80 FR 56447 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 181 (September 18, 2015)

Page Range		56447-56448
FR Document		2015-23454

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received six scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon and steelhead. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The applications may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56447-56448]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE188


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for three new scientific research permits and 
three permit renewals.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received six scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon and 
steelhead. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of 
species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide 
management and conservation efforts. The applications may be viewed 
online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on October 19, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to the 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent via fax to 503-230-
5441 or by email to nmfs.nwr.apps@noaa.gov (include the permit number 
in the subject line of the fax or email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-231-
2314), Fax: 503-230-5441, email: Robert.Clapp@noaa.gov). Permit 
application instructions are available from the address above, or 
online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened Lower 
Columbia River (LCR); threatened Puget Sound (PS); threatened Snake 
River (SR) fall-run; threatened SR spring/summer-run (spr/sum); 
endangered Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring-run; threatened Upper 
Willamette River (UWR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened UCR; Threatened SR; threatened 
middle Columbia River (MCR); threatened LCR; threatened PS; threatened 
UWR.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): Endangered SR.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened Columbia River (CR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened LCR; threatened Oregon Coast 
(OC).

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for 
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, would not operate to the 
disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of section 2 of the 
ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set 
forth in the permits.
    Anyone 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). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Applications Received

Permit 1336-7R

    Port Blakely Farms (PBF) is seeking to renew its permit to take 
juvenile LCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, PS Chinook salmon, LCR 
coho salmon, LCR steelhead, UWR steelhead, and PS steelhead in 
headwater streams in western Oregon and Washington. The purpose of the 
research is to evaluate factors limiting fish distribution and water 
quality in streams that cross land owned by PBF. The research would 
benefit listed salmonids by producing data to be used in conserving and 
restoring critical habitat. The researchers propose to capture (using 
backpack electrofishing and dipnetting), handle, and release juvenile 
fish. The PBF researchers do not intend to kill any fish being 
captured, but some may die as an unintentional result of the research 
activities.

Permit 15486-2R

    West Fork Environmental is seeking to renew its permit to capture 
and handle juvenile UCR Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook 
salmon, PS Chinook salmon, LCR coho salmon, OC coho salmon, UCR 
steelhead, LCR steelhead, UWR steelhead, and PS steelhead during the 
course of headwater stream surveys over wide parts of Oregon and 
Washington. The purpose of the research is to provide owners of 
industrial forest lands and state lands managers with accurate maps of 
where threatened and endangered salmonids are found on state and 
industrial forest lands. The work would benefit the salmon and 
steelhead by helping land managers plan and carry out their activities 
in ways that would have the smallest effect possible on the listed 
fish. The fish would be captured using backpack electrofishing 
equipment and released without tagging or even handling more than is 
necessary to ensure that they have recovered from the effects of being 
captured. The West Fork Environmental researchers do not intend to kill 
any listed salmonids, but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 16784-2R

    Hart Crowser, Inc. is seeking to renew a one-year scientific 
research permit to take juvenile SR fall Chinook salmon, SR spr/sum 
Chinook salmon, UCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook 
salmon, CR chum salmon, LCR coho, SR sockeye salmon, SR steelhead, UCR 
steelhead, MCR steelhead, LCR steelhead, and UWR steelhead. The 
objective of the research

[[Page 56448]]

is to study the degree to which juvenile salmonids may be getting 
stranded by ship wakes along the lower Columbia River between river 
miles 21 and 102. The researchers would investigate the potential for 
stranding at approximately 24 ``high risk'' sites. The researchers 
would also evaluate whether the strategic placement of dredged material 
could reduce the risk of stranding. The research would benefit the 
listed species by helping river managers determine the likelihood of 
juvenile stranding along the lower river and investigate potential 
means for reducing it. Hart Crowser, Inc. would use beach seines to 
capture, handle, and release juvenile fish. Researchers may also 
collect stranded fish and return them to the river. Hart Crowser, Inc. 
does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured but a small 
number may die as an unintended result of the activities.

