Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2000 / Notices 2381

Dated: January 8, 2000.

Donald R. Knowles,

Director, Office of Protected Resources,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–953 Filed 1–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 011100A]

New England Fishery Management

Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery

Management Council (Council) is

scheduling a public meeting of its

Capacity Committee. Recommendations

from the Committee will be brought to

the full Council for formal consideration

and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

February 2, 2000, at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Rhode Island Department of

Environmental Management Foundry

Offices, 235 Promenade Street, 4th Floor,

Room C, Providence, Rhode Island;

telephone: (401) 222–6605 ext. 2412.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

J. Howard, Executive Director,

telephone: (978) 465–04922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Committee will continue its exploration

of fishing capacity issues. The

Committee will begin to review

available information that may indicate

the status of capacity in New England

fisheries. Committee members will also

begin to prioritize the problems caused

by excess capacity in New England

fisheries, and will begin to identify

possible solutions to identified

problems. The Committee will also

review the number of permits held by

vessels in order to characterize the

amount of flexibility that fishermen

have to move between fisheries.

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in this agenda may come

before the Council for discussion, those

issues may not be the subject of formal

Council action during this meeting.

Council action will be restricted to those

issues specifically listed in this

document and any issues arising after

publication of this document that

require emergency action under section

305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

provided the public has been notified of

the Council’s intent to take final action

to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul

J. Howard, New England Fishery

Management Council, 50 Water Street,

Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950;

telephone: (978) 465–0492 at least 5

days prior to the meeting dates.

Dated: January 11, 2000.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–954 Filed 1–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 010400B]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration,

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications for

scientific research permits (1229, 1231);

issuance of modifications to existing

permits (895, 900, 946, 1193, 1213).

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 scientific research

permit applications from Northern

Wasco County People’s Utility District

at The Dalles, OR (NWCPUD)(1229), and

Dr. Llewellyn M. Ehrhart, of the

University of Central Florida (LMEUCF) (1231); and NMFS has issued

modifications to scientific research and/

or enhancement permits to: U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District

at Walla Walla, WA (COE)(895),

Northwest Fisheries Science Center,

National Marine Fisheries Service at

Seattle, WA (NWFSC)(900, 946, 1213),

and the Fish Passage Center at Portland,

OR (FPC)(1193).

DATES: Comments or requests for a

public hearing on either of the new

applications must be received at the

appropriate address or fax number no

later than 5:00pm eastern standard time

on February 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on either

of the new applications should be sent

to the appropriate office as indicated

below. Comments may also be sent via

fax to the number indicated for the

application. Comments will not be

accepted if submitted via e-mail or the

internet. The applications and related

documents are available for review in

the indicated office, by appointment:

For permits 895, 900, 946, 1193, 1213,

and 1229: Protected Resources Division,

F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite

500, Portland, OR 97232–2737 (ph: 503–

230–5400, fax: 503–230–5435).

For permit 1231: Office of Protected

Resources, Endangered Species

Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (ph:

301–713–1401, fax: 301–713–0376).

Documents may also be reviewed by

appointment in the Office of Protected

Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910–3226 (301–713–1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For permit 1231: Terri Jordan, Silver

Spring, MD (ph: 301–713–1401, fax:

301–713–0376, e-mail:

Terri.Jordan@noaa.gov).

For permits 900, 946, 1193, and 1229:

Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR (ph: 503–

230–5433, fax: 503–230–5435, e-mail:

Leslie.Schaeffer@noaa.gov).

For permits 895 and 1213: Robert

Koch, Portland, OR (ph: 503–230–5424,

fax: 503–230–5435, e-mail:

Robert.Koch@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Issuance of permits and permit

modifications, as required by the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531–1543) (ESA), is based on a

finding that such permits/modifications:

(1) Are 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. Authority to take listed species is

subject to conditions set forth in the

permits. Permits and modifications are

issued in accordance with and are

subject to the ESA and NMFS

regulations governing listed fish and

wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222–226).

Those individuals requesting a

hearing on an application listed in this

notice should set out the specific

reasons why a hearing on that

application would be appropriate (see

ADDRESSES). The holding of such

hearing is at the discretion of the

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

NOAA. All statements and opinions

contained in the permit action

summaries are those of the applicant

2382 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2000 / Notices

and do not necessarily reflect the views

of NMFS.

Species Covered in this Notice

The following species and

evolutionarily significant units (ESU’s)

are covered in this notice:

Sea Turtles

Threatened and endangered Green

turtle (Chelonia mydas), endangered

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys

imbricata), endangered Kemp’s ridley

turtle (Lepidochelys kempii),

endangered Leatherback turtle

(Dermochelys coriacea), threatened

Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).

Fish

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus

tshawytscha): Threatened Snake River

(SnR) fall, threatened SnR spring/

summer, endangered upper Columbia

River (UCR) spring.

Sockeye salmon (O. nerka):

Endangered SnR.

Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened

SnR, endangered UCR, threatened

middle Columbia River (MCR).

To date, protective regulations for

threatened SnR steelhead and MCR

steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA

have not been promulgated by NMFS.

