Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of New Information Available Concerning Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Currently Proposed for Threatened Status, 6840-6841 [05-2530]

Download as PDF 6840 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 / Notices Fishing Quotas (IFQs), and receive a presentation on IFQs in Alaska. 5. Highly Migratory Species Committee Meeting: March 3, 2005, 8:30 a.m. 12 noon The Highly Migratory Species Committee will receive a presentation regarding Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tuna, Swordfish, Shark, and Billfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) from NOAA Fisheries. The Committee will discuss bluefin tuna and shark management issues following the presentation. 6. Council Session: March 3, 2005, 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. and March 4, 2005, 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon From 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m., the Council will call the meeting order, make introductions and roll call and adopt the meeting agenda. From 1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Snapper Grouper Committee and take action as appropriate. From 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the Joint Executive/Finance Committee and approve the CY 2005 Activities Schedule and Budget. From 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Advisory Panel Selection Committee and approve appointment of advisory panel members. From 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Controlled Access Committee. From 4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Highly Migratory Species Committee and take action as appropriate. From 4:45 p.m. – 5 p.m., the Council will review the status of the Red Drum FMP. Council Session: March 4, 2005, 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon. From 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., the Council will receive a briefing on litigation and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED SESSION) From 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., the Council will discuss Exempted Fishery Permit requests and take action as appropriate. From 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., the Council will review the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Law Enforcement Policy and take action as appropriate. From 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., the Council will hear status reports from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fishery Science Center. From 11 a.m. – 12 noon, the Council will receive agency and liaison reports, discuss other business and upcoming meetings. Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES). VerDate jul<14>2003 16:49 Feb 08, 2005 Jkt 205001 Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to change. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) by February 25, 2005. Dated: February 4, 2005. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5–530 Filed 2–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020105C] Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of New Information Available Concerning Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Currently Proposed for Threatened Status National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Availability of new information. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In June 2004, NMFS proposed that Oregon Coast coho salmon be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The State of Oregon (hereafter, ‘‘the State’’) has recently made publically available a draft assessment of the viability of Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well as of the contributions of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) to conserving Oregon Coast coho salmon. To ensure that the final listing determination for Oregon Coast coho salmon is based upon the best available scientific and commercial information, NMFS will be considering the PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 information presented in the State’s draft assessment (hereafter the ‘‘draft Coho Project Report’’) in determining the final listing status for the species. Accordingly, notice is hereby given of the availability of the State’s draft Coho Project Report for public review and comment. NMFS is furnishing this notification to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on the State’s analyses and findings. Specifically, NMFS is soliciting public comment on the State’s assessment as it relates to the ESA listing status of Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well as other information concerning NMFS’ final listing decision on Oregon Coast coho. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review. All comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on March 11, 2005. DATES: Copies of the State’s draft Coho Project Report are available on the Internet at: ftp://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/ OregonPlan/, or upon request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below). You may submit comments on the draft Coho Project Report by any of the following methods: E-mail: The mailbox address for submitting e-mail comments on the draft OPSW Assessment Report is ORlCoholReport.nwr@noaa.gov. Please include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier ‘‘Oregon’s Draft Coho Project Report.’’ Mail: Prior to February 18, 2005, you may submit written comments and information to Chief, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon, 97232–2737. Following February 18, 2005, you may submit written comments and information to Chief, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon, 97232. Please identify the comment as regarding the ‘‘Oregon’s Draft Coho Project Report.’’ Hand Delivery/Courier: Prior to February 18, 2005, you may hand deliver written comments and information to NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon, 97232–2737. Following February 18, 2005, you may hand deliver written comments and information to NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon, 97232. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please identify the comment as regarding the ‘‘Oregon’s Draft Coho Project Report.’’ ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 / Notices Fax: 503–230–5441. Please identify the fax comment as regarding the ‘‘Oregon’s Draft Coho Project Report.