[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 251 (Tuesday, December 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79674-79675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31330]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD057


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 application for a new scientific research 
and enhancement permit and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
for a scientific research and enhancement permit (permit 17781) 
relating to salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This 
document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit 
application for review and comment. The applications and related

[[Page 79675]]

documents may be viewed online at: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/sjrrestorationprogram/salmonreintroduction.htm. These documents are 
also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting 
NMFS by phone 916-930-3600.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate address (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific 
standard time on January 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this application should be submitted to 
the Assistant Regional Administrator, California Central Valley Area 
Office, West Coast Region, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-100, 
Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elif Fehm-Sullivan, Sacramento, CA, 
ph: 916-930-3723.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened CV spring-run 
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and California Central Valley 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Authority

    Scientific research and 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 
parts 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.

Application Received

    On December 5, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 
submitted an application and supporting documents to NMFS for a section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit (permit 17781). USFWS is requesting a 5-year permit 
to collect, transport, and release Central Valley (CV) spring-run 
Chinook salmon, for the purposes of reintroduction into the San Joaquin 
River. The USFWS, under the auspices of the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Program (SJRRP), is requesting over a period of five years: 
(1) The annual collection of juvenile CV spring-run Chinook salmon and 
eggs from the Feather River Fish Hatchery (FRFH) and their release into 
the San Joaquin River or Salmon Conservation and Research Facility 
(SCARF); (2) the collection of CV spring-run Chinook salmon and eggs 
produced or reared at either the interim facility or the permanent 
SCARF (from broodstock collected under ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit 
14868) and their release into the San Joaquin River.
    Up to 54,400 CV spring-run Chinook salmon juveniles or 80,000 CV 
spring-run Chinook salmon eggs originating from the FRFH will be 
collected annually for translocation. The translocation will follow 
protocols to minimize impacts to both fish and the existing 
environment. Quarantine requirements, as defined by California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) pathologists, will be followed 
for juveniles. If quarantine is required, juveniles may be transported 
to a quarantine facility at either the Silverado Fisheries Base 
(Silverado) located in Yountville, California or the Center for Aquatic 
Biology and Aquaculture (CABA) located in Davis, California. The 
collected juveniles will be trucked from the FRFH (or the quarantine 
facility) to translocation sites in the San Joaquin River. The 
collected eggs will be trucked to stream side incubators, where they 
will hatch and rear until they are large enough for marking and release 
into the San Joaquin River. Short-term confinement is required for 
sufficient imprinting of juveniles, which may occur either in or 
alongside the San Joaquin River or at SCARF. All fish will be adipose 
fin clipped, coded wire tagged, and may be Calcein marked prior to 
release. Starting in year two, approximately 200 yearlings are expected 
to be released, annually, for each of the first three brood years from 
the interim or permanent SCARF. Also in the fourth and fifth year of 
the permit, up to 100 adult broodstock and 50,000 eggs from the interim 
or permanent SCARF may be released to the river.
    The USFWS will collect CV spring run Chinook juveniles from the 
FRFH between January and March, unless the FRFH is able to segregate 
and hold juveniles on site prior to coded wire tagging procedures. In 
this case, the USFWS would collect juveniles as late as April for 
translocation. Any juveniles requiring transport directly to the San 
Joaquin River, or another facility (i.e. SCARF), would be moved between 
January and April. Juveniles will be released between October and 
April. Adult release will typically take place between April and 
October. The release of CV spring-run Chinook salmon will be monitored 
annually through rotary screw trapping, snorkel surveys and escapement 
surveys. California Central Valley steelhead may be incidentally 
captured during these activities.
    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 USFWS for the 
purpose of collecting ESA-listed spring-run Chinook salmon and carrying 
out the research and enhancement program.
    NMFS will publish a notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: December 24, 2013.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31330 Filed 12-30-13; 8:45 am]
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