[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 51352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21111]



[[Page 51352]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA645


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 an application 
from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), for a 
direct take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA). The duration of the proposed Permit is ten 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 application must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific time on September 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the application should be sent to Brian 
Allee, National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Management 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 three weirs in the Lower Columbia. 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 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) 230-5412.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Allee at (503) 231-2009 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Columbia River.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower 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 dated May 2, 2011, and updated on May 23, 2011, 
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife proposes to install 
weirs in the Grays River and Elochoman River, both tributaries of the 
Columbia River, and the Coweeman River, a tributary of the Cowlitz 
River in southwest Washington State. The weir on the Grays River would 
represent a re-location of an existing weir. The weirs are intended to 
address adult salmonid monitoring needs outlined in the Lower Columbia 
Fish Recovery Board's Watershed Conservation Plan through development 
of accurate and precise abundance estimates, and remove hatchery fall 
Chinook salmon from naturally spawning tule fall Chinook salmon 
populations.

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, the permit will be issued to WDFW for 
the purpose of carrying out the installation, operation, and management 
of the weirs. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: August 15, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21111 Filed 8-17-11; 8:45 am]
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