Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Issuance of 32 scientific research permit actions.

SUMMARY:

Between July 31 and September 27, 2002, NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Region issued 32 permits, permit modifications, and permit amendments allowing endangered and threatened species of Pacific salmon and steelhead to be taken for scientific research purposes under section 10(a)1(A) the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. The research actions and the species they affect are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

ADDRESSES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Stone, Portland, OR (phone: 503-231-2317, fax: 503-230-5435, e-mail: steve.stone@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

The ESA requires that permits, permit modifications, and permit amendments be issued based on a finding that such actions: (1) are applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the actions; 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. Permits, modifications, and amendments are issued in accordance with, and are subject to, the ESA and NOAA Fisheries regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

Species Covered in This Notice

The ESA-listed species/evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) covered by this notice are identified below and listed in the subsequent table by the numbers that precede each of them in the following text:

(1) Puget Sound chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

(2) Lower Columbia River chinook salmon

(3) Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon

(4) Snake River fall chinook salmon

(5) Upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon

(6) Upper Willamette River chinook salmon

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

(8) Columbia River chum salmon

(9) Lower Columbia River steelhead (O. mykiss)

(10) Middle Columbia River steelhead

(11) Snake River steelhead

(12) Upper Willamette River steelhead

(13) Upper Columbia River steelhead

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

(15) Oregon Coast coho salmon

(16) Snake River sockeye salmon (O. nerka)

(17) Ozette Lake sockeye salmon