[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 66127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27564]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 102102D ]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Issuance of Permit 1094

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

ACTION: Issuance of amendment to enhancement permit 1094.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has amended research and enhancement permit 1094 held by 
the State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the decision documents or any of the 
other associated documents should be directed to the Hatcheries and 
Inland Fisheries Branch, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NOAA 
Fisheries, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 510, Portland, OR, 97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristine Petersen, Portland, OR at 
phone number: (503) 230-5409, e-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following species and evolutionarily 
significant units (ESUs) are covered in the permit:
    Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): endangered Upper Columbia River.
    Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): endangered Upper Columbia River 
spring run.

Decision

    Notice of proposed actions similar in scope to the proposed 
amendment actions was published on August 1, 2002 (67 FR 49906). A 
public meeting was held in Wenatchee, WA on August 27, 2002. The 
amended permit authorizes WDFW to manage adult hatchery steelhead 
returns that are surplus to recovery and broodstock needs. Permit 1094 
authorizes WDFW's activities related to carrying out the steelhead 
artificial propagation enhancement program in the Upper Columbia River. 
After evaluating the potential effects of this amendment on listed 
salmon and steelhead in the Upper Columbia River ESUs and the 
environmental consequences, NOAA Fisheries issued an amended permit 
with conditions authorizing takes of the ESA-listed anadromous fish 
species. NOAA Fisheries' conditions will ensure that the takes of ESA-
listed anadromous fish will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of 
the survival and recovery of the species in the wild. The permit 
expires May 31, 2003.

Rationale for Decision

    Favorable environmental conditions leading to a return of hatchery 
steelhead surplus to the number needed on spawning grounds precipitate 
the need to provide additional scope to available techniques for 
managing these experimental enhancement program fish, responsive to 
conservation needs of natural spawning populations in the Upper 
Columbia River basin. This amendment provides additional mitigation 
measures to avoid, minimize, and/or compensate for the anticipated 
takes of ESA-listed anadromous fish.
    The amended permit was granted only after NOAA Fisheries determined 
that all permit issuance criteria were met, including the requirement 
that granting the permit would not jeopardize the continued existence 
of the species, and that the permit is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

    Dated: October 24, 2002.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27564 Filed 10-29-02; 8:45 am]
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