[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30199-30200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14738]
[[Page 30199]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 052698D]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of application for a scientific research permit (1155);
Issuance of scientific research permits (1092, 1124, 1127, 1132, 1134)
and modifications to scientific research permits (822, 895, 946).
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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 a permit
application from Dr. Tim King, Supervisory Fishery Biologist of Leetown
Science Center, USGS (LSC-USGS) (1155); NMFS has issued permits subject
to certain conditions set forth therein, to: Sierra Pacific Industries
(SPI) (1092), Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG)
(1124), Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Fort Hall, ID (SBT) (1127), Mr. S.
Gordon Rogers, of Satilla Management Associates, Inc. (SMA) (1132), and
the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission at Portland, OR
(CRITFC) (1134); and NMFS has issued permit modifications to: Fish
Passage Center at Portland, OR (FPC) (822), U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers at Walla Walla, WA (Corps) (895), and the Fish Ecology
Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA
(NWFSC) (946).
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
applications must be received on or before July 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permit 822, 895, 946, 1124, 1127, and 1134: Protected Resources
Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR
97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
For permit 1092: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma
Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066).
For permit 1132: Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721
Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).
For permit 1155: Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One
Blackburn Drive, Glouster, MA, 01930-2298 (978-281-9250).
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 822, 895, 946, 1124, and
1127: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).
For permit 1092: Thomas Hablett, Protected Resources Division,
(707-575-6066).
For permits 1132 and 1155: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species
Division, Office of Protected Resources, (301-713-1401).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
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 below application summaries
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of
NMFS.
Issuance of these permits and modifications 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.
Species Covered in This Notice
The following species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch),
Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Sockeye salmon
(Oncorhynchus nerka) and Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
New Application Received
LSC-USGS (1155) requests a 5 year permit to possess 90 samples of
shortnose sturgeon DNA obtained from Dr. Isaac Wirgin (Permit #1107)
for analysis of microsatellite DNA variation collected from three
geographic populations of the species. Microsatellite analysis will be
performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The genetic analysis will
help determine the presence of a reproducing shortnose sturgeon
population in the Chesapeake Bay. The genetic analysis is part of a
larger project (Permit #1051) being undertaken by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, US
Geological Survey and State University of New York entitled
``Determination of whether a resident shortnose sturgeon population
exists in Chesapeake Bay and assessment of sturgeon use of proposed
dredged material placement sites''. Knowledge of this population and
its relationship to other geographic populations will aid in
development of conservation plans.
Permits and Modifications Issued
Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11221), that an
application had been filed by FPC for modification 5 to scientific
research permit 822. Modification 5 to permit 822 was issued to FPC on
May 26, 1998. Permit 822 authorizes FPC annual takes of juvenile,
endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook
salmon; and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon
associated with the Smolt Monitoring Program (SMP). The objective of
the SMP is to generate information on the migrational characteristics
of various salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River Basin and
to provide advice on the implementation of flow and spill measures to
improve fish passage conditions in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. For
modification 5, FPC is authorized annual takes of juvenile, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, upper Columbia River
(UCR) steelhead associated with the SMP. Modification 5 is valid for
the duration of the permit. Permit 822 expires on December 31, 1998.
Notice was published on February 24, 1998 (63 FR 9204), that an
application had been filed by the Corps for modification 4 to
enhancement permit 895. Modification 4 to permit 895 was issued to the
Corps on May 26, 1998. Permit 895 authorizes the Corps annual
[[Page 30200]]
takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon and juvenile,
threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon
associated with the transport of fish around mainstem dams and
downstream reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The purpose of
the fish transportation program is to increase anadromous fish survival
over the alternative of in-river passage, given current in-river
migratory conditions. Permit 895 also authorizes the Corps annual
incidental takes of ESA-listed adult fish associated with the operation
of the juvenile fish transportation facilities. For modification 4, the
Corps is authorized an annual direct take of juvenile, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated UCR steelhead associated
with the juvenile fish transportation program. Also for modification 4,
the Corps is authorized an annual incidental take of adult, endangered,
UCR steelhead associated with fallbacks through hydropower dam juvenile
bypass systems. Indirect and incidental mortalities of ESA-listed
steelhead are authorized. Permit 895 is also extended through December
31, 1999. Modification 4 is valid for the duration of the permit.
