[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73288-73290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26028]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC568]


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 one permit application for enhancement and 
monitoring purposes, including an associated Hatchery and Genetic 
Management Plan (HGMP), and notice of availability of a draft 
environmental assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce receipt of a permit application (26277) to 
enhance the propagation and survival of species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, from the United 
States Corps of Engineers (USACE) and California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (CDFW). The USACE and CDFW are requesting for the next 10 
years, hatchery and monitoring activities associated with the Russian 
River Steelhead Program (RRSP). As part of this permit application, the 
USACE and CDFW have submitted an HGMP as an attachment to the 
application. This notice advises the public that the permit application 
and associated HGMP are available for review and comment, prior to a 
determination by NMFS on the issuance of the permit. This document

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serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP and 
associated draft EA that analyzes two alternatives for comment, prior 
to a decision by NMFS whether to approve the proposed hatchery program. 
The permit application, and attached HGMP, may be viewed online at: 
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application and 
associated draft EA must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on 
December 29, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application and associated draft EA 
should be submitted to the California Coastal Office, NMFS, 777 Sonoma 
Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, California 95404. Comments may also be 
submitted via fax to 707-578-3435, or by email to [email protected] 
(include the permit number in the subject line of the fax or email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Coey, Santa Rosa, California 
(phone: 707-575-6090; Fax: 707-578-3435; [email protected]). Permit 
application instructions are available from the address above, or 
online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
     Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened Central 
California Coast (CCC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS);
     Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): endangered CCC 
Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU);
     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened 
California Coastal (CC) ESU.
    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; (4) whether the permit would further a bona fide 
and necessary or desirable scientific purpose or enhance the 
propagation or survival of the endangered species, taking into account 
the benefits anticipated to be derived on behalf of the endangered 
species; and additional issuance criteria (as listed at 50 CFR Sec.  
222.308(c)(5-12)). The authority to take listed species is subject to 
conditions set forth in the permit.
    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 NMFS.

Permit 26277

    The USACE and CDFW have applied for an enhancement permit under 
Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA for a period of 10 years that would 
allow take, associated with activities conducted through the Russian 
River Steelhead Program (RRSP), of multiple life stages of CCC 
steelhead. The permit would authorize these activities described in the 
permit application, which is accompanied by an HGMP. The HGMP describes 
hatchery and monitoring activities conducted through the RRSP. Hatchery 
activities included in this permit application would result in take of 
only CCC steelhead. Hatchery activities would be permitted pursuant to 
the final HGMP. Monitoring, broodstock collection, and in-river 
research activities, also included in the application, could result in 
take of CCC steelhead, CCC coho salmon, and CC Chinook salmon.
    Under permit application 26277, the USACE and CDFW propose to rear 
hatchery steelhead to produce fish for harvest in sport fisheries in 
the Russian River as part of requirements to ``mitigate'' for the loss 
of natural steelhead production due to the construction of Warm Springs 
and Coyote Valley dams by the USACE. Proposed take activities for CCC 
steelhead include collecting broodstock; conducting routine hatchery 
activities including artificial propagation, rearing, tissue sampling, 
and marking; and transporting and releasing of steelhead smolts (1-
year-old fish) into the Russian River and Dry Creek. In addition, 
Permit 26277 includes collection of natural origin juveniles, 
monitoring and in-river research activities, which could involve take 
of CCC coho salmon, CC Chinook salmon, and CCC steelhead.
    Until HGMP performance objectives are met, the RRSP will release a 
total of 400,000 smolts. Warm Springs Hatchery (WSH) and Coyote Valley 
Fish Facility (CVFF) will each release 200,000 juveniles per year. The 
percent of natural origin broodstock target for WSH is 0.50 requiring a 
total of 90 natural origin returns and 315 hatchery origin returns. The 
percent of natural origin broodstock target for CVFF is 0.30 requiring 
54 natural origin returns and 351 hatchery origin returns. After 
performance targets are met, and production is increased to 300,000 at 
Coyote Valley (totaling 500,000 between the two facilities), then an 
additional 45 natural origin returns may need to be collected and used 
as broodstock.
    The hatchery program releases up to 500,000 yearling steelhead 
smolts at the Warm Springs and Coyote Valley facilities. Of the 500,000 
smolts released, a maximum of 200,000 may be released at WSH and up to 
300,000 at CVFF as long as HGMP performance metrics are achieved.
    A maximum of 711 adult steelhead are required to achieve the 
juvenile production target of 500,000 yearling smolts.\1\ Hatchery 
operations include spawning of adult fish that enter the facilities and 
natural origin spawners that are collected at traps or other methods. 
Operations will also include egg incubation, and rearing of juvenile 
fish and release of smolts per the HGMP.
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    \1\ The actual number of adults used each year will be dependent 
on juvenile release number, female fecundity, the ability to capture 
natural origin return adults for broodstock, and pre-spawn 
mortality.
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    Monitoring activities would be focused on achieving program 
performance metrics in the hatchery and in the natural environment, and 
for management of Russian River recreational sport fisheries. Hatchery 
and environmental monitoring will include annual survey estimates of 
the percent of hatchery fish in natural spawning areas within large 
sub-watershed populations in the Russian River, as well as genetic 
sampling of juveniles. Associated sport angling harvest monitoring will 
be developed to improve estimates of catch, retention, and stray rates 
from each facility. Based on the results of these monitoring 
activities, the hatchery program will be modified accordingly to reduce 
and/or minimize impacts to natural populations via recommendations of 
the technical advisory committee, which includes CDFW, USACE, and NMFS. 
For a more detailed discussion of the proposed activities, please see 
the permit application package.

Public Comments Solicited

    NMFS invites the public to comment on the permit application, the 
associated HGMP, and the draft EA (including the submitted 
alternatives, information, analyses and summaries) during a 30-day 
public comment period beginning on the date of this notice. The draft 
EA is available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-region-national-environmental-policy-act-documents. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA 
(16

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U.S.C. 1529(c)). All comments and materials received, including names 
and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be 
released to the public. We provide this notice in order to allow the 
public, agencies, or other organizations to review and comment on these 
documents.

Next Steps

    NMFS will evaluate the applications, associated documents, and 
comments submitted to determine whether the applications meet the 
requirements of Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and Federal regulations. 
The final permit decisions will not be made until after the end of the 
30-day public comment period and after NMFS has fully considered all 
relevant comments received. NMFS will publish notice of its final 
action in the Federal Register.
    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 222).

    Dated: November 23, 2022.
Celeste Stout,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-26028 Filed 11-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P