This notice of receipt of applications

requesting takes of SnR and MCR

steelhead is issued as a precaution in

the event that NMFS issues SnR and/or

MCR steelhead protective regulations.

The initiation of a 30-day public

comment period on the applications,

including their proposed takes of SnR

and/or MCR steelhead, does not

presuppose the contents of the eventual

protective regulations.

New Applications Received

NWCPUD (1229) requests a 5-year

scientific research permit to authorize

annual takes of juvenile SnR sockeye,

juvenile SnR fall chinook salmon,

juvenile naturally produced and

artificially propagated SnR spring/

summer chinook salmon, juvenile

naturally produced and artificially

propagated UCR spring chinook salmon,

juvenile SnR steelhead, juvenile MCR

steelhead, and juvenile naturally

produced and artificially propagated

UCR steelhead associated with research

designed to assess run of the river

juvenile anadromous fish condition

after passage through the screened

turbine intake channel at The Dalles

Dam on the Columbia River. Fish will

be intercepted from the screened intake

channel, anesthetized, measured,

examined for external condition,

allowed to recover from the anesthetic,

and released into the bypass system for

volitional return to the river. Indirect

mortalities are requested as part of this

research.

LME-UCF (1231) requests a 5-year

permit to authorize takes of green,

hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback,

and loggerhead turtles while conducting

research on habitat and turtle biology.

The Recovery Plan for the U.S.

Population of Atlantic Green Turtle

states that the foremost problem in

management and conservation of sea

turtles is the lack of basic biological

information. This study proposes to

capture turtles living in the Indian River

Lagoon Estuary of central Florida in

Brevard and Indian River counties. The

data provided by the study will include

information regarding habitat

requirements, seasonal distribution and

abundance, movement and growth,

feeding preferences, sex distribution

and the prevalence and severity of

fibropapilloma.

Permit Modifications Issued

Notice was published on September

10, 1999 (64 FR 49165), that COE

applied for a modification to

enhancement permit 895. Permit 895

authorizes COE annual takes of ESAlisted juvenile salmonids associated

with transporting juvenile anadromous

fish around mainstem dams and

reservoirs on the Snake and Columbia

Rivers. The purpose of the Juvenile Fish

Transportation Program (JFTP) is to

increase juvenile fish survival over the

alternative of in-river passage, given

current in-river migratory conditions.

Permit 895 also authorizes COE an

annual take of ESA-listed adult fish

associated with fallbacks at the juvenile

fish transportation facilities.

Modification 6 to permit 895 was issued

on December 22, 1999, and authorizes

an increase in the annual take of

juvenile, naturally produced SnR

spring/summer chinook salmon

associated with the JFTP. The increase

in take is needed because an unusually

large number of wild juvenile spring/

summer chinook salmon smolts

survived the 1997/98 winter (due to

very favorable rearing conditions), have

been migrating out of the Snake River,

and have been collected and transported

at COE projects. In addition, COE has

reported that an unknown proportion of

hatchery-produced chinook salmon,

many of them non-listed fish, are not

marked and cannot be distinguished

from naturally produced smolts; all

unmarked fish are classified as ‘‘wild’’

at the dams. The increased take of

threatened, naturally produced SnR

spring/summer chinook salmon is valid

for the duration of permit 895. In

addition, as part of modification 6,

permit 895 has been extended for 1 year.

Permit 895 was due to expire on

December 31, 1999. The 1-year

extension is necessary to allow COE to

continue the JFTP, a mitigation measure

recommended by the Reinitiation of

Consultation on 1994-1998 Operation of

the Federal Columbia River Power

System (FCRPS) and Juvenile

Transportation Program in 1995 and

Future Years Biological Opinion issued

on March 2, 1995 and the 1998

supplement to that Opinion, while

NMFS reinitiates ESA Section 7

consultation on the long-term

management strategy for the FCRPS.

Once the new consultation is

completed, NMFS will be able to advise

COE on the need to apply for a new

permit, and the need for any additional

information or requirements, to conduct

the JFTP beyond 2000. Permit 895 will

now expire on December 31, 2000.

Modification 6 to permit 895 is valid for

the duration of the permit, which

expires on December 31, 2000.

Notice was published on

April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that

NWFSC applied for a modification to

scientific research permit 900.

Modification 7 to permit 900 was issued

on December 22, 1999, and authorizes

an increase in the annual take of

juvenile, naturally produced and

artificially propagated SnR spring/

summer chinook salmon; juvenile SnR

fall chinook salmon; and juvenile,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated UCR steelhead to validate

previously collected survival data at 64

percent and 30 percent spill volume

scenarios at The Dalles Dam.

Modification 7 also authorizes annual

takes of juvenile, naturally produced

and artificially propagated UCR spring

chinook salmon associated with the

research. An associated increase in ESAlisted juvenile fish indirect mortalities

is also authorized. Modification 7 to

permit 900 is valid for the duration of

the permit, which expires on

December 31, 2000.

Notice was published on

April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that

NWFSC applied for a modification to

scientific research permit 946.

