Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 42361-42362 [2020-15036]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 135 / Tuesday, July 14, 2020 / Notices by using the search function and entering the title of the collection. Sheleen Dumas, Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2020–15132 Filed 7–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–08–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA246] Marine Mammals; File No. 23966 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Christopher Cilfone, Be Blue, 193a Fleming Rd., Lahaina, HI 96761, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before August 13, 2020. ADDRESSES: These documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include File No. 23966 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Shasta McClenahan, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The applicant proposes to film humpback whales in the waters of Maui County, Hawaii. Footage would be used to create a series of documentary films that highlight humpback whale and their conservation. Up to 100 humpback whales would be filmed annually from a boat, unmanned aircraft system, remotely operated vehicle, and by free SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jul 13, 2020 Jkt 250001 divers. One hundred bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), 100 pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata), and 500 spinner (Stenella longirostris) dolphins may be incidentally filmed or harassed annually. The permit would expire on December 31, 2025. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: July 9, 2020. Amy Sloan, Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–15143 Filed 7–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XU012 X] Meeting of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of open public meeting. AGENCY: This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee’s (MAFAC’s) Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP Task Force will discuss the issues outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. DATES: The meeting will be July 29, 2020, 1 p.m.–4 p.m., Pacific Time (PT). ADDRESSES: Meeting is by conference call and webinar. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Cheney; NFMS West Coast Region; 503–231–6730; email: Katherine.Cheney@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a meeting of MAFAC’s CBP Task Force. The MAFAC was established by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) and, since 1971, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 42361 advises the Secretary on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The MAFAC charter is located online at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/ partners#marine-fisheries-advisorycommittee-. The CBP Task Force reports to MAFAC and is being convened to develop recommendations for long-term goals to meet Columbia Basin salmon recovery, conservation needs, and harvest opportunities, in the context of habitat capacity and other factors that affect salmon mortality. More information is available at the CBP Task Force web page: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/ partners/columbia-basin-partnershiptask-force. Matters To Be Considered The meeting time and agenda are subject to change. Meeting topics include discussion of scenarios for achieving Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead goals; social, cultural, economic, and ecosystem considerations; options for future collaboration; and content of the Phase 2 report. Time and Date The meeting is scheduled for July 29, 2020, 1 p.m.–4 p.m., PT by conference call and webinar. Access information for the public will be posted by July 22, 2020 at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ west-coast/partners/columbia-basinpartnership-task-force-meetingmaterials-and-summaries. Dated: July 9, 2020. Jennifer L. Lukens, Federal Program Officer, Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–15151 Filed 7–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA260] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that a proposed evaluation and pending determination (PEPD), draft environmental assessment (EA), and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1 42362 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 135 / Tuesday, July 14, 2020 / Notices four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMP) are available for public comment on hatchery programs in the Touchet River, Umatilla River, Deschutes River, and Hood River Basins. The HGMPs were submitted for review and determination under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) Rule. DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on August 13, 2020. Comments received after this date may not be considered. ADDRESSES: Written responses should be addressed to the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Portland, OR 97232. Comments may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for providing email comments is: Hatcheries.Public.Comment@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the email comment the following identifier: MidColumbia Hatchery Comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Turner at (503) 736–4737 or by email at rich.turner@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice • Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated • Middle Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated • Lower Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated • Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated • Columbia River Chum Salmon (O. keta): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated Background Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the ‘‘taking’’ of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term ‘‘take’’ is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. NMFS may make exceptions to the take prohibitions in section 9 of the ESA for programs that are approved by NMFS under the 4(d) Rule (50 CFR 223.203(b)(6)). The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation Oregon and the Oregon Department of Fish and Game (ODFW) have submitted HGMPs for two programs in the Hood River—spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead— VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jul 13, 2020 Jkt 250001 under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule; these programs are funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and are evaluated in the PEPD. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife submitted the Touchet River Endemic Summer Steelhead HGMP under Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. The ODFW submitted the Umatilla River Summer Steelhead HGMP, the Round Butte Hatchery Spring Chinook Salmon, and the Round Butte Hatchery Summer Steelhead programs in the Deschutes River under Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. The Umatilla Hatchery program, as well as a small proportion of the Round Butte Hatchery programs, is funded by the BPA, with the remainder of these programs funded by Portland General Electric. Prior to making a final determination on the submitted plans, NMFS must take comments on how the HGMPs address the criteria in Limit 5 or Limit 6, as applicable, of the 4(d) Rule. NMFS is also taking comments on the evaluation in the draft EA of the effects of NMFS’ pending decisions. The submitted HGMPs describe the hatchery programs along with the associated monitoring and evaluation activities. The programs integrate natural-origin adult into the broodstock to supplement natural salmon populations (the exception is the Round Butte Spring Chinook Salmon program that only uses returning hatchery adults for broodstock). The programs are intended to provide fishing opportunities for tribes and states, mitigate for fish losses caused by the construction and operation of the dams on the Lower Snake River, mainstem Columbia River and Deschutes River and contribute to the survival and recovery of Middle Columbia River and Lower Columbia River steelhead, and Lower Columbia River spring Chinook salmon. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq. Dated: July 7, 2020. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–15036 Filed 7–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA271] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; of availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Wells Summer Chinook Salmon Hatchery Program for southern resident killer whales. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS announces the availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (FSEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County’s (Douglas PUD) Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP), in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The HGMP specifies the release of one million additional subyearling summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. This notice provides information on where to view the FSEA and FONSI. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Preston at (503) 231–2178 or by email at natasha.preston@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice • Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated in the Upper Columbia River Basin • Upper Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated in the Upper Columbia River Basin. • Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): Endangered. Background and Purpose The HGMP submitted by WDFW and Douglas PUD describes the release of one million additional subyearling summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. The HGMP was submitted to NMFS for review under Endangered Species Act (ESA) Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. This production is in addition to Douglas PUD’s existing production of E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42361-42362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15036]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA260]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a proposed evaluation and pending 
determination (PEPD), draft environmental assessment (EA), and

