NOAA NEPA Document Database

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Skokomish Indian Tribe (SIT) (the applicants, also collectively referred to as the co-managers) jointly submitted seven hatchery genetic and management plans (HGMPs) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead hatchery programs they operate within the Skokomish River Basin in Washington State. The hatchery facilities supporting these programs are owned and operated by the co-managers, Tacoma Power (which is a division of Tacoma Public Utilities [TPU]), and Long Live the Kings (LLTK). The HGMPs describe seven hatchery programs that produce Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha), steelhead (O. mykiss), coho salmon (O. kisutch), chum salmon (O. keta), and sockeye salmon (O. nerka). This environmental assessment (EA) will evaluate the potential effects of approving these programs under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule and alternatives.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has prepared this Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Disposition of Two Beluga Whales Held by Mystic Aquarium (Permit No. 22629-04) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.), and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A, “Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions; 11988 and 13690, Floodplain Management and 11990, Protection of Wetlands,” issued April 22, 2016, and the Companion Manual for NAO 216-6A, “Policy and Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Authorities,” (June 30, 2025). This SEA evaluates the environmental impacts of approving the post-permit disposition of two captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) currently held by Mystic Aquarium under Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Scientific Research Permit No. 22629-04. This document supplements NMFS’s August 2020 Final EA (2020 EA), Issuance of a Marine Mammal Protection Act Scientific Research Permit to Mystic Aquarium for the Importation and Take of Captive Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas), which analyzed the original import and research parameters and is hereby incorporated by reference.

The 2023 benchmark stock assessment for the American Samoa bottomfish fishery (Nadon et al. 2023) indicated that none of the American Samoa bottomfish were overfished or subject to overfishing. In response to this determination, NMFS is proposing Amendment 7 to the FEP for the American Samoa Archipelago to discontinue the rebuilding plan for bottomfish and set annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for the 2024-2026 fishing years.

NMFS is considering alternatives to implement the management procedures adopted by ICCAT for North Atlantic swordfish and Atlantic bluefin tuna. In doing so, NMFS would also consider procedures for implementing future U.S. quotas adopted under the management procedures. This action would also continue implementing a process that adjusts the baseline quotas when applying any overharvest or the allowable level of any carryover of previous year’s quota underharvest to baseline quotas. For swordfish, this process includes international transfers of U.S. North and South Atlantic swordfish quota under adopted ICCAT recommendations.

Several species of grouper in the Gulf of America (Gulf) are currently managed within the Other Shallow-water Grouper (SWG) complex. These species include scamp (Mycteroperca phenax), yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis), black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), and yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa). These species were assigned to this complex under the Generic Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Accountability Measures (AM) Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) of the Gulf (Generic ACL/AM Amendment). Assignment of these species to the complex was based on where these species occurred, and whether it was common for these species to be caught on the same fishing trips. Until recently, no approved peer-reviewed stock assessment was available to inform stock status of any of these species. In 2022, a stock assessment of scamp and yellowmouth grouper was completed (SEDAR 68 2022), which assessed both species together, and passed a peer-review by the Gulf Council’s (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The SSC recommended updated status determination criteria and catch advice for these two species. To act on these recommendations, the Council initiated work on Amendment 58A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources in the Gulf (Reef Fish FMP) that considers composition changes to the Other SWG complex, changes to catch limits, modification of the commercial Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program, and other management measures. In recognition of the complexity of Amendment 58A to the Reef Fish FMP , the Council is developing this framework action to consider changes to catch limits for the Other SWG complex that are consistent with the recommendations from the SSC based on its review of SEDAR 68. The modifications from this framework action are expected to reduce the likelihood of overfishing scamp and yellowmouth grouper while a more holistic management response is developed in Amendment 58A.

NMFS proposes to issue an ESA s10(a)(1)(B) Incidental Take Permit based on the applicant's proposed Habitat Conservation Plan.

EA/FONSI Conditional Approval of the State of Alabama Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program

This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources’ decision regarding issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization, pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, to HEX Operating, LLC for the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to rig towing in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources’ proposal to issue an Letter of Authorization, pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and an Incidental Take Permit, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act, to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, for the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to fisheries independent research programs in the coastal waters of Texas.

This environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluates the environmental consequences of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issuing incidental take permits associated with the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) prepared the HCP in support of its permit applications. ODF is seeking take authorization from NMFS and FWS for the following species: Oregon Coast coho, Oregon Coast spring-run Chinook, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast spring-run Chinook, Lower Columbia River coho, Upper Willamette River spring-run Chinook, Upper Willamette River steelhead, Columbia River chum, Lower Columbia River Chinook, eulachon, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Oregon slender salamander, Columbia torrent salamander, Cascade torrent salamander, coastal marten, and red tree vole. The permits, if issued, would authorize take of the covered species that may occur incidental to ODF’s forest and recreation management activities. The EIS presents effects of the proposed HCP and four alternatives on geology and soils, water resources, vegetation, fish and wildlife, air quality, aesthetics, recreation, cultural resources, tribal resources, socioeconomics, and environmental justice, and greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage.

