[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 30040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15059]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 060796C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification 3 to permit 900 (P770#66), 
modification 2 to permit 946 (P770#68), and modification 1 to permit 
905 (P45L).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
permits that authorize takes of Endangered Species Act-listed species 
for the purpose of scientific research, subject to certain conditions 
set forth therein, to the Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division 
of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA (CZESD) 
and the National Biological Service at Cook, WA (NBS).

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 February 27, 1996 (61 FR 7241) that an 
application had been filed by CZESD (P770#66) for modification 3 to 
scientific research permit 900. Modification 3 to permit 900 was issued 
on June 5, 1996. Permit 900 authorizes CZESD a direct take of juvenile, 
threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and an 
incidental take of juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook 
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and juvenile, endangered, Snake River 
sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) associated with three scientific 
research studies. For modification 3, CZESD is authorized to supplement 
their annual take of ESA-listed fish associated with Study 1, a dam and 
reservoir passage survival study, with juvenile, ESA-listed, Snake 
River spring/summer chinook salmon captured as an indirect take by NBS 
under the authority of scientific research permit 817. Permit 817 
authorizes NBS takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with a fall 
chinook salmon study. In addition, CZESD is authorized a take of ESA-
listed juvenile fish associated with an additional project designed to 
evaluate the new surface collector at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake 
River in WA and to release the ESA-listed juvenile fish to be captured 
and handled for Study 1 in the free-flowing Snake River upstream of 
Lower Granite Reservoir. Modification 3 is valid for the duration of 
Study 1 of the permit. Study 1 of permit 900 expires on December 31, 
1998.
    Notice was published on February 27, 1996 (61 FR 7241) that an 
application had been filed by CZESD (P770#68) for modification 2 to 
scientific research permit 946. Modification 2 to permit 946 was issued 
on June 4, 1996. Permit 946 authorizes CZESD takes of juvenile, 
threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); 
and juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus 
nerka) associated with two survival studies related to barge 
transportation. For modification 2, CZESD is authorized an increase in 
their takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon to 
adjust for an increase in the anticipated annual juvenile sockeye 
salmon outmigration numbers. Annual sockeye salmon outmigration numbers 
are expected to be higher due to greater numbers of smolt releases in 
and near Redfish Lake from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's 
captive broodstock program. Modification 2 is valid for the duration of 
the permit. Permit 946 expires on December 31, 1999.
    Notice was published on February 29, 1996 (61 FR 7776) that an 
application had been filed by NBS (P45L) for modification 1 to 
scientific research permit 905. Modification 1 to permit 905 was issued 
on June 6, 1996. Permit 905 authorizes a direct take of juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
and an indirect take of juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with four dam and 
reservoir passage survival studies on the Snake River. For modification 
1, NBS is authorized to expand their sampling locations to include all 
of the Snake River dams and McNary Dam on the Columbia River. The 
sampling location expansion is needed to acquire the desired sample 
size of juvenile ESA-listed fish currently authorized to be taken for 
electrophoretic genetic research. NBS is also authorized to capture, 
handle, and release a greater number of ESA-listed juvenile fish: 1) to 
obtain non-lethal tissue samples from run-at-large juvenile spring 
chinook salmon and fall chinook salmon yearlings for genetic analysis, 
and 2) to acquire non-lethal gill samples from juvenile fall chinook 
salmon for a new study designed to relate passage survival to 
physiological development. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of 
the permit. Permit 905 expires on December 31, 1996.
    Issuance of the 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 are the 
subject of the permits, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA and the NMFS regulations 
governing ESA-listed species permits.

    Dated: June 7, 1996.
Robert C. Ziobro,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-15059 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F