Endangered Species; Permits

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 permits, as required by the ESA, is based on a finding that such permits: (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2) will 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. Permits are 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 ESA-listed species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho salmon (O. kisutch), Sockeye salmon (O. nerka), and Steelhead trout (O. mykiss).

New Application Received

GAA (1184) requests a 5-year permit for takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, central California coast (CCC) coho salmon, and adult and juvenile, endangered, southern California coast (SCC) steelhead associated with fish population studies throughout the Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) within California. Salmon and steelhead studies conducted by GAA consist of four assessment tasks for which ESA-

listed fish are proposed to be taken: (1) Presence/absence, (2) population estimates, (3) fish rescue, and (4) tissue/scale sampling for genetic studies. Fish will be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled (weighed, measured, fin-clipped), allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities associated with the research are also requested.

Modification Request Received

Corps-WWD requests modification 5 to permit 895, which authorizes annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, upper Columbia River 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 (Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and McNary Dams). Permit 895 also authorizes Corps- WWD annual incidental takes of adult salmonids associated with fallbacks through the juvenile fish bypass systems at the four dams. The purpose of the Juvenile Fish Transportation Program is to enhance the survival of migrating anadromous salmonids that would otherwise be subjected to adverse environmental conditions at the dams and reservoirs on the rivers. For modification 5, the Corps requests an increase in the annual direct take of juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon. Due to unknown factors, an unusually large number of wild juvenile fall chinook salmon are migrating out of the Snake River in 1998 and are being collected and transported at the Corps projects. An associated increase in juvenile fall chinook salmon indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 5 is requested to be valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999.

Permits Issued

Notice was published on July 14,1998 (63 FR 37851), that an application had been filed by Dr. Jennifer Nielsen for a scientific research permit. Permit 1138 was issued to Dr. Nielsen on October 14, 1998, and authorizes the receiving, possession and analyzing of tissues taken from adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC and southern Oregon/ northern California coast (SONCC) coho salmon, and adult and juvenile, endangered, SCC steelhead associated with genetic studies throughout the ESUs. Fish will be captured only by other authorized NMFS Permit Holders. Permit 1138 expires on June 30, 2003. Notice was published on July 14,1998 (63 FR 37851), that an application had been filed by AARC for a scientific research permit. Permit 1166 was issued to AARC on October 14, 1998, and authorizes takes of of adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC and SONCC coho salmon, and takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, SCC steelhead associated with fish population and habitat studies throughout the ESUs. ESA- listed fish may be captured, handled, and released. Indirect mortalities are also authorized. Permit 1166 expires on June 30, 2003. Notice was published on August 31, 1998 (63 FR 46218), that an application had been filed by Corps-PD for a scientific research/ enhancement permit. Permit 1177 was issued to Corps-PD on October 15, 1998, and authorizes annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, SONCC coho salmon associated with scientific research and an adult fish trap-and-haul program at Elk Creek Dam on the Rogue River in OR. The purpose of the trap-and-haul program is to move returning ESA-listed adult fish above Elk Creek Dam, an impassable barrier for adult salmonids, so that the fish may use the habitat upstream of the dam for natural spawning. To determine the annual spawning success of the fish upstream of the dam, ESA-listed juvenile fish will be observed by snorkeling. In addition, ESA-listed adult fish carcasses will be examined for evidence of spawning and immediately returned to the stream. Permit 1177 expires on June 30, 2000.

Dated: October 21, 1998. Kevin Collins, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-28860 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F