[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43986-43987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18581]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA591


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 two 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), one application from the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (WDFW) and one from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on 
behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT). The Idaho Department of Fish and 
Game (IDFG) is identified as a co-applicant in the WDFW HGMP. The 
proposed permits would expire in 2018. This document serves to notify 
the public of the availability of the permit applications and addenda 
for public review, comment, and submission of written data, views, 
arguments or other relevant information. All comments and other 
information received will become part of the public record and will be 
available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

DATES: Comments and other submissions must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific time on August 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the application should be sent to Craig 
Busack, National Marine Fisheries Service, Salmon Management Division, 
1201 NE. 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 Snake Fall Chinook 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 
Service, Salmon Management Division, 1201 NE. 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) 230-5418.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Busack at (503) 230-5412 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Snake River fall-run.

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.
    On May 11, 2011, NMFS received an application from the WDFW for an 
ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit for the direct take of ESA-listed Snake 
River fall Chinook salmon in order to carry out artificial propagation 
(hatchery) programs at the Lyons Ferry, Oxbow, and Umatilla Hatcheries 
and associated facilities to enhance the species. The purpose of these 
programs is to mitigate for losses of Snake River fall Chinook salmon 
caused by the four lower Snake River dams and the Hells Canyon dam 
complex.

[[Page 43987]]

    Also on May 11, 2011, NMFS received an application from the BIA on 
behalf of the NPT for an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit for the direct 
take of ESA-listed Snake River fall Chinook salmon in order to carry 
out an artificial propagation (hatchery) program at the Nez Perce 
Tribal Hatchery and associated facilities to enhance the species. The 
purpose of this program is to mitigate for losses of Snake River fall 
Chinook salmon caused by the Federal Columbia River Power System.
    On July 18, 2011, the applicants jointly submitted an addendum to 
the HGMPs. The HGMPs and addendum propose continuation of the programs 
as currently designed with two important additions. First, the programs 
will be evaluated annually for indications of adverse effects on the 
Snake River fall Chinook salmon population and, second, the programs 
will be augmented by new research, monitoring, and evaluation (RM&E) to 
address uncertainties about hatchery program effects on Snake River 
fall Chinook salmon viability. The indicator that will be monitored 
annually and the new RM&E actions are described in the addendum, which 
is available for public review and comment as part of the permit 
application package.

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 meet 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 WDFW, IDFG, 
and NPT as co-permit holders for the purpose of carrying out the 
hatchery programs. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in 
the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 19, 2011.
Therese Conant,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-18581 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
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