TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The people of Washington recognize that the health of salmon and steelhead populations is vital to our biological and cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, The salmon harvest contributes over one billion dollars annually to Washington's economy; and

WHEREAS, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works with tribal governments and other partners to restore salmon and steelhead, provide recreational opportunities, and support economically viable and sustainable fisheries; and

WHEREAS, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries has designated certain Washington salmon and steelhead populations as threatened or endangered under the endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.); and

WHEREAS, The endangered species act and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries' regulations prohibit the "take" of endangered or threatened salmon and steelhead unless exempted by appropriate action by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries; and

WHEREAS, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has submitted over one hundred fifty statewide hatchery and genetic management plans for approval by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, and approval would exempt those hatchery operations from the endangered species act "take" prohibition; and

WHEREAS, Among the over one hundred fifty hatchery and genetic management plans submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries for approval, more than sixty were for operations in the Puget Sound region; and

WHEREAS, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries' review of Puget Sound hatchery and genetic management plans requires consideration under the national environmental policy act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) and the endangered species act to approve these plans and provide appropriate protection from the endangered species act "take" prohibition; and

WHEREAS, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries review of Puget Sound hatchery and genetic management plans is ongoing and, given the volume of pending requests for review, will likely take more than thirty months to complete;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries sufficient resources to expedite its endangered species act and national environmental policy act review of Puget Sound hatchery and genetic management plans and that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries prioritize and conduct immediate review and approval of Puget Sound hatchery and genetic management plans.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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