80 FR 41011 - Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Five Early Winter Steelhead Hatchery Programs in Puget Sound
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 134 (July 14, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 134 (July 14, 2015)
| Page Range | 41011-41012 | |
| FR Document | 2015-17156 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 41011-41012] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-17156] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XE039 Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Five Early Winter Steelhead Hatchery Programs in Puget Sound 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; notice of public workshops. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this notice announces that NMFS intends to obtain information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for five Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) for early winter steelhead hatchery programs jointly submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), with the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, the Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Tribe, the Stillaguamish Tribes, and the Tulalip Tribes (referred to as the co-managers) for NMFS's evaluation and determination under Limit 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) Rule for threatened salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the propagation of early-returning (``early'') winter steelhead in the Dungeness, Nooksack, Stillaguamish, Skykomish, and Snoqualmie River watersheds in Washington State. NMFS provides this notice to advise other agencies and the public of its plans to analyze effects related to the action, and obtain suggestions and information that may be useful to the scope of issues and alternatives to include in the EIS. Two public workshops will be held in July 2015 for this action. DATES: Written or electronic scoping comments must be received at the appropriate address or email mailbox (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Time August 13, 2015. The public workshops will be held between July 20, 2015 and July 22, 2015 (see PUBLIC WORKSHOPS). ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:Email to the following address: EWShatcheriesEIS.wcr@noaa.gov with the following identifier in the subject line: Early Winter Steelhead Hatcheries EIS. Mail or hand-deliver to NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 510 Desmond Drive SE., Suite 103, Lacey, WA 98503. Fax to (360) 753-9517. Comments received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Leider, NMFS, by phone at (360) 753-4650, or email to steve.leider@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, naturally and artificially produced in Puget Sound. Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): threatened, naturally and artificially produced in Puget Sound. [[Page 41012]] Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened, naturally and artificially produced Hood Canal summer-run. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus): threatened Puget Sound/ Washington Coast. Background On March 26, 2015 (80 FR 15985), NMFS announced the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to NEPA (42 U.S.C. et seq.), for three HGMPs for early-returning (early winter) steelhead hatchery programs in the Dungeness, Nooksack, and Stillaguamish River basins, submitted to NMFS by the co-managers. A 30-day public comment period was extended to May 4, 2015 for a total comment period of 37 days (80 FR 22973, April 24, 2015). NMFS received and considered comments on the EA and, has subsequently decided to prepare an EIS to evaluate effects on the human environment of the three early winter steelhead hatchery programs in the Dungeness, Nooksack, and Stillaguamish River watersheds in Washington State. In the EIS, NMFS will also evaluate three additional early winter steelhead HGMPs for hatchery programs in the Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers in the Snohomish River watershed in Puget Sound. All of the programs would release early winter steelhead that are not included as part of the ESA-listed Puget Sound Steelhead Distinct Population Segment, and that are not native to the watersheds in which they would be released. NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct environmental analyses of proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the human environment. NMFS's action of evaluating the co-managers' HGMPs, pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead promulgated under the ESA, is a major Federal action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Therefore, NMFS is seeking public input on the scope of the required NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable alternatives, recommendations for relevant analysis methods, and information associated with impacts of the alternatives to the resources listed below or other relevant resources. NMFS will perform an environmental review of the HGMPs and prepare an EIS that will identify potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the following resources identified to have a potential for effect from the proposed action: Listed and Non-listed Species and their habitats Water Quantity Socioeconomics Environmental Justice Cumulative Impacts NMFS will rigorously explore and objectively evaluate a full range of reasonable alternatives in the EIS, including the proposed action (implementation of the co-managers' HGMPs) and a no-action alternative. Additional alternatives could include the following: (1) A decrease in artificial production of 50 percent, and (2) a change in program type from isolated (i.e., producing hatchery-origin fish that are intended to be reproductively segregated and different from the natural-origin population) to integrated (i.e., producing hatchery-origin fish that are intended to be similar