Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 14350-14351 [2023-04722]

Download as PDF 14350 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2023 / Notices supports a determination that the stock continues to be overfished because the biomass remains below its threshold. The Atlantic halibut and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder determinations are based on qualitative estimates of stock size, suggesting that biomass is low. NMFS continues to work with the New England Council to rebuild these stocks. Dated: March 3, 2023. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. recommendations about annual specifications and/or associated management measures. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526–5251 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Dated: March 3, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [FR Doc. 2023–04774 Filed 3–7–23; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2023–04734 Filed 3–7–23; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. [RTID 0648–XC818] AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (MAFMC’s) Bluefish Monitoring Committee (MC) will hold a public meeting jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Bluefish Technical Committee (TC). DATES: The meeting will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. Connection information will be posted to the calendar at www.mafmc.org prior to the meeting. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331; www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bluefish Monitoring Committee and Technical Committee will meet to develop potential methods for applying a buffer between sector specific annual catch limits (ACLs) and annual catch targets (ACTs) to account for management uncertainty. At the meeting, the MC and TC will review buffer examples in other fisheries, review recent bluefish overages by VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Mar 07, 2023 Jkt 259001 Dated: March 3, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–04775 Filed 3–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [RTID 0648–XC807] SUMMARY: Special Accommodations BILLING CODE 3510–22–P National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 sector, and discuss methods for buffer calculation. The MC and TC will also discuss bluefish specifications updates and next steps as appropriate. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting of its Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Monitoring Committee. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details. DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. Connection information will be posted to the calendar prior to the meeting at www.mafmc.org. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331; www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Monitoring Committee will review recent fishery performance and the Scientific and Statistical Committee’s (SSC) catch recommendations regarding Illex squid. Based on the SSC’s recommendations, the Monitoring Committee will develop SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XC822] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of a permit renewal for an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (Permit 16608–3R). AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS renewed Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement Permit 16608– 3R to the Bureau of Reclamation. Authorized activities within the permit are expected to affect and enhance the threatened California Central Valley (CCV) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the Southern DPS (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) through enhancement activities and research and monitoring in the San Joaquin River from the Merced River confluence to the base of Mendota Dam, and select locations on the Mariposa and Eastside bypasses, and entrances to the following off-channel sloughs: Mud Slough, Salt Slough, and Newman Wasteway. ADDRESSES: The permit application, the permit, and other related documents are available for review through contacting the California Central Valley Office, Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit coordinator (Hilary Glenn: phone: (916) 200–8211 or email at: Hilary.Glenn@noaa.gov). The application for Permit 16608–3R is also available for review at the Authorizations and Permits for SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM 08MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2023 / Notices Protected Species website: https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/search/search.cfm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hilary Glenn at (916) 200–8211, or email: Hilary.Glenn@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notification Threatened California Central Valley (CCV) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the Southern DPS (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris). lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 a Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit based on findings that the permit is (1) applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which is the subject of the permit, and (3) consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in Section 2 of the ESA. Authority for the take exemption of listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permit. Permit 16608–3R A receipt of application notice for Permit 16608–3R was published in the Federal Register on July 5, 2022 (86 FR 46832), providing 30 days for public comment prior to permit processing. No comment was received. Permit 16608– 3R was issued to Reclamation on December 20, 2022. Permit 16608–3R authorizes take exemption of threatened CCV steelhead and the sDPS of North American green sturgeon in association with enhancement activities involving research and monitoring in the San Joaquin River from the Merced River confluence to the base of Mendota Dam, and select locations on the Mariposa and Eastside bypasses, and entrances to the following off-channel sloughs: Mud Slough, Salt Slough, and Newman Wasteway (collective termed the study area). The primary objectives of this enhancement effort involve: (1) monitor for adult CCV steelhead in the wetted sections of the San Joaquin River downstream of Mendota Dam to the Merced River confluence, (2) relocate CCV steelhead to more suitable habitat downstream of the Merced River confluence, (3) determining the distribution, abundance, size, and age structures of both CCV steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon, and (4) documenting changes in CCV steelhead VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Mar 07, 2023 Jkt 259001 abundance and distribution in response to fluctuating water conditions. Monitoring activities include: capture (raft-mounted electrofisher), fyke nets with wing walls and fish traps, steelhead-specific 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 steelhead and green sturgeon. Captured CCV steelhead will be transported by tanker truck and released in the San Joaquin River downstream of the Merced River confluence. Recaptured CCV steelhead will be identified by the presence of a PIT tag. Field activities for monitoring effort will occur December 1 through April 30 over the next 5 years (start: 12/01/2022 End: 12/31/2027). For this 5 year effort Reclamation will take no more than: (1) non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects due to collecting, sampling, and transport of live threatened CCV steelhead (natural origin) and non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects to threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin, (2) non-lethal (six adults) and no lethal effects due to capture, handling, and release of live threatened sDPS of North American green sturgeon, and (3) non-lethal effects to threatened CCV steelhead of natural origin (ten adults) and threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin (ten adults), and threatened sDPS of North American green sturgeon (three adults) due to observations and harassment at weirs, fish ladders, and dams where no trapping occurs. The potential unintentional lethal take resulting from the proposed scientific enhancement activities is up to four adult CCV steelhead (two natural origin; two hatchery origin). Overall, no intentional lethal take of CCV steelhead is proposed or expected as a result of these scientific enhancement activities. This scientific enhancement effort is expected to provide valuable information on sDPS of North American green sturgeon and the most southern extent of CCV steelhead to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s comprehensive monitoring plan for steelhead and green sturgeon in the Central Valley. The monitoring by Reclamation is consistent with recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS’ Recovery Plan for CCV steelhead and the sDPS of North American green sturgeon. See the application for Permit 16608–3R for greater details on the scientific PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14351 enhancement proposal and related methods. Dated: March 2, 2023. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–04722 Filed 3–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 4, 2022 (87 FR 66657) during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. Title: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool. OMB Control Number: 0648–0753. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular submission; Extension of a current information collection. Number of Respondents: 685. Average Hours per Response: 1 hour. Total Annual Burden Hours: 229. Needs and Uses: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement of 2014 required monitoring of progress toward the environmental literacy goal: ‘‘Enable students in the region to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to act responsibly to protect and restore their local watersheds.’’ NOAA, on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Program, will ask the state education agencies for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to survey their local E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM 08MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14350-14351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04722]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC822]


