Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 27710-27712 [E6-7273]

Download as PDF 27710 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2006 / Notices expiration of the current IHA if a new IHA is not requested. (6) If any dead or injured marine mammals or sea turtles are observed or detected prior to testing, or injured or killed during live fire, a report must be made to the NMFS by the following business day. (7) Any unauthorized takes of marine mammals (i.e., injury or mortality) must be immediately reported to the NMFS representative and to the respective stranding network representative. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ESA Consultation under section 7 of the ESA on Eglin EGTTR activities was completed on December 18, 1998. Consultation was reinitiated by Eglin AFB with NMFS on February 13, 2003 and concluded on October 20, 2004. A NMFS Biological Opinion issued on October 20, 2004, concluded that the AS gunnery exercises in the EGTTR are unlikely to jeopardize the continued existence of species listed under the ESA that are within the jurisdiction of NMFS or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. NMFS has determined that issuance of an IHA to Eglin AFB for this activity will not have effects beyond what was analyzed in 2004 in the Biological Opinion. NEPA The U.S. Air Force (USAF) made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) determination on August 18, 2003, based on information contained within its November, 2002 Programmatic EA (PEA), that implementation of the subject action is not a major Federal action having significant effects on the environment within the meaning of NEPA. The USAF determined, therefore, that an environmental impact statement would not be prepared. NMFS noted that Eglin AFB had prepared a PEA for the EGTTR activity and made this PEA available upon request (January 23, 2006, 71 FR 3474). In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216–6 (Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, May 20, 1999), NMFS has reviewed the information contained in Eglin AFB’s PEA and determined that Eglin AFB’s PEA accurately and completely describes the proposed action, the alternatives to the proposed action, and the potential impacts on marine mammals, endangered species, and other marine life that could be impacted by the preferred alternative and the other alternatives. Accordingly, NMFS adopted Eglin AFB’s PEA under 40 CFR 1506.3 and made its own FONSI. The VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:54 May 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 NMFS FONSI also takes into consideration updated data and information contained in this Federal Register document, the proposed IHA notice (71 FR 3474, January 23, 2006) and previous notices (70 FR 48675, August 19, 2005). Therefore, it is not necessary for NMFS to issue a new EA, supplemental EA or an environmental impact statement for the issuance of an IHA to Eglin AFB for this activity. A copy of Eglin’s PEA and the NMFS FONSI for this activity is available upon request (see ADDRESSES). Determinations NMFS has determined that the A-S gunnery exercises that are conducted by Eglin AFB in the EGTTR in the northern GOM, are unlikely to result in the mortality or serious injury of marine mammals (see Table 11) and, would result in, at worst, a temporary elevation in hearing sensitivity (known as TTS). Eglin AFB estimates, and NMFS concurs that up to 271 marine mammals may incur this form of Level B harassment annually. Also, these gunnery exercises have the potential to result in a temporary modification in behavior by marine mammals. Eglin AFB estimates that up 25 marine mammals may experience a behavioral response to these exercises during the time-frame of an IHA. NMFS believes that this number may be slightly higher because estimates of Level B harassment by peak pressure cannot be made at this time. While behavioral modifications may be made by these species as a result of these AS gunnery activities, any behavioral change is expected to result in no more than a negligible impact on the affected species. In addition, the potential for temporary hearing impairment is very low and will be mitigated to the lowest level practicable through the incorporation of the mitigation measures mentioned in this document. Finally, this activity by Eglin AFB would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of stocks for subsistence uses because there are no known subsistence uses of marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Authorization NMFS has issued an IHA to Eglin AFB for conducting A-S gunnery exercises within the EGTTR in the northern GOM for a 1–year period, provided the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are undertaken. PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: May 3, 2006. Donna Wieting, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 06–4436 Filed 5–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 050406C] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Applications for five scientific research permits (1564, 1565, 1566, 1567, 1568) and one modification (1335 – modification 4). AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received six scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on June 12, 2006. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232–1274. Comments may also be sent via fax to 503–230– 5441 or by e-mail to resapps.nwr@NOAA.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (ph.: 503– 231–2005, Fax: 503–230–5441, e-mail: Garth.Griffin@noaa.gov). Permit application instructions are available from the address above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Species Covered in This Notice The following listed species are covered in this notice: Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened lower Columbia River (LCR), threatened upper Willamette River (UWR), threatened Puget Sound (PS), endangered upper Columbia River (UCR). Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River (CR), threatened Hood Canal (HC). E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2006 / Notices Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened LCR, threatened UWR, threatened UCR, threatened middle Columbia River (MCR). Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened LCR, threatened Southern Oregon Northern California Coasts (SONCC). 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 222–226). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such permits: (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 policy of section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Anyone requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS. Applications Received sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Permit 1335 – Modification 4 Permit 1335 currently authorizes the US Forest Service (USFS) to take juvenile UCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, PS Chinook salmon, UCR steelhead, UWR steelhead, LCR steelhead, MCR steelhead, CR chum salmon, HC chum salmon, and SONCC coho salmon on Federal lands covered by the Northwest Forest Plan in Oregon and Washington. The USFS is asking to modify their permit so they may be allowed to take LCR coho salmon and newly listed hatchery HC chum salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, and SONCC coho salmon. They also wish to extend the permit’s expiration date to December 31, 2010. The purpose of the research is to assess watershed conditions and limiting factors, and determine watershed health under the Northwest Forest Plan. The activities will benefit listed fish by providing the USFS with information to improve forest management. The USFS proposes to capture (using backpack electrofishing), anesthetize, measure, and release juvenile fish. The USFS does not intend to kill any fish being captured but some may die as an unintentional result of the research activities. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:54 May 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 27711 Permit 1564 Permit 1566 The University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (UW) is requesting a 5–year research permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The objective of the research is to monitor the success of habitat restoration projects in the Duwamish River estuary the researchers wish to determine if the population characteristics of local Chinook salmon have changed (improved) in response to recent estuarine habitat restoration activities. The habitat restoration work was conducted by the Port of Seattle and monitoring has been going on since 2004 under a separate permit. The UW is now seeking their own permit to continue the study. The habitat restoration projects were designed to improve Chinook salmon rearing and migration habitat, and the research will benefit the fish by helping managers learn the effectiveness of those measures. The fish would be captured using enclosure nets and beach seines. Half of the juvenile Chinook salmon would be counted, checked for external marks and internal coded-wire tags, measured, and released. The other half of the captured fish would also have their stomachs flushed. The UW does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured but a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is requesting a 5–year research permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of this study is to monitor a number of proposed restoration sites along the Puget Sound shoreline from near the Hiram Chittenden Locks north to the town of Everett. The