Endangered Species; Permits

USGS (1130), POP (1131), S. Gordon Rogers (1132), Andre M. Landry (1133), and WDFW (1102) request permits 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). USGS (1130) requests a five-year permit for takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, endangered, artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss); and juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with research designed to determine the movement, distribution, and passage behavior of radio- tagged juvenile salmonids at Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day Dams on the Columbia River. USGS also requests a take of juvenile lower Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) which is currently proposed as threatened. The results of the research will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess fish passage efficiency at John Day and The Dalles Dams and to increase bypass efficiency for juvenile salmonids at the dams by effectively designing and positioning prototype surface bypass/collection structures. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be acquired from Smolt Monitoring Program (SMP) personnel at Bonneville, John Day, and McNary Dams; implanted with radio transmitters; transported; held for as long as 24 hours; released; and tracked electronically. SMP personnel are authorized to collect ESA- listed fish under the authority of permit 822. Indirect mortalities of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with the scientific research are also requested. POP (1131) requests a two-year permit for takes of juvenile, threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon; juvenile, endangered, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, upper Columbia River steelhead; and juvenile, threatened, Snake River steelhead associated with research designed to determine the presence and distribution of fish in shallow water habitats between the lower end of Hayden Island and the Sandy River delta on the Columbia River. POP also requests a take of juvenile lower Columbia River steelhead which is currently proposed as threatened. Information obtained as a result of research activities will be used to: 1) develop a comprehensive management plan for the lower Columbia River steelhead evolutionarily significant unit in cooperation with the states of OR and WA; 2) prepare environmental impact assessments associated with shoreline development projects, such as a proposed marine terminal facility on the western half of Hayden Island; and 3) design mitigation plans to compensate for the loss of shallow water habitat due to future shoreline development projects. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be captured using electrofishing, seines, or bottom trawls; handled; and released. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities associated with research activities are also requested. S. Gordon Rogers, Satilla Management Associates, Inc. (1132), requests a one year permit to collect tissue samples and morphometric measurements from 30 shortnose sturgeon in Georgia rivers. In addition, the any fish that samples were collected from would also be marked with conventional and PIT tags. Collection method would be tended gill and trammel nets. Andre M. Landry, Texas A&M University (1133), requests a five-year permit (1133) to take listed sea turtles for the purpose of conducting studies on population status and recovery potential, habitat preference, movement and migration, foraging patterns, and impact of man's activities such as commercial and recreational fishing, dredging and habitat alteration/pollution. The applicant requests authorization to take up to 200 Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), 20 hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), 300 green (Chelonia mydas), and 200 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles annually from locations within the Gulf of Mexico, primarily through the use of entanglement nets. Captured turtles may be weighed, photographed, and measured; tagged with flipper, PIT, radio and/or satellite tags; and blood, fecal and tissue sampled. Additionally, stomach lavage techniques may be deployed where necessary. On October 31, 1997, a notice was published (62 FR 58942) that NMFS received an application (1102) for a three-year permit from WDFW that would authorize takes of ESA-listed adult salmon and steelhead, including adult, threatened, Snake River steelhead, for the purpose of scientific research. NMFS has received an amendment to the application requesting: 1) That the permit be valid for a duration of five years; and 2) a take of adult lower Columbia River steelhead, which is currently proposed as threatened. Indirect mortalities of ESA-listed adult steelhead associated with research activities are also requested. To date, protective regulations for threatened Snake River 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 Snake River steelhead. The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the applications, including their proposed takes of Snake River steelhead, does not presuppose the contents of the eventual protective regulations. To date, a listing determination for lower Columbia River steelhead under the ESA has 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 a listing determination. The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the applications, including their proposed takes of lower Columbia River steelhead, does not presuppose a listing determination. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set out the specific

reasons why a hearing on this particular 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 this application summary are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

Dated: February 19, 1998. Nancy I. Chu, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-4782 Filed 2-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F