[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60915-60916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26930]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100903B]


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 comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has prepared a draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of the potential effects of approval of a Fishery Management 
and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) submitted by the Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (ODFW) for a coho salmon fishery in Siltcoos and 
Tahkenitch Lakes, located south of the town of Florence along the 
Oregon Coast. The objectives of the FMEP are to provide some fishing 
opportunity in years when coho salmon returns are high and in a manner 
that does not affect the viability of the local coho population and the 
Oregon Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) as a whole. This 
document serves to notify the public of the availability of the draft 
EA for public comment before a final decision on whether to issue a 
Finding of No Significant Impact is made by NMFS.

DATES: Written comments on the draft EA must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific daylight time on November 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for copies of the draft EA and 
ODFW's FMEP should be addressed to Lance Kruzic, Salmon Recovery 
Division, 2900 N.W. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97470 or faxed to 
(541) 957-3381. The documents are also available on the Internet at 
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1fmep/fmepsbmt.htm. Comments will not be 
accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Kruzic, Roseburg, OR, at phone 
number (541) 957-3381 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the Oregon Coast 
coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Evolutionarily Significant Unit.

Background

    The ODFW has submitted to NMFS a FMEP for a recreational fishery in 
Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes, located along the Oregon Coast. As 
specified in the July 10, 2000, Endangered Species Act 4(d) rule for 
salmon and steelhead (65 FR 42422), NMFS may approve an FMEP if it 
meets criteria set forth in Sec.  223.203 (b)(4)(i)(A) through (I). 
Prior to final approval of an FMEP, NMFS must publish notification 
announcing its availability for public review and

[[Page 60916]]

comment. The notice of availability of this FMEP was published on 
August 29, 2003 (68 FR 51995). The comment period closed on September 
29, 2003.
    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. The proposed action is to approve the FMEP submitted 
by the ODFW. The proposed coho salmon fishery would occur in Siltcoos 
and Tahkenitch Lakes in years when returns are high and expected to 
exceed specified spawning escapement guidelines. In the draft EA 
currently available for public comment, NMFS considered the effects of 
this action on the physical, biological, and socioeconomic 
environments. NMFS is seeking public input on the scope of the required 
NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable alternatives and 
associated impacts of any alternatives.

    Dated: October 20, 2003.
Phil Williams,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26930 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S