[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13305-13306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5260]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022301B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for five scientific research/
enhancement permits (1293, 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298).

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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 five 
applications for scientific research/enhancement permits under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA): Brian Perleberg of Northern Resource 
Consulting at Longview, WA (NRC) (1293); Peter Dutton, Ph.D., of the 
NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Donna McDonald (1297), Dr. 
R. Michael Laurs, of the NMFS - Southwest Fisheries Science Center 
(NMFS-SWFSC) (1296); Dr. Michael P. Sissenwine of the NMFS - Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center (NMFS-NEFSC) (1295) and Ms. Melissa Salmon, of 
Riverbanks Zoological Park (1298).

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the new 
applications or modification requests must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number no later than 5

[[Page 13306]]

p.m. eastern standard time on April 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of the new applications or 
modification requests should be sent to the appropriate office as 
indicated below. Comments may also be sent via fax to the number 
indicated for the application or modification request. Comments will 
not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. The 
applications and related documents are available for review in the 
indicated office, by appointment:
    For permits 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298: Endangered Species Division, F/
PR3, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone:301-713-
1401, fax: 301-713-0376).
    For permit 1293: Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE 
Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737 (phone: 503-230-5400, 
fax: 503-230-5435).
    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 (phone:301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permits 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298: 
Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (phone: 301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-
0376, e-mail: [email protected])
    For permit 1293: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (ph: 503-230-5424, fax: 
503-230-5435, e-mail: [email protected]).

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 10(a)(1)(A) 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 are covered in this notice:

Sea turtles

    Threatened and endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
    Endangered Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
    Endangered Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
    Endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
    Threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
    Threatened and endangered Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys 
olivacea)

Fish

    Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, upper Columbia River (UCR) spring; threatened 
lower Columbia River (LCR).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated, UCR; threatened middle Columbia River (MCR); 
threatened LCR.
    Endangered Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

New Applications Received

Application 1293

    Brian Perleberg of NRC requests a 5-year permit (1293) for annual 
takes of ESA-listed anadromous fish species associated with scientific 
research to be conducted in numerous headwater streams throughout OR 
and WA. The purpose of the research is to determine juvenile fish 
presence or absence on privately owned timberlands and to provide the 
Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Oregon Department of 
Forestry, and other state agencies with information to be used to 
update fish distribution maps. The research will benefit ESA-listed 
salmonids by providing information on the upper extent of fish usage in 
headwater streams, providing information on potential stream blockages 
which may inhibit anadromous fish migration, and providing information 
that will assist small landowners with culvert projects that could 
result in an increase in available fish habitat. ESA-listed juvenile 
fish are proposed to be observed/harassed or captured (using 
electrofishing or angling), handled, and released. ESA-listed juvenile 
fish indirect mortalities are also requested.

Application 1295

    The applicant has requested a 5-year permit to take sea turtles 
during research activities conducted by the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center. The center is developing a 5-year plan for turtle research. The 
goal of the 5-year plan for sea turtles in the Northeast is to work 
cooperatively with other regions to support and direct research on sea 
turtles in order to identify and assess the status of sea turtle 
stocks, reduce the estimated mortality associated with fishing 
activities and other anthropogenic and natural sources and to recover 
ESA listed species.

Application 1296

    The applicant has requested a 5-year permit to authorize commercial 
fisherman working in the Hawaii Longline Fishery to flipper tag and 
collect biopsy samples from sea turtles incidentally taken in the 
fishery. Tissue collection training and program oversight will be 
conducted by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. The information 
gained from the additional tissue samples will allow NMFS to better 
fulfill its ESA responsibilities to protect, conserve, and recover 
listed species of sea turtles and better meet the goals and objectives 
of the U.S. Pacific Sea Turtle Recovery Plans and the requirements of 
present and future Section 7 biological opinions developed for this 
fishery.

Application 1297

    The applicant has requested a 5-year permit to continue to conduct 
long-term monitoring of the status of turtles in San Diego Bay, CA. The 
applicant currently holds permit 988 which will expire on 
April 30. 2001. Information that will be gathered during the 
continuation of this research include: numbers of animals present, 
species composition, size, sex, health status, and presence or absence 
of tags.

Application 1298

    The applicant has requested a 5-year permit to continue to maintain 
eleven adult shortnose sturgeon received from the South Carolina 
Department of Natural Resources in 1996 for education purposes.

    Dated: February 27, 2001.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Deputy Office Director, Office of Protected Resources, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-5260 Filed 3-2-01; 8:45 am]
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