Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 /Thursday, April 23, 1998 / Notices 20169

than 80,000 lobsters, Necker Island no

more than 70,000 lobsters, Gardner

Pinnacles no more than 20,000 lobsters,

and the remainder from all other banks/

areas combined 116,000 lobsters. When

the allocation for any bank/area is

projected to be taken, the Regional

Administrator will close that area or

bank to prevent overfishing. When a

total of 286,000 lobsters is projected to

be taken, the Regional Administrator

will close the fishery for the season. The

fishery opens July 1.1998.

The Council will meet on May 8, 1998

to take final action on this allocation of

the harvest guidelines. At its April 1998

meeting, the Council also recommended

that NMFS and industry work together

to get data on the distribution and

abundance of lobsters throughout the

archipelago, and that observers should

be placed on all vessels that volunteer

for observer coverage during the 1998

season to provide the needed data.

Documents describing the issue,

alternative solutions, the preferred

Council action and anticipated impacts,

are being prepared and distributed for

review/comment to lobster permit

lobster permit holders and interested

parties prior to the meeting. Copies may

be obtained from the Council (see

ADDRESSES); and

2. American Samoa closed area:

Fishermen in American Samoa who are

members of the Council’s advisory

panels have expressed concern about

the long-term sustainability of the local

small-boat pelagics fishery. In

particular, there is concern that large

longline vessels will seek new fishing

opportunities in the exclusive economic

zone (EEZ) around American Samoa as

fisheries in other areas of the U.S. EEZ

become increasingly restricted. Such a

rapid influx of large vessels occurred in

Hawaii during the late 1980s and led to

extensive gear conflicts. In addition,

there is concern that the large vessels

supplying fish to American Samoa’s

tuna canneries already occasionally fish

in the EEZ. A widely held perception

among small-scale trollers and

longliners is that these larger vessels

intercept fish migrating to local waters

and reduce the supply of tuna and other

pelagic species available for capture by

artisanal and recreational fishermen.

The Council was asked at the 92nd

meeting in April 1997 to assist in

forming a fishermen’s working group to

consider various management options to

ensure the long-term sustainability of

the small-boat fishery. Various meetings

of the working group and other

fishermen were convened by the

Council and the American Samoa

Department of Marine and Wildlife

Resources between June and October

1997. The consensus among fishermen

was that the most effective management

action would be to close an area around

the islands of American Samoa to

pelagic fishing vessels longer than 50 ft.

In anticipation of possibly creating

such a closed area, the Council

established a control date of November

13, 1997, after which vessels larger than

50 ft entering the fishery will not be

assured of being allowed to use longline

gear to fish for pelagic management unit

species within 100 nautical miles of the

islands of American Samoa. At its April

1998 meeting, the Council also

considered prohibiting other US fishing

vessels (e.g. purse seiners, trollers and

pole-and-line bait boats) greater than 50

feet in length from fishing for pelagic

management unit species within 100

nautical miles of the islands of

American Samoa.

The Council will seek to identify all

interested persons and organizations

and solicit their involvement in

discussion of this issue and the

proposed actions. In addition, a

document presenting the issue will be

distributed to all pelagic advisory

groups of the Council who have not yet

received it, with request for comments.

The document will also be distributed

to the Council’s mailing list associated

with the Pelagics Fishery Management

Plan, and to all parties who may be

affected by the proposed action to solicit

their input and to indicate that the

Council will take action on this issue at

the May 8th meeting. Copies may be

obtained from the Council (see

ADDRESSES).

The meeting is open to the public and

public comments are encouraged.

Although other issues not contained

in this agenda, may come before these

groups for discussion, according to the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

those issues may not be the subject of

formal action during this meeting.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Kitty M. Simonds, 808–522–8220

(voice) or 808–522–8226 (fax), at least 5

days prior to meeting date.

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10869 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 041798A]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications for

scientific research permits (1147, 1149)

and a request for modification 2 to

permit 1011; issuance of scientific

research permits (1065, 1114, 1115,

1116)

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish

Commission at Portland, OR (CRITFC)

has applied in due form for permits

(1147, 1149) and the Oregon Department

of Fish and Wildlife at La Grande, OR

(ODFW) has applied in due form for a

modification to a permit (1101) that

would authorize takes of anadromous

fish species listed under the Endangered

Species Act for the purpose of scientific

research/enhancement.

Notice is also given that NMFS has

issued scientific research permits that

authorize takes of ESA-listed species for

the purpose of scientific research and/

or enhancement, subject to certain

conditions set forth therein, to:

Humboldt Fish Action Council (HFAC)

(1065); Washington Department of Fish

and Wildlife at Olympia, WA (WDFW)

(1114); Public Utility District No. 1 of

Chelan County (PUDCC) (1115); and

Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas

County (PUDDC) (1116).

DATES: Written comments or requests for

a public hearing on any of the

applications must be received on or

before May 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and

related documents are available for

review in the following offices, by

appointment:

For permits 1101, 1114, 1115, 1116,

1147, and 1149: Protected Resources

Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE

Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR

97232–4169 (503–230–5400).

