[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14069-14071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7631]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 031698C]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research/enhancement
permits (1128, 1129) and modifications to scientific research permits
(900, 946, 1056). Issuance of scientific research permit #1113.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife at La Grande, OR (ODFW) (1128) and the Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife at Olympia, WA (WDFW) (1129) have applied in due
form for permits and that the Fish Ecology Division of the Northwest
Fisheries Science Center at Seattle, WA (NWFSC) has applied in due form
for modifications to permits (900, 946, 1056) that would authorize
takes of endangered and threatened anadromous
[[Page 14070]]
fish species for the purpose of scientific research. Notice is also
given that NMFS issued Research Permit number 1113 to Dr. Sylvia
Galloway, Laboratory Director of the National Ocean Service - Marine
Forensics Laboratory for the purpose of scientific research.
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these
requests must be received on or before April 23, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The application, permit, and related documents are available
for review by appointment in the following offices:
For permits 900, 946, 1056, 1128, and 1129: Protected Resources
Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR
97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
All documents are available for review by appointment in the
Endangered Species Division; Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permits 900, 946, 1056, 1128, and
1129: Robert Koch, PRD (503-230-5424).
For Permit 1113: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, (301-713-1401).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Permits are requested under the authority of
section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-
1543) and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed fish and wildlife
permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).
Those individuals requesting a hearing on these requests for
permits should set out the specific reasons why a hearing would be
appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All
statements and opinions contained in the following application
summaries are those of the applicants and do not necessarily reflect
the views of NMFS.
Issuance of these permits, modifications, and amendments, as
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits,
modifications, and amendments: (1) Were 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. These permits,
modifications, and amendments were also issued in accordance with and
are subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS regulations
governing listed species permits.
To date, protective regulations for threatened Snake River
steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have not been promulgated by
NMFS. This notice of receipt of an application requesting a take of
this species is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS issues
protective regulations that prohibit takes of Snake River steelhead.
The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the application,
including its proposed take of Snake River steelhead, does not
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations.
Applications Received
ODFW (1128) requests a five-year permit that would authorize an
annual direct take of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a supplementation
program at the Imnaha River and Lookingglass Creek Hatcheries. The new
permit is proposed to replace permit 847, which is due to expire on
June 30, 1998. The objectives of ODFW's program are to: (1) Restore
natural populations of chinook salmon in the basin to ESA delisting
levels, (2) reestablish traditional tribal and recreational fisheries
for chinook salmon, (3) maintain the genetic and life history
characteristics of the endemic wild population while pursuing
mitigation goals and management objectives, and (4) operate the
hatchery program to ensure that the genetic and life history
characteristics of the hatchery fish mimic the wild fish. ESA-listed
adult salmon that return to the watershed each year are proposed to be
captured at the Imnaha River weir, marked, and inoculated for diseases.
ODFW proposes to retain a percentage of the ESA-listed adult salmon
that return to the weir each year for hatchery broodstock and to
release all of the ESA-listed adult salmon not retained for broodstock
above the weir to spawn naturally. In a given year, if more hatchery-
origin adult salmon are available than are needed to release above the
weir or to keep for broodstock, ODFW proposes to transport the excess
hatchery-origin adults to Big Sheep and/or Lick Creeks and outplant
them for natural spawning. ESA-listed adult salmon retained for
broodstock are proposed to be transported to the hatcheries and
spawned. The resulting progeny are proposed to be reared in the
hatcheries, tagged with coded-wires and passive integrated
transponders, and released when ready to outmigrate to the ocean. An
annual incidental take of ESA-listed species associated with juvenile
fish releases is also requested.
WDFW (1129) requests a five-year permit that would authorize an
annual direct take of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook
salmon associated with a supplementation program at the Tucannon River
and Lyons Ferry Fish Hatcheries. The new permit is proposed to replace
part of permit 848, which is due to expire on June 30, 1998. The
objectives of WDFW's supplementation program are to: (1) Enhance the
number of potential spawners in the natural environment; (2) preserve
the genetic integrity of the stock to prevent extinction; and (3) stop
the decline in run sizes and eventually, to rebuild the natural
population over time. ESA-listed adult salmon that return to the
watershed each year are proposed to be captured at the Tucannon River
weir, marked, and innoculated for diseases. WDFW proposes to retain a
percentage of the ESA-listed adult salmon that return to the weir each
year for hatchery broodstock and to release all of the ESA-listed adult
salmon not retained for broodstock above the weir to spawn naturally.