Modification 6 to permit 946 was issued

on December 22, 1999, and authorizes

an increase in the annual take of

juvenile, naturally produced and

artificially propagated SnR spring/

summer chinook salmon and juvenile,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated UCR steelhead due to

improvements in sampling equipment

that are designed to speed passage of

fish through a passive PIT tag detection

system and reduce potential impacts

from passage through the apparatus.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2000 / Notices 2383

Increased take is also requested due to

the revised estimate for the number of

fish thought to be available in the

estuary in 1999. Modification 6 also

authorizes annual takes of juvenile,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated UCR spring chinook salmon

associated with the research. An

associated increase in ESA-listed

juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also

authorized. Modification 6 to permit

946 is valid for the duration of the

permit, which expires on

December 31, 2000.

Notice was published on

April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19515), that FPC

applied for a modification to scientific

research permit 1193. Modification 1 to

permit 1193 was issued on December

22, 1999, and authorizes an increase in

annual takes of juvenile, naturally

produced and artificially propagated

SnR spring/summer chinook salmon

associated with FPC’s Smolt Monitoring

Program. The increased annual take is

needed because a larger than anticipated

outmigration run is estimated in 1999.

An associated increase in ESA-listed

juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also

authorized. Also for modification 1, FPC

is authorized annual takes of juvenile,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated UCR spring chinook salmon.

Modification 1 to permit 1193 is valid

for the duration of the permit, which

expires on December 31, 2003.

Notice was published on

June 24, 1999 (64 FR 33827), that

NWFSC applied for a modification to

scientific research permit 1213.

Modification 1 to permit 1213 was

issued on December 22, 1999, and

authorizes NWFSC an increased take of

juvenile SnR sockeye salmon, juvenile,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated SnR spring/summer chinook

salmon; juvenile SnR fall chinook

salmon; and juvenile, naturally

produced and artificially propagated

UCR steelhead associated with

additional testing at McNary Dam under

study 4. Modification 1 also authorizes

NWFSC takes of juvenile, naturally

produced and artificially propagated

UCR spring chinook salmon associated

with the research. An associated

mortality of juvenile, naturally

produced and artificially propagated

UCR spring chinook salmon is also

authorized. Modification 1 to permit

1213 is valid for the duration of the

permit, which expires on

December 31, 2000.

Dated: January 7, 2000.

Wanda L. Cain,

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office

of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–952 Filed 1–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 121599B]

Marine Mammals; File No. 782–1532–00

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the National Marine Mammal

Laboratory (NMML), National Marine

Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand

Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1,

Seattle, WA 98115–0070 [PI: Dr.

Thomas Loughlin] has been issued a

permit to take Steller sea lions

(Eumetopias jubatus), Northern fur seals

(Callorhinus ursinus), and harbor seals

(Phoca vitulina richardsi) and for

purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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 13705,

Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713–

2289);

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruth Johnson, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

November 2, 1999, notice was published

in the Federal Register (64 FR 59163)

that a request for a scientific research

permit to take had been submitted by

the above-named organization. The

requested permit has been issued under

the authority of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

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

Governing the Taking and Importing of

Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.),

the regulations governing the taking,

importing, and exporting of endangered

and threatened species (50 CFR parts

222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

Issuance of this permit, as required by

the ESA, was based on a finding that

such permit (1) was applied for in good

faith, (2) will not operate to the

disadvantage of the endangered species

which is the subject of this permit, and

(3) is consistent with the purposes and

policies set forth in section 2 of the

ESA.

Dated: January 10, 2000.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–955 Filed 1–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Notice of Intent to Prepare an

Environmental Assessment for the

National Park Seminary Historic

District, Forest Glen Annex, Walter

Reed Army Medical Center

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: On June 3, 1997, the Army

published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to

prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) for the reuse of the

National Park Seminary Historic District

(NPSHD). A public scoping meeting was

held on July 14, 1997. The proposed EIS

was intended to analyze a broad range

of Army reuse alternatives for the site;

however, the Army no longer needs to

use the NPSHD site and now proposes

to declare the property excess. Under

the Federal Property and Administrative

Services Act and its accompanying

regulations, the General Services

Administration (GSA) is responsible for

the disposal of excess federal property.

The Army’s proposed excessing action

will begin the disposal process by

providing notice to GSA that the

property is excess to the Army’s needs.

Therefore, the Army proposes to

report the property as excess to GSA, in

accordance with Army Regulation 405–

90 (‘‘Disposal of Real Estate,’’ dated May

10, 1985) and federal property law.

Accordingly, this notice is to inform the

public that the EIS for Army reuse of the

NPSHD has been discontinued and that

the Army is now preparing an

Environmental Assessment (EA) for the

proposed excessing action. Should the

property be declared excess by the

Army, then GSA (as the property

disposal agent) will be responsible for

evaluating the potential environmental

impacts associated with disposal and

reuse.

ADDRESSES: Address comments to Ms.

Beverly Chidel, Public Affairs Office,

Walter Reed Medical Center, 6825 16th