For permit 1065: Administrator,

Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 777

Sonoma Avenue Room 325, Santa Rosa,

CA 95405 (707–575–6050).

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

permits 1101, 1147, and 1149: Robert

Koch, Portland, OR (503–230–5424).
20170 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 /Thursday, April 23, 1998 / Notices

For permits 1114, 1115, and 1116:

Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR (503–

230–5438).

For permit 1065: Thomas Hablett,

Santa Rosa, CA (707–575–6066).

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 above application

summaries are those of the applicant

and do not necessarily reflect the views

of NMFS.

Issuance of these permits,

modifications, and amendments, 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

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus

tshawytscha)

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus

mykiss)

Applications Received

CRITFC (1147) requests a 5-year

permit that would authorize an annual

direct take of adult and juvenile,

threatened, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, Snake River

spring/summer chinook salmon

(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated

with a supplementation program at

Johnson Creek of the South Fork Salmon

River in ID. The objectives of CRITFC’s

program are to: (1) supply broodstock

for supplementation, (2) restore and

maintain natural spawning, (3) increase

nutrient enrichment into Johnson Creek,

and (4) reestablish sport and tribal

fisheries for chinook salmon. CRITFC

proposes to capture ESA-listed adult

salmon, tag and/or mark them, inoculate

them for diseases, retain a percentage

for hatchery broodstock, and release the

rest above the weir to spawn naturally.

Progeny of the broodstock would be

reared at McCall Fish Hatchery, tagged

with coded-wires and passive integrated

transponders, and released when ready

to outmigrate to the ocean. An annual

incidental take of ESA-listed species

associated with juvenile fish releases is

also requested.

CRITFC (1149) also requests a 3-year

permit that would authorize an annual

direct take of adult and juvenile,

threatened, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, Snake River

spring/summer chinook salmon

associated with a supplementation

program at the Lostine River in OR. The

supplementation program would be a

component of a coordinated

enhancement effort already begun by

ODFW under the authority of permit

1011 (see below). The objectives of

CRITFC’s supplementation program are

to: (1) Collect broodstock for production

for acclimated releases back into the

Lostine River; (2) provide monitoring

and evaluation of returning adults from

captive brood, conventional, and natural

production; and (3) provide acclimation

release facilities for captive brood

smolts produced under the authority of

permit 1011. CRITFC proposes to

capture fish at the Lostine River weir,

tag and/or mark them, innoculate them

for diseases, retain a percentage for

hatchery broodstock, and release the

remaining fish above the weir to spawn

naturally. Progeny of the broodstock

would be reared at Lookingglass

Hatchery, tagged with coded wires and

passive integrated transponders, and

released when ready to outmigrate to

the ocean. An annual incidental take of

ESA-listed species associated with

juvenile fish releases is requested.

Permit 1011 authorizes ODFW annual

direct takes of adult and juvenile,

threatened, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, Snake River

spring/summer chinook salmon

associated with a captive broodstock

program for Catherine Creek, upper

Grande Ronde River, and Lostine River

populations. Modification 1 to permit

1011, issued on June 20, 1997,

authorized ODFW to collect naturallyproduced returning adults from the

three watersheds in 1997 only to begin

a supplementation program. For

modification 2 to permit 1011, ODFW

requests to collect returning adults from

Catherine Creek and the upper Grande

Ronde River to continue the

supplementation program. CRITFC will

be primarily responsible for operating

adult trapping and smolt acclimation

facilities at the Lostine River as

proposed in their application for a

permit (1149, see above). The ESA-listed

adult salmon not retained for

broodstock, including all adult salmon

from captive brood production, will be

tagged and/or marked, sampled for

tissues and scales, and released above

the weirs to spawn naturally. ODFW

proposes to transport the collected

adults to Lookingglass Hatchery where

they will be spawned, the resulting eggs

incubated, and the juveniles reared.

ODFW believes that the collection of

ESA-listed adults for hatchery

supplementation will increase the

persistence of the populations because

of the survival advantage provided by

the hatchery. Releases of juvenile fish

from the supplementation program are

requested. An annual incidental take of

ESA-listed species associated with

juvenile fish releases is requested.

Modification 2 is requested to be valid

for the duration of the permit which

expires on December 31, 2000.

Permits Issued

Notice was published on January 15,

1998 (63 FR 2364) that an application

had been filed by WDFW for a scientific

research permit. Permit 1114 was issued

to WDFW on April 9, 1998. The permit

authorizes takes of juvenile,

endangered, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, upper Columbia

River steelhead associated with a smolt

monitoring program at Rock Island Dam

on the Columbia River. The purpose of

the program is to collect information on

juvenile fish migration timing, survival,

travel timing, and general fish health.

The data will be used to make in-season

adjustments to water releases from

upstream reservoirs that optimize

downstream migration conditions.

Permit 1114 expires on December 31,

2002.

