[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27016-27017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11451]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA420


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for two new scientific research permits.

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[[Page 27017]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. The 
proposed research would increase knowledge of species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and help guide management and conservation 
efforts.

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 9, 2011.

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]. The applications may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm. Permit application instructions are available from 
the address above, or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR, ph.: 503-
231-2005, fax: 503-230-5441, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened upper 
Willamette River (UWR); threatened lower Columbia River (LCR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened UWR, threatened LCR.
    Chum salmon (O. nerka): Threatened Columbia River CR.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened LCR.

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 15611

    The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking a 
5-year permit to take adult LCR Chinook salmon, LCR steelhead, LCR coho 
salmon, and CR chum salmon while operating a fish collection facility 
on the North Fork Toutle River in Washington State. The fish collection 
facility is located at river mile 47.5, approximately 1.3 miles 
downstream from the Mount St. Helens Sediment Retention Structure. The 
purpose of the project is to trap and haul salmon and steelhead around 
the sediment retention structure. The WDFW would also collect 
scientific information and tag a portion of the fish to monitor 
migration patterns and spawning success. The activities' primary 
benefit would be to allow listed salmon and steelhead to spawn in 
historically accessible habitat upstream of the sediment retention 
structure. Also, researchers would collect information that would 
increase our understanding of the various species' spawning habits. The 
WDFW proposes to operate the trap several days a week during the 
species' upstream migration. Captured fish would be transported in a 
tanker truck and released upstream of the sediment retention structure. 
The WDFW does not intend to kill any fish being captured but some may 
die as an unintentional result of the activities.

Permit 16290

    The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking a 5-
year permit to take listed salmonids while conducting research on the 
Oregon chub. The purpose of the research is to study the distribution, 
abundance, and factors limiting the recovery of Oregon chub. The ODFW 
would capture, handle, and release juvenile UWR Chinook salmon, UWR 
steelhead, LCR Chinook salmon, LCR steelhead, LCR coho salmon, and CR 
chum salmon while conducting the research. The Oregon chub is endemic 
to the Willamette Valley of Oregon and the habitats it depends on are 
also important to salmonids. Research on the Oregon chub would benefit 
listed salmonids by helping managers recover habitats the species 
share. The ODFW would use boat electrofishing equipment, minnow traps, 
beach seines, dip nets, hoop nets, and fyke nets to capture juvenile 
fish. Researchers would avoid contact with adult fish. If listed 
salmonids are captured during the research they would be released 
immediately. The researchers do not expect to kill any listed salmonids 
but a small number may die as an unintended result of the research 
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: May 5, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11451 Filed 5-9-11; 8:45 am]
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