[[Page 42362]]

four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMP) are available for 
public comment on hatchery programs in the Touchet River, Umatilla 
River, Deschutes River, and Hood River Basins. The HGMPs were submitted 
for review and determination under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
4(d) Rule.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on August 13, 2020. 
Comments received after this date may not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Written responses should be addressed to the NMFS 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Portland, OR 
97232. Comments may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is: [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of the email comment the following 
identifier: Mid-Columbia Hatchery Comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Turner at (503) 736-4737 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

 Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated
 Middle Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, 
naturally and artificially propagated
 Lower Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, 
naturally and artificially propagated
 Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened, 
naturally and artificially propagated
 Columbia River Chum Salmon (O. keta): Threatened, naturally 
and artificially propagated

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the 
``taking'' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term 
``take'' is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage 
in any such conduct. NMFS may make exceptions to the take prohibitions 
in section 9 of the ESA for programs that are approved by NMFS under 
the 4(d) Rule (50 CFR 223.203(b)(6)).
    The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation Oregon and 
the Oregon Department of Fish and Game (ODFW) have submitted HGMPs for 
two programs in the Hood River--spring Chinook salmon and winter 
steelhead--under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule; these programs are funded by 
the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and are evaluated in the 
PEPD. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife submitted the Touchet River 
Endemic Summer Steelhead HGMP under Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. The ODFW 
submitted the Umatilla River Summer Steelhead HGMP, the Round Butte 
Hatchery Spring Chinook Salmon, and the Round Butte Hatchery Summer 
Steelhead programs in the Deschutes River under Limit 5 of the 4(d) 
Rule. The Umatilla Hatchery program, as well as a small proportion of 
the Round Butte Hatchery programs, is funded by the BPA, with the 
remainder of these programs funded by Portland General Electric.
    Prior to making a final determination on the submitted plans, NMFS 
must take comments on how the HGMPs address the criteria in Limit 5 or 
Limit 6, as applicable, of the 4(d) Rule. NMFS is also taking comments 
on the evaluation in the draft EA of the effects of NMFS' pending 
decisions.
    The submitted HGMPs describe the hatchery programs along with the 
associated monitoring and evaluation activities. The programs integrate 
natural-origin adult into the broodstock to supplement natural salmon 
populations (the exception is the Round Butte Spring Chinook Salmon 
program that only uses returning hatchery adults for broodstock). The 
programs are intended to provide fishing opportunities for tribes and 
states, mitigate for fish losses caused by the construction and 
operation of the dams on the Lower Snake River, mainstem Columbia River 
and Deschutes River and contribute to the survival and recovery of 
Middle Columbia River and Lower Columbia River steelhead, and Lower 
Columbia River spring Chinook salmon.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.

    Dated: July 7, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-15036 Filed 7-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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