[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33827-33829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16084]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 061699D]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1121,
1217); receipt of applications to modify scientific research permits
(1075, 1167, 1213); issuance of scientific research and incidental take
permits (1150, 1199, 1201, 1212, 1213); and modifications/amendments to
existing scientific research and incidental take permits (1010, 1017,
1120).
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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 David Salsbery, Santa
Clara Valley Water District in San Jose, CA (SCVWD) (1121) and Dr. Mark
Stromberg, Hastings Natural History Reservation in Carmel Valley, CA
(MS-HNHR) (1217); NMFS has received applications for modifications to
existing permits from: Mr. Harry Vaughn, Pacific Coast Federation of
Fisherman's Associations in Miranda, CA (PCFFA)(1075), Dr. Peter Moyle,
of the University of California at Davis (PM-UCD) (1167), and NMFS
Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA (NWFSC) (1213); NMFS
has issued permits to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Boise, ID
(IDFG) (1150), Mr. Gerry Davis, of Guam Department of Agriculture (GD-
GDA)(1199), Dr. Thane Wibbels, of University of Alabama at Birmingham
(TW-UAB)(1201), and NWFSC (1212 and 1213); and NMFS has issued
modifications/amendments to scientific research permits to IDFG (1010
and 1120) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at Portland, OR
(ODFW)(1017).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
new applications or modification requests must be received on or before
July 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permits 1010, 1017, 1120, 1150, 1212, 1213: Protected Resources
Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-
4169 (503-230-5400).
For permits 1075, 1121, 1167, 1217: Protected Species Division,
NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-
6066).
For permits 1199, 1201: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered
Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910 (301-713-1401).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For permits 1199, 1201: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-
1401).
For permits 1075, 1121, 1167, 1217: Dan Logan, Protected Resources
Division, Santa Rosa, CA (707-575-6053).
For the permit 1213: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR (503-230-5433).
For permits 1010, 1017, 1120, 1150, 1212: Robert Koch, Portland, OR
(503-230-5424).
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 222-226).
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
Threatened Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), endangered Hawksbill
turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), endangered Kemp's ridley turtle
(Lepidochelys kempii), threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
Fish
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened Snake River
(SnR) fall, threatened SnR spring/summer, endangered upper Columbia
River (UCR) spring.
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California coast (SONCC).
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki): endangered Umpqua
River UmR.
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): endangered SnR.
Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened Central Valley
(CV), threatened Central California coast (CCC), threatened South-
Central California coast (SCCC), endangered UCR.
To date, protective regulations for threatened CV, CCC, or SCCC
steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have been not promulgated by
NMFS. This notice of receipt of applications requesting takes of CV,
CCC, and SCCC steelhead is issued as a precaution in the event that
NMFS issues CV, CCC, or SCCC steelhead protective regulations. The
initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the applications,
including their proposed takes of CV, CCC, and SCCC steelhead, does not
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations.
New Applications Received
SCVWD (1121) requests a 5-year permit to authorize takes of adult
and juvenile CCC and SCCC steelhead associated with population, habitat
and migration studies within the ESUs. This research will provide a
baseline of fish populations and help to determine the effects water
management, mitigation and maintenance activities in Santa Clara
County. Authorization to relocate steelhead as necessary for survival
is also requested.
MS-HNHR (1217) requests a 5-year permit to authorize takes of adult
and juvenile SCCC steelhead associated with sampling conducted for
genetic studies in the upper Carmel, San Jose, Little Sur, Big Sur and
Big Creek drainage systems. The research will provide information
useful in determining
[[Page 33828]]
genetic relationships with respect to geographical distribution.
Modification Requests Received
PCFFA requests a modification to permit 1075 for authorization of
an increase in take of juvenile SONCC coho salmon associated with fish
population, migration and habitat studies in the Eel River Basin. The
modification is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit,
which expires on June 30, 2003.
PM-UCD requests a modification to permit 1167 to increase
authorized takes of adult and juvenile CV steelhead associated with
sampling and tagging activity during habitat and distribution studies
in the lower Yuba River. The modification is requested to be valid for
the duration of the permit, which expires on June 30, 2003.