The actions proposed in Regulatory Amendment 36 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper Grouper FMP) would revise the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper and revise stowage requirements for black sea bass pots while transiting through marine protected areas (MPA) or spawning special management zones (SMZ).

This Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Regulatory Impact Review analyzes proposed management measures to minimize chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) fishery. The purpose of this action is to minimize chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, with a particular focus on chum salmon of Western Alaska origin, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, its National Standards, and other applicable law. The management measures being considered include limits or “caps” on the number of chum salmon that may be caught in the pollock fishery and closure of all or part of the Bering Sea to pollock fishing once the limit is reached. This document addresses the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 12866, and other applicable Federal law.

This framework action would increase the Gulf lane snapper size limit from 8 inches total length (TL) to 10 inches TL in an effort to slow harvest, which is expected to extend the length of the fishing season and reduce the likelihood of exceeding the stock annual catch limit and the overfishing limit. The Gulf Fishery Management Council developed this proposed action to address early closures of the fishing season and overages of the stock catch limits. The specification of size limits is consistent with the authority in section 303(b)(3)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; allowing for the specification of limits on catch of fish, including size). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing this proposed rule consistent with the authority in section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a scoping process to consider designating a national marine sanctuary in the Hudson Canyon area approximately 100 miles offshore southeast of New York City. NOAA is initiating this scoping process based on the area's diverse qualities, which are described in the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS's) November 2016 Hudson Canyon national marine sanctuary nomination. Specifically, WCS's nomination provides important context and background regarding the natural and cultural resources in the region, the potential benefits of national marine sanctuary designation, recommendations for management of the sanctuary, and a proposed sanctuary boundary, which NOAA will take under consideration, but does not represent an official boundary proposal at this time. As a first step in this scoping process, NOAA invites comments on the factors that will contribute to its determination of whether to designate the area as a national marine sanctuary; designation would include preparation and release of a draft environmental impact statement (including national marine sanctuary boundary alternatives), proposed regulations, and a draft management plan. This scoping process will also inform the initiation of any consultations with Federal, State, or local agencies, Tribes, and other interested parties, as appropriate.

In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a scoping process to consider designating a national marine sanctuary in the eastern Lake Erie adjacent to Pennsylvania. The nomination provides a sescription of the cultural and historical resources in the region, the potential benefits of a national marine sanctuary designation, recommendations for management of the sanctuary, and a proposed sanctuary boundary. As a first step in the scoping process, NOAA invited comments on the factors that will contribute to its determination of whether and how to designate the area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will inform NOAA's next steps in the designation process, which whould include the preparation and release of draft designation documents, as well as the formulation of action alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This scoping process will also inform the initiation of consultations with Indigenous Nations and Tribes, Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested parties,m as appropriate.

In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NOAA is initiating the process to consider designating the submerged lands and waters surrounding the Pacific Remote Islands to the full extent of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as a new national marine sanctuary. NOAA will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the sanctuary designation process to discuss environmental impacts and inform decision makers and the public of reasonable alternatives that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the human environment. NOAA is initiating the public scoping process to invite comments on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the DEIS that are related to designating this area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA in moving forward with the designation process, which would include the preparation and release of draft designation documents, as well as the formulation of alternatives for the DEIS.

NOAA is publishing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed development of a commercial-scale finfish aquaculture facility to be located in Federal waters off the coast of southern California.

The State of WI has nominated sites within the Bay of Green Bay for designation as a NERR. This would join 30 other sites around the country.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes regulations to implement Amendment 55 pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  The latest Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment (SEDAR 68 Operational Assessment [OA] 2022) assessed scamp and yellowmouth grouper in the South Atlantic as a single species due to misidentification issues between the two species.  SEDAR 68 OA (2022) indicated that the scamp and yellowmouth grouper stock is overfished, but that overfishing is not occurring.  Yellowmouth grouper is currently part of the Other South Atlantic Shallow Water Grouper (OSASWG) complex (containing rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowmouth grouper, and yellowfin grouper).  Amendment 55 would reorganize the OSASWG complex, establish a new Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex including stock determination criteria, rebuilding plan, catch levels, sector allocations, management measures, and accountability measures.  Additionally, Amendment 55 would modify the catch levels for the remaining species (rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, and yellowfin grouper) within the OSASWG complex.  The need for this amendment is to rebuild the scamp and yellowmouth grouper stock, and achieve optimum yield while minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.

The Puget Sound Treaty Indian Tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (the co-managers) for fisheries management in the Puget Sound area have submitted the Puget Sound Chinook Resource Management Plan to NOAA Fisheries (February 17, 2022) for a determination as to whether the RMP meets the requirements of Limit 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead and thus qualifies for the exemption from ESA section 9(a) take prohibitions for ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon, as provided in the 4(d) Rule. As part of its review, NOAA Fisheries will complete an EIS under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), analyzing the effects and impacts of the potential decision.