National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The NMFS is giving notice that we have prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that analyzes impacts on the environment from the potential authorization to the States of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington (states) to lethally removal certain California sea lions that are feeding on at-risk salmon and steelhead stocks below Bonneville dam on the Columbia River. This authorization would be pursuant to Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The states have requested authorization to lethally remove individually identifiable California sea lions having a significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of several populations of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the draft EA for review and comment before NMFS makes a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact.