[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 57 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15483-15488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5902]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB83


Marine Mammals; Pinniped Removal Authority; Partial Approval of 
Application

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces partial approval of an application from the 
States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to intentionally take, by 
lethal methods, individually identifiable California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) that prey on Pacific salmon and steelhead 
(Onchorhynchus spp.) listed as threatened or endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the Columbia River in Washington and 
Oregon. This authorization is pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act (MMPA). NMFS also announces availability of an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that 
analyzes impacts on the human environment from NMFS' authorization to 
the States to lethally remove California sea lions.

ADDRESSES: Documents and information on this topic are available at: 
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Seals-and-Sea-Lions or by making 
a request to Garth Griffin, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005, or Tom 
Eagle, (301) 713-2322, ext. 105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 120 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), as amended in 
1994, provides the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, the discretion to authorize the 
intentional lethal taking of individually identifiable pinnipeds that 
are having a significant negative impact on salmonids that are either: 
(1) listed under the ESA, (2) approaching a threatened or endangered 
status, or (3) migrate through the Ballard Locks in Seattle. The 
authorization applies only to pinnipeds that are not: (1) listed under 
the ESA, (2) designated as depleted, or (3) designated a strategic 
stock.
    The process for determining whether to implement the authority in 
section 120 commences with a state submitting an application that 
provides a detailed description of the interaction, the means of 
identifying the individual pinnipeds, and expected benefits of the 
taking. Within 15 days of receiving an application, NMFS must determine 
whether the applicant has produced sufficient evidence to warrant 
establishing a Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force (Task Force) to 
address the situation described in the application. If the application 
provides sufficient evidence, NMFS must publish a notice in the Federal 
Register requesting public comment on the application, and establish a 
task force consisting of:
    (1) NMFS/NOAA staff,
    (2) Scientists who are knowledgeable about the pinniped interaction 
that the application addresses,
    (3) Representatives of affected conservation and fishing community 
organizations,
    (4) Treaty Indian tribes,
    (5) The states, and
    (6) Such other organizations as NMFS deems appropriate.
    The Task Force must, to the maximum extent practicable, consist of 
an equitable balance among representatives of resource user interests 
and nonuser interests. Meetings of the Task Force must be open to the 
public. Within 60 days after establishment, and after reviewing public 
comments in response to the Federal Register document, the Task Force 
is to recommend to NMFS approval or denial of the state's application 
along with recommendations of the proposed location, time, and method 
of such taking, criteria for evaluating the success of the action, and 
the duration of the intentional lethal taking authority. The Task Force 
must also suggest non-lethal alternatives, if

[[Page 15484]]

available and practicable, including a recommended course of action. 
Within 30 days after receipt of the Task Force's recommendations, NMFS 
must either approve or deny the application. If such application is 
approved, NMFS must immediately take steps to implement the intentional 
lethal taking. The intentional lethal taking is to be performed by 
Federal or state agencies, or qualified individuals under contract to 
such agencies.
    On December 5, 2006, NMFS received an application from the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(ODFW) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 
(collectively referred to as the States), to authorize the intentional 
lethal taking of individually identifiable California sea lions that 
prey on ESA listed salmon and steelhead (salmonids) in the Columbia 
River below Bonneville Dam (Oregon and Washington Border, river mile 
146).
    NMFS, determined that the States' application provided sufficient 
evidence to warrant establishing a Task Force. On January 30, 2007 (72 
FR 4239), NMFS announced receipt of the States' application and 
solicited public comments on the application and any additional 
information that should be considered. On August 9, 2007 (72 FR 44833), 
NMFS announced establishment of the Task Force and provided information 
about its first public meeting. Convened in September 2007, the Task 
Force held three two-day meetings, which were open to the public, and 
during which it reviewed the States' application, public comments on 
the application, and other information related to sea lion predation on 
salmonids at Bonneville Dam. The Task Force completed and submitted its 
report to NMFS on November 5, 2007. Of the 18 Task Force members, all 
recommended that non-lethal sea lion deterrence measures continue. 
Seventeen of the eighteen members supported lethal removal of 
California sea lions while one member opposed the States' application 
and any lethal removal. Details of the Task Force recommendations are 
discussed in detail in the EA and their full report is available on 
NMFS's web page (see ADDRESSES).
    After receiving and reviewing the Task Force recommendations, NMFS 
developed a proposed action and a range of reasonable alternatives and 
evaluated the environmental impacts of the proposed action and 
alternatives in a draft EA under NEPA. The draft EA was made available 
for public comment for a 30-day public comment period. More than 3,500 
comments were received during the comment period, including comments 
from several Task Force member organizations (e.g., States, Tribes, 
Humane Society of the United States) and others including the Marine 
Mammal Commission and the Congressional office of Representative Doc 
Hastings.

Discussion

    In considering a state's request to lethally remove pinnipeds, NMFS 
is required, pursuant to section 120(b)(1), to determine that 
individually identifiable pinnipeds are having a significant negative 
impact on the decline or recovery of at-risk salmonid fishery stocks. 
The discussion that follows addresses NMFS' application of this 
standard to the facts at Bonneville Dam.

Significant Negative Impact

    Section 120 provides for the lethal removal of ``individually 
identifiable pinnipeds which are having a significant negative impact 
on the decline or recovery'' of at-risk salmonids. In its comments on 
the Task Force report, the Marine Mammal Commission recommended a two-
part test in which we would first determine whether pinnipeds 
collectively are having a significant negative impact on listed 
salmonids and next determine which pinnipeds are significant 
contributors to that impact and therefore may be authorized for 
removal. The application of this two-step test is reasonable in light 
of the statute's ambiguity and the specific facts and circumstances 
surrounding the proposal to lethally remove pinnipeds at Bonneville 
Dam. The subordinate clause ``which are having a significant negative 
impact'' modifies the plural noun ``pinnipeds,'' supporting the 
proposition that our inquiry is whether pinnipeds (plural) are having 
the described impact, not whether a specific individual is having the 
described impact. With that interpretation, once there is a finding 
that pinnipeds are having a significant negative impact, the task 
becomes one of identifying which of the individual pinnipeds are 
contributing to the impact (discussed below).
    In their application the States contend that pinniped predation at 
Bonneville Dam is significant for two reasons. First, ``it is a new, 
growing, and unmanageable source of mortality, while other sources of 
in-river mortality are actively managed and are stable or decreasing 
(e.g., through harvest reductions, fish passage and habitat 
improvements, and hatchery reform).'' Second, ``the hydromodification 
of the river has altered the natural predator-prey relationship to 
artificially favor predatory California sea lions.'' The States' 
section 120 application specifies that they do not contend ``that 
California sea lion predation is more significant than other sources of 
mortality to Columbia River ESA-listed salmonids, but simply that it is 
significant, and that it must be dealt with as are other sources of 
mortality.''
    The Task Force also considered whether pinniped predation at 
Bonneville Dam was having a significant negative impact. The Task Force 
was unable to agree on quantitative criteria to assist NMFS in defining 
``significant negative impact,'' but 17 of the 18 members agreed on the 
following set of factors for NMFS to consider:
    1. Whether pinnipeds are present at the same time that ESA listed 
salmonids are migrating;
    2. Whether data indicate that predation has increased beyond 
historic levels;
    3. Whether the problem is likely to persist over time if the impact 
remains unchecked; and
    4. Whether the mortality resulting from pinniped predation is 
comparable to other forms of in-river mortality that are currently 
being managed
    The Task Force outlined additional considerations for taking 
action:
    1. There is a comprehensive salmon recovery framework in place that 
includes multiple actions, monitoring, and evaluation;
    2. California sea lion predation should be addressed and its 
impacts evaluated in the context of other limiting factors (i.e., not 
on their own);
    3. Non-lethal hazing has been ineffective at reducing predation;
    4. The proposed level of lethal removal will have no long term 
negative impact on California sea lion populations;
    5. California sea lion abundance is within the range of OSP and at 
or near carrying capacity; and
    6. The problem is related to/resulting from human caused factors.
    Applying these factors and considerations, all but one member of 
the Task Force concluded that California sea lions are having a 
significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of Columbia 
Basin threatened and endangered salmonids. The dissenting member 
maintained that the level of pinniped predation at Bonneville Dam is 
not significant when considered in the context of other sources of 
mortality such as hydropower operations and harvest.

