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Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 
[Federal Register: December 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 69551-69552]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01de06-62]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112706D]

Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application
from the Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (Grant PUD), the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN) for a direct take permit
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The
duration of the proposed Permit is three years. This document serves to
notify the public that the permit applications and the associated draft
environmental assessment (EA) are available for comment before a final
decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact is made
by NMFS for take of upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon and
steelhead. All comments received will become part of the public record
and will be available for review pursuant to the ESA.

DATES: Written comments on the application and draft EA must be
received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no
later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time January 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to
Kristine Petersen, National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery
Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to: whiteriver.nwr@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following
identifier: ``Comments on White River program''. Comments may also be
sent via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872-2737.
    Requests for copies of the permit application should be directed to
the National Marine Fisheries Services, Salmon Recovery Division, 1201
NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. The documents are
also available on the Internet at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov. Comments received
will be available for public inspection by appointment during normal
business hours by calling (503) 230-5409.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristine Petersen at (503) 230-5409 or
e-mail: kristine.petersen@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the following
species and evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) or distinct
population segments (DPSs):
    1. Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): endangered, upper Columbia
River spring-run.
    2. Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, naturally produced
and artificiallypropagated Upper Columbia River.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations prohibit the
``taking'' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. The term
``take'' is defined under the ESA to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt,
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage
in any such conduct. NMFS may issue permits to take listed species for
any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to
enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species, under
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. NMFS regulations governing permits for
threatened and endangered species are promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307.
    NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct an environmental analysis
of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may affect the
human environment. NMFS expects to take action on two ESA section
10(a)(1)(A) submittals received from the applicants. Therefore NMFS is
seeking public input on the scope of the required NEPA analysis,
including the range of reasonable alternatives and associated impacts
of any alternatives.
    In an application received on August 27, 2006, the Grant PUD
submitted an application to NMFS for an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) permit
for the direct take of ESA-listed upper Columbia River spring Chinook
salmon from the White River in Chelan County, in order to carry out an
artificial propagation (hatchery) program to enhance the species. The
purpose of this program is to prevent the extinction of, conserve, and
ultimately restore the naturally spawning White River spring Chinook
salmon spawning aggregate, which is part of the Wenatchee population
within the upper Columbia River basin.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments
submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the
requirements of

[[Page 69552]]

section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. If it is determined that the
requirements are met, a permit will be issued jointly to the Grant PUD,
the WDFW, and the YN for the purpose of carrying out the enhancement
program. NMFS will publish a record of its final action in the Federal
Register.
    The general effects on the environment considered include the
impacts on the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments of
the upper Columbia River Basin, particularly in the Wenatchee River
Subbasin in which the program is located.

    Dated: November 28, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-20377 Filed 11-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

 
 

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