[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14633-14634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04141]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD747]


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 enhancement of survival permit, 
including an associated hatchery and genetic management plan.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Assessment (EA) on the issuance of an Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) Enhancement of Survival Permit to the California Department 
of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the operation of the Fall Creek 
Hatchery coho salmon program. The Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon 
program is operated under an associated Hatchery Genetic Management 
Plan (HGMP). This notice also announces that NMFS has decided to issue 
a permit (15755-2M) to CDFW for activities described in their HGMP, and 
has authorized the HGMP for the Fall Creek Hatchery coho salmon program 
in the Klamath River watershed in California.

ADDRESSES: The application, permit, final HGMP, Final EA, and related 
documents are available for review by appointment at: California 
Coastal Area Office, 1655 Heindon Rd, Arcata, California 95521.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Abrams; phone: (707) 825-5186; 
fax: (707) 825-4840; email: [email protected] (include the permit 
number in the subject line of the fax or email).

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 California Coast (SONCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit.

Background

    On March 27, 2023, NMFS announced in the Federal Register a notice 
of receipt of a permit application (15755-2M) to enhance the 
propagation and survival of species listed under the ESA of 1973, as 
amended, from CDFW (88 FR 18123). Under permit application 15755-2M, 
CDFW requested to implement, for the next 8 years, hatchery and 
monitoring activities associated with the Fall Creek Hatchery coho 
salmon program, under an associated HGMP. The 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 proposed to continue to collect 
SONCC coho salmon for hatchery purposes. The draft HGMP specified 
methods of operation for the Fall Creek hatchery coho salmon program 
located along the Fall Creek, a tributary to the Klamath River, within 
the State of California. NMFS also announced the availability of the 
permit application and associated HGMP for public review and comment. 
The public review and comment period ended on April 26, 2023. NMFS did 
not receive any public comments on the permit application or draft HGMP 
during the public review period. Permit 15755-2M received final 
signature on August 22, 2023.
    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. 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 8 
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

[[Page 14634]]

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 No. 14803.''
    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 122 kilometers) 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.
    Take of adult and juvenile coho salmon associated with permit 
15755-2M is described in the NMFS permit and particularly detailed in 
table 1 of the permit. Permit 15755-2M expires on December 31, 2031.
    This notice is provided under National Environmental Policy Act 
regulations and NMFS ESA permit regulations to inform the public that 
the Final EA, HGMP, and associated documents are available for review.

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.

    Dated: February 23, 2024.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04141 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P