[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31518-31519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12459]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC690


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 applications for 
eight direct take permits, in the form of Hatchery and Genetic 
Management Plans (HGMPs), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (ESA). The applications are for hatchery programs in 
Northeast Oregon and southeast Washington portions of the Snake River 
basin, for the propagation of spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. The 
proposed permits would expire in 2018. This document serves to notify 
the public of the availability of the permit applications and an 
associated draft environmental assessment (EA) 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 5:00 
p.m. Pacific time on June 24, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the application and the draft 
environmental assessment should be sent to Brett Farman, National 
Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Management Division, 1201 NE. Lloyd 
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments may also be 
submitted by email to: [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the email comment the following identifier: Comments on 
NE. Oregon/SE. Washington plans. Comments may also be sent via 
facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737. When commenting on the draft 
environmental assessment, please refer to the specific page number and 
line number of the subject of your comment. The documents are available 
on the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov. Requests for copies of the permit 
applications and draft EA may also be directed to the National Marine 
Fisheries Services, Salmon Management Division, 1201 NE. Lloyd 
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments received will also 
be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours by calling (503) 230-5418.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Farman at (503) 231-6222 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Snake River spring/summer.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Snake 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.
    Between October 10, 2010, and July 15, 2011, NMFS received 
applications, in the form of HGMPs, from the Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), 
and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permits 
for the direct take of ESA-listed Snake River spring/summer Chinook 
salmon and ESA-listed Snake River steelhead in order to carry out 
artificial propagation (hatchery) programs in northeast Oregon and 
southeast Washington in the Grande Ronde, Tucannon, and Imnaha River 
basins. An additional application, for operation of the Lookingglass 
Hatchery spring Chinook salmon program was received from the ODFW in 
January 2012. The purpose of these programs is to support conservation, 
as well as harvest in tribal, recreational, and commercial fisheries.

[[Page 31519]]

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 ODFW, WDFW, and the BIA for the purpose of carrying out the 
hatchery programs. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in 
the Federal Register.

Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12459 Filed 5-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P