[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17970-17973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8962]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 040502A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1362, 
1363, 1364, 1365, 1366, 1367, 1369, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1376) and receipt 
of applications to modify research permits (1135, 1141, 1177, 1315, 
1317, 1322).

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received 11 new scientific research permit 
applications and six applications to modify existing scientific 
research permits related to Pacific salmon and steelhead. The proposed 
research is intended to increase knowledge of the listed species and to 
help guide management and conservation efforts.

DATES: Written 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 (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific daylight savings time on May 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of the new applications or 
modification requests should be sent to Protected Resources Division, 
F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737 (503-
230-5400). Comments may also be sent via fax to 503-230-5435. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Stone, Portland, OR (ph: 503-
231-2317, Fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail: [email protected])

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, Puget Sound 
(PS); threatened Lower Columbia River (LCR), threatened Snake River 
(SnR) spring/summer and fall; endangered Upper Columbia River (UCR); 
threatened Upper Willamette River (UWR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened Southern OR/Northern CA Coasts 
(SONCC).
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka); endangered Snake River (SnR)
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): endangered UCR, threatened LCR, threatened 
Middle Columbia River (MCR), and threatened SnR.

Authority

    Scientific research and/or enhancement permits are issued under 
Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq). Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as 
required by the 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 that 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 
hearings 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.

New Applications Received

Permit 1362

    The Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (ICFWRU) 
requests a 3-year permit (1362) for take of adult, threatened, 
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated 
with a scientific research project proposed to occur at Bonneville Dam 
on the lower Columbia River, Lower Granite Dam on the lower Snake 
River, and in the tributaries of the upper Salmon River in Idaho. The 
objective of the research is to evaluate the energy costs, survival, 
and reproductive success of adult salmon associated with their passage 
around the hydropower dams on the mainstem Columbia and Snake Rivers. 
Information collected from the research will be used directly by 
managers to operate fishways and manage spill and flow regimes to 
maximize passage and survival of adult salmonids at the dams. As many 
as 200 adult, threatened, artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer 
chinook salmon that originated from the upper Salmon River region are 
proposed to be lethally taken in 2002 to obtain energy use data. In 
addition, ICFWRU requests take to collect tissues from ESA-listed adult 
salmon carcasses in the upper Salmon River region.

Permit 1363

    The Fish Passage Center (FPC) requests a 5-year permit (1363) for 
annual takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced, SnR spring/
summer chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, SnR steelhead 
associated with a project designed to measure the smolt-to-adult 
survival rates of hatchery and wild spring/summer chinook

[[Page 17971]]

salmon and hatchery steelhead from representative sites in the Snake, 
mid-Columbia River, and lower Columbia River basins. The data will be 
useful in the development of future long-term mitigation measures at 
the hydroelectric dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers, such as flow 
augmentation, spill, and juvenile fish transportation. The wild runs of 
SnR spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead were relatively 
strong in 2000 and 2001. An opportunity exists to tag enough wild 
juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead for the 2002 to 2004 
outmigrations to provide a comparison between smolt-to-adult survival 
rates of transported and inriver wild migrants, as well as between 
Snake River and downriver wild stocks with similar life history 
characteristics. ESA-listed juvenile salmon and steelhead are proposed 
to be captured at traps located on the Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater 
Rivers in Idaho and the Grande Ronde River in Oregon. Captured ESA-
listed juvenile salmon and steelhead are proposed to be tagged with 
passive integrated transponders and released. FPC estimates that as 
many as 167 ESA-listed juvenile salmon and as many as 100 ESA-listed 
juvenile steelhead indirect mortalities may occur each year associated 
with the research.

Permit 1364

    The Idaho Fishery Resource Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) requests a 1-year permit (1364) for takes of juvenile, 
threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, SnR 
steelhead associated with a continuing project designed to evaluate the 
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery steelhead program in Idaho and its 
impacts on ESA-listed salmon and steelhead in the vicinity of the 
hatchery. As a result of non-listed steelhead releases from the 
hatchery, the potential exists for competition, increased stress, 
behavior modification, predation, and genetic risks between hatchery 
steelhead and ESA-listed wild salmon and steelhead stocks. The goal of 
the project is to better understand the extent to which these potential 
risks affect ESA-listed salmon and steelhead stocks and to be able to 
recommend appropriate actions to limit those risks. ESA-listed juvenile 
salmon and steelhead are proposed to be observed/harassed during 
snorkel surveys or captured using boat or backpack electrofishing, 
sampled for biological information and tissue samples, and released. 
USFWS estimates that as many as five ESA-listed juvenile salmon and as 
many as 16 ESA-listed juvenile steelhead indirect mortalities may occur 
associated with the research..

