[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28855-28856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14168]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 052996A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification 1 to permit 972 (P503R) and 
modification 1 to permit 973 (P211I).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
two permits that authorize takes of an Endangered Species Act-listed 
species for the purpose of scientific research/enhancement, subject to 
certain conditions set forth therein, to the Idaho Department of Fish 
and Game at Boise, Idaho (IDFG) and the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife at Portland, Oregon (ODFW).

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR8, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Environmental and Technical Services Division, 525 NE Oregon 
Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modifications to permits were issued 
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 217-222).
    Notice was published on April 1, 1996 (61 FR 14296) that an 
application had been filed by IDFG (P503R) for modification 1 to 
scientific research/enhancement permit 972. Modification 1 to permit 
972 was issued to IDFG on May 24, 1996. Permit 972 authorizes IDFG 
takes of juvenile, ESA-listed, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with the implementation of a 
captive rearing program. In 1995, under the authority of permit 972, 
IDFG captured no more than 25 percent of the ESA-listed juvenile fish 
from three upper Salmon River populations that are part of the Snake 
River salmon

[[Page 28856]]

Evolutionarily Significant Unit: West Fork Yankee Fork of the Salmon 
River, upper East Fork Salmon River, and Lemhi River (60 FR 42147, 
August 15, 1995). The ESA-listed fish captured in 1995 are being reared 
in captivity until mature and will be outplanted as adults back into 
their natal streams to spawn.
    For Modification 1, IDFG is authorized to transfer ESA-listed 
juveniles to the NMFS Manchester Marine Experimental Station at 
Manchester, WA. The NMFS staff at the laboratory, under the direction 
of Dr. Conrad Mahnken, is authorized to rear and maintain the ESA-
listed fish as an agent of IDFG under permit 972. The objective of the 
transfer is to dilute the risk of an unanticipated catastrophic event, 
possibly causing a decimation of the gene pool at one hatchery 
location, by allocating ESA-listed juvenile fish to another hatchery 
location. The transfer of ESA-listed juvenile fish is valid in 1996 
only. The authorization for NMFS's responsibility to rear and maintain 
the ESA-listed fish as an agent of IDFG under permit 972 is valid for 
the duration of the permit. Permit 972 expires on September 30, 1998.
    Notice was published on March 22, 1996 (61 FR 11808) that an 
application had been filed by ODFW (P211I) for modification 1 to 
scientific research/enhancement permit 973. Modification 1 to permit 
973 was issued to ODFW on May 24, 1996. Permit 973 authorizes ODFW 
takes of juvenile, ESA-listed, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with the implementation of a 
captive broodstock program. In 1995, ODFW captured no more than 25 
percent of the ESA-listed juvenile fish from three salmon populations 
that are part of the Snake River salmon Evolutionarily Significant 
Unit: Catherine Creek, Lostine River, and the upper Grande Ronde River 
(60 FR 42147, August 15, 1995). The ESA-listed fish captured in 1995 
are being reared in captivity until mature and will spawn in the 
hatcheries. The resulting offspring will be reared to the smolt stage 
and released back into the river of parent origin.
    For Modification 1, ODFW is authorized to transfer ESA-listed 
juveniles to the NMFS Manchester Marine Experimental Station at 
Manchester, WA. The NMFS staff at the laboratory, under the direction 
of Dr. Conrad Mahnken, is authorized to rear and maintain the ESA-
listed fish as an agent of ODFW under permit 973. The objective of the 
transfer is to dilute the risk of an unanticipated catastrophic event, 
possibly causing a decimation of the gene pool at one hatchery 
location, by allocating ESA-listed juvenile fish to another hatchery 
location. The transfer of ESA-listed juvenile fish is valid in 1996 
only. The authorization for NMFS's responsibility to rear and maintain 
the ESA-listed fish as an agent of ODFW under permit 973 is valid for 
the duration of the permit. Permit 973 expires on September 30, 1998.
    Issuance of the permit modifications, as required by the ESA, was 
based on a finding that such actions: (1) Were requested in good faith, 
(2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the ESA-listed species that 
is the subject of the permits, and (3) are consistent with the purposes 
and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA and the NMFS regulations 
governing ESA-listed species permits.

    Dated: May 29, 1996.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14168 Filed 6-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F