[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2381-2383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-952]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010400B]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1229,
1231); issuance of modifications to existing permits (895, 900, 946,
1193, 1213).
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes
of scientific research and/or enhancement:
NMFS has received scientific research permit applications from
Northern Wasco County People's Utility District at The Dalles, OR
(NWCPUD)(1229), and Dr. Llewellyn M. Ehrhart, of the University of
Central Florida (LME-UCF) (1231); and NMFS has issued modifications to
scientific research and/or enhancement permits to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District at Walla Walla, WA (COE)(895),
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
at Seattle, WA (NWFSC)(900, 946, 1213), and the Fish Passage Center at
Portland, OR (FPC)(1193).
DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on either of the new
applications must be received at the appropriate address or fax number
no later than 5:00pm eastern standard time on February 14, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on either of the new applications should be
sent to the appropriate office as indicated below. Comments may also be
sent via fax to the number indicated for the application. Comments will
not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the internet. The
applications and related documents are available for review in the
indicated office, by appointment:
For permits 895, 900, 946, 1193, 1213, and 1229: Protected
Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland,
OR 97232-2737 (ph: 503-230-5400, fax: 503-230-5435).
For permit 1231: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species
Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (ph:
301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).
Documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the Office of
Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For permit 1231: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (ph: 301-713-1401,
fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: Terri.Jordan@noaa.gov).
For permits 900, 946, 1193, and 1229: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland,
OR (ph: 503-230-5433, fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail:
Leslie.Schaeffer@noaa.gov).
For permits 895 and 1213: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (ph: 503-230-
5424, fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail: Robert.Koch@noaa.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) Are applied for in good
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject
to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife
permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
Those individuals 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). The holding of such
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit
action summaries are those of the applicant
[[Page 2382]]
and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.
Species Covered in this Notice
The following species and evolutionarily significant units (ESU's)
are covered in this notice:
Sea Turtles
Threatened and endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), endangered
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), endangered Kemp's ridley
turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), endangered Leatherback turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea), threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
Fish
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Snake River
(SnR) fall, threatened SnR spring/summer, endangered upper Columbia
River (UCR) spring.
Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): Endangered SnR.
Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened SnR, endangered UCR, threatened
middle Columbia River (MCR).
To date, protective regulations for threatened SnR steelhead and
MCR steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have not been promulgated
by NMFS. This notice of receipt of applications requesting takes of SnR
and MCR steelhead is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS
issues SnR and/or MCR steelhead protective regulations. The initiation
of a 30-day public comment period on the applications, including their
proposed takes of SnR and/or MCR steelhead, does not presuppose the
contents of the eventual protective regulations.
New Applications Received
NWCPUD (1229) requests a 5-year scientific research permit to
authorize annual takes of juvenile SnR sockeye, juvenile SnR fall
chinook salmon, juvenile naturally produced and artificially propagated
SnR spring/summer chinook salmon, juvenile naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR spring chinook salmon, juvenile SnR
steelhead, juvenile MCR steelhead, and juvenile naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR steelhead associated with research designed
to assess run of the river juvenile anadromous fish condition after
passage through the screened turbine intake channel at The Dalles Dam
on the Columbia River. Fish will be intercepted from the screened
intake channel, anesthetized, measured, examined for external
condition, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released into
the bypass system for volitional return to the river. Indirect
mortalities are requested as part of this research.
LME-UCF (1231) requests a 5-year permit to authorize takes of
green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles
while conducting research on habitat and turtle biology. The Recovery
Plan for the U.S. Population of Atlantic Green Turtle states that the
foremost problem in management and conservation of sea turtles is the
lack of basic biological information. This study proposes to capture
turtles living in the Indian River Lagoon Estuary of central Florida in
Brevard and Indian River counties. The data provided by the study will
include information regarding habitat requirements, seasonal
distribution and abundance, movement and growth, feeding preferences,
sex distribution and the prevalence and severity of fibropapilloma.
