[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 34907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12276]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050702B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment on NMFS' 
evaluation and pending determination of a Tribal Resource Management 
Plan (Tribal Plan).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS, by delegated authority from 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has evaluated and prepared its 
pending determination of a Tribal Plan submitted by the Northwest 
Indian Fisheries Commission, in cooperation with the Puget Sound Indian 
Tribes, pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for 
threatened Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). This document also includes a summary of the 
underlying biological analysis used in the pending determination.

DATES: Written comments on the pending determination must be received 
at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 
5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on June 17, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for copies of the evaluation 
and pending determination should be sent to Leslie Schaeffer, Protected 
Resources Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 525 NE Oregon 
Street, Portland, OR 97232-2737. The full text of the evaluation and 
pending determination is also available at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/. 
Comments may also be faxed to 503-230-5435. Comments will not be 
accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Schaeffer at phone number 503-
230-5433 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the Hood Canal 
summer-run chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Evolutionarily Significant 
Unit (ESU).

Background

    The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission submitted a Tribal Plan 
in cooperation with the Puget Sound Indian Tribes for scientific 
research and assessment activities within the range of the Hood Canal 
summer-run chum salmon ESU in the state of Washington. The Puget Sound 
Indian Tribes conduct, independently and in cooperation with Federal 
and state agencies, a variety of research and assessment projects that 
provide the technical basis for their fishery management, and for the 
conservation and restoration of salmon stocks and their habitat. The 
need for improved and more quantitative information regarding 
freshwater and early marine survival needs of salmon is the purpose of 
the current research activities. The Tribal Plan includes 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation procedures designed to 
ensure that the research activities are consistent with these 
objectives. The research activities described in the Tribal Plan span a 
5 year period beginning on January 1, 2002.

Authority

    Under section 4(d) of the ESA, the Secretary is required to adopt 
such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of the species listed as threatened. The ESA Tribal 4(d) 
rule (65 FR 42481, July 10, 2000) states that the ESA section 9 take 
prohibitions will not apply to Tribal Plans provided the Secretary 
determines that implementation of such Tribal Plan will not appreciably 
reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the listed salmonids.

    Dated: May 10, 2002.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-12276 Filed 5-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S