Notice2022-26028
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 29, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
We, NMFS, announce receipt of a permit application (26277) to enhance the propagation and survival of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, from the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The USACE and CDFW are requesting for the next 10 years, hatchery and monitoring activities associated with the Russian River Steelhead Program (RRSP). As part of this permit application, the USACE and CDFW have submitted an HGMP as an attachment to the application. This notice advises the public that the permit application and associated HGMP are available for review and comment, prior to a determination by NMFS on the issuance of the permit. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP and associated draft EA that analyzes two alternatives for comment, prior to a decision by NMFS whether to approve the proposed hatchery program. The permit application, and attached HGMP, may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73288-73290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26028]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC568]
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 one permit application for enhancement and
monitoring purposes, including an associated Hatchery and Genetic
Management Plan (HGMP), and notice of availability of a draft
environmental assessment (EA).
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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce receipt of a permit application (26277) to
enhance the propagation and survival of species listed under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, from the United
States Corps of Engineers (USACE) and California Department of Fish and
Wildlife (CDFW). The USACE and CDFW are requesting for the next 10
years, hatchery and monitoring activities associated with the Russian
River Steelhead Program (RRSP). As part of this permit application, the
USACE and CDFW have submitted an HGMP as an attachment to the
application. This notice advises the public that the permit application
and associated HGMP are available for review and comment, prior to a
determination by NMFS on the issuance of the permit. This document
[[Page 73289]]
serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP and
associated draft EA that analyzes two alternatives for comment, prior
to a decision by NMFS whether to approve the proposed hatchery program.
The permit application, and attached HGMP, may be viewed online at:
<a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm</a>.
DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application and
associated draft EA must be received at the appropriate address or fax
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on
December 29, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application and associated draft EA
should be submitted to the California Coastal Office, NMFS, 777 Sonoma
Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, California 95404. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to 707-578-3435, or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d1f121f531e1218043d13121c1c531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dbb9b4b9f5b8b4bea29bb5b4babaf5bcb4ad">[email protected]</span></a>
(include the permit number in the subject line of the fax or email).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Coey, Santa Rosa, California
(phone: 707-575-6090; Fax: 707-578-3435; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3c5e535e125f5359457c52535d5d125b534a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="51333e337f323e3428113f3e30307f363e27">[email protected]</span></a>). Permit
application instructions are available from the address above, or
online at <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
The following listed species are covered in this notice:
<bullet> Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened Central
California Coast (CCC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS);
<bullet> Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): endangered CCC
Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU);
<bullet> Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened
California Coastal (CC) ESU.
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; (4) whether the permit 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 permit.
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 NMFS.
Permit 26277
The USACE and CDFW have applied for an enhancement permit under
Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA for a period of 10 years that would
allow take, associated with activities conducted through the Russian
River Steelhead Program (RRSP), of multiple life stages of CCC
steelhead. The permit would authorize these activities described in the
permit application, which is accompanied by an HGMP. The HGMP describes
hatchery and monitoring activities conducted through the RRSP. Hatchery
activities included in this permit application would result in take of
only CCC steelhead. Hatchery activities would be permitted pursuant to
the final HGMP. Monitoring, broodstock collection, and in-river
research activities, also included in the application, could result in
take of CCC steelhead, CCC coho salmon, and CC Chinook salmon.
Under permit application 26277, the USACE and CDFW propose to rear
hatchery steelhead to produce fish for harvest in sport fisheries in
the Russian River as part of requirements to ``mitigate'' for the loss
of natural steelhead production due to the construction of Warm Springs
and Coyote Valley dams by the USACE. Proposed take activities for CCC
steelhead include collecting broodstock; conducting routine hatchery
activities including artificial propagation, rearing, tissue sampling,
and marking; and transporting and releasing of steelhead smolts (1-
year-old fish) into the Russian River and Dry Creek. In addition,
Permit 26277 includes collection of natural origin juveniles,
monitoring and in-river research activities, which could involve take
of CCC coho salmon, CC Chinook salmon, and CCC steelhead.
Until HGMP performance objectives are met, the RRSP will release a
total of 400,000 smolts. Warm Springs Hatchery (WSH) and Coyote Valley
Fish Facility (CVFF) will each release 200,000 juveniles per year. The
percent of natural origin broodstock target for WSH is 0.50 requiring a
total of 90 natural origin returns and 315 hatchery origin returns. The
percent of natural origin broodstock target for CVFF is 0.30 requiring
54 natural origin returns and 351 hatchery origin returns. After
performance targets are met, and production is increased to 300,000 at
Coyote Valley (totaling 500,000 between the two facilities), then an
additional 45 natural origin returns may need to be collected and used
as broodstock.
The hatchery program releases up to 500,000 yearling steelhead
smolts at the Warm Springs and Coyote Valley facilities. Of the 500,000
smolts released, a maximum of 200,000 may be released at WSH and up to
300,000 at CVFF as long as HGMP performance metrics are achieved.
A maximum of 711 adult steelhead are required to achieve the
juvenile production target of 500,000 yearling smolts.\1\ Hatchery
operations include spawning of adult fish that enter the facilities and
natural origin spawners that are collected at traps or other methods.
Operations will also include egg incubation, and rearing of juvenile
fish and release of smolts per the HGMP.
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\1\ The actual number of adults used each year will be dependent
on juvenile release number, female fecundity, the ability to capture
natural origin return adults for broodstock, and pre-spawn
mortality.
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Monitoring activities would be focused on achieving program
performance metrics in the hatchery and in the natural environment, and
for management of Russian River recreational sport fisheries. Hatchery
and environmental monitoring will include annual survey estimates of
the percent of hatchery fish in natural spawning areas within large
sub-watershed populations in the Russian River, as well as genetic
sampling of juveniles. Associated sport angling harvest monitoring will
be developed to improve estimates of catch, retention, and stray rates
from each facility. Based on the results of these monitoring
activities, the hatchery program will be modified accordingly to reduce
and/or minimize impacts to natural populations via recommendations of
the technical advisory committee, which includes CDFW, USACE, and NMFS.
For a more detailed discussion of the proposed activities, please see
the permit application package.
Public Comments Solicited
NMFS invites the public to comment on the permit application, the
associated HGMP, and the draft EA (including the submitted
alternatives, information, analyses and summaries) during a 30-day
public comment period beginning on the date of this notice. The draft
EA is available online at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-region-national-environmental-policy-act-documents">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-region-national-environmental-policy-act-documents</a>. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA
(16
[[Page 73290]]
U.S.C. 1529(c)). 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 applications, associated documents, and
comments submitted to determine whether the applications meet 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 publish notice of its final
action in the Federal Register.
Authority: Enhancement 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).
Dated: November 23, 2022.
Celeste Stout,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-26028 Filed 11-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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