[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11222-11223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5837]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022698C]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications for modifications to scientific
research permits 956, 1035, and 1036.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Geological Survey at
Cook, WA (USGS) has applied in due form for modifications to permits
that would authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed steelhead
for the purpose of scientific research.
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
applications must be received on or before April 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
Protected Resources Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street,
Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
Written comments or requests for a public hearing should be
submitted to the Chief, PRD in Portland, OR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Koch (503-230-5424).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USGS requests modifications to permits 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).
USGS requests modification 3 to permit 956. Permit 956 authorizes
USGS annual takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a study
designed to obtain data on the distribution, abundance, movement, and
habitat preferences of the anadromous fish that migrate through Lower
Granite Reservoir; to evaluate the operation of a surface bypass
collector in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam; and to verify species of
hydroacoustic surveys. For modification 3, USGS requests an annual take
of juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
associated with the research. ESA-listed juvenile steelhead are
proposed to be acquired from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and/
or the Smolt Monitoring Program (SMP) (operating under the authority of
separate permits), collected by purse seine, or collected from the
juvenile bypass facility at Lower Granite Dam; transported as necessary
to Lower Granite Dam; surgically implanted with radio transmitters;
released at Lower Granite Dam; and tracked electronically. USGS
requests indirect mortalities of ESA-listed juvenile steelhead, and
requests that Modification 3 be valid for the duration of the permit
which expires on September 30, 1999.
USGS requests modification 1 to permit 1035. Permit 1035 authorizes
USGS an annual take of juvenile, threatened, artificially propagated,
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a study
designed to determine the vertical and horizontal distribution of
juvenile salmonids exposed to high levels of total dissolved gas during
their seaward migration in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The vertical
and horizontal distribution of juvenile salmonids exposed to high
levels of total dissolved gas must be further defined to assess the
[[Page 11223]]
risk of mortality from gas bubble disease. For modification 1, USGS
requests an annual take of juvenile, endangered, artificially
propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and an
increase in the annual take of juvenile, ESA-listed, Snake River
spring/summer chinook salmon associated with the scientific research.
ESA-listed fish will be acquired from the SMP (under the authority of a
separate permit) at Lower Monumental, Ice Harbor, or McNary Dams;
transported as necessary to Ice Harbor Dam; surgically implanted with
radio transmitters; released at Ice Harbor Dam; and tracked
electronically between Ice Harbor and McNary Dams. USGS requests
indirect mortalities of ESA-listed juvenile fish, and requests that
Modification 1 be valid for the duration of the permit which expires on
December 31, 1999.
USGS requests modification 1 to permit 1036. Permit 1036 authorizes
USGS annual takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall
chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer
chinook salmon associated with a study designed to determine the post-
release attributes and survival of hatchery and natural fall chinook
salmon in the Snake River. For modification 1, USGS requests annual
takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead and juvenile,
threatened, Snake River steelhead associated with the research. Also
for modification 1, USGS requests an increase in the takes of ESA-
listed species associated with two new studies. Study 1 is designed to
predict the effects of reservoir drawdown on juvenile salmonids and
their predators. Study 2 is designed to collect data to characterize
the size, age structure, and growth of salmonid predator populations in
free-flowing river reaches. USGS proposes to collect ESA-listed fish
using beach seines and/or electroshocking, handle and release them
while seeking northern squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) and
smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in the Snake River and the
Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. USGS requests indirect mortalities
of ESA-listed juvenile fish, and requests that Modification 1 be valid
for the duration of the permit which expires on December 31, 2001.
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 applications requesting takes 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 applications,
including their proposed takes of Snake River steelhead, does not
presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations. Those
individuals requesting a hearing on any of the above applications
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 above application summaries are those of the
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.
Dated: February 26, 1998.
Marta F. Nammack,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5837 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