researchers would determine fish presence, gauge individual fish health, and measure chemical contamination. The goal is to establish a pre-restoration baseline of the conditions at each of the proposed restoration sites so the researchers can determine how effective the restoration is. The fish would benefit from ongoing improvement in the restoration efforts. Sediments would be collected from each site and chemically analyzed. The fish would be captured in beach seines, measured, and sampled for individual condition factors and whole body lipid content. Some of the captured fish would be sacrificed during the process, and a few more fish may die as an unintended result of the research. Permit 1565 The National Park Service, Olympic National Park (ONP) is requesting a 5– year research permit to take juvenile LCR Chinook salmon, juvenile PS Chinook salmon, juvenile LCR steelhead, and juvenile LCR coho salmon. The research activities are part of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program and would be conducted within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park. The longterm goals for the program are to (1) monitor ecosystem status and trends; (2) help park managers identify alternative management actions, assess trade-offs, and evaluate outcomes; and (3) cooperate with other Federal and state agencies and thereby share resources, achieve common goals, and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and expense. The research would benefit the fish by helping improve management actions. The ONP would use snorkeling and backpack electrofishing to assess species presence and abundance. Captured fish would be measured for length and released. The ONP does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured but a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities. PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Permit 1567 Ridolfi Inc. is requesting a 5–year research permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of this study is to monitor habitat restoration sites in Commencement Bay, Washington. Data from the research would be used to measure the success of restoration efforts, identify adaptive management approaches, address monitoring requirements specified by permitting agencies, and serve as an outreach tool for disseminating project information to interested parties. The fish would benefit from ongoing improvement in the restoration actions. The fish would be captured using block nets and beach seines at six restoration sites throughout Commencement Bay and its tributaries. The fish would be collected, identified, checked for marks or coded-wire tags, and measured. Ridolfi does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but a small number may die as an unintended result of the activities. Permit 1568 The NWFSC is requesting a 5–year research permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of this project is to provide information on the basic life histories, ecology and genetic compositions of wild and hatchery juvenile Chinook salmon in the Snohomish River estuary. The study is designed to (1) characterize the ecology of existing Chinook salmon populations and life history types in the Snohomish E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1 27712 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2006 / Notices River Estuary, and (2) evaluate how effectively habitat protection and restoration actions in the estuary help Chinook salmon populations in the Snohomish River Basin. The information gathered by this research would benefit the fish by helping recovery planning in the Snohomish River estuary and other estuaries of the Puget Sound. The fish would be captured using Fyke nets and beach seines. They would then be anesthetized, measured, and weighed. The fish would also be tissue-sampled and checked for external marks and coded-wire tags. A portion of the captured fish would be sacrificed for full necropsy and a few more may die as an unintended result of the research. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30–day comment period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal Register. Dated: May 9, 2006. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–7273 Filed 5–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Information Collection; Submission for OMB Review, Comment Request Corporation for National and Community Service. ACTION: Notice. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: 16:54 May 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 The OMB is particularly interested in comments which: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Corporation, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information to those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submissions of responses. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the ‘‘Corporation’’), has submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled the Field Network Pilot Study of Cost-Sharing in VISTA, Field Guide and Survey (hereinafter ‘‘the VISTA Cost-Share Study’’) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National and Community Service, Mr. John Foster-Bey at (202) 606–6635. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf VerDate Aug<31>2005 (TTY–TDD) may call (202) 606–3472 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted, identified by the title of the information collection activity, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Ms. Rachel Potter, OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service, by any of the following two methods within 30 days from the publication in this Federal Register: (1) By fax to: (202) 395–6974, Attention: Ms. Rachel Potter, OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service; and (2) Electronically by e-mail to: Rachel_F._Potter@omb.eop.gov. A 60-day public comment Notice was published in the Federal Registeron November 25, 2005. This comment period ended January 24, 2006. No public comments were received from this notice. Description: The Corporation has contracted with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government to carry out the VISTA Cost-Share Study to analyze the potential for increasing the number of VISTA cost-share members. The VISTA Cost-Share Study will consider the implications of such expansion for the organizations where VISTA members serve (hereinafter ‘‘sponsors’’), given the Corporation’s commitment to serve communities in need. The VISTA Cost-Share Study will be used to assess the reasons why some PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 sponsors cost-share and others do not; the effects of cost-sharing on sponsors; the potential for sponsors who are not currently cost-sharing to do so successfully in the future; current and potential sources of cost-share funds; and what actions the Corporation should take to help sponsors cost-share. Independent, local field researchers will be employed in collecting the information. During the data-gathering phase the researchers will refer to background information about the Corporation, the VISTA program, and the Field Network method. Type of Review: New Information Collection. Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service. Title: Field Network Pilot Study of Cost-Sharing in VISTA, Field Guide and Survey. OMB Number: None. Agency Number: None. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Governments. Total Respondents: 1557 (Survey, 1491; sponsor interviews, 110; funder interviews, 66). Frequency: Annually. Average Time Per Response: Survey, 20 minutes; sponsor interviews, 2 hours; funder interviews, 1 hour. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 783 hours. Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None. Total Burden Cost (operating/ maintenance): None. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: May 1, 2006. Robert Grimm, Director, Department of Research and Policy Development. [FR Doc. E6–7252 Filed 5–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Meeting of the Secretary of Defense’s Defense Advisory Board (DAB) for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) ACTION: Notice of open meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the DAB for ESGR. This meeting will focus on the status of DoD actions and recommendations from E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27710-27712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7273]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050406C]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for five scientific research permits (1564, 1565, 
1566, 1567, 1568) and one modification (1335 - modification 4).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received six scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. The 
proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and 
conservation efforts.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on June 12, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to the 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent via fax to 503-230-
5441 or by e-mail to resapps.nwr@NOAA.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-
231-2005, Fax: 503-230-5441, e-mail: Garth.Griffin@noaa.gov). Permit 
application instructions are available from the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened lower 
Columbia River (LCR), threatened upper Willamette River (UWR), 
threatened Puget Sound (PS), endangered upper Columbia River (UCR).
    Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened Columbia River (CR), threatened 
Hood Canal (HC).

