[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39807-39808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14204]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC148]


Threatened Species; Take of Steelhead; Take of Green Sturgeon

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application; to renew a scientific 
enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS received an application from 
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to renew their U.S. 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement 
permit (permit 16608-3R) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program 
Steelhead Monitoring. Proposed activities within the permit application 
are expected to affect the threatened California Central Valley (CCV) 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
and the threatened Southern DPS of North American green sturgeon 
(Acipenser medirostris). The public is hereby notified the application 
for Permit 16608-3R is available for review and comment before NMFS 
either approves or disapproves the application.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate email address (see ADDRESSES) on or before August 4, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application should be 
submitted to NMFS' Section 10(a)1(A) steelhead permit coordinator for 
the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, Ms. Hilary Glenn, via email 
([email protected]). The permit application is available for review 
online at the Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species website: 
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hilary Glenn (email: 
[email protected]; phone: 916-200-8211).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Threatened California Central Valley Distinct Population Segment of 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Threatened Southern Distinct 
Population Segment (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser 
medirostris).

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 222-
227). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such permits (1) are 
applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of 
the 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.
    This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and any comment 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of Section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions will not be made until after the end of

[[Page 39808]]

the 30-day comment period and consideration of any comment submitted 
therein. NMFS will publish notice of the final action on the subject 
permit application in the Federal Register.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the application listed in 
this notice should provide the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such a hearing is 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA.
    All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summary 
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of 
NMFS.

Permit Application Received

Permit 16608-3R
    Reclamation applied to renew their Section 10(a)1(A) scientific 
enhancement permit (Previous Federal Permit/Authorization: 16608-2R) 
involving continued implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration 
Program (SJRRP) Steelhead Monitoring Plan (SMP) in the San Joaquin 
River Restoration Area. The Restoration Area is 153 miles long (246.23 
km), from Friant Dam downstream to the San Joaquin River's confluence 
with the Merced River. This stretch of river crosses the California 
counties of Fresno, Madera and Merced. The primary objectives of this 
effort involve: (1) monitor for adult CCV steelhead in the wetted 
sections of the San Joaquin River downstream of Mendota Dam (or lower, 
depending on passage conditions) to the Merced River confluence, (2) 
relocate CCV steelhead to more suitable habitat downstream of the 
Merced River confluence, (3) determining the distribution, abundance, 
size, and age structures of both CCV steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon, 
and (4) documenting changes in CCV steelhead abundance and distribution 
in response to fluctuating water conditions. Proposed monitoring 
activities include: capture (raft-mounted electrofisher), fyke nets 
with wing walls and fish traps, steelhead-specific trammel nets, hand 
seins, handling (conducting length measurements, gender identification, 
tissue and scale collection, assessment of condition, checking for the 
presence of tags), and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging of 
fish inclusive of steelhead and green sturgeon. Captured CCV steelhead 
will be transported by tanker truck and released in the San Joaquin 
River downstream of the Merced River confluence. Recaptured CCV 
steelhead will be identified by the presence of a PIT tag.
    Field activities for the proposed monitoring effort will occur 
December 1 through April 30 over the next 5 years (start: 12/01/2022 
End: 12/31/2027). The take Reclamation is requesting for this 5-year 
effort is as follows by each take-action category: (1) non-lethal 
(seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects due to collecting, 
sampling, and transport of live threatened CCV steelhead (natural 
origin) and non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects 
to threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin, (2) non-lethal (six 
adults) and no lethal effects due to capture, handling, and release of 
live threatened green sturgeon, and (3) non-lethal effects to 
threatened CCV steelhead of natural origin (ten adults) and threatened 
CCV steelhead of hatchery origin (ten adults), and threatened sDPS 
green sturgeon (three adults) due to observations and harassment at 
weirs, fish ladders, and dams where no trapping occurs. The potential 
unintentional lethal take resulting from the proposed scientific 
enhancement activities is up to four adult CCV steelhead (two natural 
origin; two hatchery origin). Overall, no intentional lethal take of 
CCV steelhead is proposed or expected as a result of these scientific 
enhancement activities.
    This proposed scientific enhancement effort is expected to provide 
valuable information on sDPS green sturgeon and the most southern 
extent of CCV steelhead to the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife's comprehensive monitoring plan for steelhead in the Central 
Valley. The proposed monitoring by Reclamation is consistent with 
recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS' Recovery Plan for CCV 
steelhead. See the application for Permit 16608-3R for greater details 
on the scientific enhancement proposal and related methodology.

    Dated: June 28, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-14204 Filed 7-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P