NWFSC requests modifications to scientific research permit 1213.
Permit 1213 authorizes direct takes of juvenile SnR sockeye salmon;
juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/
summer chinook salmon; juvenile SnR fall chinook salmon; and adult and
juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with seven studies at hydropower dams on the Snake and
Columbia Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. For the modification, NWFSC
requests an increase in take of juvenile SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile
SnR fall chinook salmon; juvenile, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated
additional testing at McNary Dam under Study 4. The additional take is
requested to (1) evaluate the performance of extended-length bar
screens equipped with a newly designed perforated plate system, and (2)
release fish tagged with sonic transmitters to support the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers' Turbine Survival Program. Under this program,
juvenile hatchery steelhead will be gastrically implanted with sonic
tags, released through special release pipes into a turbine intake at
the dam, and tracked electronically. NWFSC also requests a take of
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the study. The modifications
are requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires
on December 31, 1999.
Permits, Modifications, and Amendments Issued
Notice was published on July 14, 1998 (63 FR 37851), that an
application had been filed by IDFG for a modification to scientific
research/enhancement permit 1010. Permit 1010 authorizes IDFG annual
direct takes of adult and juvenile, naturally produced, SnR spring/
summer chinook salmon associated with a captive rearing program. Each
year, IDFG collects no more than 25 percent of the ESA-listed juvenile
fish from the West Fork Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, upper East
Fork Salmon River, and Lemhi River in ID. The ESA-listed juvenile fish
are reared in captivity until mature. For modification 2, IDFG is
authorized annual releases of mature, radio-tagged, spring chinook
salmon from the program into the fish's respective stream of origin for
natural spawning. IDFG is also authorized to collect ESA-listed adult
fish carcasses subsequent to spawning for inspection and the
acquisition of tissue samples. In addition, IDFG is authorized the
retention of ESA-listed adult fish from each population in the hatchery
to initiate a captive spawning program, annual releases of eyed-eggs
(in hatch boxes or artificial redds) and/or juveniles from the captive
spawning program, and the retention of eggs in the hatchery as a
``safety net''. Further, IDFG is authorized annual incidental takes of
ESA-listed species due to adult and juvenile fish releases from the
captive rearing and spawning programs. Modification 2 to permit 1010
was issued to IDFG on May 20, 1999, and is valid for the duration of
the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.
On June 4, 1999, NMFS issued an amendment of ODFW's incidental take
permit 1017. Permit 1017 authorizes ODFW an annual incidental take of
resident, fluvial, and anadromous, Umpqua River cutthroat trout
associated with the State of Oregon's recreational and commercial
fisheries in the Umpqua River Basin. For the amendment, NMFS has
extended permit 1017 for an additional year. Permit 1017 will now
expire on September 30, 2000.
On April 20, 1999, NMFS issued an amendment of IDFG's scientific
research/enhancement permit 1120. Permit 1120 authorizes IDFG annual
direct takes of adult and juvenile SnR sockeye salmon associated with a
captive broodstock program. Annual incidental takes of ESA-listed
species associated with fish releases from IDFG's captive broodstock
program are also authorized by permit 1120. For the amendment, IDFG is
authorized an annual incidental take of UCR spring chinook salmon
associated with fish releases from IDFG's SnR sockeye salmon captive
broodstock program. The incidental take authorization covers effects
and/or impacts that are likely to occur in the mainstem Columbia River
migration corridor. The amendment is valid for the duration of the
permit, which expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on October 28, 1998 (63 FR 57664), that an
application had been filed by IDFG for an incidental take permit.