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 a permit renewal for an Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (Permit 
16608-3R).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS renewed Section 10(a)(1)(A) 
scientific enhancement Permit 16608-3R to the Bureau of Reclamation. 
Authorized activities within the permit are expected to affect and 
enhance the threatened California Central Valley (CCV) Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the 
Southern DPS (sDPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser 
medirostris) through enhancement activities and research and monitoring 
in the San Joaquin River from the Merced River confluence to the base 
of Mendota Dam, and select locations on the Mariposa and Eastside 
bypasses, and entrances to the following off-channel sloughs: Mud 
Slough, Salt Slough, and Newman Wasteway.

ADDRESSES: The permit application, the permit, and other related 
documents are available for review through contacting the California 
Central Valley Office, Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit coordinator (Hilary 
Glenn: phone: (916) 200-8211 or email at: [email protected]). The 
application for Permit 16608-3R is also available for review at the 
Authorizations and Permits for

[[Page 14351]]

Protected Species website: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/search/search.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hilary Glenn at (916) 200-8211, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notification

    Threatened California Central Valley (CCV) Distinct Population 
Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the Southern DPS 
(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 a Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit based on findings that 
the permit is (1) applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to 
the disadvantage of the listed species which is the subject of the 
permit, and (3) consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in 
Section 2 of the ESA. Authority for the take exemption of listed 
species is subject to conditions set forth in the permit.

Permit 16608-3R

    A receipt of application notice for Permit 16608-3R was published 
in the Federal Register on July 5, 2022 (86 FR 46832), providing 30 
days for public comment prior to permit processing. No comment was 
received. Permit 16608-3R was issued to Reclamation on December 20, 
2022.
    Permit 16608-3R authorizes take exemption of threatened CCV 
steelhead and the sDPS of North American green sturgeon in association 
with enhancement activities involving research and monitoring in the 
San Joaquin River from the Merced River confluence to the base of 
Mendota Dam, and select locations on the Mariposa and Eastside 
bypasses, and entrances to the following off-channel sloughs: Mud 
Slough, Salt Slough, and Newman Wasteway (collective termed the study 
area). The primary objectives of this enhancement effort involve: (1) 
monitor for adult CCV steelhead in the wetted sections of the San 
Joaquin River downstream of Mendota Dam to the Merced River confluence, 
(2) relocate CCV steelhead to more suitable habitat downstream of the 
Merced River confluence, (3) determining the distribution, abundance, 
size, and age structures of both CCV steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon, 
and (4) documenting changes in CCV steelhead abundance and distribution 
in response to fluctuating water conditions. Monitoring activities 
include: capture (raft-mounted electrofisher), fyke nets with wing 
walls and fish traps, steelhead-specific 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 steelhead and green sturgeon. Captured CCV steelhead 
will be transported by tanker truck and released in the San Joaquin 
River downstream of the Merced River confluence. Recaptured CCV 
steelhead will be identified by the presence of a PIT tag.
    Field activities for monitoring effort will occur December 1 
through April 30 over the next 5 years (start: 12/01/2022 End: 12/31/
2027). For this 5 year effort Reclamation will take no more than: (1) 
non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) effects due to 
collecting, sampling, and transport of live threatened CCV steelhead 
(natural origin) and non-lethal (seven adults) and lethal (two adults) 
effects to threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin, (2) non-lethal 
(six adults) and no lethal effects due to capture, handling, and 
release of live threatened sDPS of North American green sturgeon, and 
(3) non-lethal effects to threatened CCV steelhead of natural origin 
(ten adults) and threatened CCV steelhead of hatchery origin (ten 
adults), and threatened sDPS of North American green sturgeon (three 
adults) due to observations and harassment at weirs, fish ladders, and 
dams where no trapping occurs. The potential unintentional lethal take 
resulting from the proposed scientific enhancement activities is up to 
four adult CCV steelhead (two natural origin; two hatchery origin). 
Overall, no intentional lethal take of CCV steelhead is proposed or 
expected as a result of these scientific enhancement activities.
    This scientific enhancement effort is expected to provide valuable 
information on sDPS of North American green sturgeon and the most 
southern extent of CCV steelhead to the California Department of Fish 
and Wildlife's comprehensive monitoring plan for steelhead and green 
sturgeon in the Central Valley. The monitoring by Reclamation is 
consistent with recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS' 
Recovery Plan for CCV steelhead and the sDPS of North American green 
sturgeon. See the application for Permit 16608-3R for greater details 
on the scientific enhancement proposal and related methods.

    Dated: March 2, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04722 Filed 3-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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