[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69551-69552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20377]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112706D]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
from the Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (Grant PUD), the 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN) for a direct take permit 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The 
duration of the proposed Permit is three years. This document serves to 
notify the public that the permit applications and the associated draft 
environmental assessment (EA) are available for comment before a final 
decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact is made 
by NMFS for take of upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon and 
steelhead. All comments received will become part of the public record 
and will be available for review pursuant to the ESA.

DATES: Written comments on the application and draft EA must be 
received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time January 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to 
Kristine Petersen, National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery 
Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. 
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following 
identifier: ``Comments on White River program''. Comments may also be 
sent via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737.
    Requests for copies of the permit application should be directed to 
the National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery Division, 1201 
NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. The documents are 
also available on the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov. Comments received 
will be available for public inspection by appointment during normal 
business hours by calling (503) 230-5409.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristine Petersen at (503) 230-5409 or 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the following 
species and evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) or distinct 
population segments (DPSs):
    1. Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): endangered, upper Columbia 
River spring-run.
    2. Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, naturally produced 
and artificiallypropagated Upper Columbia River.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the 
``taking'' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term 
``take'' is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage 
in any such conduct. NMFS may issue permits to take listed species for 
any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to 
enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species, under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. NMFS regulations governing permits for 
threatened and endangered species are promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307.
    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. NMFS expects to take action on two ESA section 
10(a)(1)(A) submittals received from the applicants. Therefore NMFS is 
seeking public input on the scope of the required NEPA analysis, 
including the range of reasonable alternatives and associated impacts 
of any alternatives.
    In an application received on August 27, 2006, the Grant PUD 
submitted an application to NMFS for an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit 
for the direct take of ESA-listed upper Columbia River spring Chinook 
salmon from the White River in Chelan County, in order to carry out an 
artificial propagation (hatchery) program to enhance the species. The 
purpose of this program is to prevent the extinction of, conserve, and 
ultimately restore the naturally spawning White River spring Chinook 
salmon spawning aggregate, which is part of the Wenatchee population 
within the upper Columbia River basin.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the 
requirements of

[[Page 69552]]

section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined that the 
requirements are met, a permit will be issued jointly to the Grant PUD, 
the WDFW, and the YN for the purpose of carrying out the enhancement 
program. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in the Federal 
Register.
    The general effects on the environment considered include the 
impacts on the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments of 
the upper Columbia River Basin, particularly in the Wenatchee River 
Subbasin in which the program is located.

    Dated: November 28, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-20377 Filed 11-30-06; 8:45 am]
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