Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
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Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has made a determination on a joint tribal and state resource management plan (RMP) pursuant to Limit 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 4(d) and has issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and FONSI addressing the effects of the 4(d) determination. The Tulalip Tribes and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (collectively the co-managers) have submitted an RMP, in the form of a HGMP, to NMFS pursuant to limit 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule for a summer steelhead hatchery program in the Skykomish River basin. The hatchery program is intended to contribute to fulfilling Federal tribal trust responsibilities and treaty rights guaranteed through treaties. It is also designed to contribute to the survival and recovery of Puget Sound steelhead and produce summer steelhead for sustainable fisheries. Before making its final determinations, NMFS solicited and took into account public comments on a proposed evaluation and pending determination (PEPD) document for the program. The determinations announced in this notice consist of NMFS' findings as to whether the HGMP submitted to NMFS addresses the criteria. NMFS also announces the availability of a Final EA and FONSI addressing the effects of the 4(d) determination.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 44698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17381]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB288]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; Determination on Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan
(HGMP) and availability of the associated Finding of No Significant
Impacts (FONSI).
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has made a determination on a
joint tribal and state resource management plan (RMP) pursuant to Limit
6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 4(d) and has issued a
Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and FONSI addressing the effects of
the 4(d) determination. The Tulalip Tribes and Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife (collectively the co-managers) have submitted an RMP,
in the form of a HGMP, to NMFS pursuant to limit 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule
for a summer steelhead hatchery program in the Skykomish River basin.
The hatchery program is intended to contribute to fulfilling Federal
tribal trust responsibilities and treaty rights guaranteed through
treaties. It is also designed to contribute to the survival and
recovery of Puget Sound steelhead and produce summer steelhead for
sustainable fisheries. Before making its final determinations, NMFS
solicited and took into account public comments on a proposed
evaluation and pending determination (PEPD) document for the program.
The determinations announced in this notice consist of NMFS' findings
as to whether the HGMP submitted to NMFS addresses the criteria. NMFS
also announces the availability of a Final EA and FONSI addressing the
effects of the 4(d) determination.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emi Melton, at phone number: (503)
736-4739, or via email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9dcd4d097d4dcd5cdd6d7f9d7d6d8d897ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f89d9591d6959d948c9796b896979999d69f978e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated Puget Sound.
Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha): threatened, naturally produced and
artificially propagated Puget Sound.
Discussion of the Biological Analysis Underlying the Determinations
The goals of the Skykomish summer steelhead program are: (1) To
produce South Fork Skykomish River summer steelhead for sustainable
fisheries, (2) to contribute to fulfilling Federal tribal trust
responsibilities and treaty rights guaranteed through treaties and
affirmed in U.S. v. Washington (1974), and (3) to contribute to the
conservation and restoration of the North Fork Skykomish River summer
steelhead population.
The program would be operated in such a way as to minimize
potential risks to listed natural-origin Chinook salmon and steelhead
populations, including interactions between hatchery and natural fish
that may lead to adverse genetic effects and competition and predation
effects. The proposed hatchery program is consistent with the recovery
plans for each of the listed species, designed to protect and restore
listed species across their range. The program uses adaptive management
procedures and the best available science to minimize adverse genetic
effects typically associated with steelhead hatchery programs. As part
of the proposed hatchery program, monitoring and evaluation would be
implemented to assess performance in meeting population conservation or
harvest augmentation objectives, and to evaluate effects on ESA-listed
natural-origin Chinook salmon and steelhead. Information gained through
monitoring and evaluation will be used to assess whether the impacts of
the program on listed fish are as expected.
Review of monitoring and evaluation results by NMFS and the co-
managers will occur annually to evaluate whether assumptions regarding
the hatchery program effects and analysis remain valid and whether the
objectives are being accomplished. The HGMP includes provisions for
annual reports that will assess compliance with performance standards
established through the HGMP. Reporting and inclusion of new
information derived from HGMP's research, monitoring, and evaluation
activities will allow for adjustments of the activities to meet the
performance standards in future seasons.
Summary of Comments Received
NMFS published a notice of its PEPD on the Skykomish Summer
Steelhead Program for public review and comment on December 22, 2020
(85 FR 83519), as required under Limit 6 of the ESA section 4(d) Rule.
The PEPD was available for public review and comment for 30 days, and
our responses to the comments are addressed in our Evaluation and
Recommended Determination.
NMFS published a notice of availability for public review and
comment on the Draft EA on February 5, 2021 (86 FR 8342), in accordance
with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.). The Draft EA was available for public review and comment
for 30 days, and our responses to the comments are addressed in our
Final EA. NMFS has determined that there are no significant impacts
associated with the project and issued a FONSI for the program on July
2, 2021.
Authority
16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 50 CFR subpart B, Sec. 223.201-202 also
issued under 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 5503(d) for 50 CFR
223.206(d)(9).
Dated: August 10, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17381 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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