109 HR 6241 IH: Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention U.S. House of Representatives 2006-09-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6241 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2006 Mr. Hastings of Washington (for himself, Mr. Baird, Mr. Walden of Oregon, and Mr. Dicks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources A BILL To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation on endangered Columbia River salmon, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds the following: (1)There are 13 groups of salmon and steelhead that are listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 that migrate through the lower Columbia River. (2)The people of the Northwest United States are united in their desire to restore healthy salmon and steelhead runs, as they are integral to the region’s culture and economy. (3)The Columbia River treaty tribes retain important rights with respect to salmon and steelhead. (4)Federal, State, and tribal governments have spent billions of dollars to assist the recovery of Columbia River salmon and steelhead populations. (5)One of the factors impacting salmonid populations is increased predation by marine mammals, including California sea lions. (6)The population of California sea lions has increased 6-fold over the last 3 decades, and is currently greater than 300,000. (7)In recent years, over 1,000 California sea lions have been entering the lower 205 miles of the Columbia River up to Miller Island during the peak spring salmonid run before returning to the California coast to mate. (8)The percentage of the spring salmonid run that has been eaten or killed by California sea lions at Bonneville dam has increased 7-fold since 2002. (9)In recent years, California sea lions have with greater frequency congregated near Bonneville dam and have entered the fish ladders. (10)Some of these California sea lions have not been responsive to extensive hazing methods employed near Bonneville dam to discourage this behavior. (11)The process established under the 1994 amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to address aggressive sea lion behavior is protracted and will not work in a timely enough manner to protect threatened and endangered salmonids in the near term. (12)In the interest of protecting Columbia River threatened and endangered salmonids, a temporary expedited procedure is urgently needed.

3.

Taking of California sea lions on the Columbia River or its tributaries to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon

(a)

Amendment to Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1389) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k)

Temporary marine mammal removal authority on the waters of the Columbia River or its tributaries

(1)

In general

In addition to other authority under this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Secretary may issue a permit to an eligible entity authorizing the intentional lethal taking on the waters of the Columbia River or its tributaries of up to 10 California sea lions, if the Secretary determines under paragraph (9) that alternative measures to reduce sea lion predation on salmonid stocks in such waters listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) do not adequately protect the salmonid stocks from California sea lion predation. (2)

Eligible entity defined

In this subsection, the term eligible entity means each of the State of Washington, the State of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. (3)

Delegation of permit authority

An eligible entity may designate an appropriate interstate or intertribal fish commission to administer its permit authority under this subsection. (4)

Consultation

In issuing a permit to an eligible entity under this subsection, the Secretary shall— (A)consult with other eligible entities and other such entities as the Secretary considers appropriate, including the Corps of Engineers; and (B)consider the number of other permits issued to other eligible entities in the same time period. (5)

Duration of permits

A permit under this subsection shall be effective for no more than one year after the date it is issued. (6)

Authority to issue multiple permits

The Secretary may issue more than one permit under this subsection to an eligible entity. No more than one permit may be utilized in any 14-day period by the same eligible entity. (7)

Limitation on annual takings

The cumulative number of California sea lions authorized to be taken each year under all permits in effect under this subsection shall not exceed one percent of the annual potential biological removal level of California sea lions. (8)

Limitation on animals authorized to be taken

(A)

Determination required

A California sea lion may not be taken under a permit under this subsection unless the permit holder has determined that— (i)such sea lion has preyed upon salmonid stocks in the Columbia River; and (ii)with respect to such sea lion, nonlethal alternative measures to prevent preying on salmonid stocks have in general not been effective. (B)

Consultation

In making such determination, the permit holder may consult with any other eligible entity or Federal agency. (9)

Determination of alternative measures

(A)

Deadline

The Secretary shall determine whether alternative measures to reduce sea lion predation on salmonid stocks in the waters of the Columbia River or its tributaries listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) adequately protect the salmonid stocks from California sea lion predation, by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection. (B)

Public comment

The Secretary shall, within such 90-day period, provide up to 30 days for the submission of public comments on the determination. (C)

Federal register

The Secretary shall publish the determination in the Federal Register. (10)

Deadline for consideration of application

The Secretary shall respond to an application for a permit under this subsection by not later than 30 days after receiving the application. (11)

NEPA

Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) shall not apply with respect to this subsection and the issuance of any permit under this subsection. (12)

Termination of permitting authority

The Secretary may not issue any permit under this subsection after the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection. . (b)

Recommended legislation

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Congress a report on the need for additional legislation to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to address the general issue of predation by marine mammals on fish species listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

4.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of the Congress that— (1)nonlethal means of preventing predation of listed salmonid stocks in the Columbia River by California sea lions is preferable to lethal means; and (2)the Federal Government should continue to fund, research, and support effective nonlethal alternative measures for preventing such predation.