[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 37286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB232]


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.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Final Environmental Assessment 
(EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Section 
(10)(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit have been issued for the Russian River 
Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program Hatchery Genetic Management Plan 
(HGMP). The program propagates endangered coho salmon of the Central 
California Coast (CCC) Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This notice 
is being provided for information purposes only, and as such, there is 
no public comment period associated with this notice.

ADDRESSES: The Final EA, FONSI, Section (10)(a)(1)(A) enhancement 
permit and supporting documents are available by visiting the NMFS 
website (www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-region-national-environmental-policy-act-documents).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Coey at: 707-575-6090 or via 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Endangered Species Act--Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Endangered Central 
California Coast (CCC) ESU.
     Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Threatened CCC Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS).
     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened 
California Coastal (CC) ESU.

Background

    On September 30, 2019, the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (CDFW) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
submitted an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit 
application (Permit Application 21501) along with a proposed HGMP for 
the artificial propagation of individuals in the CCC coho salmon ESU at 
the Don Clausen Fish Hatchery (DCFH). Since 2017, NMFS' West Coast 
Region's California Coastal Office has provided technical assistance to 
the Corps and CDFW on the development of the HGMP. The Proposed Action, 
as described in the HGMP, involves the operation of a hatchery program 
at DCFH, which produces CCC coho salmon.
    The Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (RRCSCBP) 
is a conservation program intended to prevent extirpation and establish 
self-sustaining populations of CCC coho salmon in Sonoma, Marin, and 
Mendocino counties, where populations are currently at a high-risk of 
extinction. The RRCSCBP will continue to collect CCC coho for 
broodstock, conduct routine hatchery activities including broodstock 
collection, egg incubation, rearing, tissue sampling, marking, and 
release of 500,000 juveniles and 700 adult coho salmon into rivers and 
streams in Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties associated with the 
northern portion of the CCC ESU. Measures will be applied in the 
hatchery program to reduce the risk of incidental adverse genetic, 
ecological, and demographic effects on natural-origin CCC steelhead, CC 
Chinook salmon, and CCC coho salmon populations.
    From November 26, 2018 to December 26, 2018, the HGMP and draft EA 
were available for public review and comment (83 FR 60405; November 26, 
2018). During the public comment period, NMFS received no comments. 
NMFS has determined that there are no significant impacts associated 
with the project and issued a FONSI for the program on December 21, 
2020. The ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit issued January 13, 2021, will 
allow the Corps to perform broodstock collection, propagation, rearing, 
release, and monitoring activities throughout Sonoma, Marin, and 
Mendocino counties, in accordance with the HGMP for 10 years (expiring 
December 31, 2028).

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 parts 222-227). 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. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set 
forth in the permit.

    Dated: July 12, 2021.
Margaret Miller,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15075 Filed 7-14-21; 8:45 am]
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