[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43171-43172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20431]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 072699E]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of permits (1194, 1205, 1218) and modifications to 
existing permits (1056, 1126, 1131).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued permits for takes 
of endangered and threatened species for the purposes of scientific 
research and/or enhancement to: Fish Ecology Division, Northwest 
Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA (NWFSC)(1194), Oregon 
Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) (1205), and Washington 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) (1218). Notice is also given 
that NMFS has issued modifications to scientific research permits to: 
NWFSC (1056), WDFW (1126), and the Port of Portland at Portland, OR 
(POP) (1131).

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following office, by appointment:
    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 1056, 1126, 1131, 1194: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR 
(503-230-5433).
    For permits 1205, 1218: 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

[[Page 43172]]

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

Permits Issued

    Notice was published on February 11, 1999 (64 FR 6880), that NWFSC 
applied for a 4-year scientific research permit. Permit 1194 was issued 
on July 23, 1999, authorizing take of the ESA-listed species associated 
with an evaluation of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag 
interrogation systems at Bonneville Dam on the lower Columbia River in 
the Pacific Northwest. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the 
ability of the prototype PIT-tag detection systems to detect PIT-tagged 
adult salmon passing through the facility, and evaluate the effects of 
the detection system on adult behavior as they approach and pass 
through the system. Indirect mortalities of ESA-listed adult fish are 
authorized. Permit 1194 expires on December 31, 2003.
    Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that ODFQ 
applied for a 4-year scientific research permit. Permit 1205 was issued 
on June 16, 1999, authorizing take of listed species. ODEQ is 
authorized annual direct takes of juvenile SONCC coho salmon and adult 
and juvenile UmR cutthroat trout associated with water quality 
assessment studies in southwestern Oregon. ODEQ will capture ESA-listed 
fish in the Rogue and Umpqua River Basins with backpack electrofishing 
equipment, anesthetize them, collect biological information, allow them 
to recover from the anesthetic and release them. Data collected from 
these studies will be used in assessing the productivity status of 
these streams and the effectiveness of measures being taken to restore 
fish populations. Permit 1205 expires December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that WDFW 
applied for a 5-year scientific research permit. Permit 1218 was issued 
on July 23, 1999, authorizing take of listed species. WDFW is 
authorized annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with two 
research studies in the upper Columbia River in Washington. Information 
from the studies will be used to verify the spawning regime, migratory 
behavior, and exact stock of steelhead in the Hanford Reach and upper 
river watersheds above Priest Rapids Dam. This information will be 
valuable in developing future recovery plans for that section of the 
Columbia River. In Study 1, adult steelhead will be captured by 
angling, anesthetized, sampled for biological data, sampled for 
tissues, allowed to recover from anesthetic and released. Eggs and 
alevin steelhead will be collected by excavating redds and sacrificed 
for genetic analysis. Steelhead fry will be collected with seines, 
sampled for biological data, sampled for tissues, and released. In 
Study 2, ESA-listed adult steelhead will be captured at Priest Rapids 
Dam, tagged with radiotransmitters, released, and tracked 
electronically as they migrate upstream. Permit 1218 expires December 
31, 2003.

Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on April 30, 1999 (64 FR 23281), that NWFSC 
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 1056. 
Modification 2 to permit 1056 was issued on July 23, 1999, authorizing 
the take of ESA-listed species. Modification 2 authorizes annual takes 
of adult and juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated, 
SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated with two studies designed 
to monitor wild salmon smolt migration timing, genetic change, and 
population structure over time. For Modification 2, NWFSC is authorized 
to take adult SnR spring/summer chinook salmon carcasses and to 
increase the annual take of juvenile, artificially-propagated, SnR 
spring/summer chinook salmon for study 2. Also for modification 2, 
NWFSC is authorized to add rotary screw traps as a capture method. 
Modification 2 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires 
on December 31, 2001.
    Modification 1 to permit 1126 was issued on June 25, 1999, 
authorizing take of the ESA-listed species. Modification 1 authorizes 
WDFW to collect tissue samples and biological information from 
carcasses during spawning ground surveys and snorkeling activities. 
Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires 
on December 31, 2002.
    Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that POP 
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 1131. 
Modification 1 to permit 1131 was issued on July 23, 1999, authorizing 
take of the ESA-listed species. Modification 1 authorizes an increase 
in the annual take of juvenile, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon and juvenile SnR fall 
chinook salmon associated with research designed to determine the 
presence and distribution of fish in shallow water habitats between the 
lower end of Hayden Island and the Sandy River delta on the Columbia 
River. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit, which 
expires on December 31, 2001.

    Dated: July 30, 1999.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20431 Filed 8-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F