Notice was published on March 24, 1998 (63 FR 14069), that an
application had been filed by NWFSC for modification 4 to scientific
research permit 946. Modification 4 to permit 946 was issued to NWFSC
on May 19, 1998. 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. The
studies are designed to assess the migration timing and relative
survival of chinook salmon smolts transported by barge to below
Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River with the survival to adulthood of
smolts migrating volitionally inriver to Bonneville Dam and to the
mouth of the Columbia River. For modification 4, NWFSC is authorized an
increase in the takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the
studies. Also for modification 4, NWFSC is authorized an annual take of
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
UCR steelhead associated with one of the studies. Modification 4 is
valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 946 expires on December
31, 1999.
Notice was published on January 13, 1998 (63 FR 2364), that an
application had been filed by SPI for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1092 was issued to SPI on May 26, 1998. Permit 1092 authorizes
takes of juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/northern California
coastal coho salmon associated with fish population and habitat studies
within the California portion of the evolutionarily significant unit.
ESA-listed fish will be captured, handled, and released. Indirect
mortalities associated with the research are also authorized. Permit
1092 expires on June 30, 2003.
Notice was published on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8435), that an
application had been filed by IDFG for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1124 was issued to IDFG on May 19, 1998. Permit 1124 authorizes
IDFG annual takes of adult and 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
seven research tasks: (1) General fish population inventory; (2)
Spring/summer chinook salmon natural production monitoring and
evaluation; (3) Spring/summer chinook salmon supplementation research;
(4) Redfish Lake, Pettit Lake, Alturas Lake kokanee/sockeye research;
(5) Salmon and steelhead fish health monitoring; (6) Steelhead natural
production monitoring and evaluation; and (7) Steelhead supplementation
research. Permit 1124 expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8435), that an
application had been filed by SBT for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1127 was issued to SBT on May 19, 1998. Permit 1127 authorizes
SBT annual takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced
and artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon
associated with scientific research conducted throughout the Salmon
River Basin in the state of ID. SBT will conduct six research tasks:
(1) Snorkel surveys; (2) spawning ground surveys; (3) juvenile chinook
salmon outmigrant monitoring in the East Fork and the West Fork Yankee
Fork using a rotary screw trap and passive integrated transponder tags;
(4) juvenile fish migration timing and movement at the Yankee Fork
using fyke nets; (5) juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead abundance
and condition factor estimates at the Yankee Fork using seines and
electrofishing; and (6) juvenile chinook salmon parr monitoring. Permit
1127 expires on December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on Febrary 25, 1998 (63 FR 9505), that an
application had been filed by SMA, for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1132 was issued to SMA on May 27, 1998. Permit 1132 authorizes
the take of a maximum of 40 shortnose sturgeon from the Ogeechee (10)
and Altamaha (30) rivers in Georgia to collect tissue samples of
shortnose sturgeon in these rivers for genetic analysis in conjunction
with previously permitted researchers. The sturgeon will be examined,
measured, photographed, and tagged with conventional and PIT tags.
Tissue samples will be taken from the right pectoral spine. The
sturgeon will be released immediately following the above procedure.
Permit 1132 expires on May 31, 2000.
Notice was published on March 2, 1998 (63 FR 10198), that an
application had been filed by CRITFC for a scientific research permit.
Permit 1134 was issued to CRITFC on May 27, 1998. Permit 1134
authorizes CRITFC annual takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River
sockeye salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon;
adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and
adult and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, UCR steelhead associated with scientific research in the
Columbia and Snake River Basins in the Pacific Northwest. CRITFC will
conduct eight research tasks: (1) Juvenile chinook salmon, steelhead,
and coho salmon surveys; (2) juvenile anadromous salmonid outmigration
studies; (3) chinook salmon and steelhead escapement surveys; (4) scale
sampling at Bonneville Dam; (5) cryopreservation of chinook salmon and
steelhead gametes; (6) gas bubble trauma sampling; (7) subyearling fall
chinook salmon research; and (8) westslope cutthroat trout genetic
inventory. Permit 1134 expires on December 31, 2002.
Dated: May 29, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14738 Filed 6-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
