Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Issuance of 21 scientific research permits and permit modifications.

SUMMARY:

Between June 2, 2004 and July 30, 2004, NMFS' Northwest Region issued 21 permits and permit modifications allowing endangered and threatened species of Pacific salmon and steelhead to be taken for scientific research purposes under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The research actions and the species they affect are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

ADDRESSES:

The permits, permit applications, and related documents are available for review during business hours by appointment at NMFS' Protected Resources Division, F/NWO3, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737 (ph: 503-230-5400, fax: 503-230-5435).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (phone: 503-231-2005, fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail: Garth.Griffin@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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/modifications based on findings that such permits and modifications: (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 policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.

Species Covered in this Notice

The listed species/evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) covered by this notice are listed below and identified in the subsequent table by the numbers (in parentheses) that precede them.

(1) Threatened Puget Sound chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

(2) Threatened Lower Columbia River (LCR) chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

(3) Threatened Snake River (SR) spring/summer chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

(4) Threatened SR fall chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

(5) Endangered Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring-run chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

(6) Threatened Upper Willamette River (UWR) chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

(7) Threatened Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon (O. keta)

(8) Threatened Columbia River chum salmon (O. keta)

(9) Threatened LCR steelhead (O. mykiss) (O. keta)

(10) Threatened Middle Columbia River steelhead (O. keta)

(11) Threatened SR steelhead (O. keta)

(12) Endangered UCR steelhead (O. keta)

(13) Threatened Upper Willamette (UWR) Steelhead (O. keta)

(14) Threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coasts coho salmon (O. kisutch)

(15) Threatened (at the time of issuance) Oregon Coast coho salmon (O. kisutch)

(16) Endangered SR sockeye salmon (O. nerka)