Development of artificial production facilities in Northeast Oregon is authorized in Section 7.4 of the 1994 Northwest Power Conservation Council's (NPCC; formerly Northwest Power and Planning Council) Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (FWP). Specifically, Section 7.4L1 authorizes the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to fund planning design, construction, operation, maintenance and evaluation of artificial production facilities to raise chinook salmon and steelhead for enhancement in the Hood, Umatilla, Grande Ronde, and Imnaha Rivers.

The NPCC has adopted a 3-Step Review Process for reviewing and approving projects involving new production initiatives. This process involves submittal and review of a comprehensive master plan (Step-1), preliminary design and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis documents (Step-2), and final design documents (Step-3).

PROJECT SUMMARY
On April 14, 2000, the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) submitted the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Spring Chinook Master Plan to the NPCC, fulfilling Step-1 requirements.  Following public and peer review and comment, the NPCC approved the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Spring Chinook Master Plan on September 20, 2000.

As part of the approval, the NPCC authorized implementation of Step-2 activities (preliminary design and NEPA analysis) for development of proposed facilities.  In addition, the NPCC requested that several issues raised during the review process be addressed.  

In October 2000, a Core Team was formed by the NPT from representatives of the co-managers and other involved parties:  the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), NOAA-Fisheries, BPA, NPCC, Montgomery Watson Harza (engineering consultants), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other team consultants.  The Core Team worked very hard in 2001 to develop the preliminary design of proposed new facilities and modifications to existing facilities (Lookingglass Hatchery and Imnaha satellite facility).  

On September 4, 2001 the preliminary design documents were submitted to the NPCC.  These documents included 1) response to Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) and NPCC issues raised during the Step-1 review, 2) Preliminary Design Report, and 3) Preliminary Design Drawings.  This submittal was coordinated with the Blue Mountain Provincial Review timeline so that the Step-2 review of the preliminary design documents could take place in the Provincial Review forum.  Decisions regarding project funding in the Blue Mountain Province were made in January-April, 2002.  

On May 22, 2003 the Nez Perce Tribe again submitted step 2 documents to address the conditions placed on the project as part of the step 1 review.  The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the "Grande Ronde - Imnaha Hatchery Project" was completed by BPA and made available to the public on May 29, 2003.  

On June 2, 2003 the step 2 documents were submitted to the ISRP for review.  On August 12, 2003 the ISRP completed the review of the step submittal (ISRP document 2003-12).  The ISRP had some continuing concerns with some components of the program, primarily the detail of the monitoring and evaluation plan.  

On October 16, 2003 the NEOH Core Team responded to the ISRP's comments and questions raised in the step 2 review and on October 27, 2003 a meeting was arranged between members of the NEOH Core Team and the ISRP.  On November 17, 2003 the ISRP provided a follow up to their step 2 review (2003-12) which included specific recommendations for the development of an appropriate M&E plan.  

The NEOH Core Team re-submitted an M&E plan on March 1, 2004 for ISRP review.  On May 18, 2004 the ISRP provided their positive review of the M&E plan (ISRP document 2004-10).  The ISRP commented that the M&E plan was an excellent working draft for the NEOH Imnaha and Grande Ronde subbasin spring Chinook salmon program.

The Draft Biological Assessment (BA) was completed August 25, 2003.  The Final BA and request for formal consultation was mailed to USFWS and NOAA Fisheries on May 26, 2004.  The Biological Opinion from NOAA Fisheries was received on October 7, 2004.  Consultation with the USFWS is ongoing.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement was published in the federal register on July 30, 2004 for the Grande Ronde - Imnaha Spring Chinook Hatchery Project.  There is a 30-day period before a Record of Decision (ROD) can be written.  In addition, a determination is needed by the Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor on whether to re-authorize the Special Use Permit to the USFWS for the Imnaha Satellite Facility.

On October 13, 2004, in Missoula, MT, the NPCC approved the step 2 review elements of the Northeast Oregon Hatchery Spring Chinook Master Plan and recommended, with conditions, activities associated with step 3.  Conditions identified by the NPCC were:

The Lostine Hatchery facility construction phase is currently on hold at this time. BPA and the NPT are waiting for a NOAA approved HGMP and available capital funding for the project.