[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53104-53105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21589]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[0648-XR054]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan 
for public comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a Hatchery and 
Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) outlining a program rearing and 
releasing Type-N coho salmon in the Columbia River Estuary, operated by 
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), pursuant to 
Limit 5 of

[[Page 53105]]

the NMFS Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 4(d) Rule for salmon and 
steelhead. This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability and opportunity to comment on the HGMP.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on November 4, 2019. 
Comments received after this date may not be considered.

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 comment the following identifier: Comments on 
Elochoman/Beaver Creek Hatchery program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Archibald at (503) 230-5425 or 
by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha): threatened, naturally and artificially propagated;
     Lower Columbia River Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch): 
threatened, naturally and artificially propagated;
     Lower Columbia River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): 
threatened, naturally and artificially propagated;
     Lower Columbia River Chum (Oncorhynchus keta): endangered, 
naturally and artificially propagated.

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 make exceptions to the take prohibitions 
in section 9 of the ESA for hatchery programs that are approved by NMFS 
under Limit 5 of section 4(d) of the ESA (50 CFR 223.203(b)).
    The operator, WDFW, submitted an HGMP to NMFS pursuant to NMFS' 
4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead for the Elochoman Type-N coho salmon 
hatchery program in the Columbia River Estuary.
    NMFS has evaluated the operations of this proposed coho salmon 
program for its effects on ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations 
in the Columbia River, as part of its 2017 Mitchell Act Biological 
Opinion, and found that the operations of the program would not 
jeopardize listed species or adversely modify their designated critical 
habitat.
    Approving the HGMP under Limit 5 of the 4(d) rule would limit 
application of take prohibitions for ESA-listed salmon and steelhead 
associated with the operation of the program. Prior to HGMP approval 
and the drafting of a decision memo, NOAA Fisheries is seeking public 
review and comment on the HGMP.
    The program is intended to contribute to the survival and recovery 
of Lower Columbia River coho salmon in the Columbia River Estuary, and 
enhance fishing opportunity for tribal, commercial, and recreational 
fisheries.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

    Dated: September 30, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-21589 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
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