[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53892-53893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20157]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 083004A]


Notice of Intent to Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement on the Funding and Operation of Columbia 
River Hatcheries

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is currently developing options for funding and operation 
of Columbia River basin hatcheries consistent with the Mitchell Act, 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), treaty Indian trust responsibilities, and 
broader NMFS objectives for sustainable salmon fisheries under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). This activity is a major Federal action significantly 
effecting the environment and, therefore must comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, (NEPA). NMFS will be the lead agency 
undertaking the NEPA process for the allocation and distribution of 
Federal funding authorized by the Mitchell Act for Columbia River basin 
hatcheries through preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS). NMFS provides this notice to: advise other agencies and the 
public of its intent to prepare an EIS; and obtain suggestions and 
information on the scope of issues and alternatives to include in the 
EIS.

DATES: Written scoping comments are encouraged and should be received 
at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 
5 p.m. Pacific time on December 2, 2004. If the response to this Notice 
indicates there is a need, one or more public scoping meetings will be 
held. NMFS will notify the public of the time, date, and location of 
the meeting(s) in a subsequent Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for information related to 
preparation of the EIS, requests for public meetings, or requests to be 
added to the mailing list for this project, to Allyson Ouzts, NMFS 
Northwest Regional Office, 525 N.E. Oregon Street, Suite 510, Portland, 
OR 97232; facsimile (503) 872-2737. Comments may be submitted by e-mail 
to the following address: [email protected]. In the subject 
line of the e-mail, include the document identifier: Mitchell Act 
Hatchery EIS. Comments and materials received will be available for 
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allyson Ouzts at 503-736-4736. In 
addition, further information on the Mitchell Act hatchery program may 
be found at: www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mitchell Act (16 U.S.C. 755 et seq.), 
which was approved by Congress on May 11, 1938 (Public Law 75-502) and 
amended on August 8, 1946 (Public Law 79-676), provides authority for 
the funding, operation, and maintenance of hatcheries in the Columbia 
River basin in the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. NMFS 
administers funds appropriated for the Mitchell Act program by Congress 
and provides annual funding to states, tribes, and other Federal 
agencies for the operation of Columbia River salmon and steelhead 
hatchery programs. Funds are used for salmon and steelhead production, 
monitoring, reform, and associated scientific investigations. Salmon 
and steelhead produced in these hatcheries are for harvest in the 
Columbia River basin and ocean fisheries consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, treaty Indian trust responsibilities, and Court decisions 
(e.g. U.S. v. Oregon). Under the ESA, NMFS must ensure that hatchery 
operations in the Columbia River Basin do not jeopardize the survival 
and recovery of ESA listed salmon or steelhead. Potential ESA 
evaluations include section 7 consultations, section 10 permits, and 
determinations under NMFS' 4(d) Rule (July 10, 2000, 65 FR 42422). 
Consequently, NMFS must take two connected actions: (1) Allocate and 
distribute Mitchell Act funds for Columbia River hatchery operations; 
and, (2) make ESA determinations on the operation of Mitchell Act 
hatchery programs.
    NMFS is seeking public input on the scope of the proposed action, 
including the range of reasonable alternatives and the associated 
impacts of any alternatives. Alternatives evaluated in the EIS may 
include: (1) current operation and funding of Mitchell Act hatchery 
programs (i.e., No Action Alternative); (2) where feasible, a 
conversion of hatchery programs currently operated to augment harvest 
into programs designed to aid in recovery of ESA listed salmon and 
steelhead; (3) movement of some hatchery production to areas upstream 
to accommodate different fisheries; (4) a change in the numbers and 
species of salmon and steelhead produced; and (5) an emphasis on 
maximizing the numbers of harvestable fish in certain areas.
    Currently, most funds provided through the Mitchell Act support 
hatcheries located downstream of The Dalles Dam. However, NMFS will 
analyze the use of funds for hatchery production throughout the 
Columbia River basin in various alternatives. As a result, all counties 
with tributaries to the Columbia River that could support salmon and 
steelhead production may be affected by the proposed action. In Oregon, 
these counties include: Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood 
River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Yamhill, Washington, 
Polk, Marion, Benton, Linn, Lane, Wheeler, Union, Baker, Wallowa, and 
Grant Counties. In Washington, these counties include: Pacific, 
Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, 
Asotin, Columbia, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima, Kittitas, Chelan, 
Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties. In Idaho, these counties 
include: Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, Valley, Lemhi, 
Custer, and Adams Counties.
    The EIS will evaluate, to the extent possible, the effects of each 
alternative on the following resources: fish, wildlife, water quality, 
economic benefits, environmental justice, and tribal subsistence and 
ceremonial fisheries. In addition, each alternative will be analyzed in 
terms of estimated costs for implementation and benefits to fisheries 
and recovery of salmon. The Preferred Alternative will be identified

[[Page 53893]]

at the earliest possible time in the EIS process as stipulated by 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations. The Preferred Alternative 
will identify a proposed plan for funding and operation of Mitchell Act 
hatchery programs after considering funding availability, consistency 
with the ESA, potential impacts on environmental resources, and broader 
objectives for harvest and/or conservation.
    ESA listed species under NMFS jurisdiction that may potentially be 
affected by the proposed action include: Lower Columbia River Chinook 
Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Upper Willamette River Chinook 
Salmon (O. tshawytscha); Upper Columbia River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon 
(O. tshawytscha); Snake River Spring/Summer-Run Chinook Salmon (O. 
tshawytscha); Snake River Fall-Run Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha); 
Snake River Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka); Columbia River Chum Salmon (O. 
keta); Lower Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss); Upper Willamette 
River Steelhead (O. mykiss); Middle Columbia River Steelhead (O. 
mykiss); Upper Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss); and, Snake River 
Basin Steelhead (O. mykiss). ESA listed species regulated by the U. S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service that may potentially be affected by the 
proposed action include bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and bald 
eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
ensure that the EIS considers the full range of related issues and 
alternatives to the proposed action. NMFS requests that comments be as 
specific as possible. In particular, NMFS requests information 
regarding: other possible alternatives; the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts that implementation of the proposed plan could have 
on endangered and threatened species and their communities and 
habitats; potential adaptive management and/or monitoring provisions; 
funding issues; baseline environmental conditions in counties that may 
be affected; other plans or projects that might be relevant to this 
proposed project; and potential methods to minimize and mitigate for 
impacts.
    Written comments concerning the proposed action and its 
environmental review should be directed to NMFS as described above (see 
ADDRESSES). All comments and materials received, including names and 
addresses, will be made available to the public upon request.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), National Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1500 
1508), NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, and other appropriate Federal 
laws and regulations.

    Dated: August 30, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20157 Filed 9-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S