Endangered and Threatened Species; 5-Year Reviews for 17 Evolutionarily Significant Units and Distinct Population Segments of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead, 50448-50449 [2011-20453]
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50448
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2011 / Proposed Rules
status assessment, and additional
information concerning these species
are available on the Southwest Region’s
Web site: https://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
With regard to the salmon and
steelhead species subject to this notice
of availability, we evaluated information
that has become available on the species
since they were previously reviewed in
2005 (70 FR 37160) and 2006 (71 FR
834), respectively. After considering the
best available information, our 5-year
reviews recommend that each of these
species should remain listed as
determined in 2005 and 2006. Our
reviews also recommend that the
southern boundaries of two species
(California Coastal Chinook salmon and
Central California Coast coho salmon
ESUs) should be extended. Finally, our
reviews also recommend that six
hatchery stocks should be removed from
the California Coastal Chinook salmon
ESU based on information
demonstrating the hatchery programs
propagating these stocks have been
terminated since the last status review.
In furtherance of these
recommendations, we have already
proposed to change the southern
boundary of Central California Coast
coho salmon (76 FR 6383). We will
consider proposing the adjustment of
the species boundary and hatchery
status for California Coastal Chinook
salmon in a separate rulemaking. We
conclude that these 5-year reviews meet
the requirements of the ESA.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: August 8, 2011.
Therese Conant,
Deputy Chief, Endangered Species Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–20459 Filed 8–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Parts 223 and 224
wreier-aviles on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with PROPOSALS
RIN 0648–XA535
Endangered and Threatened Species;
5-Year Reviews for 17 Evolutionarily
Significant Units and Distinct
Population Segments of Pacific
Salmon and Steelhead
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of 5-year
reviews.
AGENCY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:58 Aug 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
NMFS Northwest Region
announces the availability of 5-year
reviews for 11 evolutionarily significant
units (ESUs) of Pacific salmon
(Oncorhynchus sp.) and 6 distinct
population segments (DPSs) of steelhead
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho as required by
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA). The purpose of the
reviews was to evaluate whether the
listing classifications of these salmonids
remains accurate or should be changed.
After reviewing the best available
scientific and commercial data, we
conclude that the 11 ESUs of Pacific
salmon and 6 DPSs of steelhead in
Oregon, Washington, and Idaho shall
remain listed as determined in 2005,
2006, and 2007.
ADDRESSES: Additional information
about the 5-year reviews may be
obtained by visiting the NMFS
Northwest Regional Office Web site:
https://www.nwr.noaa.gov/, or by writing
to us at: NMFS Northwest Region, 1201
Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR
97232.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eric
Murray (503) 231–2378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the ESA, a list of endangered
and threatened wildlife and plant
species must be maintained. The list is
published at 50 CFR 17.11 and 50 CFR
223.102 (for animals) and 17.12 (for
plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA
requires that we conduct a review of
listed species at least once every 5 years.
On the basis of such reviews under
section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine
whether any species should be removed
from the list (delisted), or reclassified
from endangered to threatened or from
threatened to endangered. During 5-year
reviews, we consider the best scientific
and commercial data available,
including new information that has
become available since the last listing
determination or most recent status
review of a species.
On March 18, 2010, the NMFS
Northwest and Southwest Regional
Offices announced initiation of 5-year
reviews of Pacific salmon ESUs and
steelhead DPSs (75 FR 13082). Both
ESUs and DPSs are treated as ‘species’
under the ESA, and we use the term
‘species’ to refer to both in the
remainder of this notice. At the time of
our announcement, we requested
information on species viability,
protective efforts, and threats to the
species from the public, concerned
governmental agencies, Tribes, the
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
scientific community, environmental
entities, and other interested parties.
This notice addresses the following
salmon species: (1) Upper Columbia
River spring-run Chinook salmon; (2)
Snake River spring/summer-run
Chinook salmon; (3) Puget Sound
Chinook salmon; (4) Lower Columbia
River Chinook salmon; (5) Upper
Willamette Chinook salmon; (6) Snake
River fall-run Chinook salmon; (7) Hood
Canal summer-run chum salmon; (8)
Columbia River chum salmon; (9) Lower
Columbia River coho salmon; (10) Snake
River sockeye salmon; and (11) Ozette
Lake sockeye salmon. We did not
complete a 5-year review for the Oregon
Coast coho salmon because, as part of a
legal settlement, we previously agreed
to conduct a new review of the status of
this species. On June 20, 2011, we
issued a final rule re-promulgating the
threatened listing for Oregon Coast coho
salmon (76 FR 35755).
This notice also addresses the
following steelhead species: (1) Upper
Columbia River steelhead DPS; (2)
Middle Columbia River steelhead DPS;
(3) Snake River Basin steelhead DPS; (4)
Lower Columbia River steelhead DPS;
(5) Upper Willamette steelhead DPS;
and (6) Puget Sound steelhead DPS.
Information about these species can be
found at our Northwest Regional Web
site: https://www.nwr.noaa.gov/.
