Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program (DOE/EA-2277)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville) proposes to partially fund three fishery co-managers (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Clatsop County Fisheries) to implement the SAFE Program.  The SAFE Program includes the acclimation, transport, and release of juvenile salmonids (spring Chinook and coho smolts), in addition to monitoring and evaluation, and the operations and maintenance of SAFE hatchery facilities and net pen sites (SAFE Facilities).  

Juvenile salmonids would be collected and reared at various SAFE hatcheries in the Lower Columbia River Estuary and its tributaries, then acclimated and released from SAFE Facilities in off-channel areas (Select Areas).  As adults, these fish return to the Select Areas, where they support commercial and recreational fisheries (Select Area Fisheries).  

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, Bonneville has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA analyzes the operations and maintenance of the SAFE Program, as well as a no-fund alternative in which the SAFE Program would continue without Bonneville funding.  The EA describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources. 
A draft EA was released for public review and comment in September 2024.  Bonneville received four comment letters.  Bonneville released the final EA and its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in February 2026. 
 

CURRENT STATUS

Bonneville released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts. 

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Dan Gambetta
Environmental Protection Specialist
Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-3493
Email: dagambetta@bpa.gov  

For project information, contact:
Tracy Hauser
Project Manager
Bonneville Power Administration – EWL
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-4296
Email: tlhauser@bpa.gov  

DOCUMENTS

FINAL

Final EA February 2026
FONSI and MAP February 24, 2026
Public Letter February 27, 2026

DRAFT
Comments received
Public Letter September 25, 2024
Comment Form September 25, 2024
Draft EA  September 25, 2024

EA Determination September 9, 2024

 
SCOPING
Scoping comments received 
Public Letter January 2, 2024
Comment Form January 2, 2024