[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 26725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09599]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB995]


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 an Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 10 
permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS is issuing an ESA section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit for a trap and haul operation at Sunset Falls on the 
Skykomish River in Washington State. The permit addresses a program 
operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). 
Before issuing the permit, NMFS solicited public comments on the permit 
application.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emi Melton, at phone number: (503) 
736-4739, or via email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Puget Sound.
    Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Puget Sound.

Discussion of the Biological Analysis Underlying Permit Issuance

    NMFS has issued the ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit for operation of 
the Sunset Falls trap and haul program, which is operated by WDFW since 
the late 1950s to increase habitat available to various species of 
salmon, steelhead, and trout. The program traps and hauls ESA-listed 
salmon and steelhead and is consistent with the recovery plans for each 
species.
    NMFS has analyzed the effects of the trap and haul program on 
salmon and steelhead listed under the ESA and has concluded that the 
program would not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and 
recovery of ESA-listed species. Authorization of the activities depends 
upon implementation of all of the monitoring, evaluation, reporting 
tasks or assignments, and enforcement activities included in the 
permit.

Summary of Comments Received

    NMFS made the ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit application available 
for public review and comment on December 22, 2020 (85 FR 83519), as 
required by the ESA. No substantive comments were received specific to 
the application. However, we received several general comments in 
support of the program.
    NMFS published a notice of availability for public review and 
comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) on February 5, 2021 
(86 FR 8342), in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The DEA was available 
for public review and comment for 30 days, and our responses to the 
comments are addressed in our Final Environmental Assessment (FEA). 
NMFS has determined that there are no significant impacts associated 
with the project and issued a FONSI for the program on July 2, 2021.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 50 CFR subpart B, Sec.  223.201-202 
also issued under 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 5503(d) for 50 CFR 
223.206(d)(9).

    Dated: April 29, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-09599 Filed 5-4-22; 8:45 am]
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