Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews for 32 Listed Species of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead, Puget Sound Rockfishes, and Eulachon, 6695-6697 [2015-02337]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Notices
community concerning their needs for
standard reference materials, calibration
services, workshops, courses, and other
means for improvement of the quality of
their measurement data and traceability
to national standards.
II. Method of Collection
The survey will be delivered in
electronic format as a WORD Form
document. It will be sent as an email
attachment to the survey participants.
The participants will return the filled
out forms to NIST, similarly via email.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0693–0065.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a Regular submission.
Affected Public: Businesses, academic
institutions, and Federal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
30.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 15.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $1,500.
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IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: February 2, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–02340 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am]
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• Mail or hand-delivery: Dr. Scott
Rumsey, NMFS, West Coast Region,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100,
Administration
Portland, OR 97232.
Instructions: Comments must be
RIN 0648–XD756
submitted by one of the above methods
to ensure that the comments are
Endangered and Threatened Species;
received, documented, and considered
Initiation of 5-Year Reviews for 32
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
Listed Species of Pacific Salmon and
method, to any other address or
Steelhead, Puget Sound Rockfishes,
individual, or received after the end of
and Eulachon
the comment period, may not be
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
considered. All comments received are
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
a part of the public record and will
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
generally be posted for public viewing
Commerce.
on www.regulations.gov without change.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year
All personal identifying information
reviews; request for information.
(e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce 5-year
publicly accessible. Do not submit
reviews of 32 species listed under the
confidential business information, or
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
otherwise sensitive or protected
amended (ESA): 17 evolutionarily
information. NMFS will accept
significant units (ESUs) of Pacific
salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.); 11 distinct anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
population segments (DPSs) of steelhead the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
(Oncorhynchus mykiss); the Puget
Sound/Georgia Basin DPSs of yelloweye FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Scott Rumsey at the above address, by
rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus), canary
phone at (503) 872–2791, or by email at
rockfish (S. pinniger), and bocaccio
scott.rumsey@noaa.gov.
rockfish (S. paucispinis); and the
southern DPS of eulachon (Thaleichthys SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
pacificus). The purpose of these reviews 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we
is to ensure the accuracy of the listing
conduct a review of listed species at
classifications of these threatened and
least once every five years. On the basis
endangered species. The 5-year reviews of such reviews, we determine under
will be based on the best scientific and
section 4(c)(2)(B) whether a species
commercial data available at the time of should be delisted, or reclassified from
the reviews; therefore, we request
endangered to threatened or from
submission of any such information on
threatened to endangered.
these ESUs and DPSs that has become
We will undertake reviews for the
available since the original listing
following 17 Pacific salmon ESUs: (1)
determinations, or since the species’
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook
status was last updated. Based on the
salmon, (2) Upper Columbia River
results of these 5-year reviews, we will
spring-run Chinook salmon, (3) Snake
make the requisite determinations under River spring/summer-run Chinook
the ESA.
salmon; (4) Central Valley spring-run
DATES: To allow us adequate time to
Chinook salmon: (5) California Coastal
conduct these reviews, we must receive Chinook salmon; (6) Puget Sound
your information no later than May 7,
Chinook salmon; (7) Lower Columbia
2015. However, we will continue to
River Chinook salmon; (8) Upper
accept new information about any listed Willamette River Chinook salmon; (9)
species at any time.
Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon;
(10) Hood Canal summer-run chum
ADDRESSES: You may submit
salmon; (11) Columbia River chum
information on this document,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2015–0021, salmon; (12) Central California Coast
coho salmon; (13) Southern Oregon/
by any of the following methods:
Northern California Coast coho salmon;
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
(14) Lower Columbia River coho
electronic public comments via the
salmon; (15) Oregon Coast coho salmon;
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal
(16) Snake River sockeye salmon; and
www.regulations.gov. To submit
(17) Ozette Lake sockeye salmon. We
comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon, will undertake reviews for the following
then enter NOAA–NMFS–2015–0021 in 11 steelhead DPSs: (1) Southern
California; (2) Upper Columbia River;
the keyword search. Locate the
(3) Middle Columbia River; (4) Snake
document you wish to comment on
River Basin; (5) Lower Columbia River;
from the resulting list and click on the
(6) Upper Willamette; (7) South-Central
‘‘Submit a Comment’’ icon on the right
California Coast; (8) Central California
of that line.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Notices
Coast; (9) Northern California; (10)
California Central Valley; and (11) Puget
Sound. We will also conduct reviews for
4 non-salmonid DPSs: the three Puget
Sound/Georgia Basin rockfish DPSs of
yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and
bocaccio rockfish; and the southern DPS
of eulachon. Information about these 32
ESUs and DPSs can be found at our
West Coast regional Web site: https://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
Our regulations for periodic reviews
at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we
publish a notice in the Federal Register
announcing those species currently
under active review. This notice
announces our active reviews of the
ESUs and DPSs listed above. Any
change in listing classification would
require a separate rulemaking process.
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Determining if a Species Is Threatened
or Endangered
Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires
that we determine whether a species is
endangered or threatened based on one
or more of the five following factors: (1)
The present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range; (2) overutilization for
commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes; (3) disease or
predation; (4) the inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other
natural or manmade factors affecting its
continued existence. Section 4(b) also
requires that our determination be made
on the basis of the best scientific and
commercial data available after taking
into account those efforts, if any, being
made to protect such species.
Application of the ESU and DPS
Policies
NMFS is responsible for determining
whether species, subspecies, or DPSs of
marine and anadromous species are
threatened or endangered under the
ESA. For Pacific salmon, we use our
Policy on Applying the Definition of
Species under the ESA to Pacific
Salmon (ESU Policy) (56 FR 58612) in
determining the appropriate taxonomic
unit for listing consideration. Under this
policy, populations of salmon that are
substantially reproductively isolated
from other conspecific populations and
that represent an important component
in the evolutionary legacy of the
biological species are considered to be
an ESU. In our listing determinations for
Pacific salmon under the ESA, we have
treated an ESU as constituting a DPS,
and hence a ‘‘species,’’ under the ESA.
For non-salmon species, including
steelhead, NMFS applies the joint U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service-NMFS DPS
policy (61 FR 4722) in identifying the
appropriate taxonomic unit for listing
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consideration. Under this policy, a DPS
must be discrete from other conspecific
populations, and it must be significant
to its taxon. A group of organisms is
discrete if it is ‘‘markedly separated
from other populations of the same
taxon as a consequence of physical,
physiological, ecological, and
behavioral factors.’’ Under the DPS
Policy, if a population group is
determined to be discrete, the agency
must then consider whether it is
significant to the taxon to which it
belongs. Considerations in evaluating
the significance of a discrete population
include: (1) Persistence of the discrete
population in an unusual or unique
ecological setting for the taxon; (2)
evidence that the loss of the discrete
population segment would cause a
significant gap in the taxon’s range; (3)
evidence that the discrete population
segment represents the only surviving
natural occurrence of a taxon that may
be more abundant elsewhere outside its
historical geographic range; or (4)
evidence that the discrete population
has marked genetic differences from
other populations of the species.
On June 28, 2005, we announced a
final policy addressing the role of
artificially propagated (hatchery
produced) Pacific salmon and steelhead
in listing determinations under the ESA
(70 FR 37204). Specifically, this policy:
(1) Establishes criteria for including
hatchery stocks in ESUs and DPSs; (2)
provides direction for considering
hatchery fish in extinction risk
assessments of ESUs and DPSs; (3)
requires that hatchery fish determined
to be part of an ESU will be included
in any listing of the ESU; (4) affirms
NMFS’ commitment to conserving
natural salmon and steelhead
populations and the ecosystems upon
which they depend; and (5) affirms
NMFS’ commitment to fulfilling trust
and treaty obligations with regard to the
harvest of some Pacific salmon and
steelhead populations, consistent with
the conservation and recovery of listed
salmon and steelhead ESUs.
