[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14147-14148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04667]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC827]


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 for one 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. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to renew their U.S. 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement 
permit (permit 20571-2R) for the reintroduction of Central Valley (CV) 
spring-run Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River for the San Joaquin 
River Restoration Program. Proposed activities within the permit 
application are expected to affect the threatened CV spring-run Chinook 
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), California Central Valley (CCV) 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
and the threatened Southern DPS (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon 
(Acipenser medirostris). The public is hereby notified the application 
for Permit 20571-2R 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 April 6, 
2023.

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 CV spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); 
Threatened CCV Distinct Population Segment of steelhead (Oncorhynchus 
mykiss); Threatened 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 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.

Permit 20571-2R

    USFWS applied to renew their Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific 
enhancement permit (Previous Federal Permit/Authorization: 20571) 
involving continued reintroduction of CV spring-run Chinook salmon to 
the San Joaquin River, from the Merced River confluence to Friant Dam 
and implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) 
in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area. The Restoration Area is 153 
miles (246 km) long, 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) the collection of various 
lifestages of CV spring-run Chinook salmon from source stocks for 
broodstock and release into the San Joaquin River; (2) the continued 
release of CV spring-run Chinook salmon into the San Joaquin River; (3) 
the collection of returning adults for broodstock or transport; (5) the 
use of various types of tags and marking for the purpose of tracking 
and monitoring; (6) surveys of holding adults; (7) spawning and carcass 
surveys; (8) artificial propagation, egg-incubation, juvenile rearing, 
and holding of spring-run Chinook Salmon; and, (9) installation of 
approved nets and traps to aid in population monitoring and production. 
Proposed monitoring activities include: fyke nets with wing walls and 
fish traps, 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 CV 
spring-run Chinook salmon, CCVsteelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon.
    The USFWS is requesting this permit renewal be issued for a period 
of 5 years, 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2028. Activities and their timing may 
vary depending upon conditions and SJRRP needs, but are anticipated to 
occur

[[Page 14148]]

annually as follows: eggs and juveniles will be collected from source 
stocks September through May, juveniles will be released into the San 
Joaquin River intermittently October through April, adult releases into 
the San Joaquin River will take place intermittently February through 
October, returning adults (for broodstock or transport) will be 
collected January through October, acoustic tracking surveys will occur 
year-round, snorkel surveys will occur January through October, redd 
grates and emergence trapping will occur September through March, 
transport and handling of collected individuals will occur year-round 
as needed, and spawning, egg-incubation, juvenile rearing, and holding 
will occur at the Interim Facility, Salmon Conservation and Research 
Facility, or Satellite Incubation and Rearing Facility year-round.
    The specific take numbers are outlined in the permit application 
but include both lethal and non-lethal take of CV spring-run Chinook 
salmon, non-lethal take of CCV steelhead, and non-lethal take of sDPS 
of green sturgeon.
    This proposed scientific enhancement effort is expected to provide 
valuable information for the most southern extent of CV spring-run 
Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and the sDPS of green sturgeon to the 
SJRRP and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's 
comprehensive monitoring plan for steelhead in the Central Valley, 
respectively. The proposed monitoring by USFWS is consistent with 
recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS' Recovery Plan for 
Central Valley salmonids and the sDPS of green sturgeon. See the 
application for Permit 20571-2R for greater details on the scientific 
enhancement proposal and related methodology.

    Dated: March 2, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04667 Filed 3-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P