Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for NOAA's Expenditure of Funds To Increase Prey Availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales, 54301-54302 [2023-17184]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 153 / Thursday, August 10, 2023 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD203]
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for NOAA’s Expenditure of
Funds To Increase Prey Availability for
Southern Resident Killer Whales
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement,
request for comments.
AGENCY:
This notice announces an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) to analyze the impacts to the
environment of alternatives related to a
funding program addressing species
affected by fisheries managed under the
Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST). NMFS
intends to make funding decisions
related to increasing the availability of
prey to Southern Resident Killer Whales
(SRKWs). This notice is necessary to
inform the public of NMFS’s intent to
prepare this EIS and to provide the
public with an opportunity to provide
input for NMFS’s consideration.
DATES: The NMFS requests comments
concerning the scope of the analysis,
and identification of relevant
information, studies, and analyses. All
comments must be received by 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on September 25,
2023.
SUMMARY:
Send written comments to
NOAA Fisheries, 2900 NW Stewart
Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471.
Comments may also be sent via email to
hatcheries.public.comment@noaa.gov.
For further information, please see the
following website: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/reviewprey-increase-program-southernresident-killer-whales.
Instructions: It is important that
reviewers provide their comments at
such times and in such manner that
they are useful to the agency’s
preparation of the EIS. Therefore,
comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and
should help NMFS identify potential
alternatives, information, and analyses
relevant to the proposed action.
Comments must be submitted by one of
the above methods to ensure they are
received, documented, and considered
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:28 Aug 09, 2023
Jkt 259001
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered. All comments received are
a part of the public record. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name,
address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by
the sender will be publicly accessible.
Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or
protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lance Kruzic, NMFS, 541–802–3728,
hatcheries.public.comment@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The purpose and need of the
proposed action is to provide for
additional prey (food) for the benefit of
SRKWs, which are listed as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) consistent with applicable laws
and treaties.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives
The United States and Canada have
an agreement for the management of
Chinook salmon and the fisheries that
affect Chinook stocks that is part of the
PST. This agreement was renewed in
2019 and is currently in effect through
2028. In association with the renewed
agreement, the U.S. section of the
Pacific Salmon Commission, the
international body that implements the
PST, agreed to seek Federal funding for
activities to conserve certain species
listed under the ESA that are affected by
fisheries managed under the PST.
Congress has appropriated annual
funding for these activities in 2020
through 2023. A portion of the funding
has been awarded to hatchery operators
in the Pacific Northwest to increase
production of Chinook salmon for the
purpose of increasing prey for SRKWs.
NMFS is proposing to continue
implementation of the funding program
to increase prey for the benefit of
SRKWs. Beginning in 2020, NMFS
funded the production of additional
hatchery Chinook salmon in existing
hatchery programs in Washington,
Oregon, and Idaho. Specific criteria
were developed to guide these funding
decisions to maximize the benefits to
SRKWs, while mitigating potential
adverse effects to salmon and steelhead
listed under the ESA. NMFS conducted
site-specific NEPA analyses for each
funding decision or otherwise ensured
that effects from funding specific
hatcheries were evaluated within
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
54301
existing NEPA analyses. However, in a
recent court ruling (Wild Fish
Conservancy v. Rumsey, W.D. Wash.,
Order Adopting Report and
Recommendation, August 8, 2022), the
court found that NMFS failed to
conduct adequate NEPA analysis for the
adoption of the prey increase program.
This EIS responds to the court’s
decision.
We will also be evaluating the effects
of a No Action alternative, in which no
Federal funding would be used to
increase available Chinook prey for the
benefit of SRKWs. NMFS is also
planning to evaluate other possibilities.
For example, instead of funding
additional prey for SRKWs in the form
of hatchery fish, funding could instead
be used to improve the productivity of
natural-origin salmon through habitat
restoration/enhancement. Another
alternative could reduce fishing impacts
on select salmon stocks instead of
producing additional hatchery fish.
Through this notice, we are seeking
input on these potential alternatives to
help shape the development of our EIS
consistent with our purpose and need
for the proposed action.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The EIS will evaluate a range of
alternatives, and the effects of these
alternatives, on the human
environment. Key resources to be
considered include, but are not limited
to, SRKWs and other wildlife species,
salmon and steelhead, socioeconomics,
and aquatic habitats. Considering a
range of alternatives means there is a
range of impacts to the key resources
specified above that would be evaluated
in the EIS, such as different abundances
of hatchery salmon available as prey for
SRKWs, reduced fishery impacts and
corresponding salmon abundances, and
effects of additional hatchery salmon
production on ESA-listed salmon and
steelhead.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
The following consultations, permits,
and/or other authorizations may be
required as part of NMFS’ continued
funding to increase the availability of
prey (food) for SRKWs: ESA Section 7
consultations, ESA Section 4(d)
authorizations or Section 10 permits,
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Essential Fish Habitat consultation; and
consultation with Indian Tribes.