Public Solicitation of New Information
The 5-year reviews will consider the
best scientific and commercial data
available, particularly new information
that has become available since the
species’ previous status review. Our
Northwest and Southwest Fisheries
Science Centers will assist the West
Coast Region in gathering and analyzing
this information. To ensure that the 5year reviews are complete and based on
the best available information, we are
soliciting new information from the
public, concerned governmental
agencies, tribes, the scientific
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community, industry, environmental
entities, and any other interested parties
concerning the status of the salmon
ESUs as well as the steelhead, rockfish,
and eulachon DPSs listed above.
Specifically, we request new
information that has become available
since the respective species’ previous
status review on: (1) Population
abundance; (2) population productivity;
(3) changes in species distribution or
population spatial structure; (4) genetics
or other indicators of diversity; (5)
changes in habitat conditions and
associated limiting factors and threats;
(6) conservation measures that have
been implemented that benefit the
species, including monitoring data
demonstrating the effectiveness of such
measures in addressing identified
limiting factors or threats; (7) data
concerning the status and trends of
identified limiting factors or threats; (8)
information that may affect
determinations regarding the
composition of an ESU or DPS; (9) for
Pacific salmon and steelhead,
information on changes to hatchery
programs that may affect determinations
regarding their ESU or DPS
membership; (10) information on
targeted harvest (commercial, tribal, and
recreational) and bycatch of the species;
and (11) other new information, data, or
corrections including, but not limited
to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes,
identification of erroneous information
in the previous listing determination,
and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk. Previous
status reviews and supporting
information are available on the internet
at: https://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
publications/status_reviews/salmon_
steelhead/2011_status_reviews_of_
listed_salmon_steelhead.html.
With respect to Puget Sound/Strait of
Georgia DPSs of yelloweye, canary, and
bocaccio rockfish we also request any
new information concerning: Species’
spatial distribution and habitat
associations of larval, young of the year,
and adult fish in the nearshore and deep
waters; the effectiveness of regulations
to protect and restore rockfish habitats;
genetics; effects of contaminants on
species productivity, growth, or
survival; effects of climate change and
ocean acidification on these rockfish
species; catch or bycatch of these
species in specific fisheries, including
information on the ability of anglers to
properly identify rockfish by species;
the effectiveness of fisheries
management in reducing impacts on
these rockfish species; efforts to remove
and prevent derelict fishing gear;
enumeration of bycatch by derelict
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Notices
fishing gear; and the use and
effectiveness of devices designed to
reduce the effects of barotrauma in
rockfish bycatch.
With respect to the southern DPS of
eulachon, we also request any new
information concerning: Species’ spatial
distribution and abundance in
freshwater and marine environments;
genetics; the effects of natural climate
variability and anthropogenically forced
climate change on eulachon and their
freshwater and marine habitat; the
effects of ocean acidification on
eulachon; eulachon bycatch in the
ocean shrimp fisheries; predation on
eulachon; and the effects of dams and
large-scale water control structures on
estuary-plume environments and
eulachon.
If you wish to provide information for
these 5-year reviews, see ADDRESSES for
instructions. We request that all
information be accompanied by: (1)
Supporting documentation such as
maps, bibliographic references, or
reprints of pertinent publications. We
also would appreciate the submitter’s
name, address, and any association,
institution, or business that the person
represents; however, anonymous
submissions will also be accepted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: February 2, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–02337 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION
Consumer Advisory Board Meeting
Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
announcement of a public meeting of
the Consumer Advisory Board (CAB or
Board) of the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (Bureau). The notice
also describes the functions of the
Board. Notice of the meeting is
permitted by section 6 of the CAB
Charter and is intended to notify the
public of this meeting. Specifically,
Section X of the CAB Charter states:
(1) Each meeting of the Board shall be
open to public observation, to the extent
that a facility is available to
accommodate the public, unless the
Bureau, in accordance with paragraph
(4) of this section, determines that the
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SUMMARY:
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meeting shall be closed. The Bureau
also will make reasonable efforts to
make the meetings available to the
public through live web streaming. (2)
Notice of the time, place and purpose of
each meeting, as well as a summary of
the proposed agenda, shall be published
in the Federal Register not more than 45
or less than 15 days prior to the
scheduled meeting date. Shorter notice
may be given when the Bureau
determines that the Board’s business so
requires; in such event, the public will
be given notice at the earliest
practicable time. (3) Minutes of
meetings, records, reports, studies, and
agenda of the Board shall be posted on
the Bureau’s Web site
(www.consumerfinance.gov). (4) The
Bureau may close to the public a portion
of any meeting, for confidential
discussion. If the Bureau closes a
meeting or any portion of a meeting, the
Bureau will issue, at least annually, a
summary of the Board’s activities during
such closed meetings or portions of
meetings.
