Notice2023-25878
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 24, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) describing the potential effects of the continued operation of one hatchery program in the San Joaquin River Basin of California. The Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for the program was prepared and submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). All comments and other information received will become part of the public record and will be available for review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 225 (Friday, November 24, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 82324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25878]
[[Page 82324]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD547]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment;
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has prepared a draft
Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) describing the potential effects of the continued operation of
one hatchery program in the San Joaquin River Basin of California. The
Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for the program was
prepared and submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). All
comments and other information received will become part of the public
record and will be available for review.
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 December 26,
2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to
the NMFS California Central Valley Office, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-
100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58153d313431363f761b373437353a3936371836373939763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fbb69e929792959cd5b894979496999a9594bb95949a9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line of the email
comment the following identifier: Comments on SJRRP 10(a)(1)(A)
Enhancement Permit EA. When commenting on the draft environmental
assessment, please refer to the specific page number and line number of
the subject of your comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meiling Colombano, Sacramento, CA, at
phone number: (916) 930-3695, or via email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f7ba929e9b9e9990d9b4989b989a95969998b799989696d9909881"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="632e060a0f0a0d044d200c0f0c0e01020d0c230d0c02024d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally
produced and artificially propagated Central Valley spring-run (CVSR).
Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated California Central Valley (CCV).
Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): threatened, naturally
produced southern distinct population segment (sDPS).
Background
The USFWS and CDFW, under the auspices of the San Joaquin River
Restoration Program (SJRRP), are working to restore a CVSR Chinook
salmon population in the San Joaquin River. The reintroduced CVSR
Chinook salmon, taken from one or more out-of-basin stocks, are
designated as a non-essential, experimental population under Section
10(j) of the ESA, and have associated 4(d) take provisions (78 FR
79622; December 31, 2013). The SJRRP determined that a conservation
hatchery would be the preferred and primary strategy for reintroducing
CVSR Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River. The San Joaquin River
Salmon Conservation and Research Program (Conservation Program)
involves the operation of two facilities: the Salmon Conservation and
Research Facility (SCARF) currently under construction, with completion
expected in 2024, and an interim SCARF (Interim Facility) currently in
operation. The Conservation Program is operated as an Integrated-
Recovery hatchery program, intended to help meet fisheries management
objectives while achieving restoration and recovery goals.
This CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP submitted by the USFWS and CDFW,
pursuant to 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),
provides guidance on the management and operation of the SCARF and
Interim Facility in the San Joaquin River Basin. The HGMP and the
associated Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit application (20571-
2R) were made available for public review and comment on March 7, 2023
(88 FR 14147). On June 26, 2023, NMFS determined that the submitted
HGMP was sufficient for consideration under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
ESA. The draft environmental assessment available for comment evaluates
the potential effects of approving the CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP and
issuing Section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit 20571-2R to the USFWS and CDFW.
Authority
NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the
human environment. Therefore, NMFS is seeking public input on the scope
of the required NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable
alternatives and associated impacts of any alternatives.
Dated: November 17, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25878 Filed 11-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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