[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6400-6401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2533]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA189
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 application for a new scientific research
and enhancement permit, notice of public meetings, and request for
comment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application
for a scientific research and enhancement permit (permit 14868)
relating to salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The
application includes a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) that
provides detailed information regarding the proposed enhancement
activities. This document serves to notify the public of the
availability of the permit application and HGMP for review and comment.
The applications and related documents may be viewed online at: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/sjrrestorationprogram/salmonreintroduction.htm. These
documents are also available upon written request or by appointment by
contacting NMFS by phone (916) 930-3600, fax (916) 930-3629.
[[Page 6401]]
DATES: Written comments on the permit applications must be received at
the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5
p.m. Pacific standard time on March 7, 2011.
NMFS will conduct three public scoping meetings in order to provide
information and solicit comments for the preparation of the permit. The
meetings will be held on: February 3, 2011, at the Chico Masonic Family
Center, 1110 West East Avenue Chico, CA 95926 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.,
Pacific Time; February 7, 2011, at the Fresno Metropolitan Flood
Control District Board Room, 5469 E. Olive Ave., Fresno, CA 93727 from
5 p.m.-7 p.m., Pacific Time; and February 8, 2011, at 830 6th Street,
Los Banos, CA 93635-4214 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on these applications should be submitted
to the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-
100, Sacramento, CA 9581. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
(916) 930-6329 or by e-mail to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elif Fehm-Sullivan, Sacramento, CA
(ph: 916-930-3723, e-mail: [email protected]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
This notice is relevant to federally threatened Central Valley
spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).
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-
226). 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; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of
section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject
to conditions set forth in the permits.
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 Fisheries, NMFS.
Application Received
On September 30, 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
submitted an application and supporting documents to NMFS for a section
10(a)(1)(A) permit (permit 14868). USFWS is requesting a 7-year permit
to collect Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, for the purposes
of reintroduction into the San Joaquin River. Multiple life stages
would be collected, including eggs, fry, smolts, and adults using
various collection methods (backpack electrofisher, red pumping,
seining, dip-net) which would then be transported to a hatchery for
artificial propagation; and/or they or their progeny will be released
into the San Joaquin River and monitored for survival. The overall
objective is to collect and reintroduce multiple life stages of spring-
run Chinook salmon to develop a naturally-reproducing, self-sustaining
population of spring-run Chinook salmon in the San Joaquin River. The
target for the experimental population for spring-run Chinook salmon is
a minimum annual return of 500 adults by 2019.
The intent is to capture varied and desired genetic and phenotypic
characteristics of the fish, and therefore increase the likelihood that
the reintroduction of spring-run Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin
River would be successful.
The USFWS has proposed measures to minimize adverse impact to the
population viability of the Evolutionary Significant Unit and/or the
populations within each potential source stream. Finally, the
reintroduction and management activities in the restored San Joaquin
River must not adversely affect the experimental population and their
progeny within the mainstem San Joaquin River.
Collections would occur at all life stages of development: Eggs,
fry, smolts, and adults in order to reduce the effect to the existing
population and to increase the chances of survival. The propagation and
development of the fish at the hatchery involves genetic determination
and tracking for both phenotypic and genotypic expressions, and would
help ensure survival and re-establishment of a naturally producing,
self-sustaining population of spring-run Chinook salmon in the San
Joaquin River. The annual level of take will be proposed based on
current population status as evaluated against population viability
criteria (Lindley et al. 2007).
The project has the following five objectives: (1) To implement the
stipulation of settlement, Natural Resource Defense Council, et al. v.
Rodgers, et al., (2) to collect natural and hatchery-origin spring-run
Chinook salmon juvenile and adults for reintroduction efforts in the
San Joaquin River, (3) to collect natural and hatchery-origin spring-
run Chinook salmon eggs and juveniles for the purpose of developing a
seed stock for a conservation hatchery program, (4) to increase
productivity, intra-population diversity and promote local adaptation,
and (5) use spring-run Chinook salmon demographic, biological, and
genetic data collected throughout the reintroduction process to develop
an adaptive management-based management plan for the species to promote
recovery of the Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon evolutionarily
significant unit.
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments
submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined
that the requirements are met, a permit will be issued to USFWS for the
purpose of collecting ESA-listed spring-run Chinook salmon and carrying
out the research and enhancement program. NMFS will publish a notice of
its final action in the Federal Register.
Dated: January 31, 2011.
Therese Conant,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-2533 Filed 2-3-11; 8:45 am]
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