[[Page 15485]]

    NMFS agrees with the States and the majority of the Task Force 
members that collectively California sea lions at Bonneville Dam are 
having a significant negative impact on ESA listed salmon and steelhead 
species, based on information in the record and in particular on the 
following factors:
    1. The predation is measurable, growing, and could continue to 
increase if not addressed;
    2. The level of adult salmonid mortality is sufficiently large to 
have a measurable effect on the numbers of listed adult salmonids 
contributing to the productivity of the affected ESUs/DPSs; and
    3. The mortality rate for listed salmonids is comparable to 
mortality rates from other sources that have led to corrective action 
under the ESA.
    The number of listed and non-listed adult salmonids observed taken 
by California sea lions in the Bonneville Dam tailrace increased from 
2002 to 2007. The percentage of run taken in any given year varied due 
to run size. California sea lions took approximately 1,000 returning 
adult salmonids in 2002 (0.4 percent of that year's return) and 3,900 
in 2007 (4.2 percent of that year's return).
    The actual number of salmonids consumed is certainly larger than 
the numbers actually observed, since not all sea lions are observed nor 
are all predation events. NMFS calculated the potential consumption of 
salmonids based on the average number of California sea lions actually 
observed (86) and their bioenergetic needs. The calculation shows that 
86 California sea lions at the dam can consume up to 17,458 salmonids 
annually. Of these, up to 6,003 salmonids would be listed spring 
Chinook and up to 611 would be listed steelhead. Using the observed 
minimum rate of predation averaged over 2005-2007, and the estimated 
maximum potential predation rate, yields predation rates ranging from 
3.6 percent to 12.6 percent for listed spring Chinook and 3.6 percent 
to 22.1 percent for listed steelhead.
    In addition to salmonids actually observed being consumed or 
estimated as being consumed, observations of adult salmonids in the 
Bonneville Dam fishways reveal that a large proportion of salmonids are 
being injured by pinnipeds. The proportion of salmonids with pinniped 
scarring rose from 11 percent in 1999 to 37 percent in 2005. It is 
unknown how many of these injuries occurred at Bonneville Dam, or how 
many salmonids die from their injuries before spawning. These data 
nevertheless reveal a high rate of interaction between adult salmonids 
and pinnipeds generally.
    Available information suggests that pinniped predation could 
continue to increase at Bonneville Dam if not checked. The numbers of 
salmonids consumed increased by more than three times from 2002 to 
2007, in spite of non-lethal deterrence efforts. While these efforts 
may have slowed the rate of increase, an increase nevertheless 
occurred. The experience at Ballard Locks in Washington suggests that 
where human caused conditions cause adult salmonids to congregate and 
delay, California sea lions can effectively consume a majority of the 
salmonids present. While the area at Bonneville is larger than the area 
at Ballard Locks, the observed increase in predation over recent years 
suggests that predation can continue to increase in spite of non-lethal 
deterrence efforts.
    Both the observed and estimated mortality rates described above 
represent levels of mortality that can have a significant effect on the 
survival and recovery of the listed stocks. In preparing its biological 
opinion on the federal Columbia River power system, NMFS estimated the 
current survival rates for each of the listed salmonid ESUs/DPSs, and 
the survival improvements required to achieve a low likelihood of 
extinction. For Snake River spring/summer Chinook, needed survival 
