[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30822-30823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12459]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD313


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for two new scientific research permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon 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 June 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application 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).
Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened PS.
Chum salmon (O. Keta): threatened PS.
Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): threatened Southern.

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 18792

    The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) is seeking a five-year permit to 
annually take juvenile PS Chinook salmon and subadult PS steelhead. The 
WFC research may also cause them to take Southern eulachon, a species 
for which there are currently no ESA take prohibitions. The purpose of 
the study is to test native salmonids for pathogens transmitted from 
salmon in net pens in the Puget Sound. The research would benefit the 
affected species by (1) determining the direction and distance 
potential pathogen plumes could move and thereby help managers place 
net pens where they would do the least amount of harm to native fishes, 
and (2) identifying areas where such plumes may affect salmonids. 
Sampling would take place in two locations in Puget Sound: Clam Bay 
(South Puget Sound) and Deepwater Bay (Whidbey Basin). The WFC proposes 
to use beach seines to capture fish twice each month at multiple sites 
near both locations. The

[[Page 30823]]

first ten juvenile coho, chum, pink, and hatchery Chinook captured 
during each sampling event would be killed and tissue samples (gill, 
kidney, heart) would be taken. Any remaining fish from each sample 
would be anesthetized, identified by species, measured, checked for sea 
lice, and released.

Permit 18819

    The WFC is seeking a five-year permit to annually take juvenile and 
adult PS Chinook salmon, HCS chum salmon, and PS steelhead. The WFC 
research may also cause them to take Southern eulachon, a species for 
which there are currently no ESA take prohibitions. The purpose of the 
study is to determine the relative abundance, distribution, and 
emigration timing of juvenile chum salmon in the Hood Canal and 
tidally-influenced portions of its major tributaries. The research 
would benefit the affected species by determining juvenile salmonid 
out-migrant timing, use of nearshore rearing habitats, and key habitat 
associations (i.e. eelgrass and kelp beds, gravel beaches, mudflats, 
and modified vs. unmodified shorelines). Sampling would take place in 
30 locations throughout Hood Canal. The WFC proposes to use fyke nets 
and beach seines to capture fish twice each month from December through 
May. The salmonids and steelhead would be identified by species and 
enumerated. A subset of all fish would also be measured, and tissue 
samples would be taken from the chum and wild Chinook salmon. Juvenile 
coded-wire tagged (CWT) coho and Chinook salmon would be sacrificed to 
determine their hatcheries of origin and to provide stock-specific 
information about how and where they use nearshore habitats. All other 
fish would be released after handling. The researchers do not propose 
to kill any other listed species 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: May 23, 2014.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-12459 Filed 5-28-14; 8:45 am]
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