11002 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 21, 2001 / Notices

The agenda will include a review of

comments received during scoping

period for Skate Fishery Management

Plan (FMP). The committee and

advisory panel will review Skate PDT

report and provide additional guidance

to the PDT. They will also develop

management alternatives for Draft Skate

FMP and public hearing document.

Wednesday, March 7, 2001, 9:30

a.m.—Habitat Oversight Committee.

Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50

Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923;

telephone: (978)777-2500.

The agenda will include a discussion

of habitat measures, alternatives and

analyses to be included in the

Groundfish FMP Amendment 13 Draft

Supplementary Environmental Impact

Statement (DSEIS). The committee will

consider preliminary information on

required essential fish habitat (EFH)

components of proposed Skate and Red

Crab FMPs. They will also review EFH

Consultation activities, including a

proposed General Concurrence for U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia

District’s Nationwide Permit Program.

The Committee will review

applications to the Advisory Panel in a

CLOSED SESSION.

Monday, March 12, 2001, 9:30 a.m.—

Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting.

Location: Airport Holiday Inn, 225

McClellan Highway, East Boston, MA

02128; telephone: (617)569-5250.

The Scallop Oversight Committee will

approve problem statements, goals and

objectives, and proposed management

alternatives outline for Amendment 10.

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in this agenda may come

before this 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 notice

and any issues arising after publication

of this notice that require emergency

action under section 305(c) of the

Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the

public has been notified of the Council’s

intent to take final action to address the

emergency.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Paul J. Howard

(see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to

the meeting dates.

Dated: February 14, 2001.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4296 Filed 2–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 021301A]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of three applications for

scientific research permits (1290, 1291,

1292).

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 applications for ESA

section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific research

permits from the Northwest Fisheries

Science Center, NMFS at Seattle, WA

(NWFSC); the U.S. Geological Survey at

Cook, WA (USGS); and the U.S. Forest

Service at La Grande, OR (USFS).

DATES: Comments or requests for a

public hearing on any of the new

applications or modification requests

must be received at the appropriate

address or fax number no later than 5

p.m. eastern standard time on March 23,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of

the new applications or modification

requests should be sent to the

appropriate office as indicated below.

Comments may also be sent via fax to

the number indicated for the application

or modification request. 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 1290, 1291, 1292:

Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3,

525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500,

Portland, OR 97232-2737 (ph: 503-230-

5400, fax: 503-230-5435).

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

permits 1290, 1291, 1292: 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

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:

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus

nerka): endangered Snake River (SnR).

Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha):

endangered, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, upper Columbia

River (UCR) spring; threatened,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated, SnR spring/summer;

threatened SnR fall; threatened lower

Columbia River (LCR); threatened upper

Willamette River (UWR).

Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened

Columbia River.

Steelhead (O. mykiss): endangered,

naturally produced and artificially

propagated, UCR; threatened SnR;

threatened middle Columbia River

(MCR); threatened LCR; threatened

UWR.

New Applications Received

The Fish Ecology Division of the

Northwest Fisheries Science Center,

NMFS requests a 5–year permit (1290)

for annual takes of 11 of the 12 ESAlisted anadromous fish species

identified in this notice (all ESU’s

except endangered SnR sockeye salmon)

associated with research to be

conducted in the Columbia River

estuary. The purpose of the research is

to determine the prevalence and

intensity of pathogens in juvenile

salmonids. The research will benefit

ESA-listed salmonids by contributing

information on the extent to which

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 21, 2001 / Notices 11003

diseases affect the growth and survival

of juvenile salmonids in the estuarine

and early ocean environments. This

proposed research project is intended to

complement the pathogen research that

is being conducted by the

Environmental Conservation Division,

NWFSC, NMFS under scientific

research permit 1140 (see 63 FR 18891,

April 16, 1998). ESA-listed juvenile fish

are proposed to be captured, handled,

and released or taken lethally. ESAlisted juvenile fish indirect mortalities

are also requested. ESA-listed juvenile

fish indirect mortalities are proposed to

be retained for research purposes or

returned to the water.

