[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25873-25875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12117]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050699C]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications to modify permits (1094, 1144, 1136);
issuance of permits (1122, 1173); and modifications to existing permits
(899, 901, 902, 903, 998, 1141).
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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 applications for modifications to existing
permits from: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia, WA
(WDFW) (1094), Mr. Bruce D. Peery (BDP) (1144), and Oregon Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in Corvallis, OR (OCFWRU) (1136); NMFS
has issued permits to Mr. Cary Osterhaus, U.S. Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) (1122), and Dr. Douglas DeHart, Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) (1173); and NMFS has issued modifications to
scientific research permits to: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
at Portland, OR (ODFW) (899), WDFW (901, 902), Idaho Department of Fish
and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) (903), the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Fort
Hall, ID (SBT) (998), and Public Utility District Number 2 of Grant
County in Ephrata, WA (PUD GC) (1141).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
new applications or modification requests must be received on or before
June 14, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permits 899, 901, 902, 903, 998, 1094, 1122, 1136, 1141, 1173:
Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500,
Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
For permit 1144: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species
Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-
713-1401).
All 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 1144: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).
For permits 998, 1094, 1136: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR (503-
230-5433).
For permits 899, 901, 902, 903: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-
5424).
For permits 1122, 1141, 1173: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR (503-
230-5438).
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 217-227).
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 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
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
Fish
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Snake River (SnR) fall,
SnR spring/summer, upper Columbia River (UCR) spring.
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Southern Oregon/Northern
California Coast (SONCC).
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki): Umpqua River (UmR).
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): SnR.
Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): UCR.
Modification Requests Received
WDFW requests a modification to scientific research/enhancement
permit 1094. Permit 1094 authorizes WDFW an annual take of adult and
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
UCR steelhead associated with a hatchery supplementation program in the
mid- to upper Columbia River Basin. Incidental takes of ESA-listed
species resulting from WDFW hatchery operations and hatchery produced
fish releases are also authorized by the permit. WDFW believes the
artificial propagation of ESA-listed steelhead will benefit the species
by enhancing the population, which is not currently able to naturally
replace itself. For the modification, WDFW requests an increase in the
annual take of adult, endangered, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, UCR steelhead associated with scientific research designed
to determine if hatchery fish survival is increased with the
incorporation of wild brood stock at Wells Hatchery. Adult, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead are
proposed to be captured, examined for marks, and released. ESA-listed
adult fish indirect mortalities are also requested. The modification is
requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
May 31, 2003.
BDP possesses a 1-year permit (1144) to sample for and collect
green and loggerhead sea turtles in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for the
purposes of stock assessment to characterize the sea turtles that
utilize the southern Indian River Lagoon System, Florida. Captured
turtles will be weighed, photographed, measured, tagged, and released.
BDP is requesting an increase in the authorized take of green sea
turtles from 75 to 100 animals. This increase in take is necessitated
by the collection of of more green turtles than expected during the
previous permit period.
On April 26, 1999, notice was published (64 FR 20266) that NMFS had
received a modification request for permit 1136. Permit 1136 authorizes
OCFWRU annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye
[[Page 25874]]
salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR
fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with research
designed to compare biological and physiological indices of wild and
hatchery fish exposed to stress from bypass, collection, and
transportation activities at dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in
the Pacific Northwest. For the modification, OCFWRU is requesting
annual takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the
research. NMFS has received an amended modification request seeking an
increase in the annual take of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced
and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon and
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced, UCR steelhead associated with
the research. The additional take is requested because annual take
estimates were not recalculated using the expected increased abundance
of some species in 1999. The modification is requested to be valid for
the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.
