[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69374-69376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27658]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC973


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for four new scientific research permits, two 
permit modifications, and three research permit renewals.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received nine scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, 
sturgeon, rockfish, and eulachon. 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 December 19, 
2013.

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 California 
Coastal (CC); threatened Central Valley spring-run (CVS); threatened 
Lower Columbia River (LCR); threatened Puget Sound (PS); endangered 
Sacramento River winter-run (SRW); threatened Snake River (SR) fall-
run; threatened SR spring/summer-run (spr/sum); endangered Upper 
Columbia River (UCR) spring-run; threatened Upper Willamette River 
(UWR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened UCR; threatened SR; threatened 
middle Columbia River (MCR); threatened California Central Valley 
(CCV); threatened Central California Coast (CCC); threatened LCR; 
threatened Northern California (NC); threatened PS; threatened South-
Central California Coast (SCC); threatened UWR.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): Endangered SR; threatened Ozette Lake 
(OL).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened Columbia River (CR); threatened 
Hood Canal summer-run (HCS).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Endangered CCC; threatened LCR; 
threatened Oregon Coast (OC); threatened Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC).
    Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): Threatened southern (S).
    Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): Threatened southern (S).
    Rockfish (Sebastes spp.): Endangered Puget Sound/Georgia Basin (PS/
GB) bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis); threatened PS/GB canary rockfish 
(S. pinniger); threatened PS/GB yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus).

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 parts 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 1484-6R

    The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is seeking to 
renew permit 1484 for a period of five years. The current permit has 
been in place for five years with one amendment; it expires on December 
31, 2013. Under the new permit, the WDNR would conduct research that 
would

[[Page 69375]]

annually take juvenile PS Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, LCR coho 
salmon, LCR steelhead, and CR chum salmon in WDNR-managed forest lands 
in the state of Washington. The purpose of the research is to conduct 
surveys to correctly identify stream types. By correctly identifying 
stream types, the WDNR could potentially benefit listed species by 
increasing the size of riparian zones and thus protecting habitat 
needed for healthy salmonid populations. In addition, any new data 
regarding listed species presence would be used to inform land 
management decisions and better protect species from the effects of 
those actions. The WDNR proposes to capture the fish (using backpack 
electrofishing), identify, and release them. The WDNR does not intend 
to kill any of the fish being captured, but a small number may die as 
an unintended consequence of the proposed activities.

Permit 14046-2R

    The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (KCDNRP) 
is seeking to renew a five-year permit to annually take juvenile PS 
Chinook salmon and PS steelhead. They would sample fish in four Puget 
Sound sub-basins (Snoqualmie, Lake Washington, Duwamish, and Puyallup) 
in King County, Washington. The purposes of the study are to: (1) 
Evaluate the effectiveness of restoration actions, (2) better 
understand the importance of off-channel habitats in providing habitat, 
and (3) assess salmonid habitat status and trends in small streams with 
varying degrees of land use. The research would benefit listed species 
by guiding future restoration projects so they might provide the 
greatest benefit to listed species. The KCDNRP proposes to capture fish 
using beach seines, fyke nets, minnow traps, and both backpack- and 
boat-operated electrofishing. The captured fish would be anaesthetized, 
identified to species, allowed to recover, and released. The 
researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed salmonids being 
captured, but a small number may die as an unintended consequence of 
the proposed activities.

Permit 16751-2R

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking to renew a 
five-year permit to annually take juvenile and adult PS Chinook salmon, 
HCS chum salmon, and PS steelhead. The USGS's research may also cause 
them to take listed eulachon--a species for which there are currently 
no ESA take prohibitions. Sampling sites would be in the Cedar, 
Dungeness, Nooksack, Skagit, Skykomish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and 
Stillaguamish river systems of the Puget Sound. The purpose of the 
study is to identify and assess Pacific lamprey distribution in these 
watersheds. The research would benefit the listed species by providing 
managers with information about their distribution and numbers. The 
main benefactor of this research would be Pacific lamprey because the 
information generated by the research would be used to help guide 
conservation measures and land-use activities in ways that conserve 
lamprey and their habitat; however, because the listed species also use 
that habitat, any such measures would also benefit them. The USGS 
proposes to capture fish using backpack electrofishing and seines. 
Sampling would target silt-mud substrates that are preferred habitats 
for juvenile lamprey. The research would take place during the late 
summer and fall before peak lamprey emigration. Electrofishing methods 
would be modified to target juvenile lamprey and would thus be unlikely 
to affect, let alone harm, other fish species. A subsample of the 
captured lamprey would be measured and weighed (up to 30 per site) and 
up to five fish per site may be tissue sampled or sacrificed. All other 
fish (including all listed fish) would immediately be released at the 
capture site. The researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed 
species being captured, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the proposed activities.

Permit 16984-3M

    The ICF International (ICFI) is seeking to modify a five-year 
permit that currently allows them to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon 
and PS steelhead. The researchers would conduct sampling in the 
Snohomish River estuary. The purpose of the study is to measure 
restored habitat functionality in the wake of the Smith Island dike 
breaching. The researchers would gauge species abundance and examine 
juvenile salmonid age classes during peak outmigration. This research 
would benefit the affected species by providing data to guide future 
estuarine habitat restoration and enhancement projects. The ICFI 
proposes to capture fish using hand-held beach seines and dip nets. 
Fish would be identified to species, measured, and released. The 
researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed salmonids being 
captured, but a small number may die as an unintended result of the 
activities.

