[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35101-35102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15517]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR005


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment, 
Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determinations, and Hatchery and 
Genetic Management Plans

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

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment period on a draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA), three Proposed Evaluation and 
Determination Documents (PEPDs), and four Hatchery and Genetic 
Management Plans (HGMPs) for proposed hatchery programs operated by the 
Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), and 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The extended comment 
period closes on August 28, 2019.

DATES: Written or electronic scoping comments must be received at the 
appropriate address or email mailbox (see ADDRESSES) on or before 
August 28, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the NMFS Sustainable 
Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Portland, OR 97232. Comments 
may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for providing email 
comments is: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line of the email the following identifier: Comments on Snake River 
hatchery programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emi Kondo, NMFS West Coast Region, 
telephone: 503-736-4739, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha):

[[Page 35102]]

    [cir] Snake River Fall-run (O. tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally 
and artificially propagated;
    [cir] Snake River Spring/Summer run: Threatened, naturally and 
artificially propagated;
     Snake River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally 
and artificially propagated; and
     Snake River Sockeye (O. nerka): Endangered, naturally and 
artificially propagated.

Background

    Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (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 make 
exceptions to the take prohibitions in section 9 of the ESA for 
programs that are approved by NMFS under section 4(d) of the ESA (50 
CFR 223.203(b)).
    On Friday, June 28, 2019, NMFS published notice of the availability 
and opportunity to comment on a draft EA, three PEPDs, and four HGMPs 
on the proposed hatchery programs that are intended to contribute to 
the survival and recovery of Snake River Spring/summer Chinook salmon 
and Snake River steelhead in the Snake River Basin, and enhance fishing 
opportunity.
    NMFS provided notice to advise other agencies and the public of the 
availability of these documents (84 FR 31049, June 28, 2019) and 
requested comments be received by July 29, 2019. In response, NMFS 
received requests from 5 entities for additional time to submit 
comments on the documents. NMFS has decided to extend the public 
comment period on the notice of review by 30 days to Wednesday, August 
28, 2019, to allow opportunity for the public to review additional 
information on this project, available on the NMFS West Coast Region 
website: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/salmon_steelhead/puget_sound_fisheries.html.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; and 
Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A, 82 FR 4306.

    Dated: July 17, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-15517 Filed 7-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P