to and part of the natural-origin population) programs that would use native steelhead for broodstock. For all potentially significant impacts, the EIS will identify measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts, where feasible, to a level below significance. Request for Comments NMFS provides this notice to: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of its plans to analyze effects related to the action, and (2) obtain suggestions and information that may be useful to the scope of issues and the full range of alternatives to include in the EIS. In addition to considering comments received in response to this notice in developing an EIS, relevant comments received on the 2015 draft EA for three early winter steelhead hatchery programs (80 FR 15985, March 26, 2015), and on the 2014 draft EIS for Puget Sound salmon and steelhead hatcheries (80 FR 15986, March 26, 2015) will also be considered in developing the EIS. NMFS invites comment from all interested parties to ensure that the full range of issues related to the early winter steelhead HGMPs is identified. Comments should be as specific as possible. Written comments concerning the proposed action and the environmental review should be directed to NMFS as described above (see ADDRESSES). All comments and materials received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. Public Workshops Two public workshops will be offered to assist in gathering information on development of the EIS. Those workshops will be held as follows; further information regarding the workshops may be found at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/hatcheries/salmon_and_steelhead_hatcheries.html. Monday, July 20, 2015 6 to 8 p.m., Skagit Public Utilities District, Aqua Room, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mt Vernon, Washington Tuesday, July 21, 2015 6 to 8 p.m., Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St SW., Lynnwood, Washington Authority The environmental review of the early winter steelhead HGMPS will be conducted in accordance with requirements of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500- 1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and policies and procedures of NMFS for compliance with those regulations. This notice is being furnished in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. Dated: July 8, 2015. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-17156 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Notices 41011
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Estimated Total Annual Burden Tribe, the Lummi Nation, the Nooksack
Requests for additional information or Hours: 204. Tribe, the Stillaguamish Tribes, and the
copies of the information collection Estimated Total Annual Cost to Tulalip Tribes (referred to as the co-
instrument and instructions should be Public: $544 in recordkeeping/reporting managers) for NMFS’s evaluation and
directed to NMFS Alaska Region, Patsy costs. determination under Limit 6 of the
A. Bearden, at patsy.bearden@noaa.gov IV. Request for Comments Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) Rule
or call (907) 586–7008. for threatened salmon and steelhead.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether The HGMPs specify the propagation of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the proposed collection of information early-returning (‘‘early’’) winter
I. Abstract is necessary for the proper performance steelhead in the Dungeness, Nooksack,
of the functions of the agency, including Stillaguamish, Skykomish, and
This request is for extension of a
whether the information shall have Snoqualmie River watersheds in
currently approved information
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Washington State.
collection.
agency’s estimate of the burden
Amendment 80 to the Fishery NMFS provides this notice to advise
(including hours and cost) of the
Management Plan for Groundfish of the other agencies and the public of its
proposed collection of information; (c)
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands plans to analyze effects related to the
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
Management Area allocates several action, and obtain suggestions and
clarity of the information to be
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands information that may be useful to the
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
Management Area non-pollock trawl scope of issues and alternatives to
burden of the collection of information
groundfish fisheries among fishing include in the EIS. Two public
on respondents, including through the
sectors, established a limited access workshops will be held in July 2015 for
use of automated collection techniques
privilege program, and facilitated the this action.
or other forms of information
formation of harvesting cooperatives in technology. DATES: Written or electronic scoping
the non-American Fisheries Act (non- Comments submitted in response to comments must be received at the
AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector. this notice will be summarized and/or appropriate address or email mailbox
The Amendment 80 Fishery included in the request for OMB (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m.
Management Plan applies retention approval of this information collection; Pacific Time August 13, 2015. The
standards on an aggregate basis to all they also will become a matter of public public workshops will be held between
activities of a cooperative, allowing record. July 20, 2015 and July 22, 2015 (see
participants within the cooperative to PUBLIC WORKSHOPS).
Dated: July 9, 2015.
coordinate fishing and retention
Sarah Brabson, ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
practices across the cooperative to meet
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. sent by any of the following methods:
the retention requirements.
