[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27186-27188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11205]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC019


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, two 
research permit renewals, and one permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received six 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 8, 2012.

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 email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-231-
2314), Fax: 503-230-5441, email: [email protected]). Permit 
application instructions are available from the address above, or 
online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Puget Sound 
(PS); threatened lower Columbia River (LCR); endangered upper Columbia 
River (UCR); threatened Snake River (SR) spring/sum (spr/sum); 
threatened SR fall;
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened PS; threatened LCR; threatened 
UCR; threatened SR; threatened middle Columbia River (MCR).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened Columbia River (CR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened LCR.
    Eulachon: (Thaleichthys pacificus): Threatened southern distinct 
population segment (DPS)

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 1135-7R

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is requesting to renew 
its permit to take adult and juvenile LCR steelhead. The purpose of 
this study is to collect information on the survival,

[[Page 27187]]

growth, habitat use, population density, health, and life-histories of 
steelhead in the Wind River subbasin of southern Washington. The 
research would provide information to help state, tribal, and Federal 
managers in their efforts to restore LCR steelhead populations and 
habitats. Permit 1135 has been in place for several years and recently 
expired on December 31, 2011. Adult and juvenile LCR steelhead would be 
observed and possibly harassed during snorkel and habitat surveys. 
Juvenile LCR steelhead would be collected (using backpack 
electrofishers, minnow traps, angling, seines, and weir traps), 
anesthetized, sampled for biological data (length, weight, disease 
status) and tissues/scales. The fish would then be allowed to recover 
from the anesthesia and released. In addition, some juvenile LCR 
steelhead would be tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT-
tags), some would be killed for pathological analyses, and a few more 
may die as an unintended result of the research.

Permit 1175-5R

    The Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GPNF) is requesting to renew 
its permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon, PS steelhead, MCR 
steelhead, LCR Chinook salmon, LCR coho salmon, and LCR steelhead. The 
purpose of this research is to determine fish species presence and 
distribution, record fish habitat conditions, and inventory spawning 
areas on lands the GPNF administers. The information would be used in 
broad-scale analyses (e.g., watershed analysis) and project-level 
planning (e.g., timber sales and habitat restoration projects). The 
research would benefit listed salmonids by providing the GPNF with 
information to improve forest management. Permit 1175 has been in place 
for ten years and recently expired on December 31, 2011. The GPNF would 
observe/harass adult and juvenile salmonids during spawner and redd 
counts, snorkel surveys, and habitat surveys. The GPNF would also 
capture (using backpack electrofishing equipment or seines), handle, 
and release juvenile salmonids. The GPNF does not intend to kill any 
fish being captured, but a small number of fish may die as an 
unintentional result of the research activities.

Permit 16290-2M

    The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking to 
modify its permit that currently allows it to annually take listed 
salmonids while conducting research on the Oregon chub. The ODFW is 
requesting to increase the number of juvenile fish they may take. 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.

Permit 16791

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking a 5-
year permit to take juvenile LCR coho salmon and steelhead during 
research designed to assess the distribution of coastal cutthroat trout 
in the lower Columbia River basin and establish a baseline dataset for 
long-term monitoring. The objectives are to (1) establish a random 
sampling protocol for coastal cutthroat trout, (2) determine coastal 
cutthroat trout distribution and abundance, (3) record baseline habitat 
parameters at all sample sites, and (4) determine if habitat parameters 
correlate to coastal cutthroat trout distribution and abundance. 
Research on coastal cutthroat trout would benefit listed salmonids by 
helping managers recover habitats the species share. Researchers would 
use backpack electrofishing equipment to capture fish. The FWS would 
immediately release listed salmon and steelhead. Researchers may also 
harass adult LCR Chinook and coho salmon during habitat surveys. The 
FWS does not intend to kill any listed salmonids but a small number of 
juvenile fish may die as an unintended result of the research 
activities.

Permit 16792

    The FWS is seeking a 5-year permit to take juvenile LCR coho salmon 
and steelhead during research designed to assess the distribution of 
bull trout in the Lewis River, Washington. The objectives of the 
research are to (1) establish a random sampling protocol for bull 
trout, (2) determine bull trout distribution and abundance, (3) record 
baseline habitat parameters at all sample sites, and (4) determine if 
habitat parameters correlate to bull trout distribution and abundance. 
Research on bull trout would benefit listed salmonids by helping 
managers recover habitats the species share. Researchers would use 
backpack electrofishing equipment to capture fish. The FWS would 
immediately release listed salmon and steelhead. The FWS does not 
intend to kill any listed salmonids but a small number of juvenile fish 
may die as an unintended result of the research activities.

Permit 16866

    The Oregon State University (OSU) Department of Fisheries and 
Wildlife is requesting a five-year research permit to take adult and 
juvenile UCR Chinook and steelhead, SR spr/sum and fall Chinook, SR 
steelhead, MCR steelhead, LCR Chinook, LCR coho, LCR steelhead, CR 
chum, and UWR Chinook and steelhead during the course of research 
designed to provide information on the dynamics and use of cold water 
refuges by anadromous salmon and other cold water species. The project 
would also take Southern DPS eulachon. The information would provide 
managers with a more rigorous understanding of thermal regimes in river 
systems and help guide conservation and restoration planning and 
species management. The study would benefit listed salmonids by helping 
determine whether (and how) the ecosystem services of cold water 
habitats can be quantified and incorporated into restoration and 
conservation programs. The OSU proposes to capture (using boat 
electrofishing), identify, measure, and release juvenile fish. Adult 
fish may be encountered but would not be netted. The OSU does not 
intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but a few 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.


[[Page 27188]]


    Dated: May 3, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-11205 Filed 5-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P