81 FR 90787 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 241 (December 15, 2016)

Page Range		90787-90788
FR Document		2016-30182

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 salmon and steelhead hatchery programs currently operating in the Upper Willamette River Basin of Oregon. NMFS is also requesting public review and comment on four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for evaluation and determination under Limit 5 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) rule for threatened salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the propagation of hatchery spring Chinook salmon released in the North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, Coast Fork Willamette, and Molalla Rivers. 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 alternatives to include in the EIS. This notice further serves to notify the public of the availability of the four HGMPs for comment prior to a decision by NMFS on whether to approve the proposed hatchery programs.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90787-90788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30182]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF077


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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.

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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 salmon and 
steelhead hatchery programs currently operating in the Upper Willamette 
River Basin of Oregon. NMFS is also requesting public review and 
comment on four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted 
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for evaluation and 
determination under Limit 5 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) 
rule for threatened salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the 
propagation of hatchery spring Chinook salmon released in the North 
Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, Coast Fork 
Willamette, and Molalla Rivers.
    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 alternatives to include in the EIS. This notice further 
serves to notify the public of the availability of the four HGMPs for 
comment prior to a decision by NMFS on whether to approve the proposed 
hatchery programs.

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 January 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by either of the following methods:
     Email to the following address: 
[email protected] with the following identifier in the 
subject line: Comments on Intent to Prepare the Willamette Hatchery 
EIS.
     Mail or hand-deliver to NMFS Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471.
     Fax to (541) 957-3386.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the comment period ends. All comments received are part of the public 
record and NMFS will generally post for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential 
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. 
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Additional information to assist with consideration of the notice 
of intent, as well as the HGMPs themselves, is available on the 
Internet at www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Kruzic, NMFS, by phone at (541) 
957-3381, or email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

ESA-listed Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): threatened, naturally-produced and 
specified artificially-produced stocks in the Upper Willamette ESU.
    Winter steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally-produced in the 
Upper Willamette distinct population segment.

Background

    The USACE has submitted four HGMPs for spring Chinook salmon 
hatchery programs in the Upper

[[Page 90788]]

Willamette River to NMFS, pursuant to Limit 5 of the 4(d) rule for 
salmon and steelhead promulgated under the ESA (65 FR 42422; July 10, 
2000). Before a decision is made by NMFS on these HGMPs, NEPA requires 
Federal agencies to conduct environmental analyses of proposed actions 
to fully consider their effects on the human environment. NMFS's action 
of evaluating USACE's HGMPs under Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule 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.
    The hatchery programs considered in the analysis are those rearing 
and releasing North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, and Middle Fork 
Willamette hatchery spring Chinook salmon. The EIS will also consider 
the potential effects of the current summer steelhead program. Hatchery 
fish are released into the following waterbodies: North Santiam River, 
South Santiam River, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River, 
Molalla River, and Coast Fork Willamette River. A list of all of the 
hatchery programs, including links to the HGMPs undergoing public 
comment, is available online (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS will perform an environmental review of the hatchery salmon 
and steelhead programs and prepare an EIS that will evaluate 
potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the 
following resources identified to have a potential for effect from the 
proposed action:

     Water quantity and water quality
     Fish and wildlife species and their habitats
     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 USACE's HGMPs) and a no-action alternative. 
Additional alternatives could include a reduction in artificial 
production and/or elimination of the hatchery programs.
    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.
    NMFS invites comment from all interested parties to ensure that the 
full range of issues related to hatchery salmon and steelhead are 
identified. Comments should be as specific as possible, with 
recommendations to address identified issues.
    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.

Authority

    The environmental review of the hatchery salmon and steelhead 
programs 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.
    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 12, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30182 Filed 12-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices 90787

