[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14133-14134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6545]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV39


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Notice of receipt and request for comment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received four 
applications for direct take permits, in the form of Hatchery and 
Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (ESA); two applications from the Public Utility 
District No. 1 (PUD) of Chelan County and two from the Public Utility 
District No. 2 (PUD) of Grant County. The Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (WDFW) is identified as a co-permit applicant in each of 
these HGMPs. The duration of each of the proposed Permits is ten (10) 
years. This document serves to notify the public of the availability 
for comment of the permit applications. All comments received will 
become part of the public record and will be available for review 
pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

DATES:  Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on April 
23, 2010.

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 Wenatchee HGMPs. Comments 
may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737. Requests for 
copies of the permit applications should be directed to the National 
Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd 
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. The documents are also 
available on the Internet at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov. Comments received 
will also 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:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Upper Columbia River spring-run.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated 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.
    In an application received on October 15, 2009, the Chelan 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 Chiwawa River in order to carry out an artificial 
propagation (hatchery) program to enhance the species. The purpose of 
this program is to mitigate for un-avoidable mortality of upper 
Columbia River spring Chinook salmon at Rock Island and Rocky Reach 
Dams as well as to conserve, and ultimately restore the naturally 
spawning Chiwawa River spring Chinook salmon spawning aggregate, which 
is part of the Wenatchee population within the Upper Columbia River 
basin.
    In an application received on October 15, 2009, the Chelan 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 steelhead from 
the Wenatchee River in order to carry out an artificial propagation 
(hatchery) program to enhance the species. The purpose of this program 
is to mitigate for un-avoidable mortality of upper Columbia River 
steelhead at Rock Island and Rocky Reach Dams as well as to conserve, 
and ultimately restore the naturally spawning Wenatchee River steelhead 
population within the Upper Columbia River basin.
    In an application received on February 25, 2010, the Grant PUD 
submitted an application with an addendum 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 Nason Creek in order to carry out 
an artificial propagation (hatchery) program to enhance the species. 
The purpose of this program is to mitigate for un-avoidable mortality 
of spring Chinook salmon at Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams as well as 
to conserve, and ultimately restore the naturally spawning Nason Creek 
spring Chinook salmon spawning aggregate, which is part of the 
Wenatchee population within the Upper Columbia River basin.
    In an application received on February 25, 2010, the Grant PUD 
submitted an application with an addendum to NMFS for an ESA section

[[Page 14134]]

10(a)(1)(A) permit for the direct take of ESA listed upper Columbia 
River spring Chinook salmon from the White River in order to carry out 
an artificial propagation (hatchery) program to enhance the species. 
The purpose of this program is to mitigate for un-avoidable mortality 
of spring Chinook salmon at Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams as well as 
to 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.

Authority

    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate each application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted thereon to determine whether the applications meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined 
that the requirements are met, permits will be issued to the Chelan and 
Grant PUDs with the WDFW as co-permit holder for the purpose of 
carrying out the enhancement program. NMFS will publish a record of its 
final action in the Federal Register.

    Dated: March 18, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6545 Filed 3-23-10; 8:45 am]
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