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The draft environmental impact
statement is scheduled to be made
available for public review in the fall of
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
54302
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 153 / Thursday, August 10, 2023 / Notices
2023, and issuance of the final
environmental impact statement is
scheduled for spring of 2024, with a
Record of Decision issued soon
thereafter.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD232]
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which helps guide the
development of the EIS. NMFS is
hosting public webinars for
informational purposes within the
scoping period. Information on the
webinar dates and times, and
instructions for connecting or calling
into the webinar will be posted at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/
review-prey-increase-program-southernresident-killer-whales. Accommodations
for persons with disabilities are
available; accommodation requests
should be directed to Lance Kruzic (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at
least 10 working days prior to the
webinar.
Public comments will not be accepted
during the webinars.
Request for Identification of Potential
Alternatives, Information, and
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed
Action
The primary purpose of the scoping
process is for the public to assist NMFS
in developing the EIS. NMFS requests
that the comments be specific. In
particular, we request information
regarding: any science that would be
relevant in this assessment; significant
issues; identification of impacts of
concern; review and input regarding
monitoring; possible alternatives that
meet the purpose and need; effects or
impacts to the human environment from
the proposed action or alternatives.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Decision Maker
Regional Administrator for the West
Coast Region, NMFS.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
If after publication of the Record of
Decision, we determine that all
requirements are met for NMFS’ NEPA
and ESA responsibilities, we may
continue to provide funding for the
production of additional prey for
SRKWs.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40
CFR parts 1500–1508; and Companion
Manual for NOAA Administrative Order
216–6A, 82 FR 4306.
Dated: August 7, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–17184 Filed 8–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:28 Aug 09, 2023
Jkt 259001
Request for Information; Data for
Marine Spatial Studies in Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Ocean Service
(NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
AGENCY:
NOAA’s National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Centers for
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in
partnership with the NOAA National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
(SEFSC) and Southeast Regional Office
(SERO), hereafter NOAA, are working to
build spatial science capacity in the
U.S. Caribbean Region. Through this
Request for Information, we are seeking
public input to identify coastal and
marine spatial data or other critical
information to inform marine spatial
analyses. Additionally, we are seeking
feedback on data shortcomings and gaps
that should be addressed prior to
commencing marine spatial studies. The
input we receive from meetings, as well
as the responses to the items listed in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this document, will be used to inform
potential coastal and ocean
development activities in Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), such
as development of renewable energy
facilities, aquaculture, and other blue
economy sectors.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
provide input in response to this
Request for Information through
September 30, 2023. Late-filed input
will be considered to the extent
practicable.
Verbal input will be accepted during
two public meetings to be held in St.
Croix, USVI on August 28–29 and in
San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 31–
September 1.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to provide input using one of the
following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit
electronic written public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA–NMFS–2023–0097 in the Search
box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments. All comments
received are a part of the public record
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on https://www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NOAA will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
Verbal submission: NOAA will accept
verbal input at two meetings. The first
meeting will be held at The Buccaneer
Resort in St. Croix, USVI on Monday
August 28, 2023 from 8:30am to 5:00pm
(AST) and Tuesday, August 29, 2023
from 8:30am to 12:00pm (AST). There
will be a registration window from
8:30am to 9:00am (AST) each day before
the start of the meeting. The second
meeting will be held at the Courtyard
Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort in San
Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday, August
31, 2023 from 8:30am to 5:00pm (AST)
and Friday, September 1, 2023 from
8:30am to 12:00pm (AST). There will be
a registration window from 8:30am to
9:00am (AST) each day before the start
of the meeting. Simultaneous language
interpretation in English and Spanish
will be provided in the Puerto Rico
meetings. Advanced registration is
requested for the meetings by
completing the registration form at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/
1FAIpQLSf1B1QOXhd7EJEDflyokATW4ZGLHRloJLSzcntmopDjhd86A/
viewform?usp=sf link or by providing an
RSVP to Erica Rule at erica.rule@
noaa.gov. The registration deadline is
Monday, August 21, 2023.
Reports of meeting results will also be
published and made available to the
public in the weeks following the
meetings. If you are unable to provide
electronic written comments or
participate in the meetings, please
contact Jennifer Wright at
jennifer.wright@noaa.gov or (252)418–
1308 for alternative submission
methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Morris (james.morris@noaa.gov),
(252)666–7433.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NOAA is an agency of the United
States Federal government that works to
conserve and manage coastal and
marine ecosystems and resources. We
work to make fisheries sustainable and
productive, provide safe seafood to
consumers, conserve threatened and
endangered species and other protected
resources, and maintain healthy
ecosystems. NOAA has jurisdiction and
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54301-54302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17184]
[[Page 54301]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD203]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for NOAA's Expenditure of
Funds To Increase Prey Availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement,
request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) to analyze the impacts to the environment of alternatives
related to a funding program addressing species affected by fisheries
managed under the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST). NMFS intends to make
funding decisions related to increasing the availability of prey to
Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs). This notice is necessary to
inform the public of NMFS's intent to prepare this EIS and to provide
the public with an opportunity to provide input for NMFS's
consideration.