Notice was published on January 15,

1998 (63 FR 2364) that an application

had been filed by PUDCC for a scientific

research permit. Permit 1115 was issued

on April 10, 1998 and authorizes the

takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally

produced and artificially propagated,

upper Columbia River steelhead

associated with research. The purpose

of the research is to: (1) Evaluate the

juvenile fish bypass system installed at

Rocky Reach Dam, and (2) monitor

juvenile fish gas bubble trauma at Rocky

Reach and Rock Island Dams on the

Columbia River. Permit 1115 expires on

December 31, 2002.

Notice was published on January 15,

1998 (63 FR 2364) that an application

had been filed by PUDDC for a scientific

research permit. Permit 1116 was issued
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 /Thursday, April 23, 1998 / Notices 20171

to PUDDC on April 10, 1998 and

authorizes takes of juvenile,

endangered, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, upper Columbia

River steelhead associated with two

research studies. Study 1 is designed to

determine the survival and migration

differences of juvenile fish as they pass

downstream through Lake Pateros and

Wells Dam. The information will be

used to determine the appropriateness

of utilizing selected surrogate stocks in

future survival studies in the midColumbia River. Study 2 is designed to

understand the status of juvenile

salmonid migration at Wells Dam. ESAlisted juvenile fish will be lethally taken

by fyke nets. Permit 1116 expires on

December 31, 2002.

Notice was published on December

17, 1997 (62 FR 66053) that an

application had been filed by HFAC for

a scientific research permit. Permit 1065

was issued to HFAC on April 15, 1998.

Permit 1065 authorizes takes of adult

and juvenile, threatened, southern

Oregon/northern California coast coho

salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in

California, associated with fish

population studies in the Freshwater

Creek drainage within the evolutionarily

significant unit. The studies consist of

coho salmon abundance and spawner

surveys for which ESA-listed fish are

proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish

will be captured, handled, and released.

ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities

associated with the research are also

authorized. Permit 1065 expires on June

30, 2003.

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Deputy Director, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10868 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 041698F]

Marine Mammals; Permit No. 1031

(P623)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for

amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

Ms. D. Ann Pabst, Biological Sciences

and Center for Marine Science Research,

The University of North Carolina at

Wilmington, 601 South College Road,

Wilmington, North Carolina 28403–

3297, has requested an amendment to

Permit No. 1031.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before May 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request

and related documents are available for

review upon written request or by

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (301/713–2289);

Regional Administrator, Northeast

Region, National Marine Fisheries

Service, One Blackburn Drive,

Gloucester, MA 01930–2298 (508/281–

9250);

Regional Administrator, Southeast

Region, National Marine

Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive

Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL

33702–2432 (813/570–5301).

Written data or views, or requests for

a public hearing on this request should

be submitted to the Chief, Permits

Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries

Service, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those

individuals requesting a hearing should

set forth the specific reasons why a

hearing on this particular request would

be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject amendment is requested under

the authority of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Regulations

Governing the Taking and Importing of

Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).

The Permit Holder is currently

authorized to conduct photoidentification studies, acoustic

recording, and aerial and vessel surveys,

on up to 1,200 humpback whales

(Megaptera novaeangliae) annually over

a five year period. In addition, the

following non-target species may be

harassed during the course of the

research: North Atlantic right whales

(Eubalaena glacialis), fin whales

(Balaenoptera physalus), Atlantic

bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops

truncatus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena

phocoena), beaked whales (Mesplodon

sp.), and pelagic dolphins (Stenella sp.).

The primary goal of the research is to

identify potential anthropogenic causes

of mortality of humpback whales

(Megaptera novaeangliae)in the midAtlantic Ocean.

The Holder is now requesting that the

Permit be amended to: (1) expand the

geographic coverage of the research to

include offshore waters to the

continental shelf from Cape Fear, North

Carolina north to the mouth of Delaware

Bay; (2) increase the number of takes of

animals currently authorized to be

harassed under the permit; and to add

sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

and common dolphins (Delphinus

delphis) to the species authorized to be

harassed. The purpose of the

amendment is to conduct increased

numbers of offshore aerial and vessel

surveys to more thoroughly identify the

temporal and spatial distribution of

humpback whales and other cetacean

species.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial

determination has been made that the

activity proposed is categorically

excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or

environmental impact statement.

Concurrent with the publication of

this notice in the Federal Register,

NMFS is forwarding copies of this

application to the Marine Mammal

Commission and its Committee of

Scientific Advisors.

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10867 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

‘‘FEDERAL REGISTER’’ CITATION OF

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: 63 FR 17994

April 13, 1998.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF

MEETING: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 23,

1998.

CHANGES IN MEETING: The Commission

briefing on the FY 1998 Mid-Year

Review is canceled. The meeting has

been rescheduled for Thursday, April

30, 1998.

For a recorded message containing the

latest agenda information, call (301)

504–0709.

CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION: Sadye E. Dunn, Office of

the Secretary, 4330 East West Highway,

Bethesda, MD 20207 (301) 504–0800.