[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 704-705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28538]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XR085]


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 a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan 
(HGMP) for public comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (WDFW) and Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County 
(Douglas PUD) have provided a HGMP pursuant to the protective 
regulations promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The HGMP describes the release of one 
million summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. This document 
serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP for comment 
prior to a decision by NMFS on whether to approve the proposed hatchery 
program.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. P.S.T. on February 6, 2020. Comments 
received after this date may not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Written responses to the addendum should be addressed to the 
NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
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 Wells Summer 
Chinook Hatchery Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Preston at (503) 231-2178 or 
by email at [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

 Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha): Endangered, naturally produced and artificially 
propagated
 Upper Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, 
naturally produced and artificially propagated

Background

    The HGMP submitted by WDFW and Douglas PUD describes the release of 
one million subyearling summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. 
The HGMP was submitted to NMFS for review under ESA Limit 5 of the 4(d) 
Rule. Douglas PUD's existing production of summer Chinook includes 
320,000 yearlings and 484,000 subyearling Chinook. These two programs 
are implemented under the terms and conditions of ESA Section 
10(a)(1)(B) Permit No. 23193. The HGMP describes broodstock collection, 
incubation, rearing, release, and monitoring and evaluation.
    This increase in summer Chinook salmon production is proposed to 
support Washington State's Southern Resident Orca Task Force 
recommendation to increase the abundance of Chinook salmon in marine 
waters of Washington State.
    Prior to approving an HGMP under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule, NMFS 
must publish notification announcing the availability of the HGMP for 
public review and comment.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.


[[Page 705]]


    Dated: December 31, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-28538 Filed 1-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P