improvements for different populations within the ESU range from no 
improvement to a fivefold improvement. Survival impacts on the order of 
those observed can measurably affect the survival improvements needed 
for many of these populations.
    The estimated mortality rates for listed salmonids from pinnipeds 
at Bonneville Dam are comparable to mortality rates from other sources 
that have led to corrective action under the ESA. Because the listed 
salmonids are subject to mortality from a variety of sources, NMFS has 
imposed reductions on all sources of mortality under section 7(a)(2) of 
the ESA, allocating those reductions based on the action's contribution 
to the historic decline of the species, the current magnitude of the 
mortality, the impact to other values (particularly the exercise of 
Indian treaty rights), and the feasibility of achieving the reduction. 
As an example, although harvest rates on Snake River and upper Columbia 
River spring Chinook were already restricted prior to ESA listing (from 
historical highs in excess of 40 percent to an average of 8 percent 
prior to listing), NMFS nevertheless required a harvest schedule that 
ensured harvest rates would remain low when the run size was depressed. 
At the time of listing harvest rates were limited to 4.1 percent for 
non-treaty fisheries and 7 percent in tribal fisheries. Following 
listing, through a sequence of ESA section 7 consultations, harvest 
impacts in non-treaty fisheries were reduced to a range of 1 percent to 
3 percent depending on run size. Tribal fisheries continued to be 
subject to a 7 percent limit largely in an effort to accommodate, to 
the degree possible, the tribes' treaty right to fish. In 2001, the 
parties to U.S. v. Oregon developed a more comprehensive abundance 
based harvest rate schedule that restricted fisheries further when the 
runs were particularly depressed, and allowed modest increases in 
harvest when run size was substantially higher.
    That harvest rate schedule is still in place and allows harvest to 
vary between 5.5 percent and 17 percent. Since 2001 when this harvest 
rate schedule was first implemented, the harvest rate has averaged 10.3 
percent reflecting the higher abundance observed particularly in the 
first part of this decade. Abundance has generally been lower since 
2005, and accordingly harvest as been reduced to just over 8 percent 
over the last three years. In contrast to a managed harvest regime, 
which can reduce mortality in response to decreased run sizes, pinniped 
predation has the potential to increase even when run sizes are 
depressed, magnifying the impact. This was the case from 2006 to 2007, 
when observed pinniped predation increased from 3,023 salmonids to 
3,859, even as the run size decreased from 105,063 to 88,474.
    Another example is the survival improvements sought from the 
federal Columbia River power system. In its draft biological opinion on 
operation of the hydropower system, NMFS included as a reasonable and 
prudent alternative a program to reduce northern pikeminnow predation 
on Snake River spring/summer Chinook sufficient to increase survival by 
a relative 1 percentage point and bird predation by 2 percentage points 
(NMFS 2007). The overall proportional survival improvement of 8 percent 
that NMFS is seeking from the hydropower system is made up of myriad 
actions that contribute fractions to the overall percentage. No single 
one of these mortality reductions will by itself recover listed 
salmonids. Rather, as with other actions, NMFS' approach is to seek 
reductions in all sources of mortality, with the goal of reducing 
overall mortality to the point that the species can survive and 
recover. In the draft biological opinion on the FCRPS, NMFS concludes 
that the accumulation

[[Page 15486]]