Permit 1365

    The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) 
requests a 2-year permit (1365) for annual takes of threatened, adult 
MCR steelhead associated with research activities to be conducted in 
the Umatilla and Walla Walla River basins. The purpose of the study is 
to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of hatchery and 
natural steelhead adult spawners in the headwater reaches. The study 
will provide additional life history information about MCR steelhead 
required for further development of a steelhead restoration plan in the 
Walla Walla River subbasin. The CTUIR proposes to capture (using hook 
and line, beach seines and Merwin traps), radio tag, and release 120 
adult MCR steelhead. The CTUIR also requests indirect mortality of 
three adult MCR steelhead associated with the study.

Permit 1366

    The Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (OCFWRU) 
requests a 5-year permit (1366) for annual takes of the juvenile life 
forms of all of the ESA-listed anadromous fish ESUs identified in this 
notice associated with a research project proposed to occur at Lower 
Granite Dam on the lower Snake River and McNary and Bonneville Dams on 
the lower Columbia River. The purpose of the research is to compare 
biological and physiological indices of wild and hatchery juvenile fish 
exposed to stress from bypass, collection, and transportation 
activities at the dams. The research will improve the survival of the 
ESA-listed species at the dams by providing information that will be 
used to determine the effects of the manmade structures and associated 
management activities on the outmigrating salmonids. ESA-listed 
juvenile fish are proposed to be captured using lift nets or dipnets at 
the dams (or acquired from Smolt Monitoring Program or NMFS personnel 
at Bonneville Dam), sampled for biological information or tagged with 
radiotransmitters, and released. Up to 3 percent of the ESA-listed 
juvenile fish handled each year may be indirectly killed. In addition, 
OCFWRU requests intentional lethal takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish 
associated with the research.

Permit 1367

    The Northwest Fishery Science Center (NWFSC) requests a 3-year 
permit (1367) for annual takes of threatened, juvenile MCR steelhead 
associated with research activities in the Yakima River, WA. The 
purpose of the study is to estimate the incidence of precocious 
maturation and characterize the related maturational physiology in wild 
Yakima River salmonids in comparison to hatchery reared cohorts. The 
study will provide information on listed species' life histories. The 
NWFSC proposes to capture (using backpack electrofishing equipment), 
handle, and release 15 juvenile MCR steelhead.

Permit 1369

    The King County Department of Natural Resources (KCDNR) requests a 
5-year permit (1369) for annual takes of juvenile, naturally produced 
PS chinook salmon associated with scientific research to be conducted 
in several Puget Sound subbasins. The purpose of the study is to 
investigate scientific issues pertaining to how salmonid habitat in 
King County can be protected while concurrently providing local farmers 
with the technical and regulatory means to drain their farmlands to 
continue agricultural production. This program will develop a 
comprehensive information base about the habitat quality; the extent of 
the current and potential salmonid use of habitat where most commercial 
agriculture occurs; and techniques to avoid, minimize, or mitigate 
agriculture-related impacts on listed salmonids and their habitat. 
KCDNR proposes to capture (using fyke nets, minnow traps, and backpack 
electrofishing equipment), anesthetize, handle, and release eight 
juvenile and two adult PS chinook salmon. KCDNR also requests indirect 
mortality of two juvenile PS chinook salmon associated with the study.