DATES: The meeting date is Thursday,
February 19, 2015, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting location is
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,
Auditorium, 1275 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Draper, Consumer Advisory
Board & Councils, External Affairs, 1700
G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552;
telephone: 202–435–7176; CFPB_
CABandCouncilsEvents@cfpb.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 1014(a) of the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act (https://www.sec.gov/
about/laws/wallstreetreform-cpa.pdf)
(Dodd-Frank Act) provides: ‘‘The
Director shall establish a Consumer
Advisory Board to advise and consult
with the Bureau in the exercise of its
functions under the Federal consumer
financial laws, and to provide
information on emerging practices in
the consumer financial products or
services industry, including regional
trends, concerns, and other relevant
information.’’ 12 U.S.C. 5494.
(a) The purpose of the Board is
outlined in Section 1014(a) of the DoddFrank Act (https://www.sec.gov/about/
laws/wallstreetreform-cpa.pdf), which
states that the Board shall ‘‘advise and
consult with the Bureau in the exercise
of its functions under the Federal
consumer financial laws’’ and ‘‘provide
information on emerging practices in
the consumer financial products or
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6697
services industry, including regional
trends, concerns, and other relevant
information.’’ (b) To carry out the
Board’s purpose, the scope of its
activities shall include providing
information, analysis, and
recommendations to the Bureau. The
Board will generally serve as a vehicle
for market intelligence and expertise for
the Bureau. Its objectives will include
identifying and assessing the impact on
consumers and other market
participants of new, emerging, and
changing products, practices, or
services. (c) The Board will also be
available to advise and consult with the
Director and the Bureau on other
matters related to the Bureau’s functions
under the Dodd-Frank Act.
II. Agenda
The Consumer Advisory Board will
discuss trends and themes related to
consumer financial marketplace.
Persons who need a reasonable
accommodation to participate should
contact CFPB_504Request@cfpb.gov,
202–435–9EEO, 1–855–233–0362, or
202–435–9742 (TTY) at least ten
business days prior to the meeting or
event to request assistance. The request
must identify the date, time, location,
and title of the meeting or event, the
nature of the assistance requested, and
contact information for the requester.
CFPB will strive to provide, but cannot
guarantee that accommodation will be
provided for late requests.
Individuals who wish to attend the
Consumer Advisory Board meeting must
RSVP to cfpb_cabandcouncilsevents@
cfpb.gov by noon, 17, February, 2015.
Members of the public must RSVP by
the due date and must include ‘‘CAB’’
in the subject line of the RSVP.
III. Availability
The Board’s agenda will be made
available to the public on February 3,
2015, via consumerfinance.gov.
Individuals should express in their
RSVP if they require a paper copy of the
agenda.
A recording and transcript of this
meeting will be available after the
meeting on the CFPB’s Web site
consumerfinance.gov.
Dated: January 30, 2015.
Christopher D’Angelo,
Chief of Staff, Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2015–02445 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6695-6697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02337]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD756
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews
for 32 Listed Species of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead, Puget Sound
Rockfishes, and Eulachon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year reviews; request for
information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce 5-year reviews of 32 species listed under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA): 17 evolutionarily
significant units (ESUs) of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.); 11
distinct population segments (DPSs) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss);
the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPSs of yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes
ruberrimus), canary rockfish (S. pinniger), and bocaccio rockfish (S.
paucispinis); and the southern DPS of eulachon (Thaleichthys
pacificus). The purpose of these reviews is to ensure the accuracy of
the listing classifications of these threatened and endangered species.
The 5-year reviews will be based on the best scientific and commercial
data available at the time of the reviews; therefore, we request
submission of any such information on these ESUs and DPSs that has
become available since the original listing determinations, or since
the species' status was last updated. Based on the results of these 5-
year reviews, we will make the requisite determinations under the ESA.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must
receive your information no later than May 7, 2015. However, we will
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0021, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2015-0021 in the keyword search.