Permit 19587

    The Columbia River Estuary Study (CREST) is requesting a three-year 
scientific research permit to take LCR Chinook salmon, CR chum salmon, 
and LCR coho salmon. The objective of the research is to study the 
effectiveness of habitat restoration in Meglar Creek, Washington. The 
research would evaluate fish passage and habitat use in Meglar Creek 
and the Columbia River nearshore environment at the mouth of Meglar 
Creek. The CREST researchers would capture fish with a trap net. A 
portion of the juvenile Chinook and coho salmon would be anesthetized 
and tagged with passive integrated transponder tags (PIT-tags). The 
research would benefit listed salmonids by determining how effectively 
currently altered habitats support salmonids and using that information 
to guide future habitat modifications. CREST does not intend to kill 
any listed fish but a small number may die as an unintended result of 
the research activities.

Permit 19690

    The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is seeking a five-year 
permit to take adult SR spr/sum Chinook, SR sockeye, and SR steelhead 
at a location approximately one mile upstream from the confluence of 
the Lemhi and Salmon Rivers in Idaho. Under the permit, they would trap 
adult Chinook and steelhead at a temporary weir, measure and tag them 
with PIT-tags, and monitor their movements in the Lemhi Valley with the 
purpose of determining the animals' response to habitat improvements 
throughout the subbasin. All adult sockeye salmon captured at the weir 
would simply be handled and released without being tagged. The weir 
would operate in 12-hour increments (checked at least twice daily), and 
all fish to be tagged would be anesthetized before the process, and 
allowed to recover afterwards; they would then be released back to the 
river upstream from the weir. The researchers would also collect scale 
and tissue samples from a number of fish for DNA analysis. The research 
is intended to form an integral part of an ongoing program that 
intensively monitors a number of ecological parameters in the Lemhi 
watershed. The weir operation would allow greater resolution of both 
adult return numbers and fish movement in the area, and it would feed 
that data into the information stream being generated by the overall 
program. The research would benefit the fish by providing new 
information that managers can use to (1) evaluate and monitor steelhead 
and Chinook status in the region, and (2) design and deploy 
increasingly effective habitat restoration actions throughout the 
fishes' range. The researchers do not intend to kill any of the listed 
fish, but a few may die as an inadvertent result of the planned 
activities.

Permit 19741

    The Yakama Nation is seeking a five-year permit to annually take 
juvenile, natural MCR steelhead during the course of a research project 
designed to assess their current abundance in the Rock Creek watershed 
in south central Washington. Under the permit, the researchers would 
employ backpack electrofishing to capture a number of juvenile MCR 
steelhead. Some of those fish would be tagged with PIT-tags, and some 
would be tissue-sampled, but most would simply be handled and released. 
The researchers would work primarily in five reference areas (reaches) 
and they would use mark/recapture techniques to study juvenile 
development and movement in Rock Creek. They would also conduct some 
boat electrofishing in the inundated pool downstream from the research 
area in Rock Creek--primarily to look at predator abundance. In 
addition, the researchers would take tissue samples from dead adults 
during spawning ground surveys. The purpose of the research is to 
assess the current distribution and relative abundance of MCR steelhead 
in selected portions of Rock Creek. That information would be 
integrated with information being collected on other ecological 
parameters and the researches would use that information as a whole to 
determine species status in the system and evaluate the effectiveness 
of several habitat restoration actions that have been going on there 
for a number of years. This research would benefit listed steelhead in 
that it would be used by fish managers such as the Rock Creek Subbasin 
Recovery Planning Group to prioritize to plan restoration, protection, 
and recovery actions for Rock Creek steelhead.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the applications, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the applications meet the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: September 15, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23454 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices 56447

