[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18824-18827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07944]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD872


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received 11 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 May 8, 2015.

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] (include the permit number 
in the subject line of the fax or email).

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 Lower 
Columbia River (LCR); threatened Puget Sound (PS); 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 LCR; threatened PS; threatened 
UWR.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): endangered SR.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened Columbia River (CR); threatened 
Hood Canal summer (HCS).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened LCR; threatened Oregon Coast 
(OC).
    Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): Threatened southern distinct 
population segment (DPS) (S. eulachon).

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

[[Page 18825]]

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 14046-3M

    The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (KCDNRP) 
is seeking to modify a five-year permit to annually take juvenile PS 
Chinook salmon and PS steelhead. Sampling sites would be in four Puget 
Sound sub-basins (Snoqualmie, Lake Washington, Duwamish, and Puyallup) 
located in King County, Washington. The purpose of the study is to: (1) 
Evaluate the effectiveness of restoration actions through biological 
monitoring, (2) understand the importance of off-channel habitats in 
providing habitat for listed species, (3) assess salmonid habitat 
status and trends in small streams with varying degrees of land use, 
and (4) assess containment levels in various freshwater fish eaten by 
humans. The research would benefit the affected species by determining 
if restoration and recovery actions are contributing to listed species 
recovery, providing information on use of off-channel areas by juvenile 
salmonids, guiding future projects based upon monitoring results, and 
providing habitat use information for yearling fall Chinook. The KCDNRP 
proposes to capture fish using beach seines, fyke nets, gill nets, hook 
and line, minnow traps, and both backpack and boat-operated 
electrofishing. Fish would be anaesthetized, identified by 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 result of the activities.

Permit 16142--3R

    The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon 
(CTWSRO) are seeking to renew a five-year permit that currently allows 
them to capture, handle, and release juvenile MCR steelhead in the John 
Day River, Oregon. The primary purpose of the research is to monitor 
anadromous fish response to habitat restoration projects throughout the 
John Day Basin, however the permit was modified in 2012 to allow the 
CTWSRO are to expand upon that research by adding juvenile mark/
recapture studies and adult spawning surveys in various drainages in 
the John Day River Basin for the purpose of determining adult return 
success and making juvenile abundance estimates. This project would 
establish baseline estimates at 10 sampling locations and then resample 
those sites to evaluate the impact restoration projects have on 
juvenile Chinook and steelhead abundance. The research would continue 
to benefit the fish by helping managers determine the most effective 
ways to restore habitat.
    Under the permit, the researchers would set up survey reaches at 
each site and use block nets at the upstream and downstream boundaries 
to temporarily curtail fish movement. In those reaches, fish would be 
collected using backpack electrofishing equipment or seine nets. Once 
the fish are collected, they would be placed in an aerated bucket and 
anesthetized. They would then be counted, measured, weighed, marked 
with a caudal fin clip, allowed to recover, and released back into the 
sampling reach. A second fish sampling event (using the same collection 
methods) would be conducted within 24 hours of each initial survey. The 
researchers would use these two samples to estimate fish abundance and 
density. The surveys would be conducted at the same locations on an 
annual basis in order to assess population trends. The researchers do 
not intend to kill any listed salmonids, but a small number may die as 
an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 16298--3R

    The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (SBT) are seeking to renew for five 
years a permit that has been in place since 2011. Under the renewed 
permit, they would annually take juvenile and adult SR spr/sum Chinook 
and SR steelhead in Bear Valley Creek, Idaho. The purpose of the 
research is to estimate fish abundance, smolt-to-adult return rates, 
and adult productivity in Bear Valley Creek with a high degree of 
accuracy. The researchers are seeking to generate information that may 
be used widely throughout the Salmon River subbasin. This monitoring 
project was recommended as part of a larger monitoring effort that 
developed through the Columbia Basin Coordinated Anadromous Monitoring 
Workshop. The work would benefit fish by giving managers key 
information about population status in the Salmon River subbasin which, 
in turn, would be used to inform recovery plans and land-management 
activities. The SBT would count and monitor adult spr/sum Chinook at a 
video station, and they would handle, measure, tag, and tissue sample 
juvenile SR spr/sum Chinook and steelhead at a screw trap. They would 
also do some harvest monitoring (creel surveys) and spawning ground 
surveys. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed salmonids, 
but a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities. 
In addition to this permit, the U.S. Forest Service (FS) would issue a 
special use permit for the SBT to conduct the work.