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Rumsey, NMFS, Northwest Region, Protected Resources Division by phone at (503) 872–2791. Copies of the Federal Register notices cited herein and additional salmon-related materials are available on the Internet at https:// www.nwr.noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires NMFS to make listing determinations based solely on the best scientific and commercial data available after conducting a review of the status of the species and after taking into account efforts being made to protect the species. In judging the efficacy of existing protective efforts, NMFS relies on the joint NMFS-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ‘‘Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions’’ (‘‘PECE;’’ 68 FR 15100; March 28, 2003). PECE provides direction for the consideration of protective efforts identified in conservation agreements, conservation plans, management plans, or similar documents that have not yet been implemented, or have been implemented but have not yet demonstrated effectiveness. The policy articulates several criteria for evaluating the certainty of implementation and effectiveness of protective efforts to aid in determination of whether a species should be listed as threatened or endangered. NMFS lists as endangered ‘‘any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,’’ and lists as threatened any species ‘‘which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.’’ On June 14, 2004, NMFS published proposed ESA listing determinations for 27 Evolutionarily Significant Units ( ESUs) of salmon and O. mykiss (69 FR 33101), including a proposal to list the Oregon Coast ESU as ‘‘threatened’’ under the ESA. In concluding that the ESU is ‘‘likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future,’’ NMFS evaluated the status of the species, noting that recent strong returns (in 2000–2002) are extremely encouraging, but that these strong returns follow 3 years of successive recruitment failure (in 1997–1999). The recent increases in Oregon Coast coho returns are largely attributed to highly productive ocean conditions favoring high rates of coho marine survival. NMFS concluded that VerDate jul<14>2003 16:49 Feb 08, 2005 Jkt 205001 the recent increases need to be sustained through additional brood years to resolve remaining uncertainties regarding ESU viability, particularly during unfavorable ocean conditions. NMFS noted that additional information demonstrating that the freshwater habitat can support high abundances of natural spawners and sustain recent abundance levels would also help resolve these uncertainties. As part of its June 2004 listing proposals, NMFS evaluated, pursuant to the ESA and consistent with PECE, available information regarding efforts being made to protect the species. In its proposed listing determination for the Oregon Coast coho ESU, NMFS determined that, given the best information available at the time of the proposal, OPSW and other protective efforts do not provide sufficient certainty of implementation and effectiveness to alter the conclusion that the ESU is ‘‘likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.’’ However, NMFS noted that the State was initiating a comprehensive analysis of the adequacy of actions under OPSW, specifically in the context of contributing to the conservation and recovery of the Oregon Coast coho ESU. At the time of the proposal the State’s OPSW assessment had just recently been initiated, and no new information was available to further inform NMFS’ proposed listing determination for the Oregon Coast coho ESU. However, NMFS noted that ‘‘if information is made available to NMFS suggesting that the Oregon Plan [OPSW] and/or other conservation efforts substantially mitigate ESU extinction risk, NMFS may take such opportunity to re-initiate a status review for the Oregon Coast coho ESU to consider the best and most recent scientific and commercial information available.’’ Following an initial public comment period of 90 days, the public comment period was extended twice for an additional 36 and 22 days, respectively (69 FR 53031; August 31, 2004; 69 FR 61348; October 18, 2004). The State has recently made a draft report publicly available (available on the Internet at: ftp:// nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/OregonPlan/) assessing the viability of Oregon Coast coho and the contributions of OPSW to the conservation of the ESU. NMFS will consider the information presented in the draft and final Coho Project Report in developing a final listing determination for the Oregon Coast coho ESU. To that end, NMFS is soliciting PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6841 public comment on the State’s draft Coho Project Report. Information Solicited NMFS is soliciting public comment on whether the State’s draft Coho Project Report provides new information and analyses concerning the viability of Oregon Coast coho to alter the NMFS’ extinction risk assessment and proposed determination that the ESU is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range (i.e., ‘‘threatened’’). Additionally, NMFS is soliciting comment on whether the draft Coho Project Report presents information and analyses demonstrating, consistent with PECE, that the OPSW provides sufficient certainty of implementation and effectiveness to alter NMFS’ proposed determination that efforts being made to protect the Oregon Coast coho ESU do not substantially mitigate the assessed level of extinction risk. NMFS will also consider, in making a final listing decision for the Oregon Coast coho ESU, any information provided pursuant to this notice concerning the viability of Oregon Coast coho and any efforts being made to protect that ESU. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: February 3, 2005. Laurie K. Allen, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 05–2530 Filed 2–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Air Force Joint Navigation Conference AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DoD. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that the Joint Services Data Exchange (JSDE), in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) NAVSTAR GPS Joint Program Office and the Embedded GPS INS {Inertial Navigation System} (EGI) Program Office, will host a U.S. Government-wide Joint Navigation Conference (JNC) at the Rosen Centre, Orlando, FL, 11–14 April 2005. The 2005 JNC will be the largest U.S. military navigation conference of the year. This conference will focus on battlefield applications of GPS and other navigation solutions, as well as advances in Guidance, Navigation, and E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6840-6841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2530]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020105C]


Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of New Information 
Available Concerning Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Currently Proposed for 
Threatened Status

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of new information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In June 2004, NMFS proposed that Oregon Coast coho salmon be 
listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
The State of Oregon (hereafter, ``the State'') has recently made 
publically available a draft assessment of the viability of Oregon 
Coast coho salmon, as well as of the contributions of the Oregon Plan 
for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) to conserving Oregon Coast coho 
salmon. To ensure that the final listing determination for Oregon Coast 
coho salmon is based upon the best available scientific and commercial 
information, NMFS will be considering the information presented in the 
State's draft assessment (hereafter the ``draft Coho Project Report'') 
in determining the final listing status for the species. Accordingly, 
notice is hereby given of the availability of the State's draft Coho 
Project Report for public review and comment. NMFS is furnishing this 
notification to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to 
review and comment on the State's analyses and findings. Specifically, 
NMFS is soliciting public comment on the State's assessment as it 
relates to the ESA listing status of Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well 
as other information concerning NMFS' final listing decision on Oregon 
Coast coho. All comments received will become part of the public record 
and will be available for review.

DATES: All comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific 
Standard Time on March 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the State's draft Coho Project Report are 
available on the Internet at: ftp://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/OregonPlan/, 
or upon request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below). You may 
submit comments on the draft Coho Project Report by any of the 
following methods:
    E-mail: The mailbox address for submitting e-mail comments on the 
draft OPSW Assessment Report is OR--Coho--Report.nwr@noaa.gov. Please 
include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document 
identifier ``Oregon's Draft Coho Project Report.''
    Mail: Prior to February 18, 2005, you may submit written comments 
and information to Chief, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 525 NE 
Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon, 97232-2737. Following 
February 18, 2005, you may submit written comments and information to 
Chief, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, 
Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon, 97232. Please identify the comment as 
regarding the ``Oregon's Draft Coho Project Report.''
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Prior to February 18, 2005, you may hand 
deliver written comments and information to NMFS, Protected Resources 
Division, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon, 97232-
2737. Following February 18, 2005, you may hand deliver written 
comments and information to NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 1201 NE 
Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, Oregon, 97232. Business hours 
are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
Please identify the comment as regarding the ``Oregon's Draft Coho 
Project Report.''

[[Page 6841]]

    Fax: 503-230-5441. Please identify the fax comment as regarding the 
``Oregon's Draft Coho Project Report.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Rumsey, NMFS, Northwest Region, 
Protected Resources Division by phone at (503) 872-2791. Copies of the 
Federal Register notices cited herein and additional salmon-related 
materials are available on the Internet at https://www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires NMFS to make listing 
determinations based solely on the best scientific and commercial data 
available after conducting a review of the status of the species and 
after taking into account efforts being made to protect the species. In 
judging the efficacy of existing protective efforts, NMFS relies on the 
joint NMFS-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ``Policy for Evaluation of 
Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions'' (``PECE;'' 68 FR 
15100; March 28, 2003). PECE provides direction for the consideration 
of protective efforts identified in conservation agreements, 
conservation plans, management plans, or similar documents that have 
not yet been implemented, or have been implemented but have not yet 
demonstrated effectiveness. The policy articulates several criteria for 
evaluating the certainty of implementation and effectiveness of 
protective efforts to aid in determination of whether a species should 
be listed as threatened or endangered. NMFS lists as endangered ``any 
species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range,'' and lists as threatened any species 
``which is likely to become an endangered species within the 
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range.''
    On June 14, 2004, NMFS published proposed ESA listing 
determinations for 27 Evolutionarily Significant Units ( ESUs) of 
salmon and O. mykiss (69 FR 33101), including a proposal to list the 
Oregon Coast ESU as ``threatened'' under the ESA. In concluding that 
the ESU is ``likely to become endangered within the foreseeable 
future,'' NMFS evaluated the status of the species, noting that recent 
strong returns (in 2000-2002) are extremely encouraging, but that these 
strong returns follow 3 years of successive recruitment failure (in 
1997-1999). The recent increases in Oregon Coast coho returns are 
largely attributed to highly productive ocean conditions favoring high 
rates of coho marine survival. NMFS concluded that the recent increases 
need to be sustained through additional brood years to resolve 
remaining uncertainties regarding ESU viability, particularly during 
unfavorable ocean conditions. NMFS noted that additional information 
demonstrating that the freshwater habitat can support high abundances 
of natural spawners and sustain recent abundance levels would also help 
resolve these uncertainties.
    As part of its June 2004 listing proposals, NMFS evaluated, 
pursuant to the ESA and consistent with PECE, available information 
regarding efforts being made to protect the species. In its proposed 
listing determination for the Oregon Coast coho ESU, NMFS determined 
that, given the best information available at the time of the proposal, 
OPSW and other protective efforts do not provide sufficient certainty 
of implementation and effectiveness to alter the conclusion that the 
ESU is ``likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable 
future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.'' However, 
NMFS noted that the State was initiating a comprehensive analysis of 
the adequacy of actions under OPSW, specifically in the context of 
contributing to the conservation and recovery of the Oregon Coast coho 
ESU. At the time of the proposal the State's OPSW assessment had just 
recently been initiated, and no new information was available to 
further inform NMFS' proposed listing determination for the Oregon 
Coast coho ESU. However, NMFS noted that ``if information is made 
available to NMFS suggesting that the Oregon Plan [OPSW] and/or other 
conservation efforts substantially mitigate ESU extinction risk, NMFS 
may take such opportunity to re-initiate a status review for the Oregon 
Coast coho ESU to consider the best and most recent scientific and 
commercial information available.''
    Following an initial public comment period of 90 days, the public 
comment period was extended twice for an additional 36 and 22 days, 
respectively (69 FR 53031; August 31, 2004; 69 FR 61348; October 18, 
2004).
    The State has recently made a draft report publicly available 
(available on the Internet at: ftp://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/OregonPlan/) 
assessing the viability of Oregon Coast coho and the contributions of 
OPSW to the conservation of the ESU. NMFS will consider the information 
presented in the draft and final Coho Project Report in developing a 
final listing determination for the Oregon Coast coho ESU. To that end, 
NMFS is soliciting public comment on the State's draft Coho Project 
Report.

Information Solicited

    NMFS is soliciting public comment on whether the State's draft Coho 
Project Report provides new information and analyses concerning the 
viability of Oregon Coast coho to alter the NMFS' extinction risk 
assessment and proposed determination that the ESU is likely to become 
an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range (i.e., ``threatened''). Additionally, 
NMFS is soliciting comment on whether the draft Coho Project Report 
presents information and analyses demonstrating, consistent with PECE, 
that the OPSW provides sufficient certainty of implementation and 
effectiveness to alter NMFS' proposed determination that efforts being 
made to protect the Oregon Coast coho ESU do not substantially mitigate 
the assessed level of extinction risk. NMFS will also consider, in 
making a final listing decision for the Oregon Coast coho ESU, any 
information provided pursuant to this notice concerning the viability 
of Oregon Coast coho and any efforts being made to protect that ESU.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: February 3, 2005.
Laurie K. Allen,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2530 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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