[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7346-7347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3288]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[I.D. 081699C, 092199A, 092799G]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Extension of Comment Periods 
and Notice of Additional Public Hearings for Proposed Rules Governing 
Take of West Coast Chinook, Chum, Coho and Sockeye Salmon and Steelhead 
Trout

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment periods; 
notification of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment periods and announcing 
additional public hearings for the following: Proposed Rule Governing 
Take of Seven Threatened Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of 
West Coast Salmonids; Proposed Rule Governing Take of Threatened Snake 
River, Central California Coast, South/Central California Coast, Lower 
Columbia River, Central Valley California, Middle Columbia River, and 
Upper Willamette River Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of West 
Coast Steelhead; and Limitation on Section 9 Protections Applicable to 
Salmon Listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), for 
Actions Under Tribal Resource Management Plans. NMFS is extending the 
comment periods and holding additional public hearings for all three 
rules to avoid confusion and facilitate public participation in this 
regulatory process.

DATES: Written comments on the previously mentioned proposed rules must 
be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time, on March 6, 
2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed rules and requests for 
reference materials should be sent to Chief, Protected Resources 
Division, NMFS, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-
2737. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the 
Internet. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005; Craig 
Wingert, (562) 980-4021; or Chris Mobley, (301) 713-1401. Copies of the 
Federal Register documents cited herein and additional salmon-related 
materials are available via the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to adopt such regulations 
as he deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of species 
listed as threatened. On December 30, 1999 (64 FR 73479), NMFS issued a 
proposed rule under section 4(d) of the ESA which contains the 
regulations that, it believes, are necessary and advisable to conserve 
threatened Snake River, Central California Coast, South/Central 
California Coast, Lower Columbia River, Central Valley California, 
Middle Columbia River, and Upper Willamette River ESUs of West Coast 
Steelhead. The proposed rule applies ESA section 9(a)(1) prohibitions 
to the previously mentioned steelhead ESUs, but proposes not to apply 
the take prohibitions to 13 specific programs which limit impacts on 
listed steelhead to an extent that makes added protection through 
Federal regulation not necessary and advisable for the conservation of 
these ESUs (see 64 FR 73479).
    On January 3, 2000 (65 FR 170), NMFS issued a proposed rule under 
section 4(d) of the ESA which was nearly identical to the December 30, 
1999, proposal except that it applied to the following species of 
salmon: Oregon Coast Coho, Puget Sound, Lower Columbia and Upper 
Willamette Chinook, Hood Canal Summer-run and Columbia River Chum, and 
Ozette Lake Sockeye.
    Also on January 3, 2000 65 FR 108), NMFS issued a proposed rule 
under section 4(d) of the ESA that would not impose the section 9(a)(1) 
prohibitions on take when impacts on threatened salmonids result from 
implementation of a tribal resource management plan, where the 
Secretary has determined that implementing that Tribal Plan will not 
appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery for the 
listed species. This proposal applies to threatened salmonids that are 
currently subject to ESA section 9(a)(1) take prohibitions: Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon; Snake River fall chinook salmon; Central 
California Coast (CCC) coho salmon; and Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon. This proposed limitation on take 
prohibitions would also be available for all other threatened salmonid 
ESUs whenever final ESA section 9(a) are made applicable to that ESU.
    NMFS has received a number of requests for additional public 
hearings to allow further opportunity for the public to participate in 
the exchange of information and opinion among interested parties and to 
provide oral and written testimony. NMFS finds that two of these 
requests are reasonable and has scheduled additional meetings 
accordingly.
    Because these closely related rules have public comment periods 
that end on different dates (February 22, 2000, and March 3, 2000, for 
the steelhead proposal and for the other 2 proposals, respectively), 
NMFS is extending the comment period for all three rules to avoid 
confusion and facilitate public participation in this regulatory 
process.
    NMFS is soliciting specific information, comments, data, and/or 
recommendations on any aspect of the December 30, 1999, and January 3, 
2000, proposals from all interested parties. This information is 
considered critical in helping NMFS make final determinations on the 
proposals. NMFS will consider all information, comments, and 
recommendations received during the comment period and at the public 
hearings before reaching a final decision.

Public Hearings

    Additional public hearings have been scheduled as follows:
    (1) February 17, 2000, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Idaho State University, Wood 
River Dining Room, 1065 S. 8th Street, Pocatello, Idaho; and
    (2) February 22, 2000, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Cowlitz County 
Administration

[[Page 7347]]

Building, General Meeting Room, 207 4th Avenue N., Kelso, Washington.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language or other aids should be 
directed to Garth Griffin (see ADDRESSES) 7 days before each meeting 
date.

    Dated: February 7, 2000.
Penelope D. Dalton,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3288 Filed 2-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M