[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3400-3401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1249]


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PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRIC POWER AND CONSERVATION PLANNING COUNCIL


Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council Subbasin Plan 
Draft Amendments

AGENCY: Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning 
Council (Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Council).

ACTION: Notice of availability and opportunity to comment on subbasin 
plan draft amendments to the Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and 
Wildlife Program (program).

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SUMMARY: Following the mandate set out in the Pacific Northwest 
Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 839 et 
seq.) (the Act), in November 1982 the Council adopted a regional 
program, the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Act 
requires the program be designed to protect, mitigate and enhance fish 
and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin affected by hydropower dams, 
while also assuring the region of an adequate, efficient, economical 
and reliable power supply.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2000, the Council began a comprehensive 
revision of the program. First, the Council amended the program by 
adopting a framework of vision, objectives and strategies at different 
geographic scales (basinwide, ecological province, subbasin), tied 
together with a consistent scientific foundation. The Council also 
adopted basinwide provisions and described how it proposed to add more 
specific objectives and measures to the program through integrated 
subbasin plans for the tributary subbasins of the Columbia and for 
specific mainstem reaches. The draft amendments now proposed for 
adoption will add subbasin plans to the general, basinwide provisions 
of the program as the next step in the comprehensive revision.
    On August 12, 2002, the Council solicited recommendations for 
amendments to the program at the subbasin level from the region's state 
and federal fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, and others, as 
required by the Act. At the same time, the Council worked with a broad 
range of interests in the region and developed a ``Technical Guide for 
Subbasin Planners'' to help ensure that plans had a consistent format 
and content. The Council also worked with the Bonneville Power 
Administration to secure funding support for planning groups, the first 
time that funding has been made available to help develop fish and 
wildlife program amendment recommendations. Subbasin planners were 
asked to develop subbasin plans that incorporate a technical 
assessment, an inventory of past and present activities, and a 
management plan consisting of a vision, biological objectives and 
implementation strategies for the subbasin.
    On May 28, 2004, the Council received 59 recommendations for 
subbasin plans in 58 subbasins from various planning entities. The 
Council made those recommendations available for public review and 
comment, including review by a team of independent scientists. The 
public comment period on the recommendations ended on August 12, 2004. 
The Council received an extensive set of comments. The Council staff 
and Council also reviewed the plans during the comment period for 
consistency with standards in the Act for program amendments and with 
the provisions in the 2000 Program.
    After its review of the recommendations and the comments on 
recommenda tions, the Council divided the recommended subbasin plans 
into three groups for consideration as amendments to the Council's fish 
and wildlife program. From October to December 2004, the Council 
engaged in public review of the first set of draft subbasin plans, 
deciding in December 2004 to adopt plan for 23 subbasin plans into the 
program.
    At same time, as its December 2004 meeting the Council decided to 
release a second set of 29 subbasin plan recommendations for public 
review as draft amendments to the program. The Council proposes to 
adopt the management plan portions of these subbasin plans as parts of 
the program. The underlying technical assessments and inventories will 
be placed in an appendix to the program. The Columbia subbasins for 
which draft subbasin plans are now proposed for adoption into the 
program are: Boise, Burnt, Clearwater, Columbia Estuary, Cowlitz, 
Deschutes Elochoman, Entiat, Grays, Imnaha, Kalama, Klickitat, Lewis, 
Little White Salmon, Lower Columbia, Lower Mid-Columbia, Lower Mid-
Snake, Methow, Okanogan, Payette, Powder, Snake Hells Canyon, Upper 
Mid-Snake, Walla Walla, Washougal, Weiser, Wenatchee, Wind, Yakima.

Public Comments and Hearings

    The Council has scheduled public hearings in the following 
locations to accept oral and written comments on the 29 draft subbasin 
plan program amendments:

[[Page 3401]]

    First hearing: Boise, Thursday, January 6 (Boise, Payette, Weiser, 
Powder, Burnt, Upper and Lower Mid-Snake).
    Second hearing: Clarkston, Wednesday, January 12 (Clearwater, 
Imnaha, Snake Hells Canyon, Walla Walla).
    Third hearing: Vancouver, Tuesday, January 18 in conjunction with 
the Council meeting (Lower Columbia, Columbia Estuary).
    Fourth hearing: Hood Rover, Monday, January 24 (Deschutes, 
Klickitat, Little White Salmon, Lower Mid-Columbia, Wind).
    Fifth hearing: Wenatchee, Wednesday, January 26 (Entiat, Methow, 
Okanagon, Wenatchee, Yakima).
    Sixth hearing: Kalispell, Wednesday, January 27 (any subbasin).
    See specific locations and schedules at www.subbasins.org. Check 
this link regularly, as we will post any updated information there. 
Public comment period for the above plans closes on January 31, 2005.
    The Council will consider all comments received on the draft 
program amendments as it decides whether to adopt them as amendments to 
the program. The Council tentatively has scheduled the decision on 
program adoption of these 29 subbasin plans at its February 2005 
meeting in Portland. For precise times and locations, please contact 
the Council's central office or consult the Council's web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like a copy of the 
Subbasin Plan Draft Amendments on a compact disc or in printed form, 
please contact the Council's central office. The Council's address in 
851 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon 97204 and its 
telephone numbers are 503-222-5161: 800-452-5161. The Council's FAX 
number is 503-820-2370. The Subbasin Plan Draft Amendments are also 
fouind on the Council's Web site: www.nwcouncil.org.
    If you are submitting comments on the draft amendments, please note 
prominently which subbasin plan you are commenting on and address them 
to Mr. Mark Walker, Director of Public Affairs. Comments may be 
submitted by mail, by facsimile transmission (FAX), or by electronic 
mail at: [email protected]. All comments must be received by 5 
p.m. on January 31, 2005.

Stephen L. Crow,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 05-1249 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M