Permit 18819-2M

    The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) is seeking to modify 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 
adult S eulachon, for which there are currently no ESA take 
prohibitions. The sampling would take place in locations throughout 
Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The 
purpose of the study is to determine the relative abundance, 
distribution, and emigration timing of juvenile HCS chum salmon 
throughout their range. 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). The WFC proposes to capture fish using fyke nets and beach 
seines with twice-monthly sampling from December through May. Captured 
salmonids would be identified by species, measured, and have a tissue 
sample taken (chum and Chinook salmon only). Juvenile coded-wire tagged 
(CWT) coho and Chinook salmon would be sacrificed to determine their 
natal hatchery and provide stock-specific information about their use 
of 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.

Permit 18921

    The Samish Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources (SINDNR) 
is seeking a five-year research permit to annually take juvenile PS 
Chinook salmon and PS steelhead. The SINDNR research may also cause 
them to take adult S eulachon, for which there are currently no ESA 
take prohibitions. The sampling would take place adjacent to Cypress 
Island (of the

[[Page 18826]]

San Juan Island archipelago) in Secret Harbor. The restoration of 
Secret Harbor began in 2008 with the restoration of an agricultural 
field to its historical state by breaching an existing tidal dike and 
restoring tidal exchange and freshwater stream connectivity to the 
area. The restored estuary and salt marsh habitats are expected to 
enhance and improve structural habitat complexity and potentially 
support a greater diversity of species. The purpose of the study is to 
determine fish presence both within and around the Secret Harbor 
estuary restoration site to determine the effectiveness of restoration 
efforts. This research would benefit the affected species by informing 
future restoration designs as well as providing data to support future 
enhancement projects. The SINDAR proposes to capture fish using beach 
seines with year-round monthly sampling. Fish would be captured, 
identified by species, measured, and released. 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 18952

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has requested a one-year 
permit to take LCR Chinook, LCR coho, LCR steelhead, CR chum, UWR 
Chinook, UWR steelhead, PS Chinook, and PS steelhead while conducting 
the National Water Quality Monitoring Program. The purpose of the USGS 
study is to characterize contaminants, nutrients, suspended and fine 
sediment, and ecological communities at perennial-stream sites in the 
Willamette Valley and Puget Sound Lowlands. The ecological community 
surveys would consist of double pass backpack electrofishing of 
approximately 100 sites in June and July. The majority of the listed 
salmonids that may be captured would be measured, examined for external 
abnormalities, and released. A secondary survey would be conducted to 
collect and sacrifice up to 15 salmonids per site from a total of 15 
sites. Depending on availability, fish collections would focus on 
unlisted juvenile coho salmon or cutthroat trout in the Puget Sound and 
Upper Willamette basins and cutthroat trout or listed juvenile coho in 
the Lower Willamette and Lower Columbia basins. The research may 
benefit the listed species by helping managers to better understand the 
stressors--such as contaminant loads--affecting ecological stream 
communities in urban areas.

Permit 19263

    The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is seeking a five-year 
permit to take juvenile SR steelhead, sockeye, and spr/sum Chinook 
during the course of three research tasks in the upper Salmon River of 
Idaho State. They would (a) conduct a general fish population 
inventory, (b) monitor fish population responses to habitat improvement 
and restoration activities, and (c) document juvenile Chinook salmon 
rearing and winter habitat use in the Salmon River. The researchers 
would use drift boat and raft-mounted electrofishing gear to capture 
fish and estimate trout abundances in up to five monitoring reaches of 
the Salmon River during the fall. Captured fish would be identified by 
species, measured (total length & fork length), and weighed to the 
nearest gram. During marking runs, captured target species (rainbow 
trout, westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and mountain whitefish) 
would be marked with a hole punch in the caudal fin. Any juvenile 
Chinook salmon they encounter would be identified, measured (fork 
length), weighed, and examined for tags/marks. Unmarked juvenile 
Chinook salmon would be implanted with passive integrated transponder 
(PIT) tags. Some captured fish may be anesthetized to minimize stress. 
In all cases, adult salmonids would be avoided and none would be 
captured. To help with this, the researchers would operate at times and 
in locations where no adults are likely to be present. The research 
activities would benefit the fish by providing information on a suite 
of factors--population abundance and response to restoration actions, 
predator and competitor abundance and interactions, and life history 
and behavior characteristics--all of which would be used to inform 
management, restoration, and recovery decisions in the Salmon River. 
The researchers do not intend to kill any fish, but a small number may 
die as a consequence of the planned activities.

