[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 84 (Monday, May 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25312-25313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10796]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041900D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of a scientific research permit (1227) and 
modifications to existing permits (1136, 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 issued a permit to Dr. Peter Dutton, of NMFS' Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center (PD-SWFSC) (1227); and NMFS has issued 
modifications to scientific research permits to the Oregon Cooperative 
Fishery and Wildlife Research Unit at Corvallis, OR (OCFWRU) (1136) and 
Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County at Ephrata, WA (GCPUD) 
(1141).

ADDRESSES: The applications, permits, and related documents are 
available for review in the indicated office, by appointment:
    For permits 1136 and 1141: Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 
525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737 (ph: 503-230-
5400, fax: 503-230-5435).
    For permit 1227: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species 
Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (ph: 
301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).
    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 1227: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (ph: 301-713-1401, 
fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: [email protected]).
    For permits 1136 and 1141: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (ph: 503-230-
5424, fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 25313]]

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).
    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, runs, and evolutionarily significant units 
(ESU's) are covered in this notice:

Sea Turtles

    Endangered leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Fish

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Snake River 
(SnR) fall, threatened SnR spring/summer, endangered upper Columbia 
River (UCR) spring.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): Endangered SnR.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Endangered UCR.

Permits and Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on April 26, 1999 (64 FR 20266), that OCFWRU 
had applied for a modification to permit 1136. Modification 1 to permit 
1136 was issued on April 13, 2000, and authorizes OCFWRU to capture 
fish at two additional locations: Little Goose Dam on the Snake River 
and John Day Dam on the Columbia River. Modification 1 also authorizes 
OCFWRU annual takes of juvenile naturally produced and artificially 
propagated UCR spring chinook salmon. Lethal take and indirect 
mortalities of juvenile naturally produced and artificially propagated 
UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the research are also 
authorized. A second notice of receipt was published on May 13, 1999 
(64 FR 25873) because NMFS had received an amended modification request 
seeking an increase in the annual take of ESA-listed fish associated 
with the research. The additional take is authorized to accommodate 
expected increased abundance of some species in 1999. Modification 1 is 
valid for the duration of permit 1136, which expires on December 31, 
2000.
    Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that GCPUD 
had applied for a modification to scientific research permit 1141. 
Modification 1 to permit 1141 was issued on May 5, 1999 (64 FR 25873) 
but did not include annual takes of UCR spring chinook salmon. Permit 
1141 authorizes GCPUD annual takes of adult and juvenile naturally 
produced and artificially propagated UCR steelhead associated with four 
scientific research studies at or in the vicinity of Wanapum and Priest 
Rapids Dams located on the upper Columbia River in Washington. The 
purpose of Study 1 is to monitor outmigrating adult and juvenile 
steelhead condition, survival, and travel time relative to spill 
effectiveness at the dams. The purpose of Study 2 is to substantiate 
and document hydroacoustic accuracy at Wanapum Dam. The purpose of 
Study 3 is to evaluate the relative abundance of the fish fauna 
inhabiting the Priest Rapids project area. The purpose of Study 4 is to 
assess the survival of juvenile, artificially propagated, UCR steelhead 
as they migrate past Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams. Notice is hereby 
given that NMFS issued an amendment to permit 1141 on April 13, 2000. 
The permit amendment authorizes GCPUD annual takes of adult and 
juvenile naturally produced and artificially propagated UCR spring 
chinook salmon associated with Studies 1 and 3. The permit amendment 
also authorizes the take of ESA-listed salmon and steelhead associated 
with Study 3 annually for the duration of the permit. The amendment is 
valid for the duration of permit 1141, which expires on December 31, 
2002.
    Notice was published on October 22, 1999 (64 FR 57069), that PD-
SWFSC had applied for a scientific research permit. Permit 1227 was 
issued on April 18, 2000, and authorizes takes of leatherback turtles 
in Monterey Bay, CA as part of a stock identification and movement 
study. Permit 1227 expires on December 31, 2002.

    Dated: April 23, 2000.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10796 Filed 4-28-00; 8:45 am]
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