[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 151 (Monday, August 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44615-44617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12751]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080106B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Applications for seven scientific research permits (1135, 
1290, 1318, 1322, 1330, 1333, 1461).

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received seven 
scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific 
salmonids. 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 September 6, 
2006.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments on the applications should be sent to the 
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:

[[Page 44616]]

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened lower 
Columbia River (LCR), threatened upper Willamette River (UWR), 
threatened Snake River (SR) fall, threatened SR spring/summer, 
endangered upper Columbia River (UCR).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened LCR, threatened UWR, threatened 
UCR, threatened SR, threatened middle Columbia River.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened LCR.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): endangered SR.

    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 1135

    The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) is requesting a 5-year research 
permit to take adult and juvenile LCR steelhead. The purpose of this 
study is to collect information on the survival, growth, habitat use, 
population density, health, and life-histories of steelhead in the Wind 
River subbasin of southern Washington. The research would provide 
information to help state, tribal, and Federal managers in their 
efforts to restore LCR steelhead populations and habitats. Permit 1135 
has been in place for almost five years and is due to expire on 
December 31, 2006. Adult and juvenile LCR steelhead would be observed/
harassed during snorkel and habitat surveys. Juvenile LCR steelhead 
would be collected (using backpack electrofishers, minnow traps, 
angling, seines, and weir traps), anesthetized, sampled for biological 
data (length, weight, disease status) and tissues/scales. The fish 
would then be allowed to recover from the anesthesia and released. In 
addition, some juvenile LCR steelhead would be tagged with passive 
integrated transponders (PIT-tags), some would be killed for 
pathological analyses, and a few more may die as an unintended result 
of the research.

Permit 1290

    The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is requesting a 5-
year research permit that would allow them to take all fish species 
covered in this notice while conducting research in the Columbia River 
estuary. The purposes of the research are to determine the prevalence 
and intensity of pathogens in juvenile salmonids and investigate the 
relationship between forage fish populations in the estuary and 
salmonid survival. The research would benefit the fish by contributing 
information on (1) the extent to which diseases affect juvenile 
salmonid growth and survival in the estuarine and early ocean 
environments and (2) the relationship between forage fish abundance and 
salmonid survival in the estuary and marine environments. If the 
researchers cannot obtain enough fish samples from the Columbia River 
estuary, they ask to collect fish at the juvenile bypass facility at 
Bonneville Dam. Permit 1290 has been in place for almost five years and 
is due to expire on December 31, 2006. Juvenile salmonids would be 
variously collected (using beach and purse seines), anesthetized, 
weighed, scanned for tags, fin clipped, sampled for stomach contents, 
allowed to recover from the anesthesia, and released. Not all fish 
would undergo all these procedures, but all would be anesthetized. In 
addition, some juvenile salmonids would be killed for pathological 
analyses, and a few more may die as an unintended result of the 
research.

Permit 1318

    The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is requesting a 
5-year research permit that would allow them to take all fish species 
covered in this notice while conducting research in the Deschutes, 
Willamette, and Columbia Rivers in Oregon. The application contains six 
projects: (1) Warm water fish management surveys; (2) investigations of 
natural production of spring Chinook salmon in the Mohawk River 
subbasin; (3) genetic characterization of rainbow trout in the Upper 
Willamette System; (4) fish abundance, population status, genetics and 
disease surveys in the Upper Willamette Basin; (5) native rainbow and 
cutthroat trout surveys for abundance, size composition, and migration 
patterns in the mainstem McKenzie River; and (6) resident redband 
population estimates in the Deschutes River. The research would benefit 
the fish by providing information on fish population structure, 
abundance, genetics, disease occurrences, and species interactions. 
That information would be used to direct management actions to benefit 
listed species. Permit 1318 has been in place for almost five years and 
is due to expire on December 31, 2006. Juvenile salmonids would be 
collected (using boat electrofishing). Some fish would be anesthetized, 
sampled for length and weight, allowed to recover from the anesthesia, 
and released. Most salmonids would only be shocked and allowed to swim 
away, or be netted and released immediately. The ODFW does not intend 
to kill any of the fish being captured, but a small number may die as 
an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 1322

