[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69387-69388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30799]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112003A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of Endangered Species Enhancement Permits 1395, 1396, 
and 1412

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that three enhancement permits 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), have been issued 
and that the decision documents are available upon request. Permit 1395 
was issued jointly to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(WDFW),the Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD), 
and the Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County (Douglas PUD). 
Permit 1396 was issued to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 
Permit 1412 was issued to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation (Colville Tribes).

DATES: Permits 1395, 1396, and 1412 were issued on October 2, 2003, 
subject to certain conditions set forth therein. Permit 1395 expires 
October 2, 2013, and permits 1396 and 1412 expire October 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the decision documents or any of the 
other associated documents should be directed to the Salmon Recovery 
Division, NMFS, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 510, Portland, Oregon, 
97232.

[[Page 69388]]


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.
    Notice of the proposed actions addressed in permit 1395 was 
published on August 1, 2002 (67 FR 49906). A public meeting was held in 
Wenatchee, WA, on August 27, 2002. Permit 1395 authorizes the WDFW, the 
Chelan PUD, and the Douglas PUD to carry out artificial propagation 
programs for the enhancement of listed upper Columbia River steelhead. 
The enhancement programs authorized under permit 1395 are designed to 
supplement the natural spawning populations of upper Columbia River 
steelhead in the Wenatchee River, Methow River, and Okanogan River 
basins and compenstate for inundation and unavoidable fish passage 
losses at Rock Island, Rocky Reach and Wells dams on the mainstem 
Columbia River as provided in three Habitat Conservation Plans. 
Additionally, it authorizes the WDFW to manage adult hatchery steelhead 
returns that are surplus to recovery and broodstock needs. After 
evaluating the potential effects of issuing this permit on listed 
salmon and steelhead in the Upper Columbia River ESUs and the 
environmental consequences, NMFS issued the permit with conditions 
authorizing takes of the ESA-listed anadromous fish species. NMFS' 
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 October 2, 2013.
    Notice of the proposed actions addressed in permit 1396 was 
published on August 1, 2002 (67 FR 49906). A public meeting was held in 
Wenatchee, WA on August 27, 2002. Permit 1396 authorizes the USFWS to 
carry out artificial propagation programs for the enhancement of listed 
upper Columbia River steelhead in the Methow River basin. The 
enhancement program authorized under permit 1396 is intended to 
mitigate for fish losses due to Grand Coulee Dam construction and 
supplement the natural spawning population in the Methow River. After 
evaluating the potential effects of issuing this permit on listed 
salmon and steelhead in the Upper Columbia River ESUs and the 
environmental consequences, NMFS issued the permit with conditions 
authorizing takes of the ESA-listed anadromous fish species. NMFS' 
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 October 2, 2008.
    Notice of proposed actions addressed in permit 1412 was published 
on January 14, 2003 (68 FR 1826). Permit 1412 authorizes the Colville 
Tribes to carry out artificial propagation programs for the enhancement 
of listed upper Columbia River steelhead in the Okanogan River basin. 
The enhancement program authorized under permit 1412 is designed to 
supplement and restore natural spawning of steelhead in Omak Creek, in 
the Okanogan River basin. After evaluating the potential effects of 
issuing this permit on listed salmon and steelhead in the Upper 
Columbia River ESUs and the environmental consequences, NMFS issued the 
permit with conditions authorizing takes of the ESA-listed anadromous 
fish species. NMFS' 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 
October 2, 2003.
    Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that the permits: (1) were applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which are the 
subject of the permit; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. These permits were issued 
in accordance with, and are subject to, 50 CFR part 222, the NMFS 
regulations governing listed species permits.

    Dated: December 8, 2003.
Phil Williams,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30799 Filed 12-11-03; 8:45 am]
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