recommendations from the SEDAR 41 Data fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later Applications Received
Workshop and provide early modeling than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on
advice. Permit 1336–7R
October 19, 2015.
Although non-emergency issues not ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
Port Blakely Farms (PBF) is seeking to
contained in this agenda may come applications should be sent to the renew its permit to take juvenile LCR
before this group for discussion, those Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon,
issues may not be the subject of formal 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, PS Chinook salmon, LCR coho salmon,
action during this meeting. Action will Portland, OR 97232–1274. Comments LCR steelhead, UWR steelhead, and PS
be restricted to those issues specifically may also be sent via fax to 503–230– steelhead in headwater streams in
identified in this notice and any issues 5441 or by email to nmfs.nwr.apps@ western Oregon and Washington. The
arising after publication of this notice purpose of the research is to evaluate
noaa.gov (include the permit number in
that require emergency action under factors limiting fish distribution and
the subject line of the fax or email).
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens water quality in streams that cross land
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob owned by PBF. The research would
Fishery Conservation and Management Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503–231–
Act, provided the public has been benefit listed salmonids by producing
2314), Fax: 503–230–5441, email: data to be used in conserving and
notified of the intent to take final action Robert.Clapp@noaa.gov). Permit
to address the emergency. restoring critical habitat. The
application instructions are available researchers propose to capture (using
Special Accommodations from the address above, or online at backpack electrofishing and dipnetting),
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov. handle, and release juvenile fish. The
This meeting is accessible to people
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PBF researchers do not intend to kill
with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
aids should be directed to the SAFMC Species Covered in This Notice any fish being captured, but some may
office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 die as an unintentional result of the
The following listed species are research activities.
business days prior to the meeting. covered in this notice:
Note: The times and sequence specified in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus Permit 15486–2R
this agenda are subject to change. tshawytscha): Threatened Lower West Fork Environmental is seeking
Columbia River (LCR); threatened Puget to renew its permit to capture and
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Sound (PS); threatened Snake River (SR) handle juvenile UCR Chinook salmon,
Dated: September 15, 2015. fall-run; threatened SR spring/summer- LCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook
Jeffrey N. Lonergan, run (spr/sum); endangered Upper salmon, PS Chinook salmon, LCR coho
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Columbia River (UCR) spring-run; salmon, OC coho salmon, UCR
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. threatened Upper Willamette River steelhead, LCR steelhead, UWR
[FR Doc. 2015–23460 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am] (UWR). steelhead, and PS steelhead during the
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened course of headwater stream surveys over
UCR; Threatened SR; threatened middle wide parts of Oregon and Washington.
Columbia River (MCR); threatened LCR; The purpose of the research is to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE threatened PS; threatened UWR. provide owners of industrial forest
Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): lands and state lands managers with
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Endangered SR. accurate maps of where threatened and
Administration Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened endangered salmonids are found on
RIN 0648–XE188 Columbia River (CR). state and industrial forest lands. The
Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened work would benefit the salmon and
Endangered and Threatened Species; LCR; threatened Oregon Coast (OC). steelhead by helping land managers
Take of Anadromous Fish Authority plan and carry out their activities in
ways that would have the smallest effect
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Scientific research permits are issued possible on the listed fish. The fish
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) would be captured using backpack
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) and electrofishing equipment and released
Commerce. regulations governing listed fish and without tagging or even handling more
ACTION: Applications for three new wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222–226). than is necessary to ensure that they
scientific research permits and three NMFS issues permits based on findings have recovered from the effects of being
permit renewals. that such permits: (1) Are applied for in captured. The West Fork Environmental
good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, researchers do not intend to kill any
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that would not operate to the disadvantage listed salmonids, but a small number
NMFS has received six scientific of the listed species that are the subject may die as an unintended result of the
research permit application requests of the permit; and (3) are consistent activities.
relating to Pacific salmon and steelhead. with the purposes and policy of section
The proposed research is intended to 2 of the ESA. The authority to take Permit 16784–2R
increase knowledge of species listed listed species is subject to conditions set Hart Crowser, Inc. is seeking to renew
under the Endangered Species Act forth in the permits. a one-year scientific research permit to
(ESA) and to help guide management Anyone requesting a hearing on an take juvenile SR fall Chinook salmon,
and conservation efforts. The
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

application listed in this notice should SR spr/sum Chinook salmon, UCR
applications may be viewed online at: set out the specific reasons why a Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon,
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ hearing on that application would be LCR Chinook salmon, CR chum salmon,
preview_open_for_comment.cfm. appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such LCR coho, SR sockeye salmon, SR
DATES: Comments or requests for a hearings are held at the discretion of the steelhead, UCR steelhead, MCR
public hearing on the applications must Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, steelhead, LCR steelhead, and UWR
be received at the appropriate address or NMFS. steelhead. The objective of the research

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:27:24
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:27:24

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Applications for three new scientific research permits and three permit renewals.
Dates		Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications
Contact		Rob Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-231- 2314), Fax: 503-230-5441, email: [email protected]). Permit
FR Citation		80 FR 56447
RIN Number		0648-XE18

80 FR 56447 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 181 (September 18, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration