Notice of NOAA Intent to Prepare an EIS and Hold Public Workshops

Notice of NOAA Intent to Prepare an EIS and Hold Public Workshops on Puget Sound Steelhead Hatcheries 

In March 2015, NOAA Fisheries released for public comment a draft environmental assessment (DEA) for three hatchery programs producing early-returning (“early”) winter steelhead in Puget Sound (in the Dungeness, Nooksack, and Stillaguamish watersheds). Based on public comments, NOAA Fisheries is performing additional environmental review, which will lead to a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The DEIS will also review two other early winter steelhead hatchery programs (in the Skykomish and Snoqualmie watersheds). NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on the scope of the DEIS (e.g., potential issues, impacts, and alternatives to be considered). 

As part of developing the EIS, NOAA Fisheries will hold public workshops on the DEIS in two locations in the Puget Sound area. At the workshops NOAA Fisheries representatives will discuss the steelhead project and answer questions.

Scoping comments may be submitted by email to EWShatcheriesEIS.wcr@noaa.gov, or by regular mail to the mailing address provided at the project website identified below. Comments must be received by NOAA Fisheries no later than 5 p.m. on August 13, 2015.  Workshop attendees may also submit comments by leaving them at the workshops.

Information on the project is available online at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/hatcheries/salmon_and_steelhead_hatcheries.html

Public workshop dates, times, and locations are:

Monday, July 20                                  

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Skagit Public Utilities District

Aqua Room

1415 Freeway Drive

Mt Vernon, WA

Tuesday, July 21

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Lynnwood Convention Center

Room 2BC

3711 196^th St SW

Lynnwood, WA