[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18123-18124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06279]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC865]


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; permit application for enhancement and 
monitoring purposes.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce receipt of a permit application (15755-2M) 
to enhance the propagation and survival of species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, from the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Under permit application 15755-
2M, CDFW is requesting to implement, for the next 8 years, hatchery and 
monitoring activities associated with the Fall Creek Hatchery coho 
salmon program. This Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) is an 
update to the 2014 HGMP developed for the coho salmon hatchery program 
at Iron Gate Hatchery that was submitted by CDFW and PacifiCorp (Permit 
15755). Under permit application 15755-2M CDFW proposes to continue to 
collect Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon 
for hatchery purposes. 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.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on April 26, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be submitted to 
Jeff Abrams, Klamath Branch Fisheries Biologist, NMFS Northern 
California Office, 1655 Heindon Rd, Arcata, California 95521. Comments 
may also be submitted via fax (707) 825-4840, or by email to 
[email protected] (include the permit number in the subject line of 
the fax or email). The permit application and attached HGMP may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Abrams, Arcata, CA (ph.: (707) 
825-5186; Fax: (707) 825-4840; email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following ESA-listed species are covered in this notice:
    Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern.

[[Page 18124]]

California Coast (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit

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 part 222). 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 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 the application included 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 NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries.

Permit Application Received

Permit 15755-2M

    The CDFW is applying for ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit 15755-2M 
the for the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon HGMP for a period of 8 
years following removal of the mainstem Klamath River dams in 2024. 
CDFW and PacifiCorp anticipated that the 2014 HGMP would cover hatchery 
operations until mainstem Klamath River dams of the Klamath 
Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project 
Nos. 14803-001, 2082-063) were removed. Dam removal is expected to 
occur in 2024. By that time, the existing Iron Gate Hatchery will cease 
operations and a new hatchery will be constructed at Fall Creek 
upstream of the current hatchery facility. To ensure that hatchery 
operations continue without interruption in the year of dam removal, 
the Fall Creek Hatchery will be operational in the months prior to dam 
removal.
    The HGMP covers activities related to the artificial production of 
coho salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery during the transition of the 
hatchery coho salmon program from Iron Gate Hatchery, and for 8 years 
after dam removal. NMFS will use the information in this HGMP to 
evaluate hatchery impacts on salmon listed under the ESA. Hatchery 
activities would be permitted pursuant to the final HGMP, which is 
attached to the permit application. Monitoring and in-river research 
activities, also included in the application, could result in take of 
SONCC coho salmon. The primary goal of an HGMP is to devise 
biologically based hatchery management strategies that ensure the 
conservation and recovery of salmon and steelhead species. Through 
implementation of this HGMP, and compliance with the ESA section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit, the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program will 
operate to conserve ESA listed SONCC coho salmon.
    The Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program will culture coho 
salmon of the Upper Klamath Population Unit. This unit is part of the 
SONCC Evolutionarily Significant Unit that is listed as Threatened 
under ESA. The HGMP incorporates principles of hatchery operations 
developed by the Hatchery Scientific Review Groups of the Columbia 
River and California. The primary purpose of the Fall Creek Hatchery 
coho salmon program is to protect the genetic resources of the Upper 
Klamath Population Unit and reduce extinction risks prior to and eight 
years after the removal of the four Klamath River dams. The purpose 
would be achieved by integrating natural origin adults into broodstock 
and using a genetically based spawning matrix to reduce inbreeding. The 
natural origin fish required to integrate the Fall Creek Hatchery coho 
salmon program will be obtained from Bogus Creek, the Iron Gate 
Hatchery auxiliary fish ladder, Fall Creek (e.g., via seine or dip 
net), and fish volitionally entering the Fall Creek Hatchery as 
described in the broodstock collection document and the Terms and 
Conditions of NMFS' 2021 Biological Opinion for the Surrender and 
Decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project.
    The secondary purpose of the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon 
program is to provide adult coho salmon that could disperse to newly 
accessible habitat (76 miles or about 122.31 km) made available 
following dam removal. The potential dispersal of adult coho salmon 
results from Fall Creek Hatchery origin coho salmon straying to other 
tributaries and by releasing surplus adult coho salmon back to the 
mainstem Klamath River near Fall Creek.
Public Comments Solicited
    NMFS invites the public to comment on the permit application and 
associated HGMP during a 30-day public comment period beginning on the 
date of this notice. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) 
of the ESA (16 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 application, associated documents, and 
comments submitted to determine whether the application meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and its implementing 
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.

    Dated: March 21, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06279 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
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