The Proposed Recovery Plan recovery actions for which we have not include in the EIS. This notice further
The Proposed Plan contains biological yet determined implementation costs, serves to notify the public of the
background and contextual information and comments on establishing an availability of the four HGMPs for
that includes descriptions of the ESU appropriate implementation forum for comment prior to a decision by NMFS
and DPS, the planning area, and the the plan. After considering the public on whether to approve the proposed
context of the plan’s development. It comments, we will issue a news release hatchery programs.
presents relevant information on ESU announcing the adoption and DATES: Written or electronic scoping
and DPS structure, guidelines for availability of the final plan. We will comments must be received at the
assessing salmonid population and ESU post on the NMFS West Coast Region appropriate address or email mailbox
and DPS status, and a brief summary of Web site (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m.
Interior Columbia Technical Recovery summary of, and responses to, the Pacific Time January 30, 2017.
Team products on population structure comments received, along with ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by
and species status. It also presents electronic copies of the final plan and either of the following methods:
NMFS’ proposed biological viability its appendices. • Email to the following address:
criteria and threats criteria for delisting. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. WillametteHatcheryEIS.wcr@noaa.gov
The Proposed Plan also describes Dated: December 12, 2016.
with the following identifier in the
specific information on the following: subject line: Comments on Intent to
Donna Wieting,
current status of Snake River Spring/ Prepare the Willamette Hatchery EIS.
Director, Office of Protected Resources, • Mail or hand-deliver to NMFS
Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake National Marine Fisheries Service.
River Steelhead (Chapter 4); limiting Sustainable Fisheries Division, 2900
[FR Doc. 2016–30163 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am] NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR
factors and threats throughout the life
cycle that have contributed to each BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 97471.
species’ decline (Chapter 5); recovery • Fax to (541) 957–3386.
strategies and actions addressing these Instructions: NMFS may not consider
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE comments if they are sent by any other
limiting factors and threats (Chapter 6);
and a proposed research, monitoring, method, to any other address or
National Oceanic and Atmospheric individual, or received after the
and evaluation program for adaptive Administration
management (Chapter 7). For recovery comment period ends. All comments
actions, the Proposed Plan incorporates RIN 0648–XF077 received are part of the public record
the site-specific actions in each and NMFS will generally post for public
Endangered and Threatened Species; viewing on www.regulations.gov
management unit plan, together with Take of Anadromous Fish
the associated location, life stage without change. All personal identifying
affected and potential implementing AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries information (for example, name,
entity. The Proposed Plan also Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
summarizes time and costs (Chapter 8) Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the commenter will be publicly
required to implement recovery actions. Commerce. accessible. Do not submit confidential
In some cases, costs of implementing business information or otherwise
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
actions could not be determined at this sensitive or protected information.
environmental impact statement;
time and NMFS is interested in NMFS will accept anonymous
request for comments.
additional information regarding scale, comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required
scope, and costs of these actions. We are SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National fields if you wish to remain
also particularly interested in comments Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this anonymous).
on establishing appropriate forums notice announces that NMFS intends to Additional information to assist with
(Chapter 9) to coordinate obtain information necessary to prepare consideration of the notice of intent, as
implementation of the Proposed Plan. an Environmental Impact Statement well as the HGMPs themselves, is
We are also interested in information to (EIS) for salmon and steelhead hatchery available on the Internet at
address critical uncertainties identified programs currently operating in the www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
in the Proposed Plan, particularly Upper Willamette River Basin of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
regarding causes of mortality of juvenile Oregon. NMFS is also requesting public Lance Kruzic, NMFS, by phone at (541)
fish as they move from natal tributaries review and comment on four Hatchery 957–3381, or email to lance.kruzic@
into the Salmon and Snake Rivers and Genetic Management Plans noaa.gov.
during migration to the Pacific Ocean. (HGMPs) submitted by the U.S. Army SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Corps of Engineers (USACE) for
Public Comments Solicited evaluation and determination under ESA-listed Species Covered in This
We are soliciting written comments Limit 5 of the Endangered Species Act Notice
on the Proposed Plan. All substantive (ESA) 4(d) rule for threatened salmon Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha):
comments received by the date specified and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the threatened, naturally-produced and
above will be considered and propagation of hatchery spring Chinook specified artificially-produced stocks in
incorporated, as appropriate, prior to salmon released in the North Santiam, the Upper Willamette ESU.
our decision whether to approve the South Santiam, McKenzie, Middle Fork Winter steelhead (O. mykiss):
plan. While we invite comments on all Willamette, Coast Fork Willamette, and threatened, naturally-produced in the
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

aspects of the Proposed Plan, we are Molalla Rivers. Upper Willamette distinct population
particularly interested in comments on NMFS provides this notice to: (1) segment.
addressing critical uncertainties in our Advise other agencies and the public of
knowledge about the early juvenile life its plans to analyze effects related to the Background
stage survival from natal tributaries action, and (2) obtain suggestions and The USACE has submitted four
downstream into the Salmon and Snake information that may be useful to the HGMPs for spring Chinook salmon
Rivers, comments on the cost of scope of issues and alternatives to hatchery programs in the Upper

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90788 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices

