[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14433]



[[Page 35318]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD342


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 
supplemental environmental assessment under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of the potential effects of the operation of five 
Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (plans) specifying the 
propagation of five species of salmon and steelhead in the Elwha River 
of Washington state. The plans were prepared and submitted jointly by 
the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (WDFW). All comments and other information received will 
become part of the public record and will be available for review 
pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

DATES: Comments and other submissions must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 
Pacific time on July 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the draft supplemental environmental 
assessment should be sent to Allyson Purcell, National Marine Fisheries 
Services, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments may also be submitted by email 
to: [email protected]. Include in the subject line of the 
email comment the following identifier: Comments on the Elwha 
Hatcheries Assessment. When commenting on the draft supplemental 
environmental assessment, please refer to the specific page number and 
line number of the subject of your comment. Comments may also be sent 
via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737. Requests for copies of the draft 
supplemental environmental assessment should be directed to the 
National Marine Fisheries Services, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. The 
documents are also available on the Internet at 
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov. Comments received will also be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours by calling (503) 230-5418.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allyson Purcell at (503) 736-4736 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): endangered, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Upper Columbia River spring-run.
    Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Upper Columbia.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the 
``taking'' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term 
``take'' is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage 
in any such conduct. NMFS may issue permits to take listed species for 
any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to 
enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species, under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. NMFS regulations governing permits for 
threatened and endangered species are promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307.
    The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the WDFW submitted plans to NMFS 
for five jointly operated hatchery programs in the Elwha River basin. 
The plans were submitted pursuant to limit 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule for 
the listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon evolutionarily significant unit 
(ESU) and listed Puget Sound steelhead distinct population segment 
(DPS). Two of the hatchery programs release ESA-listed Chinook salmon 
and steelhead, and three hatchery programs release non-ESA listed coho, 
fall chum, and pink salmon into the Elwha River watershed. All of the 
programs are currently operating, and all five hatchery programs raise 
fish native to the Elwha River basin. The current draft supplemental 
environmental assessment was prepared to more clearly describe the 
potential effects of an alternative involving production levels 
substantially reduced from those described in the plans.

Authority

    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis 
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the 
human environment. 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.

    Dated: June 16, 2014.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14433 Filed 6-19-14; 8:45 am]
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