[[Page 27711]]

    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened LCR, threatened UWR, threatened 
UCR, threatened middle Columbia River (MCR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened LCR, threatened Southern 
Oregon Northern California Coasts (SONCC).

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 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (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 policy of section 2 of the 
ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set 
forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice 
should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application 
would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Applications Received

Permit 1335 - Modification 4

    Permit 1335 currently authorizes the US Forest Service (USFS) to 
take juvenile UCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, LCR Chinook 
salmon, PS Chinook salmon, UCR steelhead, UWR steelhead, LCR steelhead, 
MCR steelhead, CR chum salmon, HC chum salmon, and SONCC coho salmon on 
Federal lands covered by the Northwest Forest Plan in Oregon and 
Washington. The USFS is asking to modify their permit so they may be 
allowed to take LCR coho salmon and newly listed hatchery HC chum 
salmon, LCR Chinook salmon, UWR Chinook salmon, and SONCC coho salmon. 
They also wish to extend the permit's expiration date to December 31, 
2010. The purpose of the research is to assess watershed conditions and 
limiting factors, and determine watershed health under the Northwest 
Forest Plan. The activities will benefit listed fish by providing the 
USFS with information to improve forest management. The USFS proposes 
to capture (using backpack electrofishing), anesthetize, measure, and 
release juvenile fish. The USFS does not intend to kill any fish being 
captured but some may die as an unintentional result of the research 
activities.

