[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53892-53893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20157]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 083004A]
Notice of Intent to Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement on the Funding and Operation of Columbia
River Hatcheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is currently developing options for funding and operation
of Columbia River basin hatcheries consistent with the Mitchell Act,
Endangered Species Act (ESA), treaty Indian trust responsibilities, and
broader NMFS objectives for sustainable salmon fisheries under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). This activity is a major Federal action significantly
effecting the environment and, therefore must comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act, (NEPA). NMFS will be the lead agency
undertaking the NEPA process for the allocation and distribution of
Federal funding authorized by the Mitchell Act for Columbia River basin
hatcheries through preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS). NMFS provides this notice to: advise other agencies and the
public of its intent to prepare an EIS; and obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issues and alternatives to include in the
EIS.
DATES: Written scoping comments are encouraged and should be received
at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than
5 p.m. Pacific time on December 2, 2004. If the response to this Notice
indicates there is a need, one or more public scoping meetings will be
held. NMFS will notify the public of the time, date, and location of
the meeting(s) in a subsequent Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for information related to
preparation of the EIS, requests for public meetings, or requests to be
added to the mailing list for this project, to Allyson Ouzts, NMFS
Northwest Regional Office, 525 N.E. Oregon Street, Suite 510, Portland,
OR 97232; facsimile (503) 872-2737. Comments may be submitted by e-mail
to the following address: [email protected]. In the subject
line of the e-mail, include the document identifier: Mitchell Act
Hatchery EIS. Comments and materials received will be available for
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allyson Ouzts at 503-736-4736. In
addition, further information on the Mitchell Act hatchery program may
be found at: www.nwr.noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mitchell Act (16 U.S.C. 755 et seq.),
which was approved by Congress on May 11, 1938 (Public Law 75-502) and
amended on August 8, 1946 (Public Law 79-676), provides authority for
the funding, operation, and maintenance of hatcheries in the Columbia
River basin in the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. NMFS
administers funds appropriated for the Mitchell Act program by Congress
and provides annual funding to states, tribes, and other Federal
agencies for the operation of Columbia River salmon and steelhead
hatchery programs. Funds are used for salmon and steelhead production,
monitoring, reform, and associated scientific investigations. Salmon
and steelhead produced in these hatcheries are for harvest in the
Columbia River basin and ocean fisheries consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, treaty Indian trust responsibilities, and Court decisions
(e.g. U.S. v. Oregon). Under the ESA, NMFS must ensure that hatchery
operations in the Columbia River Basin do not jeopardize the survival
and recovery of ESA listed salmon or steelhead. Potential ESA
evaluations include section 7 consultations, section 10 permits, and
determinations under NMFS' 4(d) Rule (July 10, 2000, 65 FR 42422).
Consequently, NMFS must take two connected actions: (1) Allocate and
distribute Mitchell Act funds for Columbia River hatchery operations;
and, (2) make ESA determinations on the operation of Mitchell Act
hatchery programs.
NMFS is seeking public input on the scope of the proposed action,
including the range of reasonable alternatives and the associated
impacts of any alternatives. Alternatives evaluated in the EIS may
include: (1) current operation and funding of Mitchell Act hatchery
programs (i.e., No Action Alternative); (2) where feasible, a
conversion of hatchery programs currently operated to augment harvest
into programs designed to aid in recovery of ESA listed salmon and
steelhead; (3) movement of some hatchery production to areas upstream
to accommodate different fisheries; (4) a change in the numbers and
species of salmon and steelhead produced; and (5) an emphasis on
maximizing the numbers of harvestable fish in certain areas.
Currently, most funds provided through the Mitchell Act support
hatcheries located downstream of The Dalles Dam. However, NMFS will
analyze the use of funds for hatchery production throughout the
Columbia River basin in various alternatives. As a result, all counties
with tributaries to the Columbia River that could support salmon and
steelhead production may be affected by the proposed action. In Oregon,
these counties include: Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood
River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Yamhill, Washington,
Polk, Marion, Benton, Linn, Lane, Wheeler, Union, Baker, Wallowa, and
Grant Counties. In Washington, these counties include: Pacific,
Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin,
Asotin, Columbia, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima, Kittitas, Chelan,
Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties. In Idaho, these counties
include: Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, Valley, Lemhi,
Custer, and Adams Counties.
The EIS will evaluate, to the extent possible, the effects of each
alternative on the following resources: fish, wildlife, water quality,
economic benefits, environmental justice, and tribal subsistence and
ceremonial fisheries. In addition, each alternative will be analyzed in
terms of estimated costs for implementation and benefits to fisheries
and recovery of salmon. The Preferred Alternative will be identified
[[Page 53893]]
at the earliest possible time in the EIS process as stipulated by
Council on Environmental Quality regulations. The Preferred Alternative
will identify a proposed plan for funding and operation of Mitchell Act
hatchery programs after considering funding availability, consistency
with the ESA, potential impacts on environmental resources, and broader
objectives for harvest and/or conservation.
ESA listed species under NMFS jurisdiction that may potentially be
affected by the proposed action include: Lower Columbia River Chinook
Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Upper Willamette River Chinook
Salmon (O. tshawytscha); Upper Columbia River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon
(O. tshawytscha); Snake River Spring/Summer-Run Chinook Salmon (O.
tshawytscha); Snake River Fall-Run Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha);
Snake River Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka); Columbia River Chum Salmon (O.
keta); Lower Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss); Upper Willamette
River Steelhead (O. mykiss); Middle Columbia River Steelhead (O.
mykiss); Upper Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss); and, Snake River
Basin Steelhead (O. mykiss). ESA listed species regulated by the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service that may potentially be affected by the
proposed action include bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and bald
eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to
ensure that the EIS considers the full range of related issues and
alternatives to the proposed action. NMFS requests that comments be as
specific as possible. In particular, NMFS requests information
regarding: other possible alternatives; the direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts that implementation of the proposed plan could have
on endangered and threatened species and their communities and
habitats; potential adaptive management and/or monitoring provisions;
funding issues; baseline environmental conditions in counties that may
be affected; other plans or projects that might be relevant to this
proposed project; and potential methods to minimize and mitigate for
impacts.
Written comments concerning the proposed action and its
environmental review should be directed to NMFS as described above (see
ADDRESSES). All comments and materials received, including names and
addresses, will be made available to the public upon request.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), National Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1500
1508), NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, and other appropriate Federal
laws and regulations.
Dated: August 30, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20157 Filed 9-2-04; 8:45 am]
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