of proposed mortality reductions will measurably improve the chances of 
survival and recovery of all five of the ESUs/DPSs considered here.
    NMFS has placed a cap on the number of California sea lions that 
may be lethally removed either 1 percent of PBR or the number required 
to reduce the observed predation rate to 1 percent of the salmonid run 
at Bonneville Dam, whichever is lower. This criterion is not equivalent 
to a finding that a one percent predation rate represents a 
quantitative level of salmonid predation that is ``significant'' under 
section 120, and that less than one percent would no longer be 
significant. Rather, it is an independent limit on the numbers of sea 
lions that can be lethally removed to address the predation problem and 
is intended to balance the policy value of protecting all pinnipeds, as 
expressed in the MMPA, against the policy value of recovering 
threatened and endangered species, as expressed in the ESA. Similarly, 
limiting the numbers of California sea lions that may be removed to 1 
percent of PBR, as requested by the States, is intended to emphasize 
that the removal authority is for a small fraction of animals that can 
safely be taken from the population.
    The limited authorization given to the States will not eliminate 
pinniped predation in the lower Columbia River or at Bonneville Dam, 
but that is not a requirement of section 120 or of prudent wildlife 
management. The authorization to the States to remove a limited number 
of predatory California sea lions under carefully controlled 
circumstances will create an additional tool in our efforts to control 
a significant source of mortality for threatened and endangered 
Columbia River salmonids.

Individually Identifiable Pinnipeds Which are Having the Impact

    NMFS' authorization extends only to predatory animals with physical 
features distinguishing them from other pinnipeds (natural features, 
brands, or other applied marks), thus meeting the requirement that they 
be ``individually identifiable.'' To be considered predatory, an animal 
must (1) have been observed eating salmonids in the observation area 
below Bonneville Dam between January 1 and May 31 of any year, (2) have 
been observed in the observation area below Bonneville Dam on a total 
of any 5 days (consecutive days, days within a single season, or days 
over multiple years) between January 1 and May 31 of any year, and (3) 
be sighted in the observation area below Bonneville Dam after having 
been subjected to active non-lethal deterrence.
    An animal meeting all of these criteria has learned that the area 
contains a preferred prey item and is successful in pursuing it in that 
area (criterion 1), is persistent in pursuing that prey item (criteria 
2 and 3), and is not likely to be deterred from pursuing that prey item 
by non-lethal means (criterion 3). Given its success at obtaining prey 
in the area and its resistance to non-lethal deterrence efforts, such 
an animal has shown itself to be making a significant contribution to 
the pinniped predation problem at Bonneville Dam, and is not a naive 
animal that can be driven away from the area through non-lethal means. 
A list of animals presently identified as meeting these criteria is 
attached to the letter of authorization to the States, and the letter 
describes the process by which additional animals may be included on 
the list.

Consideration of Other Factors

    In considering whether to approve the States' application, NMFS and 
the Task Force are to consider several factors, enumerated above under 
``MMPA Section 120'' and discussed individually below.

Populations Trends and Feeding Habits of the Pinnipeds; Location, 
Timing and Manner of the Interaction; and Number of Pinnipeds Involved

    The United States stock of California sea lions is currently at or 
near carrying capacity with a population of about 238,000 animals. 
California sea lions are opportunistic feeders, feeding on a variety of 
fishes that are locally and seasonally abundant. In the Columbia River, 
California sea lions follow migrating salmonids as far as Bonneville 
Dam, where the fish concentrate prior to entering the fish ladders. For 
the period 2002 to 2007, almost 80 percent of the fish observed being 
eaten below Bonneville Dam were salmonids. Pinniped predation on 
salmonids occurs from mid-February through May 31.
    It is likely that more pinnipeds are present than are observed, 
since observations are recorded only from observation stations at the 
dam, observations do not occur at all hours, and only sea lions with 
distinguishing features are counted. The observation areas are large 
and poor weather conditions, murky and turbulent water, and heavy 
debris can make it difficult to identify animals that might only 
surface for seconds. Because of these limitations, the exact number of 
California sea lions arriving in the area each season is uncertain. For 
purposes of calculating the potential benefits to salmonid survival 
from removing California sea lions, NMFS used a conservative estimate 
that only 30 sea lions would be removed, given the limitations of the 
authorization (particularly the location of animals that may be 
removed) (NMFS 2008). At the same time, to ensure the analysis was 
adequately protective of the California sea lion population, NMFS 
evaluated impacts on the population of removing the full number 
authorized (1 percent of PBR, or 85 sea lions at current population 
abundance) (NMFS 2008).

