Protected Resources Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, 
Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400); and

[[Page 57665]]

    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing should be 
submitted to the Chief, PRD in Portland, OR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Koch (503-230-5424).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: IDFG requests a permit 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).
    IDFG requests a 5-year permit for an annual incidental take of 
adult, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka); 
adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced, Snake River spring/
summer chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha); adult, threatened, Snake River 
fall chinook salmon; and adult, threatened, Snake River steelhead (O, 
mykiss) associated with the State of Idaho's sport-fishing programs. 
The new permit is requested to replace permit 844 which expires on 
December 31, 1998. IDFG proposes to implement four categories of sport-
fishing regulations: (1) General Fishing Regulations (non-listed 
resident fish species), (2) Anadromous Salmon (non-listed) Fishing 
Regulations, (3) Steelhead (non-listed) Fishing Regulations, and (4) a 
kokanee fishery at the Redfish Lake area. IDFG states that the sport-
fishing programs conducted in previous years in Idaho have had minimal 
impact on ESA-listed fish species in the State and pose no threat to 
the viability or continued existence of such populations. IDFG included 
a conservation plan in the permit application that proposes measures to 
monitor, minimize, and mitigate impacts to ESA-listed fish. Annual ESA-
listed fish incidental mortalities associated with the sport-fishing 
programs are also requested.
    To date, protective regulations for threatened Snake River 
steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have not been promulgated by 
NMFS. This notice of receipt of an application requesting a take of 
this species is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS issues 
protective regulations that prohibit takes of Snake River steelhead. 
The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the application, 
including its proposed take of Snake River steelhead, does not 
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing on this permit application 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 above application summary are those of the 
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

    Dated: October 19, 1998.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-28859 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
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