[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8844-8845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2404]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021406A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for two scientific research permits and one permit 
modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received three scientific 
research permit application requests 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 standard time on March 23, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent via fax to 503-230-
5441 or by e-mail 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 from the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): endangered upper 
Columbia River (UCR); threatened lower Columbia River (LCR); threatened 
upper Willamette River (UWR).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River (CR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened middle Columbia River (MCR); 
threatened UCR; threatened UWR; threatened LCR.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened LCR.

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 1559

    The Oregon State University (OSU) is asking for a 3-year research 
permit to take adult and juvenile UCR Chinook salmon, UCR steelhead, 
MCR steelhead, UWR Chinook salmon, and UWR steelhead in randomly-
selected river systems in Oregon and Washington. The research was 
previously approved under Permit 1156; it is designed to help managers 
assess the condition of rivers and streams in the 12 conterminous

[[Page 8845]]

western states and evaluate and develop scientifically and 
statistically rigorous field protocols for assessing large (unwadeable) 
rivers. The study would benefit listed salmonids by providing baseline 
information about water quality in the study areas and helping managers 
enforce the Clean Water Act in those river systems where listed fish 
are present. The OSU proposes to capture fish (using raft-mounted 
electrofishing equipment), sample them for biological information, and 
release them. The researchers will seek to avoid adult salmonids, but 
some may be handled as an unintentional result of the sampling. 
Moreover, OSU does not intend to kill any fish being captured but some 
juvenile fish may die as an unintentional result of the research 
activities.

Permit 1560

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is asking for a 3-year research 
permit to take adult and juvenile MCR steelhead, LCR Chinook salmon, 
LCR coho salmon, and CR chum salmon in the White Salmon River, 
Washington a tributary to the lower Columbia River. The objectives of 
the research are to: (1) Determine fish assemblage composition and fish 
use in the lower White Salmon River; (2) assess salmonid growth and 
survival as indices of productivity; (3) contribute to U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service efforts to characterize life history, genetics, and 
health of Chinook stocks that currently use the lower White Salmon 
River; and (4) coordinate with ongoing sampling efforts associated with 
dam removal projects in the Elwha River system (Olympic Peninsula, 
Washington). The study would benefit listed salmonids by providing 
information on the effects dam removal may have on important fish 
species such as Chinook, coho, steelhead, Pacific lamprey, bull trout, 
and sea-run cutthroat trout. The U.S. Geodetic Survey (USGS) proposes 
to conduct snorkel surveys instead of capturing fish whenever possible, 
but they will also capture fish using backpack electrofishing equipment 
and traps and anesthetize, measure, weigh and inspect them for external 
diseases. Researchers would clip the fins of some captured fish in 
order to collect genetic tissues and gauge trapping efficiency. The 
researchers will seek to avoid adult salmonids, but some may be handled 
as an unintentional result of the sampling. Moreover, the USGS does not 
intend to kill any fish being captured but some juvenile fish may die 
as an unintentional result of the research activities.

Permit 1336 - Modification 1

    Permit 1336 currently authorizes the Port Blakely Farms (PBF) to 
take juvenile UWR Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, UWR steelhead and 
LCR steelhead in headwater streams in western Oregon and Washington. 
They are asking to modify their permit so they may be allowed to take 
LCR coho salmon; they also wish to extend the permit's expiration date 
to December 31, 2010. The purpose of the research is to evaluate 
factors limiting fish distribution and water quality in streams owned 
by PBF. The research would benefit listed salmonids by producing data 
to be used in conserving and restoring critical habitat. The PBF 
proposes to capture (using backpack electrofishing and dipnetting), 
handle, and release juvenile fish. The PBF does not intend to kill any 
fish being captured but some may die as an unintentional result of the 
research 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: February 14, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2404 Filed 2-17-06; 8:45 am]
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