[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22738-22739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10157]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV81


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Applications for three new scientific research permits.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received three 
scientific research permit application requests 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. The applications may be viewed 
online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm

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 June 1, 2010.

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, 
or online at apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:

[[Page 22739]]

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened Puget Sound 
(PS).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened PS.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened Oregon Coast (OC).

 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 15205

    The Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea (KWIAHT) is 
seeking a five-year permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon while 
conducting research in the San Juan Islands of Washington state. The 
research is designed to help assess juvenile habitat use in the San 
Juan Islands. The researchers would collect information on patterns of 
prey use, contaminant accumulation, and Chinook stock structure in the 
study area. The research would benefit the listed species by helping 
direct habitat protection (especially those habitats linked to prey 
abundance and bioaccumulation of toxicants). The KWIAHT would capture 
fish (using beach seines); measure them; check them for marks, tags, 
and parasites; collect stomach contents and fin tissue samples; and 
release them. The researchers do not intend to kill any of the fish 
being captured but a small number may die as an unintended result of 
the research activities.

Permit 15230

    Forest and Channel Metrics, Inc., (FCM) is seeking a five-year 
permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon and PS steelhead while 
conducting research in the Tolt River basin a tributary to the 
Snoqualmie River in northwest Washington State. The research is part of 
the Seattle City Light Department's effort to enhance salmonid habitat 
in the basin and the department would cooperate in the sampling. The 
researchers would collect information on juvenile salmonid status and 
distribution at the river-reach scale during different seasons of the 
year. The research would benefit listed species by helping direct 
habitat mitigation and enhancement efforts. The FCM researchers would 
capture fish (using boat electrofishing, backpack electrofishing, and 
seine nets); collect weights, lengths, and scale samples; and release 
them. A portion of the PS steelhead would be tagged with passive 
integrated transponders (PIT-tags). The researchers do not intend to 
kill any of the fish being captured but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the research activities.

Permit 15235

    The Oregon State University Department of Fish and Wildlife (OSU) 
is requesting a five-year scientific research to take juvenile Oregon 
Coast coho salmon. The purpose of the project is to study the effects 
of dam removal on aquatic and riparian habitats and on the abundance 
and diversity of vertebrates, invertebrates, and macrophytes. The OSU 
researchers would assess ecosystem conditions above and below Gold Ray 
Dam before and after dam removal. They would also assess ecosystem 
conditions at randomly selected sites throughout the main stem of the 
Rogue River. The information gathered by this research would benefit 
listed salmonids by helping resource managers evaluate how dam removal 
affects aquatic species. The applicant proposes to use boat 
electrofishing equipment to capture fish in the Rogue River from river-
mile 5 up to Lost Creek Dam. Listed fish would be enumerated, measured, 
evaluated for health conditions, and released. The applicant does not 
intend to kill any listed fish species, 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 applications, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the applications meet 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: April 26, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-10157 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S