[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2364-2366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1050]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010998A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits 1059, 
1072, 1074, 1075, 1088, 1092, 1114, 1115, and 1116. Issuance of 
scientific research permits 1066, 1079, 1080, 1082, 1103, 1104, 
modification 3 to permit 895, and amendments to permits 795, 1005, 822, 
and 825.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for permits that would authorize takes of an 
endangered or threatened species for scientific research purposes: Carl 
Page, in Cotati, CA (1059); U.S.D.I. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), in 
Shasta Lake, CA (1072); Pacific Lumber Company (PLC), in Scotia, CA 
(1074); Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA), 
in Miranda, CA (1075); U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in 
Arcata, CA (1088); Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), in Redding, CA 
(1092); the State of Washington, Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 
at Olympia, WA (1114); Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County 
(PUDCC), at Wenatchee, WA (1115); and Public Utility District No. 1 of 
Douglas County (PUDDC) at East Wenatchee, WA (1116).
    Notice is also given that NMFS has issued scientific research 
permits that authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed 
anadromous fish species for the purpose of scientific research and/or 
enhancement, subject to certain conditions set forth therein, to: D.W. 
Alley and Associates (DWAA), Brookedale, CA (1066); Georgia-Pacific 
West, Inc. (GPWI), Fort Bragg, CA (1079); Dr. Jerry J. Smith, San Jose 
State University (SJSU), San Jose, CA (1080); Salmon Trollers Marketing 
Association (STMA), Fort Bragg, CA (1082); the California Department of 
Forestry and Fire Protection (CDFFP), Santa Rosa, CA (1103); Louisiana-
Pacific Corporation (LPC), Trinidad, CA (1104); has issued a 
modification to a permit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), 
at Walla Walla, WA (895).
    Notice is also given that NMFS issued amendments to permits to: the 
Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), at Boise, ID (795); the 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS (NWFSC), at Seattle, WA 
(1005); the Fish Passage Center (FPC), at Portland, OR (822); and the 
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), at Portland, OR 
(825).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of 
these applications must be received on or before February 17, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For applications/permits 1059, 1066, 1072, 1074, 1075, 1079, 1080, 
1082, 1088, 1092, 1103, 1104: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 
Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707 575-6066);
    For applications/permits 895, 795, 1005, 822, 825, 1114, 1115, 
1116: Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, NMFS, 525 NE Oregon Street, 
Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400);
    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 1059, 1066, 1072, 1074, 
1075, 1079, 1080, 1082, 1088, 1092, 1103, 1104: Tom Hablett, Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS Santa Rosa office, (707-575-6066).
    For permits 1114, 1115, 1116: Tom Lichatowich, Protected Resources 
Division, NMFS Portland office, (503-230-5438).
    For permits 895, 795, 1005, 822, 825: Robert Koch, Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS Portland office, (503-230-5424).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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

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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.

Applications Received

    Carl Page (1059) requests a five-year permit for takes of: adult 
and juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast 
(SONNC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch); adult and juvenile, 
threatened, central California coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus 
kisutch); and adult and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with fish population and 
habitat studies in coastal drainages throughout California. The studies 
consist of coho salmon habitat and biological inventories, and project 
monitoring and evaluation studies for which ESA-listed fish are 
proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured, anesthetized, 
handled (identified and measured), allowed to recover from the 
anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities 
associated with the research are also requested.
    BOR (1072) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONNC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with monitoring projects in the Trinity, Klamath and New 
River Basins within the Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The 
studies consist of coho salmon distribution and abundance surveys for 
which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be 
captured, anesthetized, handled (identified and measured), allowed to 
recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect 
mortalities associated with the research are also requested.
    PLC (1074) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONNC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with fish population and habitat studies on PLC ownership 
properties in basins of the Eel, Van Duzen, and Mattole Rivers, 
Freshwater Creek, and coastal stream drainages to Humboldt Bay within 
the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon habitat and biological 
inventories, and project monitoring and evaluation studies for which 
ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish will be 
captured, anesthetized, handled (identified and measured), allowed to 
recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect 
mortalities associated with the research are also requested.
    PCFFA (1075) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONNC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with fish population and habitat studies in the Eel River 
Basin within the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon distribution, 
abundance and genetic surveys for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to 
be taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured, anesthetized, handled 
(identified and measured), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities associated with the 
research are also requested.
    BLM (1088) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONNC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with fish population and habitat studies in the Eel and 
Mattole River Basins, and Humboldt County coastal stream drainages 
within the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon distribution, 
abundance and spawner surveys for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to 
be taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured, anesthetized, handled 
(identified and measured), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities associated with the 
research are also requested.
    SPI (1092) requests a five-year permit for takes of adult and 
juvenile, threatened, SONNC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) 
associated with fish population and habitat studies on SPI ownership 
properties within the ESU. The studies consist of coho salmon habitat 
and biological inventories for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be 
taken. ESA-listed fish will be captured, anesthetized, handled 
(identified and measured), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities associated with the 
research are also requested.
    WDFW (1114) requests a five-year permit for a take of juvenile 
endangered, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Upper 
Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 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. ESA-
listed juvenile fish are proposed to be collected in a permanent 
inclined screen trap, anesthetized, examined and/or tagged with passive 
integrated transponders (PIT), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, 
and released. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated 
with the research are also requested.
    PUDCC (1115) requests a five-year permit for takes of endangered, 
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Upper Columbia River 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with two research studies. 
The purpose of study one is to evaluate the juvenile fish bypass system 
installed at Rock Creek Dam. Data collected will be used to test and 
improve the surface collector system that guides juvenile salmonids 
around the dam. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be collected 
by surface collectors at the dam, anesthetized, examined and/or PIT-
tagged, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. The 
purpose of study two is to monitor juvenile fish gas bubble trauma at 
Rocky Reach and Rock Island Dams on the Columbia River. The information 
obtained will be used to determine how fish are affected by gas bubbles 
and what can be done to minimize gas bubble trauma. ESA-listed juvenile 
fish are proposed to be collected by surface collectors at the dams, 
anesthetized, examined, allowed to recover from anesthetic, and 
released. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated with 
both studies are also requested.
    PUDDC (1116) requests a five-year permit for takes of endangered, 
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Upper Columbia River 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with a study designed to 
determine the survival and migration differences of juvenile fish as 
they pass downstream through Lake Pateros and Wells Dam. ESA-listed 
juvenile fish are proposed to be collected by rotary screw traps and/or 
beach seines. All ESA-listed fish captured will be examined under water 
and released into the