Permits and Modifications Issued
Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an
application had been filed by ODFW for a modification to incidental
take permit 899. Permit 899 authorizes ODFW annual incidental takes of
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the
state of Oregon. Modification 1 to permit 899 was issued to on April 8,
1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with the
operation of and releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery
programs. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit, which
expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on October 15, 1997 (62 FR 53596), that an
applications had been filed by WDFW for modifications to incidental
take permit 901. Permit 901 authorizes WDFW annual incidental takes of
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the
state of Washington. Modification 1 to permit 901 was issued on April
8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed
anadromous fish hatchery programs. The modification is valid for the
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an
application had been filed by WDFW for modifications to incidental take
permit 902. Permit 902 authorizes WDFW annual incidental takes of
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the
state of Washington. Modification 1 to permit 902 was issued to WDFW on
April 8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed
anadromous fish hatchery programs. The modification is valid for the
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an
application had been filed by IDFG for modifications to incidental take
permit 903. Permit 903 authorizes IDFG annual incidental takes of
endangered SnR sockeye salmon; threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and
threatened SnR fall chinook salmon associated with the operation of and
releases from the non-listed anadromous fish hatchery programs in the
state of Idaho. Modification 1 to permit 903 was issued to IDFG on
April 8, 1999, and authorizes annual incidental takes of endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with the operation of and releases from the non-listed
anadromous fish hatchery programs. Modification 1 is valid for the
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on February 11, 1999 (64 FR 6880), that an
application had been filed by the SBT for modifications to scientific
research permit 998. Permit 998 authorizes the SBT annual direct takes
of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon and juvenile, threatened,
naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a
study designed to evaluate smolt outmigration from Pettit and Alturas
Lakes in ID. Modification 2 to permit 998 was issued to the SBT on
April April 28, 1999, and authorizes an increase in the annual direct
take of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon associated with a
mark/recapture study. An associated increase in juvenile sockeye salmon
indirect mortalities is also authorized. Modification 2 is valid for
the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.
Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11220), and December
21, 1998 (63 FR 70393), that BLM had applied for a scientific research
permit. Permit 1122 was issued on April 30, 1999, authorizing take of
listed species. Permit 1122 expires December 31, 2002, and authorizes
annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, UmR cutthroat
trout and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated with
scientific research. The purpose of the research is to determine the
sub-basin contributions to the migratory population of UmR cutthroat
trout and to determine the survival and abundance of juvenile SONCC
coho salmon. This information will benefit wild populations by
identifying important habitat areas where restoration efforts have had
the most beneficial impact. BLM will use screw traps to estimate fish
abundance in selected sub-basins and will apply radiotransmitters to
juvenile UmR cutthroat trout in tributaries of the UmR. The U.S. Forest
Service of Tiller, OR (USFS) is authorized to act as an agent of BLM
and participate in the research activities. ODFW is authorized to act
as an agent to receive and store UmR cutthroat trout and SONCC coho
salmon indirect mortalities recovered by BLM and USFS.
Notice was published on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14432), that an
application had been filed by PUD GC for modifications to permit 1141.
Permit 1141 authorizes annual direct takes of adult and juvenile,
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR
steelhead associated with a fish salvage operation and two scientific
research studies at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams located on the
Columbia River. Modification 1 to permit 1141 was issued on May 5,
1999, and authorizes annual takes of adult and juvenile UCR spring
chinook salmon associated with PUD GC's previous activities.
Modification 1 also authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, endangered,
[[Page 25875]]
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead and adult
and juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon associated with two additional
research studies. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the
permit, which expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on August 3, 1998 (63 FR 41230), that ODFW had
applied for a scientific research permit. Permit 1173 was issued on
April 30, 1999, and authorizes annual direct takes of adult and
juvenile, endangered, UmR cutthroat trout associated with a broad-base
sampling program. ESA-listed fish will be captured, examined, marked,
and released. Traps, electrofishing, and hook/line techniques will be
used to capture the fish. Fin clips as well as passive integrated
transponders (PIT) will be used to mark and monitor their migrations.
Fish will also be observed by snorkeling and routine stream surveys.
Data will be used to expand current knowledge about cutthroat trout
distribution, migration patterns and population densities. Permit 1173
expires on December 31, 2003.
Dated: May 7, 1999.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12117 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]
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