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail or hand-delivery: Dr. Scott Rumsey, NMFS, West Coast
Region, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Scott Rumsey at the above address,
by phone at (503) 872-2791, or by email at scott.rumsey@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that
we conduct a review of listed species at least once every five years.
On the basis of such reviews, we determine under section 4(c)(2)(B)
whether a species should be delisted, or reclassified from endangered
to threatened or from threatened to endangered.
We will undertake reviews for the following 17 Pacific salmon ESUs:
(1) Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, (2) Upper Columbia
River spring-run Chinook salmon, (3) Snake River spring/summer-run
Chinook salmon; (4) Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon: (5)
California Coastal Chinook salmon; (6) Puget Sound Chinook salmon; (7)
Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon; (8) Upper Willamette River Chinook
salmon; (9) Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon; (10) Hood Canal
summer-run chum salmon; (11) Columbia River chum salmon; (12) Central
California Coast coho salmon; (13) Southern Oregon/Northern California
Coast coho salmon; (14) Lower Columbia River coho salmon; (15) Oregon
Coast coho salmon; (16) Snake River sockeye salmon; and (17) Ozette
Lake sockeye salmon. We will undertake reviews for the following 11
steelhead DPSs: (1) Southern California; (2) Upper Columbia River; (3)
Middle Columbia River; (4) Snake River Basin; (5) Lower Columbia River;
(6) Upper Willamette; (7) South-Central California Coast; (8) Central
California
[[Page 6696]]
Coast; (9) Northern California; (10) California Central Valley; and
(11) Puget Sound. We will also conduct reviews for 4 non-salmonid DPSs:
the three Puget Sound/Georgia Basin rockfish DPSs of yelloweye
rockfish, canary rockfish, and bocaccio rockfish; and the southern DPS
of eulachon. Information about these 32 ESUs and DPSs can be found at
our West Coast regional Web site: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
Our regulations for periodic reviews at 50 CFR 424.21 require that
we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing those species
currently under active review. This notice announces our active reviews
of the ESUs and DPSs listed above. Any change in listing classification
would require a separate rulemaking process.
Determining if a Species Is Threatened or Endangered
Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires that we determine whether a
species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the five
following factors: (1) The present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (2)
overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) the inadequacy of
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence. Section 4(b) also requires that our
determination be made on the basis of the best scientific and
commercial data available after taking into account those efforts, if
any, being made to protect such species.
Application of the ESU and DPS Policies
NMFS is responsible for determining whether species, subspecies, or
DPSs of marine and anadromous species are threatened or endangered
under the ESA. For Pacific salmon, we use our Policy on Applying the
Definition of Species under the ESA to Pacific Salmon (ESU Policy) (56
FR 58612) in determining the appropriate taxonomic unit for listing
consideration. Under this policy, populations of salmon that are
substantially reproductively isolated from other conspecific
populations and that represent an important component in the
evolutionary legacy of the biological species are considered to be an
ESU. In our listing determinations for Pacific salmon under the ESA, we
have treated an ESU as constituting a DPS, and hence a ``species,''
under the ESA.
For non-salmon species, including steelhead, NMFS applies the joint
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-NMFS DPS policy (61 FR 4722) in
identifying the appropriate taxonomic unit for listing consideration.
Under this policy, a DPS must be discrete from other conspecific
populations, and it must be significant to its taxon. A group of
organisms is discrete if it is ``markedly separated from other
populations of the same taxon as a consequence of physical,
physiological, ecological, and behavioral factors.'' Under the DPS
Policy, if a population group is determined to be discrete, the agency
must then consider whether it is significant to the taxon to which it
belongs. Considerations in evaluating the significance of a discrete
population include: (1) Persistence of the discrete population in an
unusual or unique ecological setting for the taxon; (2) evidence that
the loss of the discrete population segment would cause a significant
gap in the taxon's range; (3) evidence that the discrete population
segment represents the only surviving natural occurrence of a taxon
that may be more abundant elsewhere outside its historical geographic
range; or (4) evidence that the discrete population has marked genetic
differences from other populations of the species.