Past Non-lethal Deterrence Efforts and Whether the Applicant Has 
Demonstrated That No Feasible and Prudent Alternatives Exist and That 
past Efforts Have Been Unsuccessful

    In 2006 and 2007 the Corps, NMFS, and the states of Oregon and 
Washington attempted to deter pinniped predation at Bonneville Dam 
using non-lethal methods. These included physical barriers and acoustic 
devices to keep sea lions out of fishways, and vessel chasing, 
underwater firecrackers, aerial pyrotechnics, and rubber bullets to 
chase sea lions away from the tailrace area immediately below the dam. 
Based on experience with non-lethal deterrence measures in 2006 and 
2007, NMFS has concluded that non-lethal methods may have reduced 
pinniped presence in the fishways but did not reduce pinniped predation 
on salmonids. This is reflected in the increased numbers of salmonids 
observed being eating by sea lions below the dam in 2007 compared with 
2006, notwithstanding the fact that fewer sea lions were observed. 
NMFS' conclusion is shared by the states and the Task Force. Non-lethal 
deterrence measures are currently not a feasible alternative to lethal 
removal. Although several of those who commented on the EA recommended 
that additional non-lethal methods be attempted instead of lethal 
removal, there are no additional known methods beyond those already 
tried. One manufacturer has proposed an electrified field to deter 
pinnipeds, but the technology is untested.

Extent to Which Such Pinnipeds Are Causing Undue Injury or Impact, or 
Imbalance With, Other Species in the Ecosystem, Including Fish 
Populations

    California sea lions are opportunistic feeders and consume many 
species other than salmonids. While salmonids are by far their primary 
prey at Bonneville Dam, California sea lions have also been observed 
consuming lamprey and shad. From 2002 through 2007, between 2.5 percent 
and 25.1 percent of all observed California sea lion takes were of 
lamprey. There is presently not enough evidence to

[[Page 15487]]

support a conclusion that this level of consumption represents undue 
injury or impact to lamprey at Bonneville Dam.
    For Steller sea lions, the primary prey item is sturgeon. The 
states have not requested authority to lethally remove Steller sea 
lions, which are listed as threatened under the ESA. Harbor seals are 
present in small numbers and the states have not requested authority to 
lethally remove these pinnipeds.

Extent to Which the Pinniped Behavior Presents an Ongoing Threat to 
Public Safety

    There is no evidence that pinnipeds in the area immediately below 
Bonneville Dam present a threat to public safety.