The Columbia River Research

Laboratory, USGS requests a 5–year

permit (1291) for annual takes of SnR

sockeye salmon, SnR spring/summer

chinook salmon, SnR fall chinook

salmon, UCR spring chinook salmon,

SnR steelhead, UCR steelhead, and MCR

steelhead associated with scientific

research at John Day, The Dalles, and

Bonneville Dams on the lower Columbia

River in the Pacific Northwest. The

purpose of the research is to monitor

juvenile fish movement, distribution,

behavior, and survival from John Day

Dam downstream past Bonneville Dam

using radiotelemetry technology. The

research will benefit ESA-listed fish

species by providing information on

spill effectiveness, forebay residence

times, and guidance efficiency under

various flow regimes that will allow

Federal resource managers to make

adjustments to bypass/collection

structures to optimize downriver

migrant survival at the hydropower

projects. The proposed research is

intended to complement the research

that is being conducted by USGS under

scientific research permit 1130 (see 63

FR 9505, February 25, 1998). ESA-listed

juvenile fish are proposed to be

obtained from Smolt Monitoring

Program (SMP) personnel at Bonneville

and/or John Day Dams, handled, and

released or implanted with radio

transmitters, transported, held for as

long as 24 hours, released, and tracked

electronically. SMP personnel are

authorized to collect ESA-listed juvenile

fish under a separate take authorization.

ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect

mortalities associated with the research

are also requested.

The Pacific Northwest Research

Station of USFS requests a 2–year

permit (1292) for annual takes of UCR

spring chinook salmon, UCR steelhead,

and MCR steelhead associated with

research to be conducted in the Yakima

River subbasin, the Wenatchee River

subbasin, the Entiat River subbsasin,

and the Methow River subbasin in

Washington. The purpose of the

research is to determine the extent and

distribution of hybridization between

westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout,

and anadromous steelhead for selected

populations in the MCR and UCR

Basins. The research will benefit ESAlisted species by providing information

on westslope cutthroat trout and

rainbow trout/steelhead interactions

and could provide insight into possible

genetic introgression of introduced

rainbow trout stocks in the areas of

native rainbow trout/steelhead

distribution. USFS also proposes to

analyze phenotypic characteristics that

may be used by biologists in the future

to more definitively distinguish

cutthroat trout, rainbow trout/steelhead,

and hybrid forms in the field. ESAlisted juvenile fish are proposed to be

captured by the use of angling with flies

that have barbless hooks. After being

captured, the juvenile fish are proposed

to be released immediately (in the case

of non-target species) or examined for

biological information, sampled nonlethally for caudal fin tissue, and

released. ESA-listed juvenile fish

indirect mortalities associated with the

research are also requested.

Dated: February 13, 2001.

Phil Williams,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4169 Filed 2–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D.020601A]

Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1446-03

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the Alaska Fisheries Science Center,

National Marine Mammal Laboratory,

7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA

98115 has been issued an amendment to

scientific research Permit No. 782-1446.

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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);

Northwest Region, National Marine

Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand

Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Seattle,

WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150); and

Regional Administrator, Southwest

Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd.,

Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213

(562/980-4001).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruth Johnson or Tammy Adams, 301/

713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

December 27,2000 notice was published

in the Federal Register (65 FR 81844)

that an amendment of Permit No. 782-

1446, issued May 8, 1998 (63 FR 27265),

had been requested by the above-named

organization. The requested amendment

has been granted under the authority of

the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) and the Regulations Governing the

Taking and Importing of Marine

Mammals (50 CFR part 216).

Permit No. 782-1446 authorizes the

permit holder to annually conduct

aerial, ground and vessel surveys and

capture and tagging studies for stock

assessment of harbor seals (Phoca

vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus

californianus), Steller sea lions

(Eumetopias jubatus), and northern

elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).

The amendment now authorizes the

capture, sampling and local or gas

anesthesia for California sea lions of

both sexes and ages 1 month through 5

years at hauling and breeding sites and

incidental harassment of northern

elephant.

Dated: February 13, 2001.

Eugene Nitta,

Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation

Division, Office of Protected Resources,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4170 Filed 2–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

COMMITTEE FOR THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE

AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Import Limits for

Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber,

Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber

Textiles and Textile Products

Produced or Manufactured in Taiwan

February 15, 2001.

AGENCY: Committee for the

Implementation of Textile Agreements

(CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the

Commissioner of Customs establishing

limits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 21, 2001.