On June 28, 2005, we announced a final policy addressing the role
of artificially propagated (hatchery produced) Pacific salmon and
steelhead in listing determinations under the ESA (70 FR 37204).
Specifically, this policy: (1) Establishes criteria for including
hatchery stocks in ESUs and DPSs; (2) provides direction for
considering hatchery fish in extinction risk assessments of ESUs and
DPSs; (3) requires that hatchery fish determined to be part of an ESU
will be included in any listing of the ESU; (4) affirms NMFS'
commitment to conserving natural salmon and steelhead populations and
the ecosystems upon which they depend; and (5) affirms NMFS' commitment
to fulfilling trust and treaty obligations with regard to the harvest
of some Pacific salmon and steelhead populations, consistent with the
conservation and recovery of listed salmon and steelhead ESUs.
Public Solicitation of New Information
The 5-year reviews will consider the best scientific and commercial
data available, particularly new information that has become available
since the species' previous status review. Our Northwest and Southwest
Fisheries Science Centers will assist the West Coast Region in
gathering and analyzing this information. To ensure that the 5-year
reviews are complete and based on the best available information, we
are soliciting new information from the public, concerned governmental
agencies, tribes, the scientific community, industry, environmental
entities, and any other interested parties concerning the status of the
salmon ESUs as well as the steelhead, rockfish, and eulachon DPSs
listed above.
Specifically, we request new information that has become available
since the respective species' previous status review on: (1) Population
abundance; (2) population productivity; (3) changes in species
distribution or population spatial structure; (4) genetics or other
indicators of diversity; (5) changes in habitat conditions and
associated limiting factors and threats; (6) conservation measures that
have been implemented that benefit the species, including monitoring
data demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures in addressing
identified limiting factors or threats; (7) data concerning the status
and trends of identified limiting factors or threats; (8) information
that may affect determinations regarding the composition of an ESU or
DPS; (9) for Pacific salmon and steelhead, information on changes to
hatchery programs that may affect determinations regarding their ESU or
DPS membership; (10) information on targeted harvest (commercial,
tribal, and recreational) and bycatch of the species; and (11) other
new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to,
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous
information in the previous listing determination, and improved
analytical methods for evaluating extinction risk. Previous status
reviews and supporting information are available on the internet at:
https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/status_reviews/salmon_steelhead/2011_status_reviews_of_listed_salmon_steelhead.html.
With respect to Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia DPSs of yelloweye,
canary, and bocaccio rockfish we also request any new information
concerning: Species' spatial distribution and habitat associations of
larval, young of the year, and adult fish in the nearshore and deep
waters; the effectiveness of regulations to protect and restore
rockfish habitats; genetics; effects of contaminants on species
productivity, growth, or survival; effects of climate change and ocean
acidification on these rockfish species; catch or bycatch of these
species in specific fisheries, including information on the ability of
anglers to properly identify rockfish by species; the effectiveness of
fisheries management in reducing impacts on these rockfish species;
efforts to remove and prevent derelict fishing gear; enumeration of
bycatch by derelict
[[Page 6697]]
fishing gear; and the use and effectiveness of devices designed to
reduce the effects of barotrauma in rockfish bycatch.
With respect to the southern DPS of eulachon, we also request any
new information concerning: Species' spatial distribution and abundance
in freshwater and marine environments; genetics; the effects of natural
climate variability and anthropogenically forced climate change on
eulachon and their freshwater and marine habitat; the effects of ocean
acidification on eulachon; eulachon bycatch in the ocean shrimp
fisheries; predation on eulachon; and the effects of dams and large-
scale water control structures on estuary-plume environments and
eulachon.
If you wish to provide information for these 5-year reviews, see
ADDRESSES for instructions. We request that all information be
accompanied by: (1) Supporting documentation such as maps,
bibliographic references, or reprints of pertinent publications. We
also would appreciate the submitter's name, address, and any
association, institution, or business that the person represents;
however, anonymous submissions will also be accepted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: February 2, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02337 Filed 2-5-15; 8:45 am]
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