Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 74116 [2013-29399]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 74116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29399]



[[Page 74116]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD018


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 hatchery plans and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (ODFW) has submitted four Hatchery and Genetic Management 
Plans (HGMPs) pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for 
Pacific salmon and steelhead under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
The HGMPs specify the operations of four hatchery programs rearing 
salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River subbasin within the State of 
Oregon. This document serves to notify the public of the availability 
of the HGMPs for comment prior to a decision by NMFS whether to approve 
the proposed hatchery programs.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on January 9, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to 
the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, or faxed to 503-872-2737. Comments may 
be submitted by email. The mailbox address for providing email comments 
is: SandyHatcheries2013.wcr@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of 
the email comment the following identifier: Comments on Oregon's 2013 
Sandy hatchery plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Turner, at phone number: (503) 
736-4737, or via email: Rich.Turner@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Chum salmon (O. keta): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Columbia River.
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Lower Columbia River.
    Pacific eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): Threatened, naturally 
produced southern distinct population segment.
    ODFW has previously submitted to NMFS four HGMPs describing 
hatchery programs that release salmon and steelhead into the Sandy 
River that were found, in a September 28, 2012, determination, to 
comply with requirements of the ESA under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. 
These programs were designed to meet mitigation responsibilities 
related to impacts from development in the Sandy River and Columbia 
River basins by providing hatchery fish to support fishing 
opportunities while minimizing potential risks to natural-origin spring 
Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and winter steelhead populations, 
consistent with Oregon's Lower Columbia River Conservation and Recovery 
Plan for Oregon Populations of Salmon and Steelhead. The September 28, 
2012, determination remains in effect.
    Since the determination, ODFW has identified changes it wishes to 
make to its hatchery operations and has submitted to NMFS four revised 
HGMPs describing changes to the current hatchery programs. The revised 
Spring Chinook Salmon HGMP includes the incorporation of natural-origin 
Chinook salmon into the broodstock, a reduction in the number of 
juveniles released, and changes in rearing locations. The revised 
Winter Steelhead Program HGMP includes the incorporation of natural-
origin winter steelhead into the broodstock. The revised Coho Salmon 
Program and the Summer Steelhead Program HGMPs include changes to 
rearing locations. Submittal of these four revised HGMPs constitutes 
the proposed action and the revised HGMPs are the subject of this 
notice.
    As specified in the July 10, 2000, ESA 4(d) rule for salmon and 
steelhead (65 FR 42422) and updated June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37160), NMFS 
may approve an HGMP if it meets criteria set forth in 50 CFR 
223.203(b)(5)(i)(A) through (K). Prior to final approval of an HGMP, 
NMFS must publish notification announcing its availability for public 
review and comment.

Authority

    Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary of Commerce is required 
to adopt such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of species listed as threatened. The ESA salmon and 
steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 
37160, June 28, 2005) specifies categories of activities that 
contribute to the conservation of listed salmonids and sets out the 
criteria for such activities. Limit 5 of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 
223.203(b)(5)) further provides that the prohibitions of paragraph (a) 
of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(a)) do not apply to activities 
associated with artificial propagation programs provided that an HGMP 
has been approved by NMFS to be in accordance with the salmon and 
steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 
37160, June 28, 2005).

    Dated: December 4, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29399 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
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