[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23008]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082803C]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of three incidental take permits.

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SUMMARY: On August 20, 2003, NMFS Northwest Region issued three 
incidental take permits (1391, 1392, and 1393) allowing endangered 
Pacific salmon and steelhead to be taken incidental to the operation of 
three hydroelectric projects located on the Columbia River, WA. One 
permit was issued to Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County 
(Douglas PUD) and two to Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County 
(Chelan PUD). The projects are each licensed by the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) and are referred to for licensing purposes 
as: Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2145, Chelan PUD), Rock 
Island Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 943, Chelan PUD), and Wells 
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2149, Douglas PUD). NMFS issued the 
permits pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) of 1973, as amended. The actions and the species they affect are 
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

ADDRESSES: The permits, record of decision and related documents are 
available for review by appointment at NMFS' Hydropower Division, 525 
NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737 (phone: 503-230-
5400, fax: 503-230-5435). These documents are also available 
electronically on the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ritchie Graves, Portland, OR (phone: 
503-231-6891, e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    The ESA requires that incidental take permits be issued based on a 
finding that such actions (1) will be incidental to otherwise lawful 
activity; (2) the applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable 
minimize and mitigate the impacts of such taking; (3) the applicant 
will ensure that adequate funding for the plan will be provided; (4) 
the taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and 
recovery of the species in the wild; and (5) any additional measures 
that NMFS finds necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the plan 
will be implemented. Authority to take listed species is subject to 
conditions set forth in the permits. Permits, modifications, and 
amendments are issued in accordance with, and are subject to, the ESA 
and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 
Sections 222.301-222.307).
    This notice covers the following ESA-listed and unlisted species/
evolutionarily significant units (ESUs):

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  Species/Evolutionarily Significant Unit         ESA Listing Status
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Upper Columbia River (UCR) steelhead                          Endangered
 [Oncorhynchus mykiss].....................
UCR spring-run chinook salmon [O.                             Endangered
 tshawytsha]...............................
UCR summer/fall-run chinook salmon [O.                     Not Warranted
 tshawytsha]...............................
Lake Wenatchee sockeye salmon (O. nerka)...                Not warranted
Okanogan River sockeye salmon (O. nerka)...                Not Warranted
Reintroduced non-indigenous coho salmon (O.               Not Applicable
 kisutch)..................................
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    Dated: September 4, 2003.
Laurie K. Allen,
Acting Office Director, Endangered Species Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23008 Filed 9-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S