DATES: The NMFS requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis,
and identification of relevant information, studies, and analyses. All
comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 25,
2023.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to NOAA Fisheries, 2900 NW Stewart
Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Comments may also be sent via email to
[email protected]. For further information, please see
the following website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/review-prey-increase-program-southern-resident-killer-whales.
Instructions: It is important that reviewers provide their comments
at such times and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's
preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and should help NMFS identify potential
alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed
action. Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to
ensure they are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. Comments
sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered.
All comments received are a part of the public record. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Kruzic, NMFS, 541-802-3728,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose and need of the proposed action is to provide for
additional prey (food) for the benefit of SRKWs, which are listed as
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) consistent with
applicable laws and treaties.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The United States and Canada have an agreement for the management
of Chinook salmon and the fisheries that affect Chinook stocks that is
part of the PST. This agreement was renewed in 2019 and is currently in
effect through 2028. In association with the renewed agreement, the
U.S. section of the Pacific Salmon Commission, the international body
that implements the PST, agreed to seek Federal funding for activities
to conserve certain species listed under the ESA that are affected by
fisheries managed under the PST. Congress has appropriated annual
funding for these activities in 2020 through 2023. A portion of the
funding has been awarded to hatchery operators in the Pacific Northwest
to increase production of Chinook salmon for the purpose of increasing
prey for SRKWs.
NMFS is proposing to continue implementation of the funding program
to increase prey for the benefit of SRKWs. Beginning in 2020, NMFS
funded the production of additional hatchery Chinook salmon in existing
hatchery programs in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Specific criteria
were developed to guide these funding decisions to maximize the
benefits to SRKWs, while mitigating potential adverse effects to salmon
and steelhead listed under the ESA. NMFS conducted site-specific NEPA
analyses for each funding decision or otherwise ensured that effects
from funding specific hatcheries were evaluated within existing NEPA
analyses. However, in a recent court ruling (Wild Fish Conservancy v.
Rumsey, W.D. Wash., Order Adopting Report and Recommendation, August 8,
2022), the court found that NMFS failed to conduct adequate NEPA
analysis for the adoption of the prey increase program. This EIS
responds to the court's decision.
We will also be evaluating the effects of a No Action alternative,
in which no Federal funding would be used to increase available Chinook
prey for the benefit of SRKWs. NMFS is also planning to evaluate other
possibilities. For example, instead of funding additional prey for
SRKWs in the form of hatchery fish, funding could instead be used to
improve the productivity of natural-origin salmon through habitat
restoration/enhancement. Another alternative could reduce fishing
impacts on select salmon stocks instead of producing additional
hatchery fish. Through this notice, we are seeking input on these
potential alternatives to help shape the development of our EIS
consistent with our purpose and need for the proposed action.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The EIS will evaluate a range of alternatives, and the effects of
these alternatives, on the human environment. Key resources to be
considered include, but are not limited to, SRKWs and other wildlife
species, salmon and steelhead, socioeconomics, and aquatic habitats.
Considering a range of alternatives means there is a range of impacts
to the key resources specified above that would be evaluated in the
EIS, such as different abundances of hatchery salmon available as prey
for SRKWs, reduced fishery impacts and corresponding salmon abundances,
and effects of additional hatchery salmon production on ESA-listed
salmon and steelhead.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
The following consultations, permits, and/or other authorizations
may be required as part of NMFS' continued funding to increase the
availability of prey (food) for SRKWs: ESA Section 7 consultations, ESA
Section 4(d) authorizations or Section 10 permits, Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat
consultation; and consultation with Indian Tribes.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The draft environmental impact statement is scheduled to be made
available for public review in the fall of
[[Page 54302]]
2023, and issuance of the final environmental impact statement is
scheduled for spring of 2024, with a Record of Decision issued soon
thereafter.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which helps
guide the development of the EIS. NMFS is hosting public webinars for
informational purposes within the scoping period. Information on the
webinar dates and times, and instructions for connecting or calling
into the webinar will be posted at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/review-prey-increase-program-southern-resident-killer-whales.
Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available;
accommodation requests should be directed to Lance Kruzic (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 10 working days prior to the
webinar.
Public comments will not be accepted during the webinars.
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action
The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to
assist NMFS in developing the EIS. NMFS requests that the comments be
specific. In particular, we request information regarding: any science
that would be relevant in this assessment; significant issues;
identification of impacts of concern; review and input regarding
monitoring; possible alternatives that meet the purpose and need;
effects or impacts to the human environment from the proposed action or
alternatives.
Decision Maker
Regional Administrator for the West Coast Region, NMFS.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
If after publication of the Record of Decision, we determine that
all requirements are met for NMFS' NEPA and ESA responsibilities, we
may continue to provide funding for the production of additional prey
for SRKWs.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; and
Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A, 82 FR 4306.
Dated: August 7, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-17184 Filed 8-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