ESA-listed adult salmon retained for broodstock are proposed to be
transported to the hatcheries and spawned. The resulting progeny are
proposed to be reared in the hatcheries, tagged with coded-wires and
passive integrated transponders, and released when ready to outmigrate
to the ocean. An annual incidental take of ESA-listed species
associated with juvenile fish releases is requested. In addition, WDFW
requests an annual direct take of adult, threatened, Snake River
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with a research/monitoring
program at the Tucannon River adult trap. WDFW proposes to monitor ESA-
listed adult steelhead returns to the Tucannon River watershed annually
in anticipation of the need to initiate a supplementation program,
using locally-adapted populations, in the future. ESA-listed adult
steelhead are proposed to be captured, enumerated, and released. ESA-
listed adult steelhead indirect mortalities associated with research/
monitoring activities are requested.
NWFSC requests modification 5 to permit 900. Permit 900 authorizes
NWFSC annual takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon
(Oncorhynchus nerka); juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and
artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall
[[Page 14071]]
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with three studies
designed to determine the relative survival of migrating juvenile
salmonids at hydropower dams and reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia
Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. For modification 5, NWFSC requests an
increase in the takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the
studies, and annual takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally-produced
and artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead
(Oncorhynchus mykiss); juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead
(Oncorhynchus mykiss); and juvenile, threatened, lower Columbia River
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with the research. ESA-
listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured, handled, and released
or captured, tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT) or radio
transmitters, and released. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect
mortalities are requested. Modification 5 is requested to be valid for
the duration of the permit which expires on December 31, 1999.
NWFSC requests modification 4 to permit 946. Permit 946 authorizes
NWFSC annual takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon;
adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-
propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile,
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon associated with two
scientific research studies. Study 1 is designed to compare the
survival to adulthood of spring/summer chinook salmon smolts
transported by barge to below Bonneville Dam with the survival to
adulthood of smolts migrating volitionally under prevailing river
conditions. Study 2 is designed to assess the migration timing and
relative survival of transported and inriver juvenile chinook salmon
migrating volitionally from Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the Columbia
River. For modification 4, NWFSC requests an increase in the takes of
ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the studies. Also for
modification 4, NWFSC requests annual takes of juvenile, endangered,
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River
steelhead; juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead; and juvenile,
threatened, lower Columbia River steelhead associated with the
research. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are requested.
Modification 4 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit
which expires on December 31, 1999.
NWFSC requests modification 1 to permit 1056. Permit 1056
authorizes NWFSC annual takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook
salmon associated with two scientific research studies. The objectives
of Study 1 is to characterize the run-timing of wild fish over a period
of years to determine if consistent patterns are apparent and to use
this information for real-time management decisions regarding water
allocation during the smolt outmigrations. The objectives of Study 2
are to monitor the nature and extent of genetic change over time in
supplemented and unsupplemented populations, to correlate the genetic
changes with measures of productivity, and to provide information on
population structure and effective population size. For modification 1,
NWFSC requests annual takes of juvenile, threatened, Snake River
steelhead associated with the research. ESA-listed juvenile steelhead
are proposed to be captured, handled, and released or captured,
handled, PIT-tagged, and released or lethally taken. ESA-listed
juvenile steelhead indirect mortalities are requested. Modification 1
is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit which expires
on December 31, 2001.
Permits Issued
Notice was published on December 31, 1997 (62 FR 68260) that an
application had been filed by Dr. Sylvia Galloway, Laboratory Director
of the National Ocean Service - Marine Forensics Laboratory,requests
authorization to possess and conduct research on listed, non-marine
mammal, non-reptilian species using tissue samples (fin clips, barbels,
blood, muscle, skin) to provide technical support that is responsive to
NOAA goals involving protected and endangered species, via law
enforcement. The application requests the ability to maintain samples
of non-marine mammal, or reptile listed species obtained from permitted
individuals and by Federal, state or local law enforcement agents for
the purposes of archival as authorized by the ESA.
The permit holder is not authorized to conduct any field collection
exercises to obtain the samples. All of the samples must be obtained
from previously authorized sources (permitted researchers, law
enforcement authorities). All tissue samples will be maintained in a
laboratory at the National Ocean Service - Marine Forensics Laboratory,
Charleston, South Carolina.
Dated: March 18, 1998.
Joseph R. Blum,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7631 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
