Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 82324 [2023-25878]

Download as PDF 82324 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 225 / Friday, November 24, 2023 / Notices propagated California Central Valley (CCV). Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): threatened, naturally produced southern distinct population segment (sDPS). DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD547] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice Background The USFWS and CDFW, under the auspices of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP), are working to restore a CVSR Chinook salmon population in the San Joaquin River. The reintroduced CVSR Chinook salmon, taken from one or more out-ofbasin stocks, are designated as a nonessential, experimental population under Section 10(j) of the ESA, and have associated 4(d) take provisions (78 FR 79622; December 31, 2013). The SJRRP determined that a conservation hatchery would be the preferred and primary strategy for reintroducing CVSR Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River. The San Joaquin River Salmon Conservation and Research Program (Conservation Program) involves the operation of two facilities: the Salmon Conservation and Research Facility (SCARF) currently under construction, with completion expected in 2024, and an interim SCARF (Interim Facility) currently in operation. The Conservation Program is operated as an Integrated-Recovery hatchery program, intended to help meet fisheries management objectives while achieving restoration and recovery goals. This CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP submitted by the USFWS and CDFW, pursuant to 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), provides guidance on the management and operation of the SCARF and Interim Facility in the San Joaquin River Basin. The HGMP and the associated Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit application (20571–2R) were made available for public review and comment on March 7, 2023 (88 FR 14147). On June 26, 2023, NMFS determined that the submitted HGMP was sufficient for consideration under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. The draft environmental assessment available for comment evaluates the potential effects of approving the CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP and issuing Section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit 20571–2R to the USFWS and CDFW. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated Central Valley spring-run (CVSR). Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and artificially Authority NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the human environment. Therefore, NMFS is National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment; request for comments. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) describing the potential effects of the continued operation of one hatchery program in the San Joaquin River Basin of California. The Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for the program was prepared and submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). All comments and other information received will become part of the public record and will be available for review. DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on December 26, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to the NMFS California Central Valley Office, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5–100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted via email to Meiling.Colombano@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the email comment the following identifier: Comments on SJRRP 10(a)(1)(A) Enhancement Permit EA. When commenting on the draft environmental assessment, please refer to the specific page number and line number of the subject of your comment. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meiling Colombano, Sacramento, CA, at phone number: (916) 930–3695, or via email: Meiling.Colombano@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:46 Nov 22, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 seeking public input on the scope of the required NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable alternatives and associated impacts of any alternatives. Dated: November 17, 2023. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–25878 Filed 11–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD548] Endangered Species; File No. 21516 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Issuance of permit modification. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a modification to Incidental Take Permit (ITP; No. 21516) to Virginia Electric and Power Company, d.b.a. Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended, for the incidental take of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) associated with the otherwise lawful operation of the Dominion Chesterfield Power Station (CPS) in Chesterfield, VA. ADDRESSES: The modified incidental take permit and other related documents are available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources website at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ endangered-species-conservation/ incidental-take-permits. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Lankshear, (978) 282–8473, Lynn.Lankshear@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The ESA defines ‘‘take’’ to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. NMFS may issue permits, under limited circumstances to take listed species when the take is incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides for authorizing incidental take of listed species. The regulations for modifying permits and issuing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species are SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 82324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25878]



[[Page 82324]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD547]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has prepared a draft 
Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) describing the potential effects of the continued operation of 
one hatchery program in the San Joaquin River Basin of California. The 
Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for the program was 
prepared and submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). All 
comments and other information received will become part of the public 
record and will be available for review.

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

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to 
the NMFS California Central Valley Office, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-
100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line of the email 
comment the following identifier: Comments on SJRRP 10(a)(1)(A) 
Enhancement Permit EA. When commenting on the draft environmental 
assessment, please refer to the specific page number and line number of 
the subject of your comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meiling Colombano, Sacramento, CA, at 
phone number: (916) 930-3695, or via email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Central Valley spring-run (CVSR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated California Central Valley (CCV).
    Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): threatened, naturally 
produced southern distinct population segment (sDPS).

Background

    The USFWS and CDFW, under the auspices of the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Program (SJRRP), are working to restore a CVSR Chinook 
salmon population in the San Joaquin River. The reintroduced CVSR 
Chinook salmon, taken from one or more out-of-basin stocks, are 
designated as a non-essential, experimental population under Section 
10(j) of the ESA, and have associated 4(d) take provisions (78 FR 
79622; December 31, 2013). The SJRRP determined that a conservation 
hatchery would be the preferred and primary strategy for reintroducing 
CVSR Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River. The San Joaquin River 
Salmon Conservation and Research Program (Conservation Program) 
involves the operation of two facilities: the Salmon Conservation and 
Research Facility (SCARF) currently under construction, with completion 
expected in 2024, and an interim SCARF (Interim Facility) currently in 
operation. The Conservation Program is operated as an Integrated-
Recovery hatchery program, intended to help meet fisheries management 
objectives while achieving restoration and recovery goals.
    This CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP submitted by the USFWS and CDFW, 
pursuant to 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), 
provides guidance on the management and operation of the SCARF and 
Interim Facility in the San Joaquin River Basin. The HGMP and the 
associated Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit application (20571-
2R) were made available for public review and comment on March 7, 2023 
(88 FR 14147). On June 26, 2023, NMFS determined that the submitted 
HGMP was sufficient for consideration under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
ESA. The draft environmental assessment available for comment evaluates 
the potential effects of approving the CVSR Chinook salmon HGMP and 
issuing Section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit 20571-2R to the USFWS and CDFW.

Authority

    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. Therefore, NMFS is seeking public input on the scope 
of the required NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable 
alternatives and associated impacts of any alternatives.

    Dated: November 17, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25878 Filed 11-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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