We used a two-step process to
complete the reviews of the listed
salmonid species in Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho. First, we asked
scientists from our Northwest Fisheries
Science Center to collect and analyze
new information about species viability.
To evaluate viability, our scientists
apply the Viable Salmonid Population
(VSP) concept. The VSP concept relies
on evaluating four criteria—abundance,
productivity, spatial structure, and
diversity—to assess species viability.
They also considered new genetic and
biogeographic information regarding
species’ boundaries. At the end of this
process, the science team prepared a
report detailing the results of their
analyses. This report is available at our
regional Web site.
Salmon management biologists from
our Northwest Regional Office
completed the second step in the review
process. These biologists, organized into
geographically-based teams, reviewed
new information related to the five ESA
section 4(a)(1) factors, which we
consider when determining if a species
should be listed as threatened or
endangered or be de-listed. These are:
(1) The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of the species’ habitat or
range; (2) overutilization for
E:\FR\FM\15AUP1.SGM
15AUP1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2011 / Proposed Rules
commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes; (3) disease or
predation; (4) inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other
natural or man-made factors affecting
the species’ continued existence. The
biologists also evaluated new
information on hatchery programs to
inform an updated assessment of which
hatchery programs should be included
as part of the listed species. They
applied our Policy Addressing the Role
of Artificially Propagated Pacific
Salmon and Steelhead in Listing
Determinations under the ESA (70 FR
37204) to complete this evaluation. The
5-year review reports, the science team
report, and additional information are
available on our Web site: https://nwr.
noaa.gov.
Findings
After considering the best available
information, we conclude that all 11
Pacific salmon species and 6 steelhead
species in Oregon, Washington, and
Idaho shall remain listed as currently
classified.
We also conclude that, based on the
best information available, no
adjustments to species boundaries are
necessary. We did conclude that the
species membership of several hatchery
programs will need to be revised, and
we also identified several errors in our
current species descriptions in the list
of threatened and endangered species
found at 50 CFR 17.11, 223.102, and
224.102. We will adjust the hatchery
memberships and correct any listing
inaccuracies through a subsequent
rulemaking.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: August 8, 2011.
Therese Conant,
Deputy Chief, Endangered Species Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–20453 Filed 8–12–11; 8:45 am]
wreier-aviles on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with PROPOSALS
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:58 Aug 12, 2011
Jkt 223001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 660
RIN 0648–BB13
Fisheries off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Management Plan; Trawl
Rationalization Program; Program
Improvement and Enhancement;
Amendment 21–1
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Availability of an amendment to
a fishery management plan; request for
comments.
50449
Information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter N/A in the required
fields if you wish to remain
anonymous). Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft
Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe
PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Goen, phone: 206–526–4656, fax:
206–526–6736, and e-mail
jamie.goen@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Electronic Access
NMFS announces that the
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) has submitted Amendment
21–1 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for
review by the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary). Amendment 21–1 would
further revise the FMP to support the
trawl rationalization program, a catch
share program, implemented in January
2011 through Amendments 20 and 21.
Amendment 21–1 would modify the
FMP to clarify that Amendment 21
supersedes the limited entry/open
access allocations for groundfish species
allocated through Amendment 21.
Amendment 21–1 would also revise the
formula in the FMP to allocate Pacific
halibut bycatch to the limited entry
trawl fishery.
DATES: Comments on Amendment 21–1
must be received no later than 5 p.m.,
local time on October 14, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by RIN 0648–BB13 by any
one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal https://
www.regulations.gov.
Fax: 206–526–6736, Attn: Jamie Goen.
Mail: Barry Thom, Acting
Administrator, Northwest Region,
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
Seattle, WA 98115–0070, Attn: Jamie
Goen.
Instructions: All comments received
are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov without change.
All Personal Identifying Information (for
example, name, address, etc.)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit Confidential Business
Background information and
documents are available at the Pacific
Fishery Management Council’s Web site
at https://www.pcouncil.org/.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that
each regional fishery management
council submit any FMP or plan
amendment it prepares to NMFS for
review and approval, disapproval, or
partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens
Act also requires that NMFS, upon
receiving an FMP or amendment,
immediately publish a notice that the
FMP or amendment is available for
public review and comment. NMFS will
consider public comments received
during the comment period described
above in determining whether to
approve Amendment 21–1 to the FMP.
Amendment 21–1 would further
revise the FMP to support the trawl
rationalization program, a catch share
program, implemented in January 2011
through Amendments 20 and 21.
Amendment 21–1 would modify the
FMP to: (1) Clarify that Amendment 21
supersedes the limited entry/open
access allocations for groundfish species
allocated through Amendment 21; and
(2) revise the formula in the FMP to
calculate the Pacific halibut bycatch
mortality limit for the limited entry
trawl fishery.
