Endangered Species; Permits

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 permit

applications from: U.S. Forest Service, Mt. Hood National Forest at

Sandy, OR (MHNF)(1169) and U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot

National Forest at Vancouver, WA (GPNF)(1175); NMFS has received an

application for a modification to an existing permits from the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Office, Sacramento, CA

(FWS)(990); NMFS has issued permits to: Washington Department of Fish

and Wildlife at Olympia, WA (WDFW)(1126) and the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) (1156); and NMFS has issued a modification to a

scientific research permit to Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas

County (PUDDC)(1116).

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

applications must be received on or before September 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for

review in the following offices, by appointment:

For permit 990: Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma

Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-6528 (707-575-6066).

For permits 1116, 1126, 1156, 1169, and 1175: Protected Resources

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

97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

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 permit 990: Tom Hablett, Protected

Resources Division, (707-575-6066).

For permit 1126: Robert Koch, Portland, OR (503-230-5424).

For permits 1116, 1156, 1169, and 1185: Tom Lichatowich, Portland,

OR (503-230-5438).

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 these permits and modifications, as required by the

ESA, was based on a finding that such permits, 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), and

Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

To date, protective regulations for threatened lower Columbia River

(LCR) steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have not been promulgated

by NMFS. This notice of receipt of applications requesting takes of

this species is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS issues

protective regulations that prohibit takes of threatened LCR steelhead.

The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on these applications,

including their proposed takes of threatened LCR steelhead, does not

presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations.

New Applications Received

MHNF (1169) requests a 5-year permit for a direct take of adult and

juvenile, threatened, LCR steelhead associated with four routine fish

distribution and

[[Page 45800]]

monitoring research studies. The proposed studies will produce

essential stock status data needed to manage programs for the recovery

of listed fish. Study 1 is located in the Clackamas River and involves

adult spawning surveys, juvenile trapping and tagging work as well as

juvenile presence/absence surveys using snorkeling and electrofishing

techniques. Study 2 is located in the Hood River Ranger District and

involves snorkel distribution surveys as well as trapping and tagging

juveniles. Study 3 is located in the Zig Zag Ranger District and

involves adult spawning surveys, juvenile trapping, electrofishing,

tagging and a lethal take of juveniles for genetic analysis. Study 4

involves presence/absence surveys in the Mt Hood National Forest. ESA-

listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated with the research

are also requested.

GPNF (1175) requests a 5-year permit for a direct take of juvenile,

threatened, LCR steelhead associated with two research studies. The

scientific research will provide necessary information to assess the

impact of proposed land use activities on ESA-listed fish. The purpose

of Study 1 is to conduct fish distribution, fish species presence/

absence, and habitat quality surveys on streams across the forest. The

purpose of Study 2 is to evaluate the biological benefits of fish

habitat improvement projects. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be

observed or captured (using seines or electrofishing), examined, and

released. ESA-listed fish are also proposed to be relocated away from

stream rehabilitation project areas in the course of conducting the

research. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated with

the research are also requested.

Modification Request Received

FWS requests modification 1 to permit 990 for authorization to

include takes of juvenile, endangered, Sacramento River winter-run

chinook salmon associated with fish population studies in Battle Creek,

a tributary to the Sacramento River. The studies consist of four tasks

for which ESA-listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) emergence/

emigration size and timing; (2) production estimates; (3) collection of

tissue samples for genetic analysis; and (4) investigation of potential

limiting factors for survival. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to

be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from

the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed juvenile salmon indirect

mortalities are also requested. Modification 1 is requested to be valid

for the duration of the permit. Permit 990 expires on June 30, 2001.

Permits and Modifications Issued

Notice was published on June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31739), that an

application had been filed by the PUDDC, for Modification 1 to permit

1116. Modification 1 was issued on August 11, 1998, and authorizes

PUDDC an increase in the take of juvenile, endangered, upper Columbia

River steelhead associated with a new study designed to inventory fish

species in Wells reservoir on the Columbia River. ESA-listed fish will

be observed by SCUBA divers or collected in beach seines, anesthetized,

examined, allowed to recover, and released. Modification 1 is valid for

the duration of the permit. Permit 1116 expires on December 31, 2002.

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

application had been filed by WDFW for a scientific research permit.

Permit 1126 was issued to WDFW on August 11, 1998, and authorizes WDFW

an annual direct take of adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally

produced and artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook

salmon and juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon

associated with scientific research conducted in the Snake River Basin

in WA. The purpose of the research is to monitor and evaluate the

success of hatchery supplementation programs in the region, as well as

naturally produced fish populations, and to identify factors that are

limiting ESA-listed fish productivity. In addition to non-lethal takes,

an annual lethal take of ESA-listed juvenile fish is authorized for

morphometric, meristic, pathologic, and electrophoretic studies. Permit

1126 expires on December 31, 2002.

Notice was published on June 19, 1998 (63 FR 33632), that an

application had been filed by EPA for a 5-year research/enhancement

permit. Permit 1156 was issued on August 14, 1998, and authorizes takes

of juvenile, threatened, southern Oregon/northern California coast coho

salmon; 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 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. Permit 1156

expires on December 31, 2002.

Dated: August 20, 1998.

Kevin Collins,

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-22949 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]

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