Endangered Species; Permits

Authority

Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the ESA, is based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) Are 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. Permits and modifications are 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 and evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) are covered in this notice:

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Snake River (SnR) spring/summer, SnR fall, Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Central California coast (CCC), southern Oregon/northern California coast (SONCC) Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): SnR Steelhead trout (O. mykiss): UCR, SnR, southern California coast (SCC) To date, neither a listing determination for UCR spring chinook salmon under the ESA, nor protective regulations for threatened SnR steelhead under section 4(d) of the ESA have been promulgated by NMFS. This notice of receipt of applications requesting takes of these species is issued as a precaution in the event that NMFS issues an UCR spring chinook salmon listing determination and/or SnR steelhead protective regulations. The initiation of a 30-day public comment period on the applications, including their proposed takes of UCR spring chinook salmon and/or SnR steelhead, does not presuppose a listing determination or the contents of the eventual protective regulations, respectively.

New Applications Received

NWFSC (1194) requests a 5-year permit that would authorize annual direct takes of adult, threatened, artificially propagated, SnR spring/ summer chinook salmon and adult, endangered, artificially propagated, UCR steelhead associated with an evaluation of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag interrogation systems at Bonneville Dam on the lower Columbia River. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the ability of the prototype PIT-tag detection systems to detect PIT-tagged adult salmon passing through the facility, and evaluate the effects of the detection systems on adult behavior as they approach and pass through the system. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be captured, tagged with PIT and Peterson disk tags, released in the adult ladder below the detection systems, and allowed to volitionally pass to the main adult fish ladder. ESA-listed adult fish indirect mortalities are also requested. USFS (1195) requests a 5-year permit that would authorize annual direct takes of juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon and juvenile, threatened, SnR steelhead associated with a project designed to answer questions about life history strategies and the contribution of tributary production to overall steelhead abundance in the upper Grande Ronde River Basin. The study objectives are to continue long- term monitoring of steelhead smolt production in the Meadow Creek Basin, to enumerate steelhead smolt production in McCoy Creek, and to describe the range and interaction(s) of life-history strategies used by steelhead in the Meadow Creek Basin. ESA-listed fish are proposed to be captured, sampled for biological data and/or tagged or fin-clipped, and released. A small percentage of fish will be released upstream and recaptured to allow for calculation of trap efficiency. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are also requested. WDFW (1196) requests a 5-year permit that would authorize annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, UCR spring chinook salmon. Takes of UCR spring chinook salmon are requested in anticipation of a possible listing decision of this species by NMFS. The program is intended to supplement naturally spawning populations of UCR spring chinook salmon and produce captive brood fish for stock preservation and recovery purposes. For the supplementation program, adult UCR spring chinook salmon are proposed to be collected for broodstock and spawned in a hatchery. Progeny are proposed to be reared in artificial production facilities and released into the Methow, Chewuch, Twisp, and Chiwawa Rivers. For the captive broodstock program, UCR spring chinook are proposed to be collected in the gamete, egg, fry, and/or smolt stage; marked and/or tagged; reared to spawning adult stage; and spawned with the resultant second generation of smolts released into the Methow, Chewuch, Twisp, and Chiwawa Rivers. Adult and juvenile fish indirect mortalities are also requested.