[[Page 2366]]

stream where captured without additional handling. The information will 
be used to determine the appropriateness of utilizing selected 
surrogate stocks in future survival studies in the mid-Columbia River. 
ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated with the 
research are also requested.

Permits Issued

    Notice was published on September 18, 1997 (62 FR 48995) that an 
application had been filed by DWAA (1066) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and the NMFS regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-222). 
Permit 1066 was issued to DWAA on December 23, 1997. Permit 1066 
expires on June 30, 2002.
    Notice was published on September 11, 1997 (62 FR 47790) that an 
application had been filed by GPWI (1079) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the ESA. Permit 1079 was 
issued to GPWI on December 23, 1997. Permit 1079 expires on June 30, 
2002.
    Notice was published on September 11, 1997 (62 FR 47790) that an 
application had been filed by SJSU (1080) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the ESA. Permit 1080 was 
issued to SJSU on December 23, 1997. Permit 1080 expires on June 30, 
2002.
    Notice was published on September 18, 1997 (62 FR 48995) that an 
application had been filed by STMA (1082) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the ESA. Permit 1082 was 
issued to STMA on December 23, 1997. Permit 1082 expires on June 30, 
2002.
    Notice was published on August 22, 1997 (62 FR 44646) that an 
application had been filed by CDFFP (1103) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the ESA. Permit 1103 was 
issued to CDFFP on December 23, 1997. Permit 1103 expires on June 30, 
2002.
    Notice was published on August 22, 1997 (62 FR 44646) that an 
application had been filed by LPC (1104) to take threatened central 
California coast coho salmon as authorized by the ESA. Permit 1104 was 
issued to LPC on December 23, 1997. Permit 1103 expires on June 30, 
2002.

Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on October 14, 1997 (62 FR 53319) that an 
application had been filed by the Corps for modification 3 to 
enhancement permit 895. Modification 3 to permit 895 was issued on 
December 24, 1997. Permit 895 authorizes the Corps annual takes of 
adult and juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon 
(Oncorhynchus nerka); adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally-
produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook 
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and adult and juvenile, threatened, 
Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated 
with the operation of the Juvenile Fish Transportation Program at four 
hydroelectric projects on the Snake and Columbia Rivers (Lower Granite, 
Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and McNary Dams). For modification 3, 
the Corps is authorized an increase in the annual incidental take of 
adult, threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated 
with fallbacks through the juvenile fish bypass systems at the 
projects. A corresponding increase in ESA-listed adult salmon 
incidental mortalities are also authorized. Modification 3 is valid for 
the duration of the permit. Permit 895 expires on December 31, 1998.

Amended Permits

    Amendments to scientific research and/or enhancement permits 795, 
1005, 822, and 825 were issued on December 29, 1997. The amendments 
authorize an extension of each of the permits through May 31, 1998. The 
permits were all due to expire on December 31, 1997. Extensions of the 
permits are necessary to allow the permit holders to continue 
activities while new permits are applied for and/or to allow them the 
opportunity to develop take estimates of ESA-listed steelhead 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) for the applications. Permits 795 and 1005 
authorize IDFG and NWFSC takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, Snake 
River sockeye salmon associated with a captive broodstock program. 
Permits 822 and 825 authorize FPC and CRITFC takes of juvenile, 
endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, 
naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/
summer chinook salmon; and adult and juvenile, threatened, Snake River 
fall chinook salmon associated with scientific research and monitoring 
activities.

    Dated: January 9, 1998.
Barbara A. Schroeder,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1050 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
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