[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48125-48126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18440]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB362]


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 draft environmental assessment and 
proposed evaluation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received five plans for 
hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook salmon, coho salmon, 
and sockeye salmon in the Lake Washington basin. The plans describe 
hatchery programs operated by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This document serves 
to notify the public of the availability and opportunity to comment on 
a draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Evaluation and 
Determination document on the proposed hatchery plans.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on September 27, 2021. 
Comments received after this date may not be considered.

ADDRESSES: 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 Lake Washington hatchery programs. The 
documents available for public comment can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/five-hatchery-programs-lake-washington-basin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chant[eacute] Davis at (503) 231-2307 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 48126]]

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened, 
naturally and artificially propagated;
     Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally and 
artificially propagated;

Background

    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. The ESA prohibits the take of 
endangered salmonids and, pursuant to ESA section 4(d), ESA regulations 
can be extended to prohibit the take of threatened salmonids. However, 
NMFS may make exceptions to the take prohibitions for hatchery programs 
that are approved by NMFS under the limits on the prohibitions outlined 
in 50 CFR 223.203(b). The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and WDFW have 
submitted hatchery plans to NMFS pursuant to the ESA 4(d) rule for 
salmon and steelhead. The hatchery programs are intended to contribute 
to the survival and recovery of Puget Sound Chinook Salmon, provide 
information on exploitation rates, and support returns of coho salmon, 
Chinook salmon, and sockeye salmon to the Lake Washington basin.

Authority

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

    Dated: August 23, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18440 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P