[Federal Register: November 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 67966]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no04-127]
[[Page 67966]]
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRIC POWER AND CONSERVATION PLANNING COUNCIL
Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council Subbasin Plan;
Draft Amendments
AGENCY: Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning
Council (Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Council).
ACTION: Notice of availability and opportunity to comment on subbasin
plan draft amendments to the Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and
Wildlife Program (program).
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SUMMARY: Following the mandate set out in the Pacific Northwest
Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 839 et
seq.) (the Act), in November 1982 the Council adopted a regional
program, the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Act
requires the program be designed to protect, mitigate and enhance fish
and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin affected by hydropower dams,
while also assuring the region of an adequate, efficient, economical
and reliable power supply.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2000, the Council began a comprehensive
revision of the program. First, the Council amended the program by
adopting a framework of vision, objectives and strategies at different
geographic scales (basinwide, ecological province, subbasin), tied
together with a consistent scientific foundation. The Council also
adopted basinwide provisions and described how it proposed to add more
specific objectives and measures to the program through integrated
subbasin plans for the tributary subbasins of the Columbia and for
specific mainstem reaches. The draft amendments now proposed for
adoption will add subbasin plans to the general, basinwide provisions
of the program as the next step in the comprehensive revision.
On August 12, 2002, the Council solicited recommendations for
amendments to the program at the subbasin level from the region's State
and Federal fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, and others, as
required by the Act. At the same time, the Council worked with a broad
range of interests in the region and developed a ``Technical Guide for
Subbasin Planners'' to help ensure that plans had a consistent format
and content. The Council also worked with the Bonneville Power
Administration to secure funding support for planning groups, the first
time that funding has been made available to help develop fish and
wildlife program amendment recommendations. Subbasin planners were
asked to develop subbasin plans that incorporate a technical
assessment, an inventory of past and present activities, and a
management plan consisting of a vision, biological objectives and
implementation strategies for the subbasin.
On May 28, 2004, the Council received 59 recommendations for
subbasin plans in 58 subbasins from various planning entities. The
Council made those recommendations available for public review and
comment, including review by a team of independent scientists. The
public comment period on the recommendations ended on August 12, 2004.
The Council received an extensive set of comments. The Council staff
and Council also reviewed the plans during the comment period for
consistency with standards in the Act for program amendments and with
the provisions in the 2000 Program.
After its review of the recommendations and the comments on
recommendations, on October 13, 2004, the Council concluded that 29 of
the 59 subbasin plan recommendations were ready for release for public
review as draft amendments to the fish and wildlife program. The
Council proposes to adopt the management plan portions of these
subbasin plans as parts of the program. The underlying technical
assessments and inventories will be placed in an appendix to the
program.
The Council has scheduled public hearings in the following
locations to accept oral and written comments on draft subbasin plan
program amendments. Wednesday, October 27: Wenatchee, Washington, and
Euguene, Oregon; Thursday, October 28: Kalispell, Montana; Wednesday,
November 3: Pendleton, Oregon; Thursday, November 4: Ontario, Oregon,
and Boise, Idaho; Monday, November 8: Vancouver, Washington; Tuesday,
November 9: Portland, Oregon; Wednesday, November 10: Hood River,
Oregon; Monday, November 15: Clarkston, Washington; and Tuesday,
November 16: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. For precise times and locations,
please contact the Council's central office or consult the Council's
Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like a copy of the
Subbasin Plan Draft Amendments on a compact disc or in printed form,
please contact the Council's central office. The Council's address is
851 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon 97204 and its
telephone numbers are (503) 222-5161; (800) 452-5161. The Counil's fax
number if (503) 820-2370. The Subbasin Plan Draft Amendments are also
found on the Council's Web site: http://www.nwcouncil.org.
If you are submitting comments on the draft amendments, please note
prominently which subbasin plan you are commenting on and address them
to Mr. Mark Walker, Director of Public Affairs. Comments may be
submitted by mail, by facsimile transmission (fax), or by electronic
mail at: comments@nwcouncil.org. All comments must be received by 5
p.m. on November 22, 2004.
Stephen L. Crow,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 04-25725 Filed 11-19-04; 8:45 am]
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