[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19515-19518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9987]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 041499E]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of applications to modify scientific research/
enhancement permits (895, 900, 946, 1094, 1114, 1193); issuance of
permits (1187, 1197); and modifications to existing permits (1115,
1116).
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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 modifications to existing
permits from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla, WA (Corps)
(895), Fish Ecology Division, NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center,
in Seattle, WA (NWFSC) (900, 946), Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife in Olympia, WA (WDFW) (1094, 1114), and Fish Passage Center in
Portland, OR (FPC) (1193); NMFS has issued permits to Mr. Stephen M. H.
Connett, of St. George's School (SC-SGS) (1187) and Mr. John
Crutchfield, of Harris Energy & Environmental Center (JH-HEEC) (1197);
and NMFS has issued modifications to scientific research permits to
Chelan County Public Utility District No. 1 (PUD-CC) (1115) and Public
Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County (PUD-DC) (1116).
[[Page 19516]]
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the
new applications or modification requests must be received on or before
May 21, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review in the following offices, by appointment:
For permits 895, 900, 946, 1094, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1193: Protected
Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland,
OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
For permits 1187, 1197: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered
Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910 (301-713-1401).
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 895, 900, 946, 1193: Leslie Schaeffer, Portland, OR
(503-230-5433).
For permit 1094: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).
For permits 1114, 1115, 1116: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR (503-
230-5438).
For permits 1187, 1197: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-
1401).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the
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 Endangered Species Act of 1973
(ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS regulations governing listed fish
and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).
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:
Sea Turtles
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys
imbricata), Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Loggerhead
turtle (Caretta caretta).
Fish
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Snake River (SnR) fall,
SnR spring/summer, Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): SnR
Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): UCR
Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).
Modification Requests Received
The Corps requests modification 6 to enhancement permit 895. Permit
895 authorizes the Corps annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered,
SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile,
threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with the operation of the juvenile fish transportation
program at four hydroelectric projects on the Snake and Columbia Rivers
in the Pacific Northwest. Permit 895 also authorizes the Corps annual
incidental takes of ESA-listed adult salmonids associated with
fallbacks through the juvenile fish bypass systems at the four dams.
For modification 6, the Corps requests annual direct takes of juvenile,
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR spring
chinook salmon. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured,
transported past the dams, and released to aid their outmigration to
the Pacific Ocean. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are
also requested. Modification 6 is requested to be valid for the
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
NWFSC requests modification 7 to scientific research permit 900.
Permit 900 authorizes NWFSC annual direct takes of juvenile,
endangered, SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook
salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with studies designed to determine the relative survival of
migrating juvenile salmonids at hydropower dams and reservoirs on the
Snake and Columbia Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. For modification 7,
NWFSC proposes an increase in the annual take of ESA-listed juvenile
fish associated with The Dalles Dam survival study. An increased annual
take of ESA-listed juvenile fish is requested to validate previously
collected survival data at 64 percent and 30 percent spill volume
scenarios at The Dalles Dam. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to
be captured at John Day Dam on the Columbia River. The fish are
proposed to be handled and released or tagged with passive integrated
transponders, transported to The Dalles Dam, held for up to 24 hours,
and released. Also for modification 7, NWFSC requests annual takes of
juvenile, endangered, 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
requested. Modification 7 is requested to be valid for the duration of
the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
NWFSC requests modification 6 to scientific research permit 946.
Permit 946 authorizes NWFSC annual direct takes of juvenile,
endangered, SnR sockeye salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer
chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon; and
juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
UCR steelhead associated with a study designed to assess the migration
timing and relative survival of transported and inriver juvenile
chinook salmon migrating volitionally from Bonneville Dam to the mouth
of the Columbia River. For modification 6, NWFSC requests an increase
in the take of ESA-listed juvenile fish 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. Increased take is also requested due to the
revised estimate for the number of fish thought to be available in the
estuary in 1999. Also for modification 6, NWFSC requests annual takes
of juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated
UCR spring chinook salmon associated with the research. An associated
[[Page 19517]]
increase in ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also
requested. Modification 6 is requested to be valid for the duration of
the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.
WDFW requests modification 2 to research/enhancement permit 1094.
Permit 1094 authorizes WDFW annual direct takes of adult and juvenile,
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR
steelhead associated with a hatchery supplementation program in the
mid- to upper Columbia River Basin. Incidental takes of ESA-listed
species resulting from WDFW hatchery operations and hatchery produced
fish releases are also authorized by the permit. For modification 2,
WDFW requests annual takes of ESA-listed adult steelhead associated
with a radio tagging study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the
ladder passage and fallback rates of adult steelhead at Priest Rapids,
Wanapum, Rock Island, Rocky Reach, and Wells Dams on the mid-Columbia
River. The goal of the study is to assure that safe passage conditions
are being provided for returning ESA-listed adult fish at the dams.
