[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26781-26782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12804]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050997C]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Issuance of modification 4 to permit 900 (P770#66),
modification 3 to permit 946 (P770#68), and modification 2 to permit
914 (P770#67).
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to
three permits to the Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division,
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA (CZESD) that
authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed species for the
purpose of scientific research, subject to certain conditions set forth
therein.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
Environmental and Technical Services Division, 525 NE Oregon
Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modification to permits were issued
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 217-222).
Notice was published on February 28, 1997 (62 FR 9178) and March 7,
1997 (62 FR 10544) that an application had been filed by CZESD for
modification 4 to scientific research permit 900 (P770#66).
Modification 4 to permit 900 was issued to CZESD on April 18, 1997.
Permit 900 authorizes CZESD annual direct and incidental takes of
juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated,
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha);
juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha); and juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon
(Oncorhynchus nerka) associated with a study (Study 1) designed to
determine survival estimates for the passage of juvenile salmonids
through the dams and reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. For
modification 4 to permit 900, CZESD is authorized to continue the take
of ESA-listed species associated with Study 8, the Trestle Bay habitat
restoration study, through December 31, 1997.
For modification 4, CZESD is authorized an additional annual take
of ESA-listed juvenile salmon associated with a new study (Study 9)
designed to determine the relative survival of juvenile salmon passing
through the spillway of The Dalles Dam. Also for modification 4, CZESD
is authorized an additional annual take of juvenile, threatened,
artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon
associated with a new study (Study 10) designed to: (1) Describe the
vulnerability of juvenile salmonids to predation by northern squawfish
and gulls below The Dalles Dam, (2) provide an estimate of juvenile
salmonid migratory success below The Dalles Dam, and (3) compliment and
enhance information obtained from Study 9. For Study 10, ESA-listed
juvenile fish will be surgically implanted with radio transmitters,
released at The Dalles Dam, and tracked electronically. Also for Study
10, ESA-listed juvenile fish will be sacrificed to measure
physiological attributes related to stress and smoltification
readiness. Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey are
authorized to act as agents of CZESD under permit 900 in the conduct of
Study 10. The authorization for the takes of ESA-listed species
associated with Studies 9 and 10 expires on December 31, 1999.
On April 23, 1997, NMFS issued modification 3 to CZESD's scientific
research permit 946 (P770#68). Permit 946 authorizes CZESD annual
direct and incidental takes of adult and juvenile, threatened,
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/
summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, threatened,
Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and
juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
associated with two studies. Study 1 is designed to compare the
survival to adulthood of spring/summer chinook salmon smolts
transported by barge to below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River 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 3 to permit 946,
[[Page 26782]]
the take of ESA-listed adult fish associated with Study 1 is authorized
annually for the duration of the permit. The take of ESA-listed
juvenile fish associated with Study 1 continues to be authorized for
the three specific years approved by the Director of the Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS in Silver Spring, MD for such take. Permit
946 expires on December 31, 1999.
Notice was published on February 28, 1997 (62 FR 9178) that an
application had been filed by CZESD for modification 2 to scientific
research permit 914 (P770#67). Modification 2 to permit 914 was issued
to CZESD on April 25, 1997. Permit 914 authorizes CZESD annual takes of
juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with the conduct of a dissolved
gas supersaturation study in Priest Rapids Reservoir and the Hanford
reach of the Columbia River, Ice Harbor Reservoir and tailrace on the
Snake River, and downstream from Bonneville Dam. For modification 2 to
permit 914, CZESD is authorized an increase in the take of juvenile,
threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with
the dissolved gas supersaturation research. Also for modification 2,
CZESD is authorized an additional annual take of juvenile, threatened,
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a new study
designed to determine whether the signs of gas bubble disease change as
a result of changing hydrostatic pressures experienced by juvenile
salmonids during their passage through the turbine intakes and
gatewells at John Day Dam on the Columbia River. Modification 2 is
valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 914 expires on December
31, 1998.
Issuance of the modifications to permits, as required by the ESA,
was based on a finding that such actions: (1) Were requested/proposed
in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the ESA-
listed species that are the subject of the permits, and (3) are
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed species permits.
Dated: May 9, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-12804 Filed 5-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
