[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35440-35441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15074]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX03


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
from the Nisqually Indian Tribe for a direct take permit pursuant to 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The duration of 
the proposed permit is five years. This document serves to 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 applications must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific time on July 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to Tim 
Tynan, National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery Division, 
510 Desmond Dr., Suite 103, Lacey, WA 98503. 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 Nisqually weir. Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 
(360) 753-9517. 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 
document is 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: Tim Tynan at (360) 753-9579 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, Puget Sound
    Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, Puget Sound

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

[[Page 35441]]

threatened and endangered species are promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307.
    In an application package received on April 20, 2010, the Nisqually 
Indian Tribe (Tribe) submitted an application to NMFS for a section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit (permit number 15522). The Tribe proposes to install 
a low-impact floating weir on the Nisqually River, a tributary to Puget 
Sound in Washington State. The weir is intended for monitoring and 
research on adult Chinook salmon. The project has three objectives: (1) 
To complement existing adult salmonid monitoring efforts in the 
Nisqually River in developing accurate and precise estimates of total 
abundance, (2) to promote recovery of the Nisqually River fall Chinook 
salmon population through removal of escaping hatchery-origin Chinook 
salmon adults to increase productivity and intra-population diversity 
and promote local adaptation, and (3) use Chinook salmon demographic, 
biological, and genetic data collected through the weir operation to 
evaluate the effects of hatchery-origin Chinook salmon removal on 
natural Chinook salmon productivity and develop an adaptive management-
based terminal area management plan for the species.
    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 Tribe for 
the purpose of installing the weir and carrying out the research and 
enhancement program. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in 
the Federal Register.

    Dated: June 16, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-15074 Filed 6-21-10; 8:45 am]
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