Permit 1564

    The University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery 
Sciences (UW) is requesting a 5-year research permit to take juvenile 
PS Chinook salmon. The objective of the research is to monitor the 
success of habitat restoration projects in the Duwamish River estuary 
the researchers wish to determine if the population characteristics of 
local Chinook salmon have changed (improved) in response to recent 
estuarine habitat restoration activities. The habitat restoration work 
was conducted by the Port of Seattle and monitoring has been going on 
since 2004 under a separate permit. The UW is now seeking their own 
permit to continue the study. The habitat restoration projects were 
designed to improve Chinook salmon rearing and migration habitat, and 
the research will benefit the fish by helping managers learn the 
effectiveness of those measures. The fish would be captured using 
enclosure nets and beach seines. Half of the juvenile Chinook salmon 
would be counted, checked for external marks and internal coded-wire 
tags, measured, and released. The other half of the captured fish would 
also have their stomachs flushed. The UW does not intend to kill any of 
the fish being captured but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the activities.

Permit 1565

    The National Park Service, Olympic National Park (ONP) is 
requesting a 5-year research permit to take juvenile LCR Chinook 
salmon, juvenile PS Chinook salmon, juvenile LCR steelhead, and 
juvenile LCR coho salmon. The research activities are part of the 
National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program and would be 
conducted within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park. The 
long-term goals for the program are to (1) monitor ecosystem status and 
trends; (2) help park managers identify alternative management actions, 
assess trade-offs, and evaluate outcomes; and (3) cooperate with other 
Federal and state agencies and thereby share resources, achieve common 
goals, and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and expense. The 
research would benefit the fish by helping improve management actions. 
The ONP would use snorkeling and backpack electrofishing to assess 
species presence and abundance. Captured fish would be measured for 
length and released. The ONP does not intend to kill any of the fish 
being captured but a small number may die as an unintended result of 
the activities.

Permit 1566

    The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is requesting a 5-
year research permit to take juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of 
this study is to monitor a number of proposed restoration sites along 
the Puget Sound shoreline from near the Hiram Chittenden Locks north to 
the town of Everett. The researchers would determine fish presence, 
gauge individual fish health, and measure chemical contamination. The 
goal is to establish a pre-restoration baseline of the conditions at 
each of the proposed restoration sites so the researchers can determine 
how effective the restoration is. The fish would benefit from ongoing 
improvement in the restoration efforts. Sediments would be collected 
from each site and chemically analyzed. The fish would be captured in 
beach seines, measured, and sampled for individual condition factors 
and whole body lipid content. Some of the captured fish would be 
sacrificed during the process, and a few more fish may die as an 
unintended result of the research.

Permit 1567

    Ridolfi Inc. is requesting a 5-year research permit to take 
juvenile PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of this study is to monitor 
habitat restoration sites in Commencement Bay, Washington. Data from 
the research would be used to measure the success of restoration 
efforts, identify adaptive management approaches, address monitoring 
requirements specified by permitting agencies, and serve as an outreach 
tool for disseminating project information to interested parties. The 
fish would benefit from ongoing improvement in the restoration actions. 
The fish would be captured using block nets and beach seines at six 
restoration sites throughout Commencement Bay and its tributaries. The 
fish would be collected, identified, checked for marks or coded-wire 
tags, and measured. Ridolfi does not intend to kill any of the fish 
being captured, but a small number may die as an unintended result of 
the activities.

Permit 1568

    The NWFSC is requesting a 5-year research permit to take juvenile 
PS Chinook salmon. The purpose of this project is to provide 
information on the basic life histories, ecology and genetic 
compositions of wild and hatchery juvenile Chinook salmon in the 
Snohomish River estuary. The study is designed to (1) characterize the 
ecology of existing Chinook salmon populations and life history types 
in the Snohomish

[[Page 27712]]

River Estuary, and (2) evaluate how effectively habitat protection and 
restoration actions in the estuary help Chinook salmon populations in 
the Snohomish River Basin. The information gathered by this research 
would benefit the fish by helping recovery planning in the Snohomish 
River estuary and other estuaries of the Puget Sound. The fish would be 
captured using Fyke nets and beach seines. They would then be 
anesthetized, measured, and weighed. The fish would also be tissue-
sampled and checked for external marks and coded-wire tags. A portion 
of the captured fish would be sacrificed for full necropsy and a few 
more may die as an unintended result of the research.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: May 9, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7273 Filed 5-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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