2364 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 1998 / Notices

solicit comment on a limited access

program proposed for the Mau Zone

bottomfish fishery in the Northwestern

Hawaiian Islands.

DATES: The schedule for the public

meetings is as follows: Tuesday, 27

January 1998, Lihikai Elementary

School, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Kahalui,

Maui; Wednesday, 28 January 1998,

Council Office, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm,

Honolulu, Hawaii; and Thursday, 29

January 1998, Wilcox Elementary, 6:00

pm - 9:00 pm, Lihue, Kauai.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held

at: Maui, Lihikai Elementary School,

Kahalui, Maui, 335 Papa Street, 96732;

Oahu, Council Office, 1164 Bishop

Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii,

96813; Kauai, Wilcox Elementary

School, 4319 Hardy Street, Lihue,

Kauai, 96766. Telephone inquires can

be made to (808) 522–8220.

Council address: Western Pacific

Fishery Management Council, 1164

Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI,

96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director;

telephone 808–522–8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Western Pacific Fishery Management

Council will be holding public

meetings/hearings on Maui, Oahu, and

Kauai to solicit comments on the

proposed limited access system for the

Mau Zone bottomfish fishery in the

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 1989

the Mau Zone was established through

Amendment 2 of the Council’s

Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish

Fishery Management Plan. The Mau

Zone was created as an open access

fishery but required a federal permit for

participation. Currently, a 2 year

moratorium is in place on the issuance

of new permits for the Mau Zone

fishery. The moratorium is scheduled to

expire 27 March 1999, by which time

the Council intend to establish a new

management program for the fishery.

Although other issues not on the

agenda may come before this Council

for discussion, in accordance with the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

those issues may not be the subject of

formal Council action during these

meetings. Council action will be

restricted to those issues specifically

identified in the agenda listed in this

notice.

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: January 9, 1998.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–1051 Filed 1–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

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.

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
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 1998 / Notices 2365

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 artificiallypropagated, 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. ESAlisted 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. ESAlisted 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 artificiallypropagated, 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 artificiallypropagated, 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 ESAlisted fish captured will be examined

under water and released into the
2366 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 1998 / Notices

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 artificiallypropagated, 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]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 010898B]

Marine Mammals; Scientific Research

Permits (PHF# 782–1438 and PHF#

774–1437)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the National Marine Mammal

Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries

Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way,

NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle,

Washington 98115–0700 has applied in

due form for a permit to take multiple

cetacean and pinniped species for

purposes of scientific research. In

addition the Southwest Fisheries

Science Center, National Marine

Fisheries Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 271

La Jolla, CA 92038–0271 has applied in

due form for a permit to take multiple

pinniped species for the purposes of

scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments

must be received on or before February

17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and

related documents are available for

review upon written request or by

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130,

Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713–

2289); and

Regional Administrator, Northwest

Region, National Marine Fisheries

Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way,

NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA

98115–0070 (206/526–6150).

Regional Administrator, Southwest

Region, National Marine Fisheries

Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean

Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA

90802–4213 (562/980–4001).

Written comments or requests for a

public hearing on these applications

should be mailed to the Chief, Permits

and Documentation Division, F/PR1,

Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130,

Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those

individuals requesting a hearing should

set forth the specific reasons why a

hearing on these particular requests

would be appropriate.

Comments may also be submitted by

facsimile at (301) 713–0376, provided

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy

submitted by mail and postmarked no