[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25954-25955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10477]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC653


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 and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
for a direct take permit, in the form of a Hatchery and Genetic 
Management Plan (HGMP), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (ESA). The application is for a hatchery program in Idaho, 
for the propagation of sockeye salmon. The proposed permit would be 
issued for a period of 10 years. This document serves to notify the 
public of the availability of the permit application for public review, 
comment, and submission of written data, views, arguments, or other 
relevant information. This document also serves to notify the public of 
NMFS' intent to adopt an existing environmental assessment that 
addresses the proposed Snake River sockeye salmon hatchery program. All 
comments and other information received will become part of the public 
record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of 
the ESA.

DATES: Comments and other submissions must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific time on June 3, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the application and the proposed 
adoption of the associated environmental assessment should be sent to 
Craig Busack, National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Management 
Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. 
Comments may also be submitted by email to: [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of the email comment the following 
identifier: Comments on Snake River sockeye salmon hatchery plan. 
Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737. The 
permit application and associated documents are available on the 
Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov. Requests for copies of the permit 
application and associated documents may also be directed to the 
National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Management Division, 1201 
N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments received 
will also be available for public inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours by calling (503) 230-5418.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Busack at (503) 230-5412 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): endangered, naturally produced 
and artificially propagated Snake River.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the 
``taking'' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term 
``take'' is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to

[[Page 25955]]

engage in any such conduct. NMFS may issue permits to take listed 
species for any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific 
purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected 
species, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. NMFS regulations 
governing permits for threatened and endangered species are promulgated 
at 50 CFR 222.307.
    On May 15, 2012, NMFS received an application, including an HGMP, 
from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, a section 10(a)(1)(A) 
research/enhancement permit for continued operation of the Redfish Lake 
Sockeye Salmon Captive Propagation program.
    The proposed program would increase the abundance of the listed 
species through artificial propagation and to serve as a safety net to 
prevent extinction of the Snake River Sockeye Salmon Evolutionarily 
Significant Unit (ESU), which is listed as endangered under the ESA. 
The proposed program would maintain the Snake River sockeye salmon 
broodstock in captivity in several locations, largely at the 
Springfield Hatchery in eastern Idaho, collect and spawn adult sockeye 
salmon returning to the Snake River basin, rear juveniles, and release 
eggs, juveniles, and adult fish into upper Salmon River basin lakes. 
The proposed program would include best management practices to 
minimize adverse effects on the ESU. Best management practices would 
include the use of prudent fish husbandry practices and standard 
hatchery protocols to ensure health and survival of the program fish, 
selection of eggs and juveniles in a manner designed to represent to 
the greatest extent possible the entire genetic spectrum of the 
founding population, and the conduct of spawning ground surveys to 
estimate natural spawning escapement and to determine the effects of 
captive-reared fish on spawner distribution and behavior. An 
environmental assessment was prepared pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by the Bonneville Power Administration 
(BPA) for its funding of the Snake River sockeye salmon hatchery 
program, including modifications to the Springfield Hatchery. Because 
the BPA action is substantially the same as the actions addressed by 
the proposed ESA permit, because they are both administrative actions 
that allow IDFG to operate the Snake River sockeye salmon hatchery 
program consistent with the submitted HGMP and the Springfield Sockeye 
Hatchery Master Plan, NMFS proposes to adopt the BPA environmental 
assessment to comply with the NEPA.

Authority

    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined 
that the requirements are met, a permit will be issued to IDFG for the 
purpose of carrying out the hatchery program. NMFS will publish a 
record of its final action in the Federal Register.
    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. NMFS expects to take action on an application for a 
permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. Because NMFS' proposed 
action is closely linked to the BPA funding action already considered 
under NEPA, to reduce the potential for substantial redundancy and 
duplication of effort in complying with NEPA, NMFS is proposing to 
adopt the BPA environmental assessment for the proposed issuance of the 
permit. Therefore, NMFS is also seeking public input on its proposed 
adoption.

    Dated: April 30, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-10477 Filed 5-2-13; 8:45 am]
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