Endangered Species; Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061598D]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1156,

1159); Issuance of scientific research permits (1095, 1120, 1140) and a

modification to a scientific research permit (994).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding

permits for takes of listed species for the purposes of scientific

research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received permit applications

from: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at Corvallis, OR (EPA)

(1156) and Robert L. Brownell, Jr., Southwest Fisheries Science Center,

National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA (SWFSC) (1159); NMFS

has issued permits to: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at Denver, CO (USBR)

(1095); Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Boise, ID (IDFG) (1120);

and the Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries

Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA (NWFSC-

ECD) (1140); and NMFS has issued a modification to a scientific

research permit to the Idaho

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Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Moscow, ID (ICFWRU)

(994).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the

applications must be received on or before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for

review in the following offices, by appointment:

For permits 994, 1095, 1120, 1140, 1156: Protected Resources

Division (PRD), F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR

97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

For permit 1159: Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean

Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310-980-4016).

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 994 and 1120: Robert Koch,

Portland, OR (503-230-5424).

For permits 1095, 1140, and 1156: Tom Lichatowich, Portland, OR

(503-230-5438).

For permit 1159: Michelle Rogers, Endangered Species Division,

Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Permits are requested 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 217-227).

Those individuals requesting a hearing on these requests for

permits should set out the specific reasons why a hearing would be

appropriate (see ADDRESSES]). The holding of such a hearing is at the

discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All

statements and opinions contained in the below application summaries

are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of

NMFS.

Issuance of the permits and modifications, as required by the ESA,

was based on a finding that such permits and modifications: (1) Were

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. These permits and modifications were also issued in accordance

with and are subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS

regulations governing listed species permits.

Species Covered in this Notice

The following species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon

(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch),

Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), Green sea turtle

(Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata),

Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Loggerhead sea turtle

(Caretta caretta), Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).

New Applications Received

EPA (1156) requests a 5-year permit for direct takes of juvenile,

threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast coho salmon;

adult and juvenile, endangered, Umpqua River cutthroat trout; juvenile,

threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, Snake River

spring/summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, threatened, Snake River

fall chinook salmon associated with research designed to collect data

in the South Upmqua, Rogue, and Snake Rivers. ESA-listed fish are

proposed to be captured using electrofishing, examined, and released.

The data will be used to enforce the Clean Water Act which will

increase the recovery potential of listed species. ESA-listed juvenile

fish indirect mortalities associated with the research are also

requested.

SWFSC (1159) has requested a 3-year scientific research permit to

take listed sea turtles opportunistically during marine mammal research

surveys in the eastern tropical Pacific. Authorization has been

requested to take up to 400 turtles over the 3-year period to include

the following species: olive ridley, green, leatherback, hawksbill, and

loggerhead. The turtles would be weighed, photographed, flipper tagged,

blood sampled, and tissue sampled. Additionally, stomach lavage would

be performed on captured turtles to identify prey items and up to 30

turtles would be outfitted with satellite transmitters. The purposes of

the proposed research are to obtain data on the geographic distribution

and stock assessment, migratory and dive behavior, and habitat needs

and primary foraging areas of turtles at sea.

Permits and Modifications Issued

Notice was published on March 6, 1998 (63 FR 11220) that an

application had been filed by ICFWRU for modification 3 to scientific

research permit 994. Modification 3 to permit 994 was issued to ICFWRU

on June 12, 1998. Permit 994 authorizes ICFWRU annual takes of adult,

threatened, Snake River spring/summer and fall chinook salmon and

adult, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon associated with a study

designed to assess the passage success of migrating adult salmonids at

the four dams and reservoirs in the lower Columbia River, evaluate

specific flow and spill conditions, and evaluate measures to improve

adult anadromous fish passage. For modification 3, ICFWRU is authorized

an increase in the annual take of adult, threatened, Snake River

spring/summer and fall chinook salmon associated the study. Also for

modification 3, ICFWRU is authorized an annual take of adult,

threatened, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a

new study designed to determine if adult salmon successfully return to

natal streams or hatcheries after passing Lower Granite Dam on the

Snake River and if homing is affected by mode of seaward migration (in-

river versus transport). Modification 3 is valid for the duration of

the permit which expires on December 31, 2000.

Notice was published on 24 October, 1997 (62 FR 55394) that an

application had been filed by USBR for a 1-year scientific research

permit. Permit 1095 was issued to USBR on June 11, 1998. The permit

authorizes USBR to capture, handle, and release juvenile, threatened,

SONCC coho salmon associated with research designed to collect data on

seasonal fish distribution and abundance, particularly during spring

and late summer, in Bear Creek and its principal tributaries, Little

Butte Creek and its tributaries, and Big Butte Creek in southwest

Oregon. The purpose of the study is to support a proposal to implement

habitat enhancement activities designed in part to increase instream

flows, improve the reliability and efficiency of existing water

supplies, improve water quality and environmental values, and conserve

water. Permit 1095 expires on September 30, 1998.

Notice was published on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8435) that an

application had been filed by IDFG for a scientific research/

enhancement permit. Permit 1120 was issued to IDFG on June 11, 1998.

Permit 1120 authorizes IDFG annual direct takes of adult and juvenile,

endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon associated with the continuation

of a captive broodstock program. The program will help to preserve and

perpetuate the species and provide Snake River sockeye salmon for

future recovery actions. The captive broodstock program is a

cooperative

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effort among IDFG, NMFS, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the University of

Idaho at Moscow, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and the

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Funding is provided by BPA.

Incidental takes of ESA-listed anadromous fish species as a result of

releases from the captive broodstock program are also authorized.

Permit 1120 expires on December 31, 2002.

Notice was published on 16 April, 1998 (63 FR 73) that an

application had been filed by NWFSC-ECD for a 5-year scientific

research permit. Permit 1140 was issued on June 12, 1998. Permit 1140

authorizes direct takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River fall

chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated

with a research study designed to assess the relationship between

environmental variables, selected anthropogenic stresses, and bacterial

and parasitic pathogens on disease-induced mortality in juvenile salmon

in selected coastal estuaries in Oregon and Washington. The results of

the study will benefit listed species by providing a better

understanding of how environmental factors influence disease. Permit

1140 expires on December 31, 2002.

Dated: June 15, 1998.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-16373 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]

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