[Federal Register: February 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 24)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 5740-5754]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe99-30]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 226

[Docket No. 990128036-9036-01; I.D. 033198A]
RIN 0648-AG49

 
Designated Critical Habitat: Proposed Critical Habitat for Nine 
Evolutionarily Significant Units of Steelhead in Washington, Oregon, 
Idaho, and California

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to designate critical habitat for nine 
evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus 
mykiss) previously listed and currently proposed for listing under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). Proposed critical habitat occurs in the 
States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. The areas 
described in this proposed rule represent the current freshwater and 
estuarine range inhabited by the ESU. Freshwater critical habitat 
includes all waterways and substrates below longstanding, naturally 
impassable barriers (i.e., natural waterfalls in existence for at least 
several hundred years) and several dams that block access to former 
anadromous habitats. The economic and other impacts resulting from this 
critical habitat designation are expected to be minimal.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 6, 1999. Requests for public 
hearings must be received by March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed rule or requests for reference 
materials should be sent to Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, 
NMFS, Northwest Region, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 
97232-2737; telefax (503) 230-5435.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005, Craig 
Wingert, (562) 980-4021, or Chris Mobley, 301-713-1401.