Permit 1370

    The Utah State University (USU) requests a 1-year permit (1370) for 
annual takes of threatened, adult and juvenile SnR spring/summer 
chinook salmon associated with research designed to estimate 
populations of listed fish at various life stages. The study will 
provide information that will allow researchers to improve SnR chinook 
habitat. The USU proposes to observe/harass 1,200 juvenile and 30 adult 
listed chinook and 600 juveniles and 25 adult listed steelhead. In 
addition, the USU proposes to capture (using boat electrofishing and 
blocknets), handle and release 800 juvenile and 10 adult SnR spring/
summer chinook salmon and 690 juvenile and 25 adult SnR steelhead. USU 
also requests indirect mortality of 16 juvenile SnR chinook salmon and 
12 juvenile SnR steelhead associated with the research.

[[Page 17972]]

Permit 1371

    The Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory (BMSL) requests a 1-year 
permit (1371) for annual takes of juvenile, naturally produced PS 
chinook salmon associated with scientific research to be conducted at 
the Mukilteo, WA, ferry terminal in Possession Sound. The purpose of 
the study is to assess potential predation on salmon fry near ferry 
terminals, and if so, determine how future design and modifications to 
terminal structures and operation can reduce these impacts. Specific 
goals of this research are to (1) determine whether potential salmon 
predators are more abundant near terminals or aggregate near terminals 
during juvenile salmon outmigration, (2) establish spatial and temporal 
patterns of potential predator abundance near terminals, (3) assess 
whether potential salmon predators consume more juvenile salmon near 
terminals, and (4) create standardized protocols for evaluating 
predator effects at other terminals. BMSL proposes to capture (using 
beach and purse seines, fish traps, trammel nets, and hook-and-line), 
handle, anaesthetize, and release 100 naturally produced, juvenile PS 
chinook salmon and subject 10 juvenile PS chinook salmon to stomach 
content analysis. BMSL also requests indirect mortality of 30 juvenile 
PS chinook salmon associated with the study.

Permit 1372

    The Puget Sound Energy (PSE) requests a 3-year permit (1372) for 
annual takes of juvenile, naturally-produced and artificially-
propagated PS chinook salmon associated with several studies to be 
conducted in the Baker and Skagit Rivers. The purposes of the studies 
are to assess habitat conditions and fish use in these watersheds. The 
objective of the proposed research is to describe specific aspects of 
fish habitat conditions and use that are potentially affected by the 
operation of the Baker River Dams. The results of the study will 
provide information needed to complete the National Environmental 
Policy Act environmental analysis in support of the Federal Power 
Commission relicensing of the upper and lower Baker River Dams. In 
addition, the information will be used to develop strategies to protect 
and enhance fish production and habitat and assist in the recovery of 
listed salmon. The PSE proposes to harass (snorkel surveys) adult PS 
chinook salmon, capture (using fyke nets, beach seines, minnow traps, 
and backpack electrofishing equipment), anesthetize, handle, and 
release 1,457 juvenile PS chinook salmon. The PSE also requests 
indirect mortality of 59 juvenile PS chinook salmon associated with the 
study.

Permit 1376

    The Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 
University of Washington (UW) requests a 1-year permit for annual takes 
of juvenile, naturally produced PS chinook salmon associated with 
research to be conducted in Lakes Washington and Sammamish. The purpose 
of the research is to understand food web interactions, identify 
sources of mortality, and determine the energetic requirements to 
sustain fish and zooplankton communities in each lake. The study will 
help researchers identify and quantify factors limiting survival and 
growth of juvenile salmon and other species. The UW proposes to 
capture, anesthetize, handle, measure, weigh, and release 92 juvenile 
and four adult PS chinook salmon and subject a subset to stomach 
analysis. The UW also requests indirect mortality of 14 juvenile PS 
chinook salmon associated with the study.

Modification Requests Received

Permit 1135-Modification 1

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) requests a modification to permit 
1135 for annual takes of LCR chinook salmon and additional annual takes 
of adult and juvenile LCR steelhead associated with research designed 
to provide information on the survival rates, growth rates, habitat 
use, population densities, health, and life history diversity of 
steelhead in the Wind River Basin of southern Washington. The research 
will provide information that will assist state, tribal, and Federal 
managers in their effort to restore LCR steelhead populations and 
habitat. The USGS proposes to observe/harass adult and juvenile 
steelhead and chinook during snorkel surveys and during habitat surveys 
at selected sites in the basin. The USGS also proposes to capture 
(using backpack electrofishing), handle, and release 5,000 juvenile LCR 
chinook salmon and an additional 4,500 juvenile LCR steelhead, mark 
(using passive integrated transponder tags) and take tissues/scale 
samples from 1,500 juvenile LCR steelhead, and sacrifice 50 juvenile 
LCR chinook salmon and 50 juvenile LCR steelhead. The USGS requests 
indirect mortality of 200 juvenile chinook salmon and 250 juvenile LCR 
steelhead associated with the study.