Permit 17062-3M

    The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is seeking to modify 
a 2-year research permit to annually take adult and juvenile HCS chum, 
PS Chinook salmon, and PS steelhead, and adult PS/GB bocaccio. The 
researchers may also take adult PS/GB canary rockfish and PS/GB 
yelloweye rockfish--species for which there are currently no ESA take 
prohibitions. Sampling would take place throughout the Puget Sound, the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Hood Canal. The purpose of the study is to 
determine how much genetic variation exists between coastal and Puget 
Sound/Georgia Basin DPS populations of bocaccio, canary rockfish, and 
yelloweye rockfish. The research would benefit rockfish by increasing 
our understanding of the connectivity (or lack thereof) between 
rockfish populations in the Puget Sound and populations on the outer 
coast. The NWFSC proposes to capture fish using hook and line equipment 
at depths of 50-100 meters along rocky bottom habitat. Fish would 
slowly be reeled to the surface to reduce barotrauma. All salmon and 
steelhead would be immediately released at the capture site. All 
captured ESA-listed rockfish would be measured, sexed, have a tissue 
sample taken, floy tagged, and returned to the water via rapid 
submersion techniques. If an individual of these species is captured 
dead or deemed nonviable, it would be retained for genetic analysis. 
The researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed fish being 
captured, but a small number may die as an unintended result of the 
activities.

Permit 18038

    The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is seeking a 
five-year research permit to annually take all individuals from all the 
salmonid species listed at the beginning of this notice along with S 
green sturgeon. They may also take S eulachon--a species for which 
there are currently no ESA take prohibitions. All take for salmon and 
steelhead would be subadult and adults, and all take for green sturgeon 
and eulachon would be adult. The surveys would range from the northern 
California to the Washington coast in coastal waters shallower than 
1,000 meters. The purpose of the study is to collaborate with gear 
researchers and fishermen to develop devices and or methods for 
reducing bycatch in West Coast groundfish trawl fisheries. The research 
would benefit listed fish by determining the best ways to reduce 
bycatch. The PSMFC proposes capturing fish using mid-water and bottom 
trawls. Fish would be identified to species, have a tissue or scale 
sample taken, and be released. The researchers do not

[[Page 69376]]

propose to kill any of the listed species being captured, but given the 
nature of the capture methods, some individuals would likely be killed.

Permit 18194

    The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) is seeking a five-year permit to 
annually take juvenile PS Chinook salmon and juvenile and adult PS 
steelhead. The sampling would take place in selected stream channels 
and floodplain areas throughout the Stillaguamish River watershed in 
Washington State. The purpose of the study is to classify by water type 
approximately 25 miles of stream channel in selected sub-basins and 
floodplain areas of the Stillaguamish River with the intent of 
verifying and updating Washington Department of Natural Resources, 
Snohomish County, and United States Forest Service stream 
classifications and hydrological layers. This research would benefit 
the affected species by improving regulatory protection of sensitive 
aquatic habitats for ESA listed Chinook and steelhead, improving our 
knowledge of Chinook habitat use (and thereby informing various 
recovery strategies), and identifying significant habitat restoration 
opportunities. The WFC proposes to capture fish using beach seines, 
fyke nets, and minnow traps. Fish would be anesthetized, identified to 
species, measured to size class, have a tissue sample taken, and 
released. The researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed 
salmonids being captured, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 18331

    The WFC is seeking a five-year permit to annually take juvenile PS 
Chinook salmon and PS steelhead in selected stream channels and 
floodplain areas throughout the Kitsap and Snoqualmie sub-basins in 
Washington State. The purpose of the study is to classify existing 
channels by water type and thereby validate and update Washington 
Department of Natural Resources, and affected county and city, stream 
classifications and hydrological layers. This research would benefit 
the affected species by filling data gaps regarding fish passage 
impediments (tidegates, culverts, etc.) and providing fish species 
composition and distribution--information needed to identify, 
prioritize, and implement restoration projects. The WFC proposes to 
capture fish using backpack electrofishing. Fish would be identified to 
species, have a tissue sample taken (only steelhead in the Kitsap sub-
basin), and released. Once fish presence is established, either through 
visual observation or electrofishing, electrofishing would be 
discontinued. Surveyors would proceed upstream until a change in 
habitat parameters is encountered, where electrofishing would be 
continued. The researchers do not propose to kill any of the listed 
salmonids being captured, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 18405

    The Oregon State University (OSU) is seeking a two-year permit to 
annually take juvenile LCR, PS, and UCR Chinook salmon; CR chum salmon; 
LCR coho salmon; and LCR, MCR, PS, SRB, and UCR steelhead. The OSU 
research may also cause them to take adult S eulachon--a species for 
which there are currently no ESA take prohibitions. The sampling would 
take place in multiple locations in the Puget Sound (Stillaguamish, 
Skykomish, Duwamish, and Nisqually watersheds), Washington coast (Sol 
Duc, Queets, Quinault, Chehalis, and Willapa watersheds), and Columbia 
River basin (Cowlitz, Klickitat, Yakima, Wenatchee, Spokane, and 
Palouse watersheds). The purpose of the study is to determine the 
taxonomic status of Pacific Northwest coastal populations of Speckled 
Dace based on genetic and morphological data. The genetic sequence data 
would be used to better understand the historical biogeography of 
coastal Speckled Dace, improve the understanding of how coastal streams 
contribute to local species diversity and endemism, and to compare 
coastal to inland Speckled Dace populations. The research would benefit 
the listed species by providing information on their distribution, but 
the main benefactor of this research would be speckled dace by 
providing taxonomical and distributional data for that species. The OSU 
proposes to capture fish using small seine nets, dip nets, and minnow 
traps. All non-target species and listed salmon and steelhead would 
immediately be released after capture. The researchers do not propose 
to kill any of the listed salmonids being captured, but a small number 
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.

    Dated: November 14, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27658 Filed 11-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P