July 26, 2011:  We informed Washington and Oregon that we're withdrawing our letter of authorization to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam (PDF 103KB)

May 13, 2011:  NOAA Fisheries announced that it is authorizing the states of Washington and Oregon to remove California sea lions that feed on ESA-listed salmon in the Columbia River Basin.

• News release (PDF 72KB)
• Questions & Answers on sea lion removal authorization (PDF 59KB)
• Letter of authorization to Washington; letter to Oregon has the same language (PDF 808KB)
• 2011 decision memo approving sea lion removal letters of authorization (PDF 9MB)
• 2008 decision memo approving sea lion removal letters of authorization (PDF 1.4MB)
• Supplemental Information Report to the 2008 Final Environmental Assessment (PDF 213KB)
• Endangered Species Act update memo (PDF 115KB)

Mar. 18, 2008: NOAA Fisheries announced that it is granting the request from Washington, Oregon and Idaho for authority to remove California sea lions that feed on ESA-listed salmon in the Columbia River Basin.

• News release (PDF 39KB)
• Federal Register notice (PDF 74KB)
• Letter of Authorization to Oregon; letters to Washington & Idaho have the same language (PDF 414KB)
• Final Environmental Assessment (EA); red-lined to show differences between draft & final (PDF 1.1MB)
• EA Chapter 8, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (PDF 208KB)
• MMPA Sec. 120 permanent removal fact sheet (PDF 73KB)
• Columbia River pinniped fact sheet (PDF 61KB)