Amendment 21 to the FMP
established allocations to the limited
entry trawl fishery participants. As part
of Amendment 21, allocations were
established between the trawl and nontrawl sectors for certain groundfish
species in preparation for the trawl
rationalization program (called
Amendment 21 species). In a letter to
the Council dated August 9, 2010,
NMFS disapproved part of Amendment
21 because the FMP language available
to the public and to the Council during
its decision making did not clearly state
that Amendment 21 allocations
supersede the previous limited entry/
open access allocations for Amendment
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50448-50449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20453]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 223 and 224
RIN 0648-XA535
Endangered and Threatened Species; 5-Year Reviews for 17
Evolutionarily Significant Units and Distinct Population Segments of
Pacific Salmon and Steelhead
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of 5-year reviews.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS Northwest Region announces the availability of 5-year
reviews for 11 evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Pacific
salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.) and 6 distinct population segments (DPSs) of
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as
required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The
purpose of the reviews was to evaluate whether the listing
classifications of these salmonids remains accurate or should be
changed. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial
data, we conclude that the 11 ESUs of Pacific salmon and 6 DPSs of
steelhead in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho shall remain listed as
determined in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about the 5-year reviews may be
obtained by visiting the NMFS Northwest Regional Office Web site:
https://www.nwr.noaa.gov/, or by writing to us at: NMFS Northwest
Region, 1201 Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Murray (503) 231-2378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the ESA, a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and
plant species must be maintained. The list is published at 50 CFR 17.11
and 50 CFR 223.102 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section
4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of listed
species at least once every 5 years. On the basis of such reviews under
section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether any species should be removed
from the list (delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened
or from threatened to endangered. During 5-year reviews, we consider
the best scientific and commercial data available, including new
information that has become available since the last listing
determination or most recent status review of a species.
On March 18, 2010, the NMFS Northwest and Southwest Regional
Offices announced initiation of 5-year reviews of Pacific salmon ESUs
and steelhead DPSs (75 FR 13082). Both ESUs and DPSs are treated as
`species' under the ESA, and we use the term `species' to refer to both
in the remainder of this notice. At the time of our announcement, we
requested information on species viability, protective efforts, and
threats to the species from the public, concerned governmental
agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, environmental entities, and
other interested parties.
This notice addresses the following salmon species: (1) Upper
Columbia River spring-run Chinook salmon; (2) Snake River spring/
summer-run Chinook salmon; (3) Puget Sound Chinook salmon; (4) Lower
Columbia River Chinook salmon; (5) Upper Willamette Chinook salmon; (6)
Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon; (7) Hood Canal summer-run chum
salmon; (8) Columbia River chum salmon; (9) Lower Columbia River coho
salmon; (10) Snake River sockeye salmon; and (11) Ozette Lake sockeye
salmon. We did not complete a 5-year review for the Oregon Coast coho
salmon because, as part of a legal settlement, we previously agreed to
conduct a new review of the status of this species. On June 20, 2011,
we issued a final rule re-promulgating the threatened listing for
Oregon Coast coho salmon (76 FR 35755).
This notice also addresses the following steelhead species: (1)
Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS; (2) Middle Columbia River steelhead
DPS; (3) Snake River Basin steelhead DPS; (4) Lower Columbia River
steelhead DPS; (5) Upper Willamette steelhead DPS; and (6) Puget Sound
steelhead DPS. Information about these species can be found at our
Northwest Regional Web site: https://www.nwr.noaa.gov/.
We used a two-step process to complete the reviews of the listed
salmonid species in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. First, we asked
scientists from our Northwest Fisheries Science Center to collect and
analyze new information about species viability. To evaluate viability,
our scientists apply the Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) concept. The
VSP concept relies on evaluating four criteria--abundance,
productivity, spatial structure, and diversity--to assess species
viability. They also considered new genetic and biogeographic
information regarding species' boundaries. At the end of this process,
the science team prepared a report detailing the results of their
analyses. This report is available at our regional Web site.
Salmon management biologists from our Northwest Regional Office
completed the second step in the review process. These biologists,
organized into geographically-based teams, reviewed new information
related to the five ESA section 4(a)(1) factors, which we consider when
determining if a species should be listed as threatened or endangered
or be de-listed. These are: (1) The present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or range; (2)
overutilization for
[[Page 50449]]
commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (3)
disease or predation; (4) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms;
or (5) other natural or man-made factors affecting the species'
continued existence. The biologists also evaluated new information on
hatchery programs to inform an updated assessment of which hatchery
programs should be included as part of the listed species. They applied
our Policy Addressing the Role of Artificially Propagated Pacific
Salmon and Steelhead in Listing Determinations under the ESA (70 FR
37204) to complete this evaluation. The 5-year review reports, the
science team report, and additional information are available on our
Web site: https://nwr.noaa.gov.
Findings
After considering the best available information, we conclude that
all 11 Pacific salmon species and 6 steelhead species in Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho shall remain listed as currently classified.
We also conclude that, based on the best information available, no
adjustments to species boundaries are necessary. We did conclude that
the species membership of several hatchery programs will need to be
revised, and we also identified several errors in our current species
descriptions in the list of threatened and endangered species found at
50 CFR 17.11, 223.102, and 224.102. We will adjust the hatchery
memberships and correct any listing inaccuracies through a subsequent
rulemaking.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: August 8, 2011.
Therese Conant,
Deputy Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20453 Filed 8-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
