138 



United States Department ofttrelinterior 



OFT-( TT. (\V THE SECRETARY 



WaSHIN'JTON. D.C. 20240 ■■ "" 



^UN30 1993 



In Rfe?-y Refer To: 



FR 9l\30£ 



Director, Office of Protected Resources 

 ••rational Marina Fisheries Service 

 1335 East-West Highway 

 silver Spring, Maryland 20910 



Dear Sir/Madoia: 



The Departnent of the Intex ior (DOI) has revieved the Interim 

 Policy on Artificial Propagation of Pacific Salmon (Policy) Onder 

 the Endangered Species Act'(ESA), published in the Federal 

 Register on April 5, 1993. We offer these comments aa an initial 

 response to Ltie published policy. 



The Katio;uil Marine Flsherlea Service's- (NHFS) Interiti Policy is 

 a major step Ln addressing the potential risks of artificial 

 propagation- However, the focus on risks nay miss some of the 

 potential benefits of alloving listed species to be Incorporated 

 into an artificial propagation program to facilitate salmon 

 recovery efforts. For instance, artificial propagation cfforta 

 that preserve the gene pool and population structure of the 

 1 isted stocks may play an important role in the short-term. 



The Policy was developed as internal guidance for NHPfi to 

 evaluate artificial propagation in the listing, consultation, 

 permitting, and recovery of Pacific salmon under the ESX. In 

 practice, hovevcr, the Policy could have fmr-reaching ^ 



JRplications for all involved jurisdictiona regarding thd use of ^ 

 artificial propagation for restoration of moat Kest Coast saloon, j 

 Policy inplenentation may require ma jor nodifj Lcati-ons La. nany 

 artificial propagation programs conducted by Federal, State, 

 Tribal, and other entities, wh^oh over tli« pact €0 yaaira, Ixave 

 mitigated- for ia^acts of development activities and rdfitored 

 depleted stocks. lJLkewff;e, the pr«c«ddnta cstabllcthed by this 

 Policy could affect artificial propagation of other fish 

 throughout the Nation listed under the EGA. 



The Policy should b« r«viced and fiirthcs: coordinated with other 

 agencies and affected parties before it is applied. 

 Consequently, ve recowmpnd that ite imp Icne ntafcion be deferred 

 for a short period. To that end, DOI is prepared to actively 

 participate in an effort to raeolve issues and to pursue 



Attachment 8 