    The NWFSC is requesting a 5-year research permit that would allow 
them to take all fish species covered in this notice while conducting 
research in the estuary and lower Columbia River. The objectives of the 
research are to (1) determine the presence and abundance of fall and 
spring Chinook, coho, and chum salmon in the estuary and lower Columbia 
River; (2) examine the relationship between juvenile salmon and lower 
Columbia River estuarine habitat; and (3) obtain information about flow 
change, sediment input, and habitat availability withe goal of 
developing a numerical model of the fishes' survival. The research 
would benefit listed salmonids by serving as a basis for estuarine 
restoration and preservation plans. Permit 1322 has been in place for 
almost five years and is due to expire on December 31, 2006. Juvenile 
salmonids would be collected (using trap nets, beach seines, and purse 
seines), anesthetized, measured, sampled for tissues, allowed to 
recover from the anesthesia, and released. Some juvenile salmonids 
would be killed to confirm species identification, catch composition, 
food habits, and timing of estuarine entry. A few more may die as an 
unintended result of the research.

Permit 1330

    The Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyco) is requesting a 5-year research 
permit to take juvenile LCR Chinook salmon, LCR coho salmon, and LCR 
steelhead during the course of research to be conducted in the Toutle 
River and on lands owned by Weyco around Mt. St. Helens in Washington. 
The purposes of the research are to determine fish

[[Page 44617]]

abundance and distribution in the North Fork Toutle River and monitor 
juvenile salmonids in watersheds affected by the 1980 eruption of Mt. 
St. Helens. The information collected would be used to help develop and 
implement effective forest management practices and regulations. The 
research would benefit listed species by contributing information that 
would help Weyco maintain high quality habitat and develop recovery 
plans for listed species. Permit 1330 has been in place for almost five 
years and is due to expire on December 31, 2006. Weyco proposes to 
capture fish using backpack electrofishing, measure, and release them. 
They does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but a 
small number may die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 1333

    The Oregon State University (OSU) Department of Fisheries and 
Wildlife is requesting a 5-year research permit to take adult and 
juvenile UWR Chinook and steelhead during the course of research 
designed to evaluate floodplain and riparian restoration activities, 
test the effectiveness of new assessment tools for conservation 
planning, and improve aquatic habitat. The study would benefit listed 
salmonids by helping determine what actions are needed to restore 
ecological processes in salmon and steelhead habitat. Permit 1333 has 
been in place for almost five years and is due to expire on December 
31, 2006. The OSU proposes to capture (using boat electrofishing), 
measure, examine for abnormalities, and release juvenile fish. Adult 
fish may be encountered but would not be netted. The OSU does not 
intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but a few may die as an 
unintended result of the activities.

Permit 1461

    The USGS is requesting a 5-year research permit that would allow 
them to take all fish species covered in this notice while conducting 
research at Crims Island and the Julia Butler Hanson National Wildlife 
Refuge in the lower Columbia River. The purpose of the research is to 
determine fish species composition, habitat use, and salmon diet 
composition in the areas sampled. The data gathered would be used to 
guide and determine the effectiveness of habitat restoration activities 
in the lower Columbia River. The species would benefit from well-
planned and monitored habitat restoration activities as well as 
(ultimately) the restored habitat itself. Permit 1461 has been in place 
since 2004; the USGS is requesting that the permit be issued for an 
additional five years. Juvenile salmonids would be collected (using 
beach seines, Fyke nets, backpack electrofishing, and boat 
electrofishing), and variously anesthetized, measured for length and 
weight, sampled for stomach contents and scales, marked (using 
fluorescent elastomers, Pan-jet needle-less inocculators, or batch-
marked with a flourochrome dye), PIT-tagged, allowed to recover from 
the anesthesia, and released. Not all fish would undergo all these 
procedures, but all would be anesthetized. The USGS does not intend to 
kill any fish, but a small number 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 1, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-12751 Filed 8-4-06; 8:45 am]
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