[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 148 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44705-44706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17570]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ33


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 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), for a 
direct take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA). The duration of the proposed Permit is ten years. This 
document serves to

[[Page 44706]]

notify the public of the availability for comment of the permit 
application. 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 daylight time on September 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to 
Richard Turner, 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 Grays 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 also be available 
for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours by 
calling (503) 736-4737.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Turner at (503) 736-4737 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)
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus. tshawytscha): threatened, Lower 
Columbia River
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened, Lower Columbia River
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened, 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.
    NMFS expects to take action on a ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) submittal 
received from the applicant. In an application received on July 11, 
2008, WDFW submitted an application to NMFS for an ESA section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit for the direct take of ESA-listed threatened Lower 
Columbia River Chinook salmon, Lower Columbia River Coho salmon, and 
Columbia River Chum salmon from the Grays River in Wahkiakum County, 
Washington. A temporary weir will be installed in the lower Grays River 
in order to complement existing adult salmonid monitoring efforts in 
the Grays River in developing accurate and precise estimates of total 
abundance, and to promote recovery of the Grays River fall Chinook 
salmon population through the removal of non-local hatchery Chinook 
salmon.
    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 section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined 
that the requirements are met, a permit will be issued to the WDFW for 
the purpose of carrying out the research program. NMFS will publish a 
record of its final action in the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 25, 2008.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17570 Filed 7-30-08; 8:45 am]
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