[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51398-51399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25203]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 424

[I.D. 092796B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Public Hearings on Proposed 
Status for the West Coast Steelhead

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

ACTION: Public hearings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing dates and locations for public hearings 
concerning the proposed listing of natural steelhead (Oncorhynchus 
mykiss) populations occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, and 
Idaho, as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA). The hearings will provide an opportunity for the public to give 
comments and will permit an exchange of information and opinion among 
interested parties.

DATES: The hearings are scheduled for the month of October. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of public 
hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005; Craig 
Wingert, (310) 980-4021; or Marta Nammack, (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 9, 1996, NMFS issued a proposed rule (61 FR 41541) to 
list 10 of 15 evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of west coast 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under the ESA. The ESUs proposed as 
endangered are located in California (Central California Coast, South/
Central California Coast, Southern California, and Central Valley) and 
Washington (Upper Columbia River). The ESUs proposed as threatened are 
dispersed throughout California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and 
include the Snake River Basin, Lower Columbia River, Oregon Coast, 
Klamath Mountains Province, and Northern California ESUs. NMFS also 
designated the Middle Columbia River ESU as a candidate species. There 
was not sufficient information available at the time of notice to 
indicate that steelhead in the Middle Columbia River region warranted 
protection under the ESA, though NMFS identified specific risk factors 
and concerns that needed to be evaluated before concluding an 
assessment of the overall health of steelhead in this area.
    Department of Commerce ESA implementing regulations state that the 
Secretary of Commerce ``shall promptly hold at least one public hearing 
if any person so requests within 45 days of publication of a proposed 
regulation to list * * *a species'' (50 CFR 424.16 (c)(3)). Public 
hearings on the proposed rule provide the opportunity for the public to 
give comments and to permit an exchange of information and opinion 
among interested parties. NMFS encourages your involvement in such ESA 
matters.

Public Hearings

    The public hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. October 7, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Lewiston, ID
    2. October 7, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Rohnert Park, CA
    3. October 8, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Pasco, WA
    4. October 8, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Eureka, CA
    5. October 9, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Wenatchee, WA
    6. October 10, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Olympia, WA
    7. October 15, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Gold Beach, OR
    8. October 16, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Roseburg, OR
    9. October 16, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sacramento, CA
    10. October 17, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Newport, OR
    11. October 17, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monterey, CA
    12. October 21, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Portland, OR
    13. October 22, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Boise, ID
    14. October 23, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Santa Barbara, CA
    15. October 30, 1996, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Yreka, CA
    The hearings will be held at the following locations:
    1. Lewiston--Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main Street, Lewiston, 
ID 83501
    2. Rohnert Park--Red Lion Hotel, 1 Red Lion Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 
94928
    3. Pasco--Columbia Basin College, Library Building Rm 102, 2600 
North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301
    4. Eureka--The Eureka Inn, 518 7th Street, Eureka, CA 95501
    5. Wenatchee--West Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel, Fountain Room, 201 
North Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801
    6. Olympia--Evergreen State College, Lecture Hall 2, 2700 Evergreen 
Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505
    7. Gold Beach--Gold Beach City Hall, City Council Chambers, 510 
South Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444
    8. Roseburg--Douglas County Courthouse, Rm. 216, 1036 SE. Douglas 
Avenue, Roseburg, OR 97470
    9. Sacramento--Beverly Garland Hotel, 1780 Tribute, Sacramento, CA 
95815
    10. Newport--Central Lincoln PUD, Newport Meeting Room, 2129 N. 
Coast Highway, Newport, OR 97365
    11. Monterey--Monterey Beach Hotel, 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, 
Monterey, CA 93940
    12. Portland--Bonneville Power Administration, Complex Auditorium, 
911 NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
    13. Boise--Interagency Fire Center Auditorium, 3905 Vista Avenue, 
Boise, ID 83705

[[Page 51399]]

    14. Santa Barbara--Fess Parker's Red Lion Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo 
Boulevard, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
    15. Yreka--Miner's Inn Convention Center, 122 E. Miner Street, 
Yreka, CA 96097
    Interested parties will have opportunity to provide oral and 
written testimony at the public hearings. These hearings are physically 
accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language 
interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Matthew 
Eagleton at (503) 230-5433.

    Dated: September 27, 1996.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25203 Filed 9-27-96; 12:11 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F