[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 861-862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-221]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 123098E]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on 
Habitat Conservation Plans for the Operation of Three Hydroelectric 
Projects on the Mid-Columbia River in Washington

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct public scoping meetings and prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that NMFS intends to gather 
information necessary to prepare an EIS related to a request by two 
Washington State public utility districts for incidental take permits 
(Permits) to take endangered and threatened species under section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The applicants are the 
Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, Washington and the 
Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, Washington 
(Districts). Applications are related to the operation of three 
hydroelectric projects on the mid-Columbia River in the state of 
Washington. The Districts are requesting Permits for two listed 
species, Upper Columbia spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha) and Upper Columbia steelhead (O. mykiss). The Districts 
also plan to seek coverage for other species not currently listed in 
the mid-Columbia region. These species are summer and fall chinook 
salmon (O. tshawytscha) and sockeye (O. nerka) salmon. Based on the 
requirements of the Act, the Districts have prepared Habitat 
Conservation Plans (HCPs) that include measures to minimize and 
mitigate any taking of species that may occur incidental to the 
operation of the hydroelectric projects.
    In June 1998, NMFS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Districts, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation, the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Colville Reservation, the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation and American Rivers, 
Inc. signed a declaration acknowledging the work to date on the HCP and 
their commitment to complete the regulatory actions necessary to 
issuing a permit.

DATES: Written comments from all interested parties must be received on 
or before February 5, 1999. Public scoping meetings will be held in 
Wenatchee and Brewster, WA. The Wenatchee meeting is scheduled for 7 
p.m., January 20, 1999, at the Chelan Public Utility 
District Auditorium, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave. The Brewster meeting will be 
held at 7 p.m. on January 21, 1999, at the Senior Center, 
109 South Bridge St.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for information should be sent to Jane 
Banyard, NMFS, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 103, Lacey, WA, 98503; 
telephone (360) 534-9338; facsimile (360) 753-9517. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the same address. 
Questions regarding the HCPs should be directed to Steve Landino, NMFS, 
510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 103, Lacey, WA, 98503;

[[Page 862]]

telephone (360) 753-6054; facsimile (360) 753-9517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Districts own and manage three hydroelectric dams and 
associated facilities on the Columbia River. These dams are used to 
supply power to the citizens of Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties, 
as well as other public and private utilities that serve over 7 million 
customers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Operation of the dams has 
the potential to impact species subject to protection under the Act. 
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act contains provisions for issuing 
incidental take permits to non-federal landowners for the take of 
endangered and threatened species, provided the following criteria is 
met:
    (1) the taking will be incidental;
    (2) the applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize 
and mitigate the impact of such taking;
    (3) the applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the Plan 
will be provided;
    (4) the taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the 
survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and
    (5) any other measures that the NMFS may require as being necessary 
or appropriate for the purposes of the Plan are met.
    The Districts have initiated discussions with NMFS regarding the 
possibility of securing Permits for their hydroelectric project 
operations on the Mid-Columbia River, and they have prepared an HCP for 
each project. The Districts' intention in developing the HCPs was to 
establish a comprehensive approach to protect federally listed species 
and their habitats as affected by project operations. Activities 
proposed for coverage under the Permits include the following:
    (1) Operation and maintenance of the Rock Island Hydroelectric 
project, FERC No. 943, in accordance with its FERC license, and the 
Rock Island HCP.
    (2) Operation and maintenance of the Rocky Reach Hydroelectric 
project, FERC No. 2145, in accordance with its FERC license, and the 
Rocky Reach HCP.
    (3) Operation and maintenance of the Wells Hydroelectric project, 
FERC No. 2149, in accordance with its FERC license, and the Wells HCP.
    NMFS will conduct an environmental review of the HCPs and prepare 
an EIS. The environmental review will analyze the proposals in the HCPs 
as well as a full range of reasonable alternatives and the associated 
impacts of each. Comments and suggestions are invited from all 
interested parties to ensure that the full range of issues related to 
this proposed action is identified. The review of this project will be 
conducted according to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other 
appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and policies and procedures 
of NMFS for compliance with those regulations.
    After the environmental review is completed, NMFS will publish a 
notice of availability and a request for comment on the draft EIS and 
the HCPs.

    Dated: December 31, 1998.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-221 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F