Permit 19350

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has requested a 
five-year permit to take LCR Chinook salmon, LCR Coho salmon, LCR 
steelhead, UWR Chinook salmon, and UWR steelhead while conducting 
research and monitoring in the Tryon Creek watershed of Portland, 
Oregon. The purpose of the project is to assess fish use of Tryon Creek 
above and below the Oregon Highway 43 culvert. Culvert modification and 
habitat enhancement projects have been implemented to improve fish 
passage and the research and monitoring would be used to gauge 
effectiveness of the restoration activities. The FWS would capture fish 
using backpack electrofishing equipment and beach seines. Captured fish 
would be measured, weighed, PIT-tagged, and tissue sampled for genetic 
analysis. The FWS does not intend to kill any of the salmonids being 
captured but a small number of juvenile fish may die as an unintended 
result of the activities. The research may benefit the listed species 
by helping managers better understand the effectiveness of habitat 
restoration activities.

Permit 19386

    The AMEC Foster Wheel (AMECFW) is seeking a five-year research 
permit to annually take juvenile PS Chinook salmon and PS steelhead in 
the Lower Duwamish River waterway. Under a Consent Decree settled 
through U.S. District Court (Western District of Washington), The 
Boeing Company agreed to construct two habitat restoration projects 
near Boeing Plant 2 in the Lower Duwamish Waterway to restore and 
create off-channel and riparian habitats in an area where they have 
been largely eliminated due to channelization and industrialization. 
The purpose of this study is to determine if fish, including ESA listed 
juvenile salmonids, are using the newly created/restored habitat. This 
research would benefit the affected species by informing future 
restoration designs as well as providing data to support future 
enhancement projects. The researchers propose to capture fish using 
fyke nets during the spring salmonid outmigration (March through June). 
Fish would be anaesthetized, identified by species, allowed to recover, 
and released. 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 19391

    The SBT are seeking a five-year permit to annually take adult and 
juvenile SR steelhead and spr/sum Chinook while operating a screw trap 
and adult weir in Panther Creek, Idaho. They would also conduct some 
electrofishing and spawning ground surveys in the area. Most of the 
juvenile Chinook salmon would be captured, handled, and released. Some 
of them would be implanted with PIT-tags, and some would be sampled for 
genetic analysis. All would be allowed to recover and released to 
continue their downstream migration. Although the researchers are 
targeting Chinook, some

[[Page 18827]]

juvenile and adult steelhead may be taken as well. In both instances, 
the information to be gathered would help with monitoring and recovery 
efforts in the area. In addition, the information may eventually be 
used to help guide a proposed supplementation program in the area. The 
research would in no way pre-dispose the approval of such a program, 
but if it were to be instituted, a good deal of the proposed work would 
be analyzed again in the context of that larger program. In the 
interim, the research would benefit the fish by helping managers guide 
current and future restoration efforts and generating information on 
species status that would augment a number of regional efforts. The 
researchers do not propose to kill any of the animals being captured, 
but a small number may die as an unintended consequence of the 
activities.

Permit 19470

    The Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE) is seeking a 
three-year permit to collect environmental samples in rivers and 
streams in the state of Washington while conducting Washington's Status 
and Trends Monitoring for Watershed Health and Salmon Recovery--a 
statewide habitat and biological monitoring program. The permit would 
authorize the WDOE to take juvenile and adult UCR Chinook salmon and 
steelhead, SR spr/sum and fall-run Chinook salmon, SR steelhead, SR 
sockeye salmon, and MCR steelhead. The goal of status and trends 
monitoring is to provide quantitative, statistically valid estimates of 
habitat and water quality that are important for policy and management 
decisions. The WDOE would monitor seven status and trends regions 
statewide on a four-year cycle. The information gathered by this 
research would benefit listed salmonids by helping resource managers 
evaluate the effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts and monitor 
aquatic species status and trends. The researchers would capture fish 
using boat electrofishing equipment; the listed fish would be 
enumerated, measured, and released immediately. At no time would adults 
be electrofished. If any adults are seen during the electrofishing 
operation, the equipment would immediately be turned off and the fish 
would be allowed to escape. If another adult is seen, the researchers 
would move the operation. And in no case would the electrofishing take 
place where fish are actively spawning. The researchers are not 
proposing to kill any of the fish they capture, but a small number may 
die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 19476

    The Island County Department of Natural Resources (ICDNR) is 
seeking a five-year research permit to annually take juvenile PS 
Chinook salmon and PS steelhead. The sampling would take place in the 
Fidalgo Island and northern Whidbey Island shoreline area near 
Deception Pass at Cornet Bay and Ala Spit. The purpose of the study is 
to assess salmonid and forage fish use of habitat restored by removal 
of armoring and fill. This research would benefit the affected species 
by informing future restoration designs as well as providing data to 
support future enhancement projects. The ICDNR proposes to capture fish 
using a beach seine. Fish would be removed from the net and placed in 
buckets. All fish would be enumerated by species and the first 20 of 
each species would be measured for length. All fish would be released 
in the same location they were caught. 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: April 2, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07944 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P