Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 80 / Thursday, April 25, 2013 / Notices 24385 

other juvenile PS Chinook and all PS 

steelhead captured would be measured 

(fork length), counted, and released. The 

research would benefit the listed species 

by helping improve salmon habitat 

restoration. 

Permit 17798 

The NWFSC is seeking a five-year 

research permit to annually take 

juvenile PS Chinook salmon and PS 

steelhead. The NWFSC research may 

also cause them to take adult S 

eulachon—a species for which there are 

currently no ESA take prohibitions. The 

surveys would occur in biologically and 

chemically contaminated estuaries 

throughout Puget Sound (Skagit, 

Stillaguamish, Puyallup, Nisqually, 

Duwamish, Snohomish, and Deschutes 

river estuaries). The purpose of these 

surveys is to monitor chemicals of 

emerging concern (CEC) using 

molecular and physiological approaches 

that would identify bio-accumulative 

CEC in ecologically sensitive indicator 

species and determine the impacts of 

CEC exposure may be having on 

endocrine function and growth. The 

researchers would use whole genome 

and molecular techniques on various 

Chinook tissues to help identify gene 

pathways and develop robust diagnostic 

indices for CEC toxicity. The NWFSC 

proposes to capture and euthanize the 

fish so they can take blood, tissue, and 

organ samples for analyses. Excess 

Chinook (and all other species) would 

be release immediately after capture. 

The researchers would prioritize using 

adipose-fin-clipped hatchery fish and 

unintentional mortalities over 

unclipped or wild fish. The research 

would benefit the listed species by 

identifying CEC sites and sources and 

thereby helping inform decisions about 

how to best handle them in the future. 

Permit 17839 

The USFS is seeking a five-year 

research permit to annually take 

juvenile PS Chinook salmon and PS 

steelhead. The researchers would 

conduct Salish sucker surveys in the 

northern Puget Sound river drainages of 

the Nooksack, Skagit, and Stillaguamish 

rivers. Their purpose is to: (1) Improve 

our knowledge about Salish sucker 

distribution by sampling preferential 

habitat types throughout their range in 

Northern Puget Sound and (2) refining 

our understanding of the species’ 

physical chemical habitat metrics. In the 

U.S., the Salish Sucker, endemic to five 

watersheds in Washington State, is not 

federally listed under the ESA. In 

Canada, the Salish sucker has been 

listed as endangered since 1987 under 

the Species At Risk Act (SARA). The 

USFS proposes to capture fish using 

minnow and feddes traps. Salmonids 

encountered would be identified by 

species, checked for an adipose fin clip, 

and immediately released downstream. 

The research would benefit the listed 

species by providing information on 

their distribution. The main benefactor 

of this research is the Salish sucker who 

are listed as endangered in Canada but 

not well understood in the U.S. For 

Salish suckers, this study would 

improve distribution knowledge, 

confirm critical physical habitat 

characteristics, quantify presence/ 

absence in suitable habitat, confirm 

species persistence in known 

populations, and refine migratory life 

history by investigating the upper 

drainages. The researchers do not intend 

to kill any listed fish, but some may die 

as an inadvertent result of the research. 

Permit 17851 

The Coastal Watershed Institute (CWI) 

is seeking a five-year research permit to 

annually take juvenile PS Chinook 

salmon, PS steelhead, and HCS chum 

salmon. The CWI research may also 

cause them to take adult S eulachon— 

a species for which there are currently 

no ESA take prohibitions. The survey 

would take place in the Elwha River 

estuary. The purpose of the research is 

to examine ecological function in the 

Elwha River nearshore environment 

with respect to determining how that 

environment supports fish species. The 

researchers would look at the 

population structures, migration timing, 

and life history strategies among local 

salmonids (Chinook, chum, sea-run 

cutthroat, steelhead, and bull trout) and 

measure ecological indices as well. The 

CWI proposes to capture fish using a 

beach seine. All fish would be identified 

by their lowest taxonomic level. Twenty 

individuals from each species would be 

measured and released. Salmonids 

would be scanned for fin clips and tags. 

The research would benefit listed 

species by generating information on the 

species’ habitat needs and response to 

the removal of the Elwha and Glines 

Canyon dams. The researchers do not 

intend to kill any listed fish, but some 

may die as an inadvertent result of the 

research. 

Permit 18001 

Pierce County, Washington, is seeking 

a five-year research permit to annually 

take juvenile and adult PS Chinook 

salmon and PS steelhead. The purpose 

of these surveys is to determine the 

distribution and diversity of 

anadromous fish species in water bodies 

adjacent to and within the county’s 

levee system. The County proposes to 

capture fish using seines, dip-netting, 

minnow traps, fyke nets, hook and line, 

and backpack electrofishing. 

Electrofishing would largely be ‘‘spotshocking’’ for presence and absence and 

would not typically cover broad, 

continuous areas. The fish would be 

captured, identified, measured, and 

then released at or near their capture 

site. Fish would not be removed from 

the water unless absolutely necessary. 

The research would benefit the listed 

species by helping Pierce County 

develop a best management practice 

program and establish in-water work 

windows that would minimize effects 

on listed fish during construction and 

restoration projects. The researchers do 

not intend to kill any listed fish, but 

some may die as an inadvertent result 

of the research. 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will 

evaluate the applications, associated 

documents, and comments submitted to 

determine whether the applications 

meet the requirements of section 10(a) 

of the ESA and Federal regulations. The 

final permit decisions will not be made 

until after the end of the 30-day 

comment period. NMFS will publish 

notice of its final action in the Federal 

Register. 

Dated: April 22, 2013. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–09803 Filed 4–24–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

TIME AND DATE: 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 

3, 2013. 

PLACE: 1155 21st St., NW., Washington, 

DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference 

Room. 

STATUS: Closed. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance 

and Enforcement Matters. In the event 

that the times or dates of this or any 

future meetings change, an 

announcement of the change, along with 

the new time and place of the meeting 

will be posted on the Commission’s 

Web site at http://www.cftc.gov. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Melissa D. Jurgens, 202–418–5516. 

Natise Stowe, 

Executive Assistant. 

[FR Doc. 2013–09847 Filed 4–23–13; 11:15 am] 

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P 


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