Terms and Conditions

    In accordance with section 120 of the MMPA, NMFS has approved the 
lethal taking of individually identifiable California sea lions preying 
on at-risk salmonid stocks below Bonneville Dam and sent the States a 
letter of authorization stipulating the conditions on the authorization 
for lethal removal. Lethal removal is authorized only if the States are 
in compliance with the following terms and conditions.
    1. The States may lethally remove individually identifiable 
predatory California sea lions that are having a significant negative 
impact on ESA-listed salmonids. NMFS considers California sea lions to 
be individually identifiable predatory California sea lions that are 
having a significant negative impact on ESA-listed salmonids if they 
display natural or applied features that allow them to be individually 
distinguished from other California sea lions and:
    a. have been observed eating salmonids in the ``observation area'' 
below Bonneville Dam between January 1 and May 31 of any year; and
    b. have been observed in the observation area below Bonneville Dam 
on a total of any 5 days (consecutives days, days within a single 
season, or days over multiple years) between January 1 and May 31 of 
any year; and
    c. are sighted in the observation area below Bonneville Dam after 
they have been subjected to active non-lethal deterrence.
    2. The California sea lions currently identified as meeting the 
description in paragraph 1 are included in an appendix to the letter of 
authorization. In consultation with the states, the NMFS Northwest 
Regional Administrator may periodically amend the list appended to the 
Letter of Authorization to accurately report those individuals that 
meet the description in paragraph 1 and, thus, are authorized for 
removal. Such amendments shall be in writing.
    3. The States may not lethally remove more than 1 percent of the 
potential biological removal level (PBR) annually. The current PBR for 
this population of California sea lions is 8,511. NMFS periodically 
revises the PBR of California sea lions as new information becomes 
available. Any revised PBR calculations would be reported in annual 
marine mammal stock assessment reports.
    4. The States shall appoint a standing Animal Care Committee (ACC), 
to be approved by NMFS, composed of qualified veterinarians and 
biologists to advise the States on protocols for capturing, holding, 
and euthanizing predatory sea lions.
    5. The States, in consultation with NMFS, will assume the lead role 
for the capture of predatory sea lions. Individually identifiable 
predatory sea lions that are captured in a trap must be held in a 
temporary holding facility approved by the ACC for at least 48 hours 
prior to being euthanized, pending a determination of the availability 
of NMFS pre-approved permanent holding facilities. Such sea lions may, 
in coordination with NMFS, be transferred to a NMFS pre-approved 
holding facility (research, zoo, aquarium) to be maintained in 
permanent captivity. If no pre-approved research, zoo, or aquarium 
facility is willing to accept an animal within 48 hours of its capture, 
the States may euthanize it. The method of euthanizing captured 
predatory sea lions must be approved by the ACC.
    6. Free-ranging individually identifiable predatory sea lions may 
be shot by a qualified marksman when hauled out on the concrete apron 
along the North side of Cascade Island, on the flow deflectors along 
the base of the dam's spillway, or in the water within 50 feet of the 
concrete apron or the face of the dam at power houses one and two. In 
all cases the marksman must shoot from land, the dam, or other 
shoreline structures. Potential options for lethal removal using 
firearms are: (1) the marksman may shoot sea lions at close range (less 
than 25 yards) using a shotgun loaded with a slug or 00 buckshot, when 
the animal is on shore; or (2) the marksman may shoot sea lions from 
the powerhouse deck or other shoreline area at ranges greater than 25 
yards using a hunting rifle with a minimum caliber of .240, when the 
animal is on shore or in the water as described above. Ammunition shall 
not contain lead.
    7. The States shall make all reasonable efforts to retrieve 
carcasses of animals that have been shot. The States shall monitor 
nearby downstream areas for stranded animals that have been shot but 
not retrieved immediately.
    8. Safety and security during lethal removal activities shall be 
provided by the States of Oregon and Washington in coordination with 
the Columbia Basin Law Enforcement Council. The States shall establish 
an Incident Command Center (ICC) during lethal removal activities. The 
ICC shall direct safety and security and provide a media interface. The 
ICC shall coordinate security and safety activities with the Corps of 
Engineers, the Coast Guard, and other agencies as necessary.
    9. The States shall notify the Corps of Engineers , Portland 
District, and the Project Manager at Bonneville Locks and Dam, prior to 
lethal removal operations. The ICC shall consult with the Corps 
regarding road closures or changes to visitation on Corps of Engineers 
property/dam facilities.
    10. The States shall ensure that the transfer or disposal of any 
carcasses is in accordance with applicable law. At NMFS' request and to 
the extent practicable the States shall make the carcasses, or tissues 
from them, of sea lions killed pursuant to this authorization available 
for use in scientific research or for educational purposes.
    11. The States shall report any permanent removals of predatory sea 
lions (either transferred to permanent captivity or lethally) to the 
Regional Adminstrator, NMFS Northwest Region, within 3 days following 
removal.
    12. The States shall develop and implement a monitoring plan to 
evaluate (1) the impacts of predation, (2) the effectiveness of non-
lethal deterrence, and (3) the effectiveness of permanent removal of 
individually identifiable predatory sea lions as a method to reduce 
adult salmonid mortality. To the extent practicable the States shall 
use data collected by the Corps or other agencies to help fulfill the 
monitoring requirement, avoid duplication of effort, and ensure data 
consistency across programs.
    13. The States shall submit monitoring reports to the Regional 
Administrator, NMFS Northwest Region, annually, on or before November 
1. The reports shall include a summary of actions taken to reduce 
predation (non-lethal and lethal), the States' compliance with the 
terms and conditions of this authorization, and plans for future 
actions in compliance with this authorization.

