Notice2025-08306
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Primary source
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Published
May 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received plans for twelve hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook salmon in the Nooksack River basin and Strait of Georgia. The plans describe hatchery programs operated by the Lummi Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in collaboration with the Nooksack Indian Tribe as co- managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability and opportunity to comment on a Proposed Evaluation and Determination Documents (PEPD) on the proposed hatchery programs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 90 (Monday, May 12, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 90 (Monday, May 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20156-20157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08306]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE894]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; availability of a Proposed Evaluation and Pending
Determination for public comment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received plans for twelve
hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook salmon in the Nooksack
River basin and Strait of Georgia. The plans describe hatchery programs
operated by the Lummi Nation and Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) in collaboration with the Nooksack Indian Tribe as co-
managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability
and opportunity to comment on a Proposed Evaluation and Determination
Documents (PEPD) on the proposed hatchery programs.
DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on June 11, 2025. Comments
received after this date may not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for
providing email comments is: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b634a5f48434e59424e58057b5e4947424805684446464e455f6b45444a4a054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="622a0316010a07100b07114c3217000e0b014c210d0f0f070c16220c0d03034c050d14">[email protected]</span></a>.
Include in the subject line of the email comment the following
[[Page 20157]]
identifier: Comments on Nooksack River hatchery programs. The document
available for public comment is available on the internet at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/twelve-hatchery-and-genetic-management-plans-nooksack-river-basin-and-georgia-strait-salmon">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/twelve-hatchery-and-genetic-management-plans-nooksack-river-basin-and-georgia-strait-salmon</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morgan Robinson at (253) 307-2670 or
by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f52504d585e51114d505d56514c50517f51505e5e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4825273a2f2926663a272a21263b27260826272929662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice
<bullet> Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha):
threatened, naturally and artificially propagated;
<bullet> Puget Sound Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally
and artificially propagated.
Background
The term ``take'' is defined under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture,
or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. The ESA
prohibits the take of endangered salmonids and, pursuant to ESA section
4(d), ESA regulations can be extended to prohibit the take of
threatened salmonids. However, NMFS may make exceptions to the take
prohibitions for hatchery programs that are approved by NMFS under the
limits on the prohibitions outlined in 50 CFR 223.203(b). The
operators, Lummi Nation and WDFW, collaborating with tribal co-manager
Nooksack Indian Tribe, have submitted twelve HGMPs to NMFS pursuant to
NMFS' limit six of the 4(d) Rule of the ESA for hatchery activities in
the Nooksack River basin and Strait of Georgia, Washington. Chinook,
coho, and chum salmon hatchery programs will be operated at Skookum
Creek, Kendall Creek, Samish, Glenwood Springs, Whatcom Creek, and
Lummi Bay hatcheries.
The hatchery programs are designed to contribute to the survival
and recovery of Nooksack River Chinook salmon and provide salmon for
harvest augmentation purposes. These hatchery programs are intended to
contribute to fulfilling federal tribal treaty rights affirmed in U.S.
v. Washington (1974) by enhancing future fishing opportunities for
Chinook, coho, and chum salmon. Included in the hatchery plans are
research and monitoring activities to study the effect of the programs
on the recovery of Puget Sound Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.
Dated: May 7, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-08306 Filed 5-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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