[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43629-43630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16986]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB289]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, Issuance of 14 Enhancement of Survival Permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued 14 enhancement of 
survival permits (Permit Numbers 23271, 23276, 23278, 23279, 23280, 
23284, 23285, 23286, 23287, 23288, 23289, 23290, 23291, 23434) for 
enhancement and monitoring purposes associated with the Template Safe 
Harbor Agreement for Conservation of Coho Salmon in the Shasta River 
(Agreement) and associated Site Plans Agreements developed for the 
enrolled properties.

ADDRESSES: The Agreement, Site Plan Agreements, permits, and supporting 
documents are available upon written request or by appointment: 
California Coastal Office, NMFS WCR, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, 
California 95521, ph: 707-825-5171, fax: 707-825-4840.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Simondet, Arcata, California (ph: 
707-825-5171, email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The issuance of permits under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (ESA)(16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) is based on a finding 
that such permits: (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2) would not 
operate to the disadvantage of the ESA-listed species which are the 
subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed 
species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits are 
issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS 
regulations (50 CFR parts 222-226) governing listed marine and 
anadromous species.

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species is covered in this notice:
    Threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho 
salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; covered species).

Permits Issued

    Twelve permittees have been issued enhancement of survival permits 
upon entry into the Agreement, which was developed by NMFS, California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Shasta Watershed 
Conservation Group (SWCG), and the permittees (Table 1). The 12 
permittees (Table 1) each developed site plan agreements for their 
respective properties (i.e., Enrolled Properties) that describe 
management activities that will be implemented, including Beneficial 
Management Activities (BMAs), as defined in the Agreement. The Site 
Plan Agreements, Agreement, and enhancement of survival permits are 
expected to promote the recovery of the covered species on enrolled 
properties within the Shasta River watershed in the Agreement area (see 
Figure 1 in the Agreement). The Shasta River is a tributary to the 
Klamath River and is in Siskiyou County, California. The duration of 
the Agreement and the associated enhancement of survival permits is 20 
years.

            Table 1--Permittee, Permit Number, and Enrolled Properties Affiliated With the Agreement
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               Permittee                 Permit number         Enrolled property             Expiration date
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Outpost North Annex...................           23271  Belcampo-North Annex Property,  February 24, 2041.
                                                         8030 Siskiyou Blvd., Grenada,
                                                         CA 96038.
California Department of Fish and                23276  Big Springs Ranch Wildlife      February 25, 2041.
 Wildlife.                                               Area, 41[deg] 35'44.76 N
                                                         122[deg]27' 31.52 W.
Cardoza Ranch.........................           23278  Cardoza Ranch, 3710 East Louie  February 24, 2041.
                                                         Road, Montague, CA 96064.

[[Page 43630]]

 
Edson Foulke Ditch Company............           23279  Edson-Foulke Point of           February 24, 2041
                                                         Diversion, 41[deg] 43'52.6 N
                                                         122[deg]47'46.8 W.
Grenada Irrigation District...........           23280  Grenada Irrigation District...  February 24, 2041.
                                                        Point of Diversion 41[deg] 38'
                                                         11.56' N 122[deg] 29' 22.88 W.
2019 Lowell L. Novy Revocable Trust...           23284  Grenada-Novy Ranch, Gazelle--   February 24, 2041.
                                                         19931 Old Hwy 99 S, Gazelle,
                                                         CA 96034, Grenada--2426
                                                         County Hwy A-12, Grenada, CA
                                                         96034.
Hidden Valley Ranch...................           23285  Hidden Valley Ranch, 13521 Big  February 24, 2041.
                                                         Springs Road, Montague, CA
                                                         96064.
Emmerson Investments, Inc.............           23286  Hole-in-the-Ground Ranch,       February 24, 2041.
                                                         11825 Big Springs Road,
                                                         Montague, CA 96064.
Montague Water Conservation District..           23287  Montague Water Conservation     February 24, 2041.
                                                         District, N. 52[deg], 43' E.,
                                                         approximately 2601 feet from
                                                         SW corner of Section 25,
                                                         T43N, R5W, MDB&M, being
                                                         within the NE\1/4\ of SW\1/4\
                                                         of said Section 25.
Outpost Mole Richardson...............           23288  Parks Creek Ranch, 25801 Old    February 24, 2041.
                                                         Hwy 99, Weed, CA 96094.
Rice Livestock Company................           23289  Rice Livestock Company, 1730    February 24, 2041.
                                                         County Highway A12, Montague,
                                                         CA.
Emmerson Investments, Inc.............           23290  Seldom Seen Ranch, 41[deg] 54'  February 24, 2041.
                                                         63.2 N 122[deg] 38' 35.7 W.
Emmerson Investments, Inc.............           23291  Shasta Springs Ranch, 21305     February 25, 2041.
                                                         Slough Road, Weed, CA 96094.
NB Ranches, Inc.......................           23434  Nicoletti Ranch, 1824 DeSouza   February 24, 2041.
                                                         Lane, Montague, CA and 2238
                                                         DeSouza Lane, Montague, CA.
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    The enhancement of survival permits authorize the incidental taking 
of the covered species associated with routine agricultural activities, 
implementation of BMAs, and the potential future return of the enrolled 
property to the baseline or elevated baseline conditions identified in 
the respective Site Plan Agreement. Under the enhancement of survival 
permits, Site Plan Agreements, and Agreement, the permittees specify 
the restoration and/or enhancement, and management activities to be 
carried out on the enrolled properties and a timetable for implementing 
those activities. NMFS prepared a biological opinion under section 
7(a)(2) of the ESA to determine whether NMFS' actions of entering into 
the Agreement and the 14 associated Site Plan Agreements, and issuing 
the 14 section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permits, would 
result in jeopardy to the covered species or destroy or adversely 
modify their designated critical habitat. NMFS determined that these 
actions would not result in jeopardy or destruction or adverse 
modification of designated critical habitat. NMFS also determined that 
the Agreement and Site Plan Agreements will result in a net 
conservation benefit for the covered species and meet all required 
standards of NMFS' Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717; June 17, 1999). The 
Agreement and Site Plan Agreements specify baseline or elevated 
baseline conditions for the enrolled properties and include 
restoration/enhancement activities that will be completed by the 
permittee to achieve the specified conditions. The Agreement also 
contains a monitoring component and an Adaptive Management Program that 
requires the permittees to ensure compliance with the terms and 
conditions of the Agreement, and to ensure that the baseline or 
elevated baseline conditions of habitat for the covered species occur 
on the enrolled properties. Results of the monitoring efforts will be 
provided to NMFS by the permittees in annual reports for the duration 
of the 20-year permit term. In addition to reviewing annual reports 
submitted by SWCG, NMFS, and CDFW will conduct a five-year review to 
assess the effectiveness of the Agreement.
    At the end of the permit term and Agreement, the enhancement of 
survival permits authorize the permittees to incidentally take covered 
species associated with a return to baseline or elevated baseline 
conditions if desired and in compliance with the terms and conditions 
of the permits.

    Dated: August 3, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16986 Filed 8-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P