Permit 1141-Modification 3

    The Public Utility District No.2 of Grant County (Grant PUD) 
requests a modification to permit 1141 that would add a new study to 
annually take threatened, juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon associated 
with research conducted at Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams. The purpose 
of the study is to (1) estimate dam and pool passage survival of ESA-
listed fish at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams respectively; (2) assess 
travel times, approach routes and other behavioral aspects of yearling 
salmonids in the forebay of Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams; and (3) 
assess smolt survival for spill gates at Wanapum Dam. Information from 
the study will help increase yearling survival through Wanapum and 
Priest Rapids Dams. The Grant PUD proposes to capture, mark (balloon 
tag and radio tag), and release 2,380 juvenile UCR spring chinook 
salmon. Listed spring chinook salmon will be collected from gatewells 
at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams by a crane operated dipnet. In 
addition, Grant PUD proposes to lethally take up to 20 juvenile UCR 
spring chinook salmon. The Grant PUD also requests indirect mortality 
of 48 juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the research.

Permit 1177-Modification 1

    The Portland District Corps of Engineers (COE) requests a 
modification to Permit 1177 for additional annual takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened SONCC coho salmon associated with research and an 
adult trap-and-haul program at Elk Creek Dam on the Rogue River in 
Oregon. The trap-and-haul program is designed to move returning SONCC 
coho above an impassable barrier so that the fish may use upstream 
habitat for natural spawning, thus increasing salmon production. The 
research will determine the annual spawning success of fish upstream of 
the dam. The COE also proposes to capture (using a weir below the dam), 
anesthetize, transport above the dam, tag with an opercle punch, allow 
to recover, and release 1,600 adult SONCC coho salmon. The adult salmon 
will be recaptured to estimate the number of fish that pass downstream 
over the weir. In addition, 45 adult fish carcasses will be examined 
for evidence of spawning and immediately returned to the stream. The 
COE research proposal also anticipates observing/harassing 300 juvenile 
listed coho salmon during snorkel surveys.

[[Page 17973]]

Permit 1315-Modification 1

    The Seattle District COE requests a modification to permit 1315, 
which currently authorizes annual takes of PS chinook salmon for four 
studies. The modification will include the following studies:
    Study 1. The take in study 1 is associated with research designed 
to determine the effectiveness of habitat restoration projects in 
tributaries of Lake Washington. The information will help improve 
restoration projects and increase knowledge of chinook salmon habitat 
use in the Lake Washington watershed.
    Study 2. The take in study 2 is associated with an investigation of 
fish passage conditions at the large lock chamber of the Hiram M. 
Chittenden Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal to identify effects on 
salmonids in the Lake Washington Basin. The study will help researchers 
(1) identify limiting factors contributing to smolt survival, (2) 
develop smolt survival estimates, and (3) assess restoration measures 
to improve smolt survival.
    Study 3. The take in study 3 is associated with a study to document 
fish presence in various habitats in the Sammamish River. The research 
will provide information about juvenile salmonid habitat and 
restoration needs in the river.
    Study 4. The take in study 4 is associated with research to 
determine juvenile salmon use of shoreline areas in Lake Washington and 
to guide restoration projects to enhance shoreline habitats.
    Study 5. The COE requests additional annual takes of juvenile, 
naturally produced PS chinook salmon with an expansion of work 
locations associated with a new study (study 5) to be conducted on the 
Middle Green River. The objectives of this study are to measure the 
emergence, growth, instream migration, relative abundance, and species 
distribution of juvenile salmonids in the Green River. In addition, the 
COE will observe juvenile salmon responses during the Howard Hanson Dam 
(HHD) refill and release. The information will assist with (1) adaptive 
management aspects of the HHD Additional Water Storage Project to 
minimize impacts on the survival of emigrating juvenile salmon and 
steelhead, (2) determining the limiting factors affecting chinook 
salmon, and (3) provide information for the City of Tacoma's Habitat 
Conservation Plan. The COE proposes to capture (using fyke nets, 
floating screw traps, dip nets, and backpack electrofishing equipment), 
anesthetize, handle, fin clip, and release 37,300 juvenile PS chinook 
salmon. The COE also requests indirect mortality of 102 PS chinook 
salmon associated with the study.
    Study 6. The COE requests additional annual takes of juvenile 
naturally-produced PS chinook salmon with an expansion of work 
locations associated with a new study (study 6) to be conducted at the 
outlet of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The purpose of the project is 
to restore downstream fish passage for salmon and steelhead smolts from 
the Lake Washington basin to Puget Sound. The restoration project will 
(1) reduce smolt entrainment into the large lock-filling culverts; (2) 
reduce smolt injury by entrainment reduction, slowing conduit 
velocities, and de-barnacling the conduits; and (3) add four, low-flow 
surface collectors (smolt slides) in two spillways. The COE proposes to 
capture (using purse seines), anesthetize, pit tag, handle, and release 
80 juvenile PS chinook salmon. The COE also requests indirect mortality 
of two PS chinook salmon associated with the study.