Modification Requests Received

NWCPUD requests modification 3 to permit 948, which authorizes annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, artificially propagated and naturally produced, UCR steelhead associated with a study designed to assess run of the river juvenile anadromous fish condition after passage through the screened turbine intake channel at The Dalles Dam, located on the Columbia River. For modification 3, NWCPUD requests annual direct takes of juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon in anticipation of a possible listing decision of this species by NMFS. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 3 is requested to be valid for the duration of permit 948, which expires on September 30, 1999. SBT requests modification 2 to permit 998, which authorizes annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon associated with a study designed to evaluate smolt outmigration from Pettit and Alturas Lakes in Idaho. For modification 2, SBT requests an increased take of ESA-listed juvenile sockeye salmon for the purpose of conducting mark/recapture studies and to evaluate downstream mortality of the fish to the lower Snake River dams. ESA-listed juvenile sockeye salmon are proposed to be captured, anesthetized, tagged with passive integrated transponders, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, released upstream of the trap, recaptured, inspected for tags, and released. An associated increase in ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities is also requested. Modification 2 is requested to be valid for the duration of permit 998, which expires on December 31, 2000. USGS requests modification 2 to permit 1036, which authorizes annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, artificially propagated and naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon; and adult and juvenile, endangered, artificially propagated and naturally produced, UCR steelhead associated with research designed to determine the post release attributes and survival of hatchery and natural fall chinook salmon in the Snake River. For modification 2, USGS requests annual takes of adult and juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River to predict the effects of reservoir drawdown on juvenile salmonids and their predators in free-flowing river reaches and to compare the effects with a similar study in the Hells Canyon Reach of the Snake River. Takes of UCR spring chinook salmon are requested in anticipation of a possible listing decision of this species by NMFS. Also for modification 2, USGS requests takes of ESA-listed juvenile fish associated with a change in the location of fish sampling for a race and residualism study. ESA-listed juvenile fish indirect mortalities are also requested. Modification 2 is requested to be valid for the duration of permit 1036, which expires on December 31, 2001.

Permits and Modifications Issued

Notice was published on October 28, 1998 (63 FR 57666), that an application

had been filed by the Corps for modification 5 to enhancement permit 895. Modification 5 to permit 895 was issued to the Corps on January 28, 1999. Permit 895 authorizes the Corps annual direct takes of juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon; juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon; juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon; and juvenile, endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated, UCR 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 the Corps annual incidental takes of adult salmonids associated with fallbacks through the juvenile fish bypass systems at the four dams. For modification 5, the Corps is authorized an increase in the annual direct take of juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon. An associated increase in juvenile fall chinook salmon indirect mortalities is also authorized. Modification 5 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 1999. Notice was published on November 18, 1998 (63 FR 64064), that an application had been filed by IDFG for modification 1 to scientific research permit 1124. Modification 1 to permit 1124 was issued to IDFG on January 28, 1999. Permit 1124 authorizes IDFG annual direct takes of adult and juvenile, endangered, SnR sockeye salmon; adult and juvenile, threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated, SnR spring/ summer chinook salmon; and juvenile, threatened, SnR fall chinook salmon associated with scientific research in the state of Idaho. For modification 1, IDFG is authorized an increase in the annual direct take of juvenile, threatened, naturally produced, SnR spring/summer chinook salmon. IDFG underestimated parr production and emigration of this species in 1998. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of the permit, which expires on December 31,2002. Notice was published on October 21, 1998 (63 FR 56148), that an application had been filed by MRC for a scientific research permit. Permit 1181 was issued to MRC on January 28, 1999, and authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC coho salmon associated with fish population and habitat studies on MRC properties within the CCC ESU. ESA-listed fish may be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities are also authorized. Permit 1181 expires on June 30, 2004. Notice was published on October 21, 1998 (63 FR 56148), that an application had been filed by RNT for a scientific research permit. Permit 1183 was issued to RNT on February 2, 1999. Permit 1183 authorizes RNT takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC and SONCC coho salmon in California, associated with fish population and habitat studies in the coastal stream drainages within the ESUs. ESA-listed fish will be captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities associated with the research are also authorized. Permit 1183 expires on June 30, 2004. Notice was published on November 18, 1998 (63 FR 64063), that an application had been filed by GAA for a scientific research permit. Permit 1184 was issued to GAA on February 2, 1999. Permit 1184 authorizes takes of adult and juvenile, threatened, CCC coho salmon, and adult and juvenile, endangered, SCC steelhead associated with fish population and habitat studies throughout these ESUs. ESA-listed fish may be observed or captured, anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and released. Indirect mortalities are also authorized. Additionally, fish rescue operations may be authorized by NMFS on a case-by-case basis. Permit 1184 expires on June 30, 2004.

Dated: February 5, 1999. Kevin Collins, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-3430 Filed 2-10-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F