Permit 1150 was issued to IDFG on May 28, 1999, and authorizes
incidental takes of SnR sockeye salmon; naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and SnR fall
chinook salmon associated with implementation of the State of Idaho's
sport-fishing programs. IDFG's sport-fishing programs include the
following activities: (1) Resident sport-fishing in ESA-listed chinook
and sockeye salmon ranges in Idaho under the IDFG General Fishing
Regulations, including kokanee and trout fisheries in Redfish, Alturas,
and Pettit Lakes; (2) chinook salmon sport-fishing in the Clearwater
River, Little Salmon River, and South Fork Salmon River under the IDFG
Anadromous Salmon Fishing Regulations; and (3) summer steelhead fishing
program during the fall and spring seasons under the IDFG Steelhead
Fishing Regulations. Permit 1150 expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on February 19, 1999 (64 FR 8331), that GD-GDA
had applied for a 5-year research permit to take green and hawksbill
sea turtles, record biological data, and sample tissue and run DNA
analysis according to NMFS sampling protocols. A few of the turtles
will be satellite-tagged. The purpose of the research is to: a) Collect
baseline population size structure (age and sex) and genetic
information for sea turtles in and about Guam, b) survey Guam's beaches
for sea turtle nesting activity for both species throughout the nesting
period. Nesting turtle research is covered by a section 6 agreement
with FWS. Permit 1199 was issued on June 15, 1999, and expires April
30, 2004.
Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that TW-UAB
had applied for a scientific research permit to evaluate the abundance,
movements, and location of juvenile sea turtles in the estuaries of
Alabama, to potentially identify specific foraging areas. The presence
of juvenile sea turtles in estuaries represents a potential conflict
for fisheries and coastal development. However, there is little
information about this issue for the estuaries of Alabama. The
information from this study is critical to developing a prudent
management strategy which protects sea turtles while sustaining the
productivity of the fisheries. The proposed research is a prerequisite
to determining if the
[[Page 33829]]
estuaries of Alabama represent a developmental habitat for juvenile sea
turtles. The applicant proposes to: 1) Identify potential foraging
areas by conducting sampling surveys, and measuring and tagging all
captured turtles, 2) Perform radio tracking on some of the turtles to
determine short term movements, home range, and identify foraging
areas, 3) Collect samples of fecal and stomach materials in order to
identify and document the diets of juvenile turtles, 4) Collect blood
samples to estimate of sex ratio. Permit 1201 was issued on June 11,
1999, and expires February 28, 2001.
Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that an
application had been filed by NWFSC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1212 was issued to NWFSC on May 26, 1999, and authorizes takes
of juvenile SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile SnR
fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, UCR steelhead associated with four studies at the
hydropower dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific
Northwest. The goal of Study 1 is to provide up-to-date survival
estimates of juvenile salmonids as they migrate past McNary Dam on the
Columbia River. The goal of Study 2 is to evaluate the specific trouble
areas in the juvenile fish bypass system at Lower Monumental Dam on the
Snake River. The goal of Study 3 is to compare the performance of
juvenile salmonids tagged with Sham radiotransmitters with juvenile
salmonids tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT) at Lower
Granite Dam on the Snake River. The goal of Study 4 is to determine
tailrace residence times of radio-tagged hatchery chinook salmon under
varying operational conditions at Lower Monumental Dam and to identify
spill conditions that utilize the smallest volumes of water to maximize
fish passage efficiency at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. The
research will provide information that will be used to develop
corrective measures to improve juvenile fish passage at the dams.
Permit 1212 expires on December 31, 2003.
Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that an
application had been filed by NWFSC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1213 was issued to NWFSC on June 3, 1999, and authorizes direct
takes of juvenile SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile SnR
fall chinook salmon; and adult and juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with seven studies at
the hydropower dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific
Northwest. The goal of Study 1 is to evaluate the extended length bar
screen at Little Goose Dam on the Snake River. The goal of Study 2 is
to evaluate a prototype separator at Ice Harbor Dam. The goal of Study
3 is to establish biological design criteria for the fish passage
facility at McNary Dam. The goal of Study 4 is to evaluate an orifice
shelter, an outlet-flow control device, and methods of debris control
at McNary Dam. The goal of Study 5 is to evaluate the modified
extended-length bar screens at John Day Dam on the Columbia River. The
goal of Study 6 is to evaluate the juvenile fish bypass system at John
Day Dam. The goal of Study 7 is to evaluate the modified juvenile fish
bypass system at the second powerhouse of Bonneville Dam on the
Columbia River. The research will provide information that will be used
to develop corrective measures to improve juvenile fish passage at the
dams. Permit 1213 expires on December 31, 1999.
Dated: June 18, 1999.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-16084 Filed 6-23-99; 8:45 am]
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