[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64063-64064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30840]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 111298C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for a scientific research permit (1184) 
and modifications to scientific research permits (1074, 1124).

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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 a permit 
application from Garcia and Associates (GAA) in San Anselmo, CA (1184); 
NMFS has received applications for modifications to existing permits 
from: Pacific Lumber Company in Scotia, CA (PALCo) (1074), and Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) (1124).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications must be received on or before December 18, 1998.


[[Page 64064]]


ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For permits 1074 and 1184: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 
Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066).
    For permit 1124: 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 1074 and 1184: Tom 
Hablett, Protected Resources Division, (707-575-6066).
    For permit 1124: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR (503-230-5433).

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.

Species Covered in this Notice

    The following species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (O. kisutch), Sockeye salmon 
(O. nerka), and Steelhead trout (O. mykiss).

New Application Received

    GAA (1184) requests a 5-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, central California coast coho salmon, and adult 
and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast steelhead 
associated with fish population studies throughout the Evolutionarily 
Significant Units (ESUs) within California. Salmon and steelhead 
studies conducted by GAA will consist of four assessment tasks for 
which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, 
(2) population estimates, (3) fish rescue, and (4) tissue/scale 
sampling for genetic studies. ESA-listed fish will be observed or 
captured, anesthetized, handled (weighed, measured, fin-clipped), 
allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect 
mortalities associated with the research are also requested.

Modification Requests Received

    PALCo (1074) requests modification 1 to permit 1074 for 
authorization to include takes of adult and juvenile, threatened coho 
salmon for enhancement purposes in Yager Creek Basin within the 
California portion of the southern Oregon/northern California coast 
(SONCC) coho salmon ESU. PALCo will conduct an adult sampling program 
in Humboldt 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 PLC's Yager Creek Hatchery is to rebuild 
depleted populations of coho salmon 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 and the California Department of Fish and Game. 
Modification 1 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, 
which expires on June 30, 2003.
    IDFG requests modification 1 to permit 1124. The permit authorizes 
annual takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, Snake River (SnR) 
sockeye salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and 
juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon associated with 
scientific research in the state of Idaho. Research activities 
conducted under this permit are expected to provide information about 
ESA-listed fish population status and dynamics, life history traits, 
survival rates, behavior features, and fish health. For modification 1, 
IDFG requests an increase in the annual take of juvenile, threatened, 
naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon. IDFG 
underestimated parr production and emigration of this species in 1998. 
ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured, handled, and 
released. Modification 1 is requested to be valid for the duration of 
the permit, which expires on December 31, 2002.

    Dated: November 12, 1998.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30840 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F