[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 77730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28369]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120304A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Application for enhancement of survival permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
for an enhancement of survival permit from the Lower Columbia Fisheries 
Enhancement Group (LCFEG). The proposed action is intended to enhance 
and restore salmonid habitat in southwest Washington.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application 
request must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight-saving time on January 
27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to 
Habitat Conservation Division, NMFS, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 103, 
Lacy, WA 98503. Comments may also be sent via fax to 360-753-9517 or by 
e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Ehinger, Lacey, WA (phone: 
360-534-9341, fax: 360-753-9517, e-mail: [email protected]); 
or Dan Guy at the same office (phone: 360-534-9342, email: 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in this Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Lower 
Columbia River (LCR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened LCR.
    Coho (O. kisutch): Proposed threatened LCR.

Authority

    Scientific research and enhancement of survival permits are issued 
in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) and regulations governing listed 
fish and wildlife permits (50 CFS 222-226). NMFS issues permits based 
on findings that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in 
good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, 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. The authority to take listed species is subject 
to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on the application listed in this 
notice should set out the specific reason why a hearing would be 
appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA.

Application Received

    The LCFEG is requesting a 5-year permit to annually take juvenile 
threatened LCR chinook salmon, threatened LCR steelhead, and proposed 
threatened LCR coho. They propose to undertake projects that will 
enhance and restore salmon habitat in southwest Washington. The primary 
tributaries they propose to work in are the Washougal, Lewis, Kalama, 
Cowlitz, Toutle, Elochman, Grays, and Chinook River watersheds. The 
LCFEG is one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group's (RFEG's) 
created by the Washington State legislature in 1990. Each RFEG is an 
independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to 
increase salmonid populations.
    The proposed projects were developed using the Lead Entity's 
Interim Strategy for Habitat Restoration (http://www.lcfrb.gen.wa.us.gtml) and the Limiting Factors Analysis completed 
by the Washington State Conservation Commission (http://salmon.scc.wa.gov/reports/index.html).
    The projects would be carefully monitored, and the LCFEG would 
provide annual reports to NMFS so that the actions can be evaluated 
and, if needed, modified. The LCFEG will also monitor take and provide 
NMFS with annual reports stating the take types and amounts.
    The proposed activities will be carried out solely for the benefit 
of listed salmon; that is, for the enhancement of survival of listed 
salmonids. The LCFEG will take specific measures such as designing, 
scheduling, and sequencing construction work to minimize any adverse 
impacts. Complete details of conservation measures are provided in the 
permit application.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10 (c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10 (a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final 
permitdecision will not be made until after the end of the 30-day 
comment period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: December 21, 2004.
Phil Williams,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28369 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
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