Permit Modifications Issued
Notice was published on September 10, 1999 (64 FR 49165), that COE
applied for a modification to enhancement permit 895. Permit 895
authorizes COE annual takes of ESA-listed juvenile salmonids associated
with transporting juvenile anadromous fish around mainstem dams and
reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The purpose of the
Juvenile Fish Transportation Program (JFTP) is to increase juvenile
fish survival over the alternative of in-river passage, given current
in-river migratory conditions. Permit 895 also authorizes COE an annual
take of ESA-listed adult fish associated with fallbacks at the juvenile
fish transportation facilities. Modification 6 to permit 895 was issued
on December 22, 1999, and authorizes an increase in the annual take of
juvenile, naturally produced SnR spring/summer chinook salmon
associated with the JFTP. The increase in take is needed because an
unusually large number of wild juvenile spring/summer chinook salmon
smolts survived the 1997/98 winter (due to very favorable rearing
conditions), have been migrating out of the Snake River, and have been
collected and transported at COE projects. In addition, COE has
reported that an unknown proportion of hatchery-produced chinook
salmon, many of them non-listed fish, are not marked and cannot be
distinguished from naturally produced smolts; all unmarked fish are
classified as ``wild'' at the dams. The increased take of threatened,
naturally produced SnR spring/summer chinook salmon is valid for the
duration of permit 895. In addition, as part of modification 6, permit
895 has been extended for 1 year. Permit 895 was due to expire on
December 31, 1999. The 1-year extension is necessary to allow COE to
continue the JFTP, a mitigation measure recommended by the Reinitiation
of Consultation on 1994-1998 Operation of the Federal Columbia River
Power System (FCRPS) and Juvenile Transportation Program in 1995 and
Future Years Biological Opinion issued on March 2, 1995 and the 1998
supplement to that Opinion, while NMFS reinitiates ESA Section 7
consultation on the long-term management strategy for the FCRPS. Once
the new consultation is completed, NMFS will be able to advise COE on
the need to apply for a new permit, and the need for any additional
information or requirements, to conduct the JFTP beyond 2000. Permit
895 will now expire on December 31, 2000. Modification 6 to permit 895
is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31,
2000.
Notice was published on April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that NWFSC
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 900.
Modification 7 to permit 900 was issued on December 22, 1999, and
authorizes an increase in the annual take of juvenile, naturally
produced and artificially propagated SnR spring/summer chinook salmon;
juvenile SnR fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR steelhead to validate previously collected
survival data at 64 percent and 30 percent spill volume scenarios at
The Dalles Dam. Modification 7 also authorizes annual takes of
juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated UCR spring
chinook salmon associated with the research. An associated increase in
ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also authorized.
Modification 7 to permit 900 is valid for the duration of the permit,
which expires on December 31, 2000.
Notice was published on April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that NWFSC
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 946.
Modification 6 to permit 946 was issued on December 22, 1999, and
authorizes an increase in the annual take of juvenile, naturally
produced and artificially propagated SnR spring/summer chinook salmon
and juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated UCR
steelhead due to improvements in sampling equipment that are designed
to speed passage of fish through a passive PIT tag detection system and
reduce potential impacts from passage through the apparatus.
[[Page 2383]]
Increased take is also requested due to the revised estimate for the
number of fish thought to be available in the estuary in 1999.
Modification 6 also authorizes annual takes of juvenile, naturally
produced and artificially propagated UCR spring chinook salmon
associated with the research. An associated increase in ESA-listed
juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also authorized. Modification 6
to permit 946 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
December 31, 2000.
Notice was published on April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that FPC
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 1193.
Modification 1 to permit 1193 was issued on December 22, 1999, and
authorizes an increase in annual takes of juvenile, naturally produced
and artificially propagated SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated
with FPC's Smolt Monitoring Program. The increased annual take is
needed because a larger than anticipated outmigration run is estimated
in 1999. An associated increase in ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect
mortalities is also authorized. Also for modification 1, FPC is
authorized annual takes of juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR spring chinook salmon. Modification 1 to
permit 1193 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
December 31, 2003.
Notice was published on June 24, 1999 (64 FR 33827), that NWFSC
applied for a modification to scientific research permit 1213.
Modification 1 to permit 1213 was issued on December 22, 1999, and
authorizes NWFSC an increased take of juvenile SnR sockeye salmon,
juvenile, naturally produced and artificially propagated SnR spring/
summer chinook salmon; juvenile SnR fall chinook salmon; and juvenile,
naturally produced and artificially propagated UCR steelhead associated
with additional testing at McNary Dam under study 4. Modification 1
also authorizes NWFSC takes of juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the
research. An associated mortality of juvenile, naturally produced and
artificially propagated UCR spring chinook salmon is also authorized.
Modification 1 to permit 1213 is valid for the duration of the permit,
which expires on December 31, 2000.
Dated: January 7, 2000.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-952 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
