Notice2022-03293
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Primary source
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Published
February 16, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
We, NMFS, announce receipt of an application for a section 10(a)(1)(A) Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit (Number 25838) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.), for an associated Rescue and Rearing Management Plan for Petaluma River Steelhead population (RRMP) for the United Anglers of Casa Grande (UACG, Applicant). The proposed 10(a)(1)(A) permit and RRMP is intended to: (1) Increase ESA-listed adult Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) abundance in the Petaluma River towards levels identified by NMFS in the recovery plan for this population; and (2) provide emergency incubation and rearing facilities for other hatchery programs where conditions within these facilities are expected to become unsuitable for the culture of ESA-listed steelhead or coho salmon (O. kisutch).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8787-8788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03293]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB815]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application; for a Section 10(a)(1)(A)
Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit associated with the Rescue
and Rearing Management Plan for the Central California Coast
steelhead--Petaluma River population.
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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce receipt of an application for a section
10(a)(1)(A) Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit (Number 25838)
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et. seq.), for an associated Rescue and Rearing Management Plan
for Petaluma River Steelhead population (RRMP) for the United Anglers
of Casa Grande (UACG, Applicant). The proposed 10(a)(1)(A) permit and
RRMP is intended to: (1) Increase ESA-listed adult Central California
Coast (CCC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) abundance in the Petaluma
River towards levels identified by NMFS in the recovery plan for this
population; and (2) provide emergency incubation and rearing facilities
for other hatchery programs where conditions within these facilities
are expected to become unsuitable for the culture of ESA-listed
steelhead or coho salmon (O. kisutch).
DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the actions
proposed in the application must be received at the appropriate address
(see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on March 18,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be submitted to
the California Coastal Office, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa
Rosa, California 95404. Comments may also be submitted by email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce9eabbaafa2bba3afe0bdbaababa2a6abafaae09c9c839e8ea0a1afafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a5a6f7e6b667f676b24797e6f6f66626f6b6e245858475a4a64656b6b246d657c">[email protected]</span></a> (include the permit numbers in the
subject line of the fax or email).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jodi Charrier, Santa Rosa, California
(ph.: 707-575-6069; Fax: 707-578-3435; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e24212a27602d262f3c3c272b3c0e20212f2f60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1872777c71367b70796a6a717d6a5876777979367f776e">[email protected]</span></a>).
The permit application is available upon request through the contact
information above, or online at <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>.
[[Page 8788]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
The following ESA-listed species are covered in this notice:
<bullet> Steelhead (O. mykiss); Threatened CCC Distinct Population
Segment (DPS)
Authority
Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits are issued in
accordance with Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1539(a)(1)(A)) and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife
permits (50 CFR part 222, subpart C). 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; (3) are consistent
with the purposes and policies of Section 2 of the ESA; and (4) would
further a bona fide and necessary or desirable scientific purpose or
enhance the propagation or survival of the endangered species, taking
into account the benefits anticipated to be derived on behalf of the
endangered species; and additional issuance criteria (as listed at 50
CFR Sec. 222.308(c)(5-12)). 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.
Permit Application Received
A draft RRMP has been developed and a Section 10(a)(1)(A)
Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit application has been
submitted to NMFS by the UACG. Fish rearing will occur at the UACG
Hatchery and will be run by Casa Grande High School located in
Petaluma, California in cooperation with UACG, the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and NMFS. A Technical Advisory
Committee, consisting of representatives of the operating
organizations, will provide scientific oversight for the program. The
RRMP anticipates a permit term of 5 years.
The permit will authorize incidental take of CCC steelhead that may
occur as a result of implementing the rescue, rearing, and research
activities as detailed in the RRMP. Incidental take and associated
effects to other ESA-listed steelhead and/or coho salmon that may occur
as part of the emergency incubation and rearing component of the RRMP
will be covered under existing 10(a)(1)(A) permits specific to
individual hatchery management plans and will not be included in this
permit.
NMFS anticipates a low level of incidental take of CCC steelhead
will occur over the term (as detailed in Appendix A of the RRMP). The
risk of such incidental take will be further avoided or minimized
through implementation of rescue and rearing performance standards
outlined in Table 1 of the RRMP. Steelhead eggs and carcasses will
provide food for multiple species inhabiting the Petaluma River system.
If rescued fish survive at higher rates than non-rescued fish, the
resulting adult production will increase steelhead abundance in the
watershed and increase the food supply for other species dependent on
this resource. There will be no ecological interactions as part of
emergency incubation and rearing as fish will only be reared in the
hatchery and then be transported back to source hatcheries where they
will be released to previously identified waters. The benefits to ESA-
listed steelhead and coho salmon as a result of implementing the RRMP
are expected to contribute to species recovery and outweigh any adverse
effects.
Upon approval of the RRMP, NMFS will issue a Section 10(a)(1)(A)
Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit to the Applicant. This
permit will authorize the Applicant to take CCC steelhead incidental to
the implementation of the RRMP. In addition to meeting other criteria,
actions to be performed under the permit must not jeopardize the
existence of federally listed species.
National Environmental Policy Act
Issuing an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit constitutes a Federal
action requiring NMFS to comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative
Order (NAO) 216-6A,). NMFS will evaluate the application with respect
to environmental consequences on the human environment and determine
the level of NEPA analysis needed for this action.
Public Comments Solicited
NMFS invites the public to comment, including any written data,
views, or arguments, on the permit application during a 30-day public
comment period beginning on the date of this notice. This notice is
provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)), 50
CFR 222.303. All comments and materials received, including names and
addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be
released to the public. We provide this notice in order to allow the
public, agencies, or other organizations to review and comment on these
documents.
Next Steps
NMFS will evaluate the application, associated documents, and
comments submitted to determine whether the application meets the
requirements of Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and Federal regulations.
The final permit decisions will not be made until after the end of the
30-day public comment period and after NMFS has fully considered all
relevant comments received. NMFS will also meet other legal
requirements prior to taking final action, including preparation of a
biological opinion. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the
Federal Register.
Dated: February 10, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03293 Filed 2-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 16, 2022.
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