[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2853-2854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-928]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011105A]


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 ; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received applications for 
direct take of listed species from the Idaho Department of Fish and 
Game and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The Permit 
applications are for the direct take of listed Snake River sockeye 
salmon, associated with the operation of a captive propagation program. 
The proposed permits will renew and replace permits 1120 and 1148. The 
duration of the new permits is approximately 5 years, expiring on 
December 31, 2009. This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability for comment of the permit applications and of the 
associated draft EA before a final decision on whether to issue a 
Finding of No Significant Impact is made by NMFS. All comments received 
will become part of the public record and will be available for review 
pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

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 standard time on February 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for copies of the applications 
and draft EA should be addressed to Herb Pollard, Salmon Recovery 
Division, 10095 W. Emerald, Boise, ID 83704, or faxed to (208) 378-
5699. Comments on this draft EA may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox 
address for providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include 
in

[[Page 2854]]

the subject line the following document identifier: ``Sockeye captive 
propagation permits assessment''. The documents are also available on 
the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/10permits/. Comments received 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours by calling (208) 378-5614.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Herb Pollard, Boise, Idaho, at phone 
number (208) 378-5614 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the following 
species and evolutionarily significant unit (ESU):
    Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): endangered Snake River.

Background

    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. NMFS expects to take action on two ESA section 
10(a)(1)(A) submittals received from the applicants. Therefore, the 
Service is seeking public input on the scope of the required NEPA 
analysis, including the range of reasonable alternatives and associated 
impacts of any alternatives.
    The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Northwest Fisheries 
Science Center have each submitted an application for a section 
10(a)(1)(A) research/enhancement permit for continued operation of the 
Redfish Lake Sockeye Salmon Captive Propagation program. The two 
permits would authorize activities that are part of the same project.
    The objectives of the proposal are to increase the abundance of the 
listed population through artificial propagation and to serve as a 
safety net to prevent extinction of the Snake River Sockeye Salmon 
Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), which is listed as endangered 
under the ESA. The artificial propagation action would include 
maintenance of the Snake River sockeye salmon broodstock in captivity 
in several locations, collection and spawning of adult sockeye salmon 
returning to the Snake River basin, rearing of the juveniles, and use 
of the juvenile and adult fish in carefully designed release strategies 
that include captive propagation, smolt releases, and natural spawning 
releases. The action would include conditions to minimize adverse 
effects on the ESU, including use of prudent fish husbandry practices 
and standard hatchery protocols to ensure health and survival of the 
program fish, selection of eggs and juveniles in a manner designed to 
represent to the greatest extent possible the entire genetic spectrum 
of the founding population, and the conduct of spawning ground surveys 
to estimate natural spawning escapement and to determine the affects of 
captive-reared fish on spawner distribution and behavior.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

    The EA package includes a draft EA evaluating whether the potential 
effects of issuing the new take permits is a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, with the 
meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended. Three Federal action alternatives have been 
analyzed in the draft EA: (1) The no action alternative; (2) issue a 
permit with conditions; and (3) issue a permit without conditions. NEPA 
requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis of their 
proposed action to determine if the action may affect the human 
environment. NMFS expects to take action on the ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) 
submittals received from the applicants. Therefore, 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. The general effects on the environment considered include 
the impacts on the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments 
of the Snake River Basin, particularly in the Stanley Basin lakes in 
which the program is located.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA and 
the NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). NMFS will evaluate the 
applications, associated documents, and comments submitted thereon to 
determine whether the application meets the requirements of the NEPA 
regulations and section 10(a) of the ESA. If it is determined that the 
requirements are met, the permits will be issued for take of ESA-listed 
anadromous salmonids under the jurisdiction of NMFS. The final NEPA and 
permit determinations will not be completed until after the end of the 
30-day comment period, and will fully consider all public comments 
received during the comment period. NMFS will publish a record of its 
final action in the Federal Register.

    Dated: January 11, 2005.
Phil Williams,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-928 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
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