[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04840]



[[Page 13434]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF258


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of hatchery plans and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (ODFW) has submitted two Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans 
(HGMPs), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has 
submitted eight HGMPs, pursuant to the protective regulations 
promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). The two ODFW HGMPs describe hatchery programs 
rearing chum salmon in Big Creek and steelhead in the Clackamas River 
subbasin within the State of Oregon. The eight WDFW HGMPs describe 
hatchery programs that release fall chinook salmon, coho salmon, and 
winter and summer steelhead into Washington tributaries of the Columbia 
River below Bonneville Dam. This document serves to notify the public 
of the availability of the HGMPs for comment prior to a decision by 
NMFS whether to approve the proposed hatchery programs.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on April 
12, 2017.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments on the application should be addressed to 
the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, or faxed to 503-872-2737. Comments may 
be submitted by email to: [email protected]. Include 
in the subject line of the email comment the following identifier: 
Comments on ODFW's and WDFWs hatchery plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Turner, at phone number: (503) 
736-4737, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Columbia River.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Pacific eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): Threatened, naturally 
produced southern distinct population segment.
    ODFW has submitted to NMFS two HGMPs describing hatchery programs 
that release chum salmon into Big Creek and adjacent tributaries and 
winter steelhead into the Clackamas River in a manner that is intended 
to comply with requirements of the ESA under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. 
WDFW has submitted to NMFS eight HGMPs describing hatchery programs 
that release fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and winter and summer 
steelhead into Washington tributaries of the Columbia River below 
Bonneville Dam in a manner that is intended to comply with requirements 
of the ESA under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. The ODFW HGMPs specify the 
operations of two hatchery programs rearing chum salmon in Big Creek 
and steelhead in the Clackamas River subbasins within the State of 
Oregon. The WDFW HGMPs specify the operations of eight hatchery 
programs--two programs rearing fall Chinook salmon in the North Fork 
Toutle River and the Washougal River, two programs rearing winter and 
summer steelhead in the Kalama River, and four programs rearing coho 
salmon in the Grays River, Elochoman River, North Fork Toutle River, 
and the Washougal River. The Elochoman River program is a new program 
while the other programs are currently ongoing.
    The programs are designed to meet mitigation responsibilities 
related to impacts from development in Columbia River Basin by 
providing hatchery fish to support reintroduction of chum salmon, 
recovery of fall Chinook salmon and coho salmon, and to provide fishing 
opportunities for fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, winter steelhead, 
and summer steelhead while minimizing potential risks to natural-origin 
Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead 
populations, consistent with NMFS' Lower Columbia River Salmon and 
Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan.
    As specified in the July 10, 2000, ESA 4(d) rule for salmon and 
steelhead (65 FR 42422) and updated June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37160), NMFS 
may approve an HGMP if it meets criteria set forth in 50 CFR 
223.203(b)(5)(i)(A) through (K). Prior to final approval of an HGMP, 
NMFS must publish notification announcing its availability for public 
review and comment.

Authority

    Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary of Commerce is required 
to adopt such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of species listed as threatened. The ESA salmon and 
steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422; July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 
37160; June 28, 2005) specifies categories of activities that 
contribute to the conservation of listed salmonids and sets out the 
criteria for such activities. Limit 5 of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 
223.203(b)(5)) further provides that the prohibitions of paragraph (a) 
of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(a)) do not apply to activities 
associated with artificial propagation programs provided that an HGMP 
has been approved by NMFS to be in accordance with the salmon and 
steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 
37160, June 28, 2005).

Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04840 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P