[[Page 15488]]

    14. The States shall periodically review observation data collected 
by the Corps Fisheries Field Unit to determine if additional 
individually identifiable California sea lions qualify as predatory (as 
defined in paragraph 1) and notify the NMFS Northwest Regional 
Administrator if any additional sea lions are identified. NMFS may 
amend the Appendix, as described in paragraph 2.
    15. After the third year of sea lion removals (in June of 2010), 
the States and NMFS shall review whether the average observed salmonid 
predation rate has fallen below 1 percent of the observed fish passage 
at the dam. If the Regional Administrator, NMFS Northwest Region 
determines that such predation rate has fallen below 1 percent, no 
lethal removal is authorized for the following year.
    16. This authorization may be modified or revoked by NMFS at any 
time with 72 hours notice.
    17. This authorization is valid until June 30, 2012, at which time 
it may be extended for an additional period of five years.
    Pursuant to MMPA section 120(c)(5), and after receipt of reports 
from the States covering the first three years of authorized activity, 
NMFS will reconvene the Task Force to evaluate the States' reports and 
the effectiveness of the actions and any lethal take. NMFS will 
consider the reports, the Task Force recommendations, and the issues 
set out in section 120(c) of the MMPA, and may modify the authorization 
and conditions for the coming year(s), or revoke the authorization for 
lethal take.
    NMFS requests that the States continue to cooperate in the pursuit 
of alternative technologies or methods to reduce California sea lion 
predation on salmonids in order to reduce the number of permanent 
removals of sea lions to the extent practicable. Additionally, if 
resources are available, the States are encouraged to monitor pinniped 
impacts on salmonids elsewhere in the lower Columbia River.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    NEPA requires that Federal agencies conduct an environmental 
analysis of their actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
environment. Depending on the action and whether the impacts to the 
environment would be significant, Federal agencies may prepare and EA 
or environmental impact statement. When NMFS announced its intention to 
convene a Task Force, it advised the public that it would conduct the 
necessary analysis under NEPA. Prior to convening the first Task Force 
meeting, NMFS conducted internal scoping under NEPA. Based on 
information in the States' application and public comments received on 
that application, NMFS concluded the appropriate level of analysis was 
an EA. After receiving and reviewing the Task Force recommendations, 
NMFS developed a proposed action, a range of reasonable alternatives 
and evaluated the environmental impacts of the proposed action in a 
draft EA. The proposed action, which NMFS has determined is the 
agency's preferred alternative is the partial approval of the States' 
section 120 application for lethal removal of California sea lions at 
Bonneville Dam, under certain conditions.
    The draft EA was made available for public comment for 30 days. 
More than 3,500 comments were received during the public comment 
period, including comments from several Task Force member organizations 
(e.g., States, Tribes, Humane Society of the United States) and others 
including the Marine Mammal Commission, and Congressional office of 
Representative Doc Hastings.
    After reviewing public comments on the draft EA, NMFS has completed 
its evaluation of the environmental consequences of the proposed action 
and concluded that it will not result in any significant impacts on the 
human environment and, therefore, has made a finding of no significant 
Impact (FONSI). The draft EA, EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance 
with NEPA and implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508 and NOAA Administrative Order 216-6.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

    Pursuant to section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS 
conducted an essential fish habitat consultation on its decision to 
partially approve the States' application. NMFS determined that lethal 
removal activities would not result in adverse effects to freshwater 
EFH for Chinook and coho salmon.

    Dated: March 17, 2008.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5902 Filed 3-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S