[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 25 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6385-6386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2659]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN06


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Application to renew scientific research permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one scientific 
research permit application request 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 application 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on March 11, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application 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:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened lower 
Columbia River (LCR), threatened upper Willamette River (UWR), 
endangered upper Columbia River (UCR), threatened Snake River (SR) 
spring/summer (spr/sum), threatened SR fall.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River (CR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened LCR, threatened UWR, threatened 
middle Columbia River (MCR), threatened SR, endangered UCR, threatened 
PS.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened LCR, threatened Oregon Coast 
(OC), threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California coasts (SONCC).
    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

[[Page 6386]]

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.

Application Received

Permit 1410 - Renewal

    The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is seeking to renew 
permit 1410 for a period of five years. The original permit was in 
place for five years with three modifications; it expired on December 
31, 2008. Under the new permit, the NWFSC would conduct research that 
would annually take adult and juvenile UCR Chinook, SR spr/sum Chinook, 
SR fall Chinook, LCR Chinook, UWR Chinook, SR sockeye, CR chum, LCR 
coho, OC coho, SONCC coho, UCR steelhead, SR steelhead, MCR steelhead, 
LCR steelhead, and UWR steelhead in the Columbia River plume and 
surrounding ocean environment. The purpose of the research is to: (a) 
determine the abundance, distribution, growth and condition of juvenile 
Columbia River salmonids in the plume and nearby ocean environment and 
characterize the area's physical and biological features as they relate 
to salmonid survival; (b) determine the impact that predators and food 
supply have on survival among juvenile Columbia River Chinook and coho 
salmon as they migrate through the Columbia River estuary and plume; 
and (c) synthesize the early ocean ecology of juvenile Columbia River 
salmonids, test mechanisms that control salmonid growth and survival, 
and produce ecological indices that forecast salmonid survival.
    Ultimately the NWFSC would use simulation models and statistical 
analyses of climatic, oceanic, and other biological data and indices to 
help inform management decisions regarding the Columbia river and its 
salmonid populations. The research would benefit listed species by 
providing data that would help managers understand the linkages between 
salmonid abundance, distribution, growth, genetics, and health, and the 
effects of disease, parasites, diet, and predation in the estuarine and 
ocean environment. Ultimately, the data would help researchers and 
managers quantify the effects of habitat restoration efforts and 
improve harvest and hatchery guidelines. In any case, the research 
would provide important information on salmonid life histories in the 
study area. The NWFSC proposes to capture the fish (using surface 
trawling), identify, sample, and release adult fish. The juvenile fish 
would be sacrificed to map disease presence and determine the effects 
that diet, parasites, genetics, etc. have on fish condition.
    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 
decision 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 3, 2009.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2659 Filed 2-6-09; 8:45 am]
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