Permit 1317-Modification 1

    The USGS requests a modification to Permit 1317 that would increase 
annual takes of juvenile MCR steelhead and add pit tagging and radio 
tagging to sampling methods for research activities on the Toppenish 
National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR), Toppenish Creek, Washington. The 
purpose of the modification is to determine whether juvenile MCR 
steelhead enter the TNWR's wetland management units during the spring 
flooding of Toppenish Creek and are trapped there, thus becoming 
vulnerable to avian predators, high summer water temperatures, and 
stranding. The study will show whether MCR steelhead are straying into 
the wetland management units and managing to escape back to Toppenish 
Creek to continue their downstream migration. The study will also be 
used to help guide TNWR operations so that the fish trapped in the 
management units are less likely to be harmed in the future. The USGS 
proposes to capture, weigh, measure, mark (pit tag and radio tag), and 
release 1,500 juvenile MCR steelhead. Baited minnow traps will be the 
primary capture method, but fyke nets or electrofishing may be used if 
the traps are not successful. The USGS also requests indirect mortality 
of 75 juvenile MCR steelhead associated with the study.

Permit 1322-Modification 1

    The NWFSC requests a modification to permit 1322 for additional 
annual takes of ESA-listed salmonids in the Lower Columbia River 
estuary. The purpose of the study is to determine (1) the presence and 
abundance of fall and spring chinook salmon, coho salmon, and chum 
salmon in the estuary and Lower Columbia River; (2) determine the 
relationship between juvenile salmon and Lower Columbia River estuarine 
habitat; and (3) obtain information about flow change, sediment input, 
and habitat availability for the development of a numerical model. The 
study will serve as the basis for estuarine restoration and 
preservation plans for endangered salmonid stocks. The NWFSC proposes 
to beach seine near the Astoria Bridge and place trapnets in Cathlamet 
Bay. In addition to their current level of take, NWFSC proposes to 
capture (using beach seines and trap nets), anesthetize, scan for tags, 
measure, weigh, and release 38 juvenile UWR chinook salmon, 38 
juvenile, naturally produced and 23 artificially propagated UCR chinook 
salmon, 1168 juvenile, LCR chinook salmon, 38 juvenile, naturally 
produced and 23 artificially propagated SnR spring/summer chinook 
salmon, and 565 juvenile, SnR fall chinook salmon. The NWFSC also 
requests an increase of one juvenile, SnR fall chinook salmon and 14 
juvenile, LCR chinook salmon to sacrifice for stomach content analysis, 
scale, and otolith analyses. In addition, The NWFSC requests indirect 
mortality of two juvenile UWR chinook salmon, one juvenile, naturally 
produced and 37 artificially propagated UCR chinook salmon, 184 
juvenile, LCR chinook salmon, eight juvenile, naturally produced and 
two artificially propagated SnR spring/summer chinook salmon, and 11 
juvenile, SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the study.

    Dated: April 9, 2002.
David O'Brien,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8962 Filed 4-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S