[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32039]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 29, 1994]


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PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRIC POWER AND CONSERVATION PLANNING COUNCIL

 

Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program; Measures for 
Anadromous Fish

December 22, 1994.
AGENCY: Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning 
Council (Northwest Power Planning Council).

ACTION: Notice of final amendments to the Columbia River Basin Fish and 
Wildlife Program (measures for anadromous fish).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Pacific Electric Power Planning and 
Conservation Act (the Northwest Power Act, 16 U.S.C. section 839, et 
seq.) the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning 
Council (Council) has adopted final amendments to the Columbia River 
Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (program). The amendments include major 
changes to the anadromous fish provisions of the program. Copies of the 
amended program with findings on amendment recommendations submitted to 
the Council, and the Council's responses to comments, are available on 
request. See For Further Information Contact, below.

BACKGROUND: The Strategy for Salmon, which the Northwest Power Planning 
Council adopted in December, 1992 and later incorporated into the 1994 
Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, called for reports to 
be prepared on a variety of measures related to improved passage of 
anadromous fish in their mainstem migration, including: reservoir 
drawdowns; potential new Snake River Basin storage facilities; water 
efficiencies, transactions or other nonstructural measures to secure 
more Snake River Basin water for anadromous fish; biological rule 
curves to protect resident fish and wildlife populations in and around 
Libby and Hungry Horse reservoirs in Montana; and other matters. 
Reports on these matters were submitted to the Council during the first 
half of 1994. Moreover, since the Strategy for Salmon was adopted, a 
number of other issues have arisen in connection with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service's 1993 and 1994 biological opinions, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service Recovery Team's recommendations, the 
federal court settlement discussions in Idaho Department of Fish and 
Game v. National Marine Fisheries Service, and other matters. Because 
of these developments, and the fact that the Council is planning a 
major revision of its power plan, the Council decided to request 
recommendations for amendments to the fish and wildlife program 
generally. Recommendations for anadromous fish measures were requested, 
with an August 15, 1994 deadline for submission. The anadromous fish 
recommendations were received and promptly distributed to interested 
parties. Recommendations for resident fish and wildlife measures are 
due in January, 1995.
    After recommendations for anadromous fish amendments were received, 
the U.S. Court of Appeals in Northwest Information Center, et al. v. 
Northwest Power Planning Council found the Strategy for Salmon legally 
insufficient, and remanded the Strategy to the Council to make clearer 
findings on amendment recommendations. On September 30, 1994, based on 
the August 1994 recommendations, after careful review of the matters 
raised by the court's opinion, and after consultation with fish and 
wildlife agencies, Indian tribes and others, the Council issued draft 
amendment proposals for public comment. At the same time, the Council 
invited comment on the amendment recommendations, which the Council had 
distributed to interested parties in August, 1994. The Council held 
hearings throughout the Northwest and received written comment on the 
draft amendment proposals and recommendation through November 10. The 
Council consulted with interested parties through December 6, to 
explore amendment issues in further detail. From December 6 to December 
15, the Council deliberated on the amendment issues and on December 15 
adopted final amendments to the program. The amendments address the 
full range of issues related to anadromous fish restoration, including 
mainstem passage, habitat, production, harvest and levels for 
reservoirs affected by water releases to augment flows for anadromous 
fish, many of which were also raised in the Strategy for Salmon 
recommendations. The Council considers its December 15, 1994 decision 
to be a final action for purposes of 16 U.S.C. 839f(e).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For copies of the final anadromous fish amendments to the Columbia 
Basin Fish and Wildlife Program with findings and responses to comments 
(request document no. 94-55), or other information, contact the 
Council's Public Affairs Division, 851 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100, 
Portland, Oregon 97204 or (503) 222-5161, toll free 1-800-222-3355.
Edward W. Sheets,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 94-32039 Filed 12-28-94; 8:45 am]
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