Notices. Notice of availability and request for comment

741 words·~3 min read·/register/2003/07/01/03-16570

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BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 061803C] 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. SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Nez Perce Indian Tribe has submitted a Tribal resource management plan (Tribal Plan) to NMFS pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Tribal Plans promulgated under the Endangered Species Act.

The Tribal Plan specifies the management of recreational, ceremonial, and subsistence fisheries in 2003 in the Imnaha River subbasin in the State of Oregon that potentially affect Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon listed as threatened under the ESA. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the proposed evaluation of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) as to whether implementation of the Tribal Plan will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of Snake River salmon and steelhead, and the availability for public comment of a draft environmental assessment on the proposed action.

DATES: Written comments on the Secretary's pending determination and the draft assessment must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES ) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight time on July 16, 2003. ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for copies of the draft HGMPs should be addressed to Herb Pollard, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 10215 W. Emerald St. Suite 180, Boise, ID 83704. Comments may also be sent via fax to

(208)378-5699. The document is also available on the Internet at *http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/* . Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Herb Pollard at phone number: 208/378-5614, or e-mail: *herbert.pollard@noaa.gov* . This notice is relevant to the Imnaha River subbasin population of the Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook salmon ( *Oncorhynchus tshawytscha* ) and Snake River steelhead ( *Oncorhynchus mykiss* ) Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU). Background The Nez Perce Tribe has submitted to NMFS a Tribal Plan for recreational, ceremonial, and subsistence fisheries in 2003 potentially affecting threatened Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon in the Imnaha River basin. The Tribal Plan includes recreational fisheries specified by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that take place in the same waters and in the same time frame as the tribal ceremonial and subsistence fisheries. The Nez Perce Tribe and the State of Oregon have co-manager responsibilities for spring chinook salmon within the Imnaha River sub-basin and manage this salmon population under cooperative agreements. The objective of the Tribal Plan is to harvest spring chinook in a manner that does not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the ESU. Impact levels to the listed spring chinook populations in the ESU are specified in the Tribal Plan. Analysis of the predicted return of naturally and hatchery-produced spring chinook salmon to the Imnaha River basin in 2003 and the proposed harvest levels indicate that all hatchery brood stock and supplemental spawning and natural spawning escapement needs will be met after the proposed fisheries. A variety of monitoring and evaluation tasks to be conducted by the co-managers is specified in the Tribal Plan to assess the abundance of spring chinook and to determine fishery effort and catch of spring chinook. A comprehensive review of the Tribal Plan to evaluate whether the fisheries and listed spring chinook populations are performing as expected will be done within and at the end of the proposed 2003 season. As required by the ESA 4(d) rule for Tribal Plans (65 FR 42481, July 10, 2000 [50 CFR 223.209]), the Secretary is seeking public comment on his pending determination as to whether the Tribal Plan for Imnaha River chinook salmon would appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the threatened Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon ESU. Authority Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary is required to adopt such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of the species listed as threatened. The ESA Tribal 4(d) Rule (65 FR 42481, July 10, 2000 [50 CFR 223.209]) states that the ESA section 9 take prohibitions will not apply to Tribal Plans that will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery for the listed species. Dated: June 23, 2003. Phil Williams, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 03-16570 Filed 6-30-03; 8:45 am]

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Notices

Notice of availability and request for comment

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