[FR Doc. 2015–17194 Filed 7–13–15; 8:45 am] • Email to the following address:
II. Method of Collection BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
EWShatcheriesEIS.wcr@noaa.gov with
Information may be submitted online the following identifier in the subject
at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov line: Early Winter Steelhead Hatcheries
or submitted as an attachment to email DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EIS.
to RAM.Alaska@noaa.gov. Applications • Mail or hand-deliver to NMFS
are ‘‘fillable’’ on the computer screen at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sustainable Fisheries Division, 510
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ Administration Desmond Drive SE., Suite 103, Lacey,
sustainablefisheries/amds/80/ RIN 0648–XE039 WA 98503.
default.htm#apps, then downloaded, • Fax to (360) 753–9517.
printed, faxed or mailed to NMFS. Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Comments received will be available for
Scoping and Prepare an Environmental public inspection, by appointment,
III. Data Impact Statement for Five Early Winter during normal business hours at the
OMB Control Number: 0648–0565. Steelhead Hatchery Programs in Puget above address. All Personal Identifying
Form Number(s): None. Sound Information (for example, name,
Type of Review: Regular submission AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
(extension of a currently approved Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the commenter may be publicly
information collection). Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), accessible. Do not submit Confidential
Affected Public: Individuals or Commerce. Business Information or otherwise
households; business or other for-profit ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an sensitive or protected information.
organizations. environmental impact statement; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Estimated Number of Respondents: request for comments; notice of public Steve Leider, NMFS, by phone at (360)
37. workshops. 753–4650, or email to steve.leider@
Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours noaa.gov.
each for Application for Amend 80 QS; SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Application for Amend 80 Cooperative Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and CQ Permit; Application for Amend notice announces that NMFS intends to
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
ESA-Listed Species Covered in This
80 limited access fishery; Application to obtain information necessary to prepare Notice
transfer Amend 80 QS; Application for an Environmental Impact Statement
Amendment 80 Vessel Replacement and (EIS) for five Hatchery and Genetic Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss):
Application for inter-cooperative Management Plans (HGMPs) for early threatened, naturally and artificially
transfer Amend 80 CQ; 25 hours for winter steelhead hatchery programs produced in Puget Sound.
Amend 80 cooperative report; 4 hours jointly submitted by the Washington Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha):
for Amend 80 appeals letter; 30 minutes Department of Fish and Wildlife threatened, naturally and artificially
for Flatfish Exchange Application. (WDFW), with the Jamestown S’Klallam produced in Puget Sound.
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![41012 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Notices
Chum salmon (O. keta): threatened, • Listed and Non-listed Species and workshops will be held as follows;
naturally and artificially produced Hood their habitats further information regarding the
Canal summer-run. • Water Quantity workshops may be found at http://
Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus): • Socioeconomics www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
threatened Puget Sound/Washington • Environmental Justice hatcheries/salmon_and_steelhead_
Coast. • Cumulative Impacts hatcheries.html.
NMFS will rigorously explore and
Background objectively evaluate a full range of Monday, July 20, 2015
On March 26, 2015 (80 FR 15985), reasonable alternatives in the EIS, 6 to 8 p.m., Skagit Public Utilities
NMFS announced the availability of a including the proposed action District, Aqua Room, 1415 Freeway
draft Environmental Assessment (EA) (implementation of the co-managers’ Drive, Mt Vernon, Washington
pursuant to NEPA (42 U.S.C. et seq.), for HGMPs) and a no-action alternative.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
three HGMPs for early-returning (early Additional alternatives could include
the following: (1) A decrease in artificial 6 to 8 p.m., Lynnwood Convention
winter) steelhead hatchery programs in
production of 50 percent, and (2) a Center, 3711 196th St SW.,
the Dungeness, Nooksack, and
change in program type from isolated Lynnwood, Washington
Stillaguamish River basins, submitted to
NMFS by the co-managers. A 30-day (i.e., producing hatchery-origin fish that Authority
public comment period was extended to are intended to be reproductively
segregated and different from the The environmental review of the early
May 4, 2015 for a total comment period winter steelhead HGMPS will be
of 37 days (80 FR 22973, April 24, natural-origin population) to integrated
(i.e., producing hatchery-origin fish that conducted in accordance with
2015). NMFS received and considered requirements of the NEPA of 1969 as
comments on the EA and, has are intended to be similar to and part of
the natural-origin population) programs amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA
subsequently decided to prepare an EIS Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
to evaluate effects on the human that would use native steelhead for
broodstock. other appropriate Federal laws and
environment of the three early winter regulations, and policies and procedures
steelhead hatchery programs in the For all potentially significant impacts,
the EIS will identify measures to avoid, of NMFS for compliance with those
Dungeness, Nooksack, and regulations. This notice is being
Stillaguamish River watersheds in minimize, and mitigate the impacts,
where feasible, to a level below furnished in accordance with 40 CFR
Washington State. In the EIS, NMFS 1501.7 to obtain suggestions and
will also evaluate three additional early significance.