Willamette River to NMFS, pursuant to Request for Comments Dated: December 12, 2016.
Limit 5 of the 4(d) rule for salmon and Donna S. Wieting,
steelhead promulgated under the ESA NMFS provides this notice to: (1) Director, Office of Protected Resources,
(65 FR 42422; July 10, 2000). Before a advise other agencies and the public of National Marine Fisheries Service.
decision is made by NMFS on these its plans to analyze effects related to the [FR Doc. 2016–30182 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am]
HGMPs, NEPA requires Federal action, and (2) obtain suggestions and BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
agencies to conduct environmental information that may be useful to the
analyses of proposed actions to fully scope of issues and the full range of
consider their effects on the human alternatives to include in the EIS. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
environment. NMFS’s action of NMFS invites comment from all
evaluating USACE’s HGMPs under National Oceanic and Atmospheric
interested parties to ensure that the full
Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule is a major Administration
range of issues related to hatchery
Federal action subject to environmental salmon and steelhead are identified. RIN 0648–XF083
review under NEPA. Therefore, NMFS Comments should be as specific as
is seeking public input on the scope of Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
possible, with recommendations to
the required NEPA analysis, including Council; Public Meeting
address identified issues.
the range of reasonable alternatives,
recommendations for relevant analysis Written comments concerning the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
methods, and information associated proposed action and the environmental Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
with impacts of the alternatives to the review should be directed to NMFS as Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
resources listed below or other relevant described above (see ADDRESSES). All Commerce.
resources. comments and materials received, ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
The hatchery programs considered in including names and addresses, will
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
the analysis are those rearing and become part of the administrative record
Management Council will hold a two-
releasing North Santiam, South and may be released to the public. day meeting of its Joint Ad Hoc Reef
Santiam, McKenzie, and Middle Fork
Authority Fish Headboat and Ad Hoc Red Snapper
Willamette hatchery spring Chinook
Charter For-Hire Advisory Panels.
salmon. The EIS will also consider the The environmental review of the
potential effects of the current summer DATES: The meeting will convene on
hatchery salmon and steelhead Monday, January 9, 2017, from 9 a.m. to
steelhead program. Hatchery fish are programs will be conducted in
released into the following waterbodies: 5 p.m. and Tuesday, January 10, 2017,
accordance with requirements of the from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
North Santiam River, South Santiam
NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
River, McKenzie River, Middle Fork
4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter
Willamette River, Molalla River, and
Coast Fork Willamette River. A list of all parts 1500–1508), other appropriate Hotel, located at 800 Iberville Street,
of the hatchery programs, including Federal laws and regulations, and New Orleans, LA 70112; telephone:
links to the HGMPs undergoing public policies and procedures of NMFS for (504) 586–0800.
comment, is available online (see compliance with those regulations. This Council address: Gulf of Mexico
ADDRESSES). notice is being furnished in accordance Fishery Management Council, 2203 N.
NMFS will perform an environmental with 40 CFR 1501.7 to obtain Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL
review of the hatchery salmon and suggestions and information from other 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
steelhead programs and prepare an EIS agencies and the public on the scope of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
that will evaluate potentially significant issues and alternatives to be addressed Assane Diagne, Economist, Gulf of
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts in the EIS. Mexico Fishery Management Council;
on the following resources identified to Under section 4 of the ESA, the assane.diagne@gulfcouncil.org,
have a potential for effect from the Secretary of Commerce is required to telephone: (813) 348–1630.
proposed action: adopt such regulations as he deems SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Water quantity and water quality necessary and advisable for the Monday, January 9, 2017, 9 a.m. to 5
• Fish and wildlife species and their conservation of species listed as p.m. and Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 9
habitats threatened. The ESA salmon and a.m. to 5 p.m., EDT
• Socioeconomics steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422; July
I. Adoption of Agenda
• Environmental Justice 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160;
II. Overview of the For-Hire Sector
• Cumulative impacts June 28, 2005) specifies categories of
III. Summary of Current Reef Fish
NMFS will rigorously explore and activities that contribute to the
Amendments 41 and 42
objectively evaluate a full range of conservation of listed salmonids and IV. Decisions on For-Hire Management
reasonable alternatives in the EIS, sets out the criteria for such activities. Programs
including the proposed action Limit 5 of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR a. Type of Management Approaches
(implementation of USACE’s HGMPs) 223.203(b)(5)) further provides that the Considered
and a no-action alternative. Additional prohibitions of paragraph (a) of the b. Timing and Number of For-Hire
alternatives could include a reduction updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(a)) Management Programs
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

in artificial production and/or do not apply to activities associated c. Prioritization of Reef Fish Species
elimination of the hatchery programs. with artificial propagation programs to Included
For all potentially significant impacts, provided that an HGMP has been d. Apportionment of For-Hire Quotas
the EIS will identify measures to avoid, approved by NMFS to be in accordance between Programs (if necessary)
minimize, and mitigate the impacts, with the salmon and steelhead 4(d) rule e. Adjustments to Individual
where feasible, to a level below (65 FR 42422; July 10, 2000, as updated Allocations
significance. in 70 FR 37160; June 28, 2005). f. Participation in Management

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Document Created: 2016-12-15 01:10:19
Document Modified: 2016-12-15 01:10:19

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.
Dates		Written or electronic scoping comments must be received at the
Contact		Lance Kruzic, NMFS, by phone at (541) 957-3381, or email to [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 90787
RIN Number		0648-XF07

81 FR 90787 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 241 (December 15, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration