[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25873-25875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12117]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050699C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications to modify permits (1094, 1144, 1136); 
issuance of permits (1122, 1173); and modifications to existing permits 
(899, 901, 902, 903, 998, 1141).

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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 applications for modifications to existing 
permits from: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia, WA 
(WDFW) (1094), Mr. Bruce D. Peery (BDP) (1144), and Oregon Cooperative 
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in Corvallis, OR (OCFWRU) (1136); NMFS 
has issued permits to Mr. Cary Osterhaus, U.S. Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) (1122), and Dr. Douglas DeHart, Oregon Department of 
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) (1173); and NMFS has issued modifications to 
scientific research permits to: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 
at Portland, OR (ODFW) (899), WDFW (901, 902), Idaho Department of Fish 
and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) (903), the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Fort 
Hall, ID (SBT) (998), and Public Utility District Number 2 of Grant 
County in Ephrata, WA (PUD GC) (1141).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
new applications or modification requests must be received on or before 
June 14, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For permits 899, 901, 902, 903, 998, 1094, 1122, 1136, 1141, 1173: 
Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, 
Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    For permit 1144: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species 
Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-
713-1401).
    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 permit 1144: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).
    For permits 998, 1094, 1136: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR (503-
230-5433).
    For permits 899, 901, 902, 903: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-
5424).
    For permits 1122, 1141, 1173: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR (503-
230-5438).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) Are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to 
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. 
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject 
to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).

    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in this Notice

    The following species and evolutionarily significant units (ESU's) 
are covered in this notice:

Sea Turtles

    Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).

Fish

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Snake River (SnR) fall, 
SnR spring/summer, upper Columbia River (UCR) spring.
    Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC).
    Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki): Umpqua River (UmR).
    Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): SnR.
    Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): UCR.

Modification Requests Received

    WDFW requests a modification to scientific research/enhancement 
permit 1094. Permit 1094 authorizes WDFW an annual take of adult and 
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, 
UCR steelhead associated with a hatchery supplementation program in the 
mid- to upper Columbia River Basin. Incidental takes of ESA-listed 
species resulting from WDFW hatchery operations and hatchery produced 
fish releases are also authorized by the permit. WDFW believes the 
artificial propagation of ESA-listed steelhead will benefit the species 
by enhancing the population, which is not currently able to naturally 
replace itself. For the modification, WDFW requests an increase in the 
annual take of adult, endangered, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated, UCR steelhead associated with scientific research designed 
to determine if hatchery fish survival is increased with the 
incorporation of wild brood stock at Wells Hatchery. Adult, endangered, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead are 
proposed to be captured, examined for marks, and released. ESA-listed 
adult fish indirect mortalities are also requested. The modification is 
requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on 
May 31, 2003.
    BDP possesses a 1-year permit (1144) to sample for and collect 
green and loggerhead sea turtles in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for the 
purposes of stock assessment to characterize the sea turtles that 
utilize the southern Indian River Lagoon System, Florida. Captured 
turtles will be weighed, photographed, measured, tagged, and released. 
BDP is requesting an increase in the authorized take of green sea 
turtles from 75 to 100 animals. This increase in take is necessitated 
by the collection of of more green turtles than expected during the 
previous permit period.
    On April 26, 1999, notice was published (64 FR 20266) that NMFS had 
received a modification request for permit 1136. Permit 1136 authorizes 
OCFWRU annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye

[[Page 25874]]

salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR 
fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with research 
designed to compare biological and physiological indices of wild and 
hatchery fish exposed to stress from bypass, collection, and 
transportation activities at dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in 
the Pacific Northwest. For the modification, OCFWRU is requesting 
annual takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the 
research. NMFS has received an amended modification request seeking an 
increase in the annual take of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced 
and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon and 
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced, UCR steelhead associated with 
the research. The additional take is requested because annual take 
estimates were not recalculated using the expected increased abundance 
of some species in 1999. The modification is requested to be valid for 
the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.

Permits and Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an 
application had been filed by ODFW for a modification to incidental 
take permit 899. Permit 899 authorizes ODFW annual incidental takes of 
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and 
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and 
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the 
state of Oregon. Modification 1 to permit 899 was issued to on April 8, 
1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with the 
operation of and releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery 
programs. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit, which 
expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on October 15, 1997 (62 FR 53596), that an 
applications had been filed by WDFW for modifications to incidental 
take permit 901. Permit 901 authorizes WDFW annual incidental takes of 
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and 
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and 
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the 
state of Washington. Modification 1 to permit 901 was issued on April 
8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead 
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed 
anadromous fish hatchery programs. The modification is valid for the 
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an 
application had been filed by WDFW for modifications to incidental take 
permit 902. Permit 902 authorizes WDFW annual incidental takes of 
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and 
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and 
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the 
state of Washington. Modification 1 to permit 902 was issued to WDFW on 
April 8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead 
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed 
anadromous fish hatchery programs. The modification is valid for the 
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an 
application had been filed by IDFG for modifications to incidental take 
permit 903. Permit 903 authorizes IDFG annual incidental takes of 
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and 
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and 
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the 
state of Idaho. Modification 1 to permit 903 was issued to IDFG on 
April 8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead 
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed 
anadromous fish hatchery programs. Modification 1 is valid for the 
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on February 11, 1999 (64 FR 6880), that an 
application had been filed by the SBT for modifications to scientific 
research permit 998. Permit 998 authorizes the SBT annual direct takes 
of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon and juvenile, threatened, 
naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a 
study designed to evaluate smolt outmigration from Pettit and Alturas 
Lakes in ID. Modification 2 to permit 998 was issued to the SBT on 
April April 28, 1999, and authorizes an increase in the annual direct 
take of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon associated with a 
mark/recapture study. An associated increase in juvenile sockeye salmon 
indirect mortalities is also authorized. Modification 2 is valid for 
the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11220), and December 
21, 1998 (63 FR 70393), that BLM had applied for a scientific research 
permit. Permit 1122 was issued on April 30, 1999, authorizing take of 
listed species. Permit 1122 expires December 31, 2002, and authorizes 
annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, UmR cutthroat 
trout and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated with 
scientific research. The purpose of the research is to determine the 
sub-basin contributions to the migratory population of UmR cutthroat 
trout and to determine the survival and abundance of juvenile SONCC 
coho salmon. This information will benefit wild populations by 
identifying important habitat areas where restoration efforts have had 
the most beneficial impact. BLM will use screw traps to estimate fish 
abundance in selected sub-basins and will apply radiotransmitters to 
juvenile UmR cutthroat trout in tributaries of the UmR. The U.S. Forest 
Service of Tiller, OR (USFS) is authorized to act as an agent of BLM 
and participate in the research activities. ODFW is authorized to act 
as an agent to receive and store UmR cutthroat trout and SONCC coho 
salmon indirect mortalities recovered by BLM and USFS.
    Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that an 
application had been filed by PUD GC for modifications to permit 1141. 
Permit 1141 authorizes annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, 
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR 
steelhead associated with a fish salvage operation and two scientific 
research studies at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams located on the 
Columbia River. Modification 1 to permit 1141 was issued on May 5, 
1999, and authorizes annual takes of adult and juvenile UCR spring 
chinook salmon associated with PUD GC's previous activities. 
Modification 1 also authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, endangered,

[[Page 25875]]

naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead and adult 
and juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon associated with two additional 
research studies. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the 
permit, which expires on December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on August 3, 1998 (63 FR 41230), that ODFW had 
applied for a scientific research permit. Permit 1173 was issued on 
April 30, 1999, and authorizes annual direct takes of adult and 
juvenile, endangered, UmR cutthroat trout associated with a broad-base 
sampling program. ESA-listed fish will be captured, examined, marked, 
and released. Traps, electrofishing, and hook/line techniques will be 
used to capture the fish. Fin clips as well as passive integrated 
transponders (PIT) will be used to mark and monitor their migrations. 
Fish will also be observed by snorkeling and routine stream surveys. 
Data will be used to expand current knowledge about cutthroat trout 
distribution, migration patterns and population densities. Permit 1173 
expires on December 31, 2003.

    Dated: May 7, 1999.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12117 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]
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