information from other agencies and the
winter steelhead HGMPs for hatchery Request for Comments public on the scope of issues and
programs in the Skykomish and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.
NMFS provides this notice to: (1)
Snoqualmie Rivers in the Snohomish
Advise other agencies and the public of Dated: July 8, 2015.
River watershed in Puget Sound. All of
its plans to analyze effects related to the Angela Somma,
the programs would release early winter
action, and (2) obtain suggestions and Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
steelhead that are not included as part
information that may be useful to the of Protected Resources, National Marine
of the ESA-listed Puget Sound Steelhead
scope of issues and the full range of Fisheries Service.
Distinct Population Segment, and that
alternatives to include in the EIS. In [FR Doc. 2015–17156 Filed 7–13–15; 8:45 am]
are not native to the watersheds in
addition to considering comments
which they would be released. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
received in response to this notice in
NEPA requires Federal agencies to developing an EIS, relevant comments
conduct environmental analyses of received on the 2015 draft EA for three DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
proposed actions to determine if the early winter steelhead hatchery
actions may affect the human programs (80 FR 15985, March 26, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
environment. NMFS’s action of 2015), and on the 2014 draft EIS for Administration
evaluating the co-managers’ HGMPs, Puget Sound salmon and steelhead
pursuant to the limitation on take [RIN 0648–XE046]
hatcheries (80 FR 15986, March 26,
prohibitions for actions conducted 2015) will also be considered in
under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule for Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
developing the EIS. Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
salmon and steelhead promulgated NMFS invites comment from all
under the ESA, is a major Federal action interested parties to ensure that the full AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
subject to environmental review under range of issues related to the early Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
NEPA. Therefore, NMFS is seeking winter steelhead HGMPs is identified. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
public input on the scope of the Comments should be as specific as Commerce.
required NEPA analysis, including the possible. ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
range of reasonable alternatives, Written comments concerning the
recommendations for relevant analysis proposed action and the environmental SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery
methods, and information associated review should be directed to NMFS as Management Council’s (Council)
with impacts of the alternatives to the described above (see ADDRESSES). All Atlantic Bluefish Advisory Panel will
resources listed below or other relevant hold a public meeting.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
comments and materials received,
resources. including names and addresses, will DATES: The meeting will be held on July
NMFS will perform an environmental become part of the administrative record 28, 2015, from 10 a.m. until noon.
review of the HGMPs and prepare an and may be released to the public. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
EIS that will identify potentially via webinar with a telephone-only
significant direct, indirect, and Public Workshops connection option. Details on webinar
cumulative impacts on the following Two public workshops will be offered registration and telephone-only
resources identified to have a potential to assist in gathering information on connection details are available at:
for effect from the proposed action: development of the EIS. Those http://www.mafmc.org.
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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:19:37
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:19:37
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; request for comments; notice of public workshops. | |
| Dates | Written or electronic scoping comments must be received at the | |
| Contact | Steve Leider, NMFS, by phone at (360) 753-4650, or email to [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 41011 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE03 |
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