Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans, 1025-1027 [2018-00208]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Notices and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, parties will be notified of the time and date for the hearing to be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.13 Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis raised in any written briefs, not later than 120 days after the publication of these preliminary results in the Federal Register, unless otherwise extended.14 Notification to Importers This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act. Dated: January 2, 2018. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Appendix List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope of the Order IV. Discussion of the Methodology A. Normal Value Comparisons 1. Determination of Comparison Method 2. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis B. Product Comparisons C. Export Price and Constructed Export Price D. Normal Value 1. Particular Market Situation 2. Home Market Viability and Selection of Comparison Market 3. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm’sLength Test 4. Level of Trade 5. Cost of Production Analysis 6. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices 7. Calculation of NV Based on CV E. Currency Conversion V. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2018–00183 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 13 Id. 14 See Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:58 Jan 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–533–877, A–570–064] Stainless Steel Flanges From India and the People’s Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-FairValue Investigations Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. DATE: Applicable January 9, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Canales at (202) 482–4997 (India) and Ian Hamilton at (202) 482– 4798 (the People’s Republic of China (China)), AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background On September 5, 2017, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigations of imports of stainless steel flanges from India and China.1 Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later than January 23, 2018. Postponement of Preliminary Determinations Section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a LTFV investigation within 140 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation. However, section 733(c)(1)(A)(b)(1) of the Act permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 190 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation if: (A) The petitioners 2 submit a timely request for a postponement; or (B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating, that the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and that additional time is necessary to make a preliminary determination. Under 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners must submit a request for postponement 25 days or more before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination and 1 See Stainless Steel Flanges from India and the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Less-ThanFair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 42649 (September 11, 2017). 2 The petitioners are the Coalition of American Flange Producers and its individual members, Core Pipe Products, Inc. and Maass Flange Corporation. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1025 must state the reasons for the request. Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request. On December 18, 2017, the petitioners submitted a timely request that Commerce postpone the preliminary determinations in these LTFV investigations.3 The petitioners stated that they request postponement ‘‘in order to ensure that {Commerce} has sufficient time to review all questionnaire responses and request clarification and/or additional information as necessary, so that the preliminary determinations will reflect the most accurate results possible.’’ 4 For the reasons stated above and because there are no compelling reasons to deny the request, Commerce, in accordance with section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act, is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations by 50 days (i.e., 190 days after the date on which these investigations were initiated). As a result, Commerce will issue its preliminary determinations no later than March 14, 2018. In accordance with section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 days after the date of publication of the preliminary determinations, unless postponed at a later date. This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). Dated: January 3, 2018. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2018–00189 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF897 Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: 3 See the Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Stainless Steel Flanges from India: the Petitioners’ Request to Extend the Preliminary Determination,’’ dated December 18, 2017; Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Stainless Steel Flanges from the People’s Republic of China: the Petitioners’ Request to Extend the Preliminary Determination,’’ dated December 18, 2017. 4 Id. E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1 1026 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Notices Notice of availability; request for comments. ACTION: This notice announces the availability of the Southern Distinct Population Segment of Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) Draft Recovery Plan (Plan) for public review. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Plan, and will consider all substantive comments received during the review period before submitting the Plan for final approval. DATES: Comments and information on the draft Plan must be received by close of business on March 12, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document by either of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments to GreenSturgeon.Comments@noaa.gov. • Mail: Submit written comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service, Attn: GS Recovery Plan Team, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5–100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the above methods to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. 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 without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. The draft recovery plan is available online at: https:// www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ protected_species/green_sturgeon/ green_sturgeon_pg.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Heublein, NMFS Green Sturgeon Recovery Coordinator, at (916) 930– 3719, or joe.heublein@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Background On April 7, 2006, we, NMFS, listed the southern distinct population segment (sDPS) of green sturgeon as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (71 FR 17757). This determination was based on: (1) The fact that the spawning adult population occurred in only one river system (i.e., Sacramento River); (2) evidence of lost spawning habitat in the Sacramento and Feather rivers; (3) threats to habitat quality and quantity in VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:58 Jan 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 the Sacramento River and Delta System; and (4) fish salvage data exhibiting a negative trend in juvenile sDPS green sturgeon abundance. The final critical habitat rule for sDPS green sturgeon was published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2009 (74 FR 52300). In 2010, we appointed a recovery team to assist the NMFS West Coast Region with the development of research and recovery actions for the recovery plan. A recovery outline was completed in 2010. In 2012, we announced initiation of a 5-year review (77 FR 64959; October 24, 2012) for sDPS green sturgeon. Based on the 5-year review, sDPS green sturgeon remains listed as threatened under the ESA. The 5-year review (NMFS 2014a) was completed November 20, 2014, and is available at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/ green-sturgeon.html Draft Recovery Plan Recovery plans describe actions beneficial to the conservation and recovery of species listed under the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable: (1) Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the Plan’s goals; and (3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions. The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for each listed species unless such a plan would not promote its recovery. The Plan for sDPS green sturgeon was developed by NMFS in cooperation with a recovery team made up of experts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water Resources, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, NMFS Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Center, R2 Resource Consultants, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. NMFS’s goal is to restore the threatened sDPS green sturgeon to the point where it is a self-sustaining species that no longer needs the protections of the ESA. The Plan provides background on the natural history of green sturgeon, population status, and threats to their viability, based on a formal threats assessment. The Plan lays out a recovery strategy to address the threats based on the best available science, identifies site-specific actions with time lines and costs, and includes recovery goals and criteria. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 In order to recover sDPS green sturgeon, recovery actions within the Plan aim to restore passage and habitat, reduce mortality and poaching, address threats in the areas of contaminants, predation, and sediment loading, and forecast sDPS habitat and distribution changes with climate change. Most of the recovery efforts focus on the Sacramento River Basin and San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary environments, as threats in spawning and rearing habitats were considered the greatest impediments to recovery. To better inform the recovery process, the Plan further characterizes research priorities in these areas as well as in the areas of competition for habitat, altered prey base, non-native species, oil and chemical spills, and disease. The Plan is not regulatory, but presents guidance for use by agencies and interested parties to assist in the recovery of sDPS green sturgeon. The Plan identifies substantive actions needed to achieve recovery by assessing the species’ population abundance, distribution, and diversity and addressing the threats to the species. When determining recovery actions, the Plan prioritized actions that address the most important threats, improve understanding of whether a particular threat is limiting recovery, and improve our understanding of, and ability to manage, that threat. The actