[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 12116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04516]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB818]


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 Proposed Evaluation and Pending 
Determination for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received seven plans for 
hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook salmon, coho salmon, 
and chum salmon in the Snohomish River basin. The plans describe 
hatchery programs operated by the Tulalip Tribes and Washington 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This document serves to notify 
the public of the availability and opportunity to comment on a Proposed 
Evaluation and Determination Documents (PEPD) on the proposed hatchery 
programs.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on April 4, 2022. 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 Snohomish River hatchery programs. The document 
available for public comment are available on the internet at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/hatchery-plans-chinook-coho-and-chum-salmon-snohomish-river-basin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morgan Robinson at (253) 307-2670 or 
by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice

     Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): 
Threatened, naturally and artificially propagated.
     Puget Sound 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 operators, including the Tulalip Tribes and 
WDFW, have submitted HGMPs to NMFS pursuant to NMFS' limit six of the 
4(d) Rule of the ESA for hatchery activities in the Snohomish River 
basin, Washington.
    The hatchery programs are designed to contribute to the survival 
and recovery of Skykomish River summer Chinook salmon and Skykomish 
River chum salmon. These hatchery programs are intended to contribute 
to fulfilling federal tribal trust responsibilities and treaty rights 
guaranteed through treaties and affirmed in U.S. v. Washington (1974) 
by enhancing fishing opportunities for Chinook, coho, and chum salmon. 
Included in these hatchery plans is research and monitoring activities 
to study the effect of these programs on the recovery of Puget Sound 
Chinook salmon and steelhead.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.

    Dated: February 28, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04516 Filed 3-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P