ESA-listed adult steelhead are proposed to be captured at Priest Rapids
Dam, tagged with radiotransmitters, released, and tracked
electronically as they migrate upstream. Grant Public Utility District
(PUD), Chelan PUD, and Douglas PUD are requested to act as agents of
WDFW in tracking the ESA-listed adult fish upstream. ESA-listed adult
fish indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 2 is
requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
May 31, 2003.
WDFW requests modification 3 to scientific research permit 1114.
Permit 1114 authorizes WDFW annual direct takes of adult and juvenile,
endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR
steelhead associated with a smolt monitoring program at Rock Island Dam
on the Columbia River in WA. For modification 3, WDFW requests an
increase in the annual take of ESA-listed adult and juvenile steelhead
associated with a new study to be conducted in the Hanford Reach of the
Columbia River. Information from the study will be used to verify the
spawning regime and exact stock of steelhead in the Hanford Reach to
aid in developing future recovery plans for that section of the
Columbia River. Adult steelhead are proposed to be captured by angling,
sampled for biological data, fin clipped, and released. Eggs and alevin
steelhead are proposed to be collected by excavating redds and
sacrificed for genetic analysis. Steelhead fry are proposed to be
collected with seines, sampled for biological data, fin clipped to
obtain tissue samples, and released. ESA-listed juvenile steelhead
indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 3 is requested to
be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31,
2002.
FPC requests modification 1 to scientific research permit 1193.
Permit 1193 authorizes FPC annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered,
SnR sockeye salmon, juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon,
juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated,
SnR spring/summer chinook salmon, and juvenile, endangered, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with
FPC's Smolt Monitoring Program at the hydropower dams on the Snake and
Columbia Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. For modification 1, FPC
requests an increase in the annual take of juvenile, threatened,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer
chinook salmon. An increased annual take is requested because a larger
than anticipated outmigration run of this ESA-listed species is
estimated in 1999. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be
captured, handled (examined and/or tagged with passive integrated
transponders), and released. An associated increase in ESA-listed
juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also requested. Modification 1 is
requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
December 31, 2003.
Permits and Modifications Issued
Notice was published on February 4, 1999 (64 FR 5640), that an
application had been filed by PUD-CC, for Modification 2 to permit
1115. Permit 1115 authorizes a take of adult and juvenile, endangered,
naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead
associated with research. For Modification 2, PUD-CC is authorized an
increase in annual takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with
three new proposed studies. PUD-CC will: (1) use new acoustic tagging
technology to monitor the behavior of juvenile salmonids, (2) Use PIT
and radio tagging technology to study the survival of juvenile
salmonids, and (3) determine the number of adult salmonids that may be
present in the Lake Chelan bypass reach after spill at the Lake Chelan
hydroelectric project is curtailed. Modification 2 was issued on April
14, 1999, and is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on February 4, 1999 (64 FR 5640), that an
application had been filed by PUD-DC for Modification 2 to permit 1116.
Permit 1116 authorizes annual takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally
produced and artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with
research studies. For Modification 2 PUD-DC is authorized an increase
in takes of juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially
propagated, UCR steelhead for two new research studies. PUD-DC will use
passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag technology to assess the
survival of juvenile salmonids and will evaluate the relative benefits
of PIT and radio tag technology. Modification 2 was issued on April 12,
1999, and is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on
December 31, 2002.
Notice was published on December 1, 1998 (63 FR 66125), that SC-SGS
had applied for a 5-year scientific research permit (1187) to take up
to 200 loggerhead, 300 green, 200 hawksbill, 5 leatherback, and 5
Kemp's ridley sea turtles annually from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
The purpose of this research is to obtain life history data on all
turtles captured, and to determine migratory behavior and habitat
utilization of juvenile turtles captured on foraging grounds. Turtles
will be captured by hand and/or dip net, weighed, measured, flipper
tagged, tissue sampled and released at the site of capture. This is a
continuation of work permitted under scientific research permit 886
which expired on December 31, 1998. Permit 1187 was issued on April 2,
1999, and expires on December 31, 2003.
Notice was published on February 4, 1999 (64 FR 5030), that JC-HEEC
had applied for a 3-year research permit (1197) to take endangered
shortnose sturgeon while conducting original research regarding the
population of fishes in the Pee Dee River, NC. The Pee Dee River has
been historically included in the shortnose sturgeon's native range.
The applicant will be performing a baseline assessments of the resident
and migratory fish species inhabiting the river below the Blewett
Hydroelectric Plant. To ensure compliance with the ESA, the applicant
requests a permit to capture, handle and release shortnose sturgeon
that may be taken during this study. Permit 1197 was issued on April 5,
1999, and expires January 31, 2002.
[[Page 19518]]
Dated: April 15, 1999.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-9987 Filed 4-20-99; 8:45 am]
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