[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49262-49263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16710]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081605B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for scientific research 
permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific 
research permit applications (1533 and

[[Page 49263]]

1548) relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to 
increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight-saving time on 
September 22, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and public hearing requests on the 
applications should be mailed to Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274; or faxed to 
503-230-5441; or e-mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-
231-2005, fax: 503-230-5441, e-mail: [email protected]. Permit 
application instructions are available at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species (evolutionarily significant units) are 
covered in this notice:
    1. Snake River (SR) fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha);
    2. SR spring/summer (spr/sum) chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha);
    3. Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring chinook salmon (O. 
tshawytscha);
    4. UCR steelhead (O. mykiss); and
    5. Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead (O. mykiss).

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (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 permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of 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 an application listed in this notice 
should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application 
would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Applications Received

Permit 1533

    The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is requesting 
a five-year permit to take adult and juvenile SR spr/sum and fall 
chinook salmon during the course of two studies in the lower Snake 
River. The first study would determine steelhead, bull trout, and 
spring chinook stock status (i.e., distribution, relative abundance, 
and genetic characterization) in mainstem areas and tributaries of the 
Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers in Asotin, Garfield, Whitman, and 
Columbia Counties in Washington State. The second study would take 
place in Asotin Creek, Washington, and would focus on monitoring the 
population status of summer steelhead and spring and fall chinook 
salmon in Asotin Creek above George Creek. It would also focus on the 
productivity of the natural populations in the absence of direct 
hatchery influences (i.e., out-plants or supplementation). The studies 
would benefit the fish by collecting baseline data that would be used 
to improve planning and future management decisions.
    The WDFW intends to capture the fish using smolt traps, hook-and-
line fishing equipment, backpack electrofishers and, possibly, dip 
nets. The fish would be variously captured, handled, measured, tissue-
sampled, and released. Some of the captured juveniles would receive 
passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and a few captured adults 
would receive a combination of floy- and PIT-tags. In some cases, 
tissue samples would be taken from already dead fish. Moreover, rescue 
and salvage operations would be conducted whenever needed. The WDFW 
does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but some may 
die as an unintended result of the research.

Permit 1548

    The Yakima Training Center (YTC) is seeking a five-year permit to 
take juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon, juvenile UCR steelhead, and 
juvenile MCR steelhead during the course of several surveys on YTC land 
in southwestern Washington State. The research is designed to determine 
fish abundance and distribution on the YTC lands as well as describe 
habitat conditions throughout the 500-square mile reservation. The fish 
would benefit from the research because it would allow YTC staff to 
take them fully into account and thereby protect them during all future 
land management planning. It would also give regional fish managers 
important data on fish presence that have not previously been 
available.
    The YTC researchers intend to capture the fish using backpack 
electrofishing gear, seines, and minnow traps. Once captured, the fish 
would be measured, allowed to recover, and released. Some of the 
steelhead may have scale samples taken. The YTC does not intend to kill 
any of the fish being taken, but some may die as an unintended result 
of the activities.
    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 permit 
decisions 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: August 18, 2005.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16710 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
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