[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 2196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00734]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE394
Endangered and Threatened Species; Status Update on Preparation
of Record of Decision, Mitchell Act Hatcheries Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released its
final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to Inform Columbia River
Basin Hatchery Operations and the Funding of Mitchell Act Hatchery
Programs in September 2014 (also known as the Mitchell Act Hatchery
EIS). This notice serves as an update on preparation of the agency's
record of decision (ROD).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Dixon, (360) 534-9329 or email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 3, 2004 (69 FR 53892), NMFS
announced its intent to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and to conduct
public scoping related to the allocation and distribution of Mitchell
Act funds for Columbia River hatchery operations. Subsequently, in
2009, NMFS announced its decision to expand the scope of the EIS to
include analysis of the environmental effects of all hatchery programs
in the Columbia River Basin, regardless of the hatchery funding source,
in a way that would inform future NMFS decisions about Endangered
Species Act compliances for all Columbia River hatchery programs (74 FR
10724, March 12, 2009). A draft EIS was published in August 2010 (75 FR
47591, August 6, 2010). The final EIS was published in September 2014
(79 FR 54707, September 12, 2014) with a public review period through
November 12, 2014.
NMFS has been preparing its ROD through careful consideration of a
range of comments received during public review of the final EIS. NMFS
is also considering the anticipated effects of its preferred policy
direction on species listed under the Endangered Species Act. It is
anticipated that the ROD will be published in 2016.
Dated: January 12, 2016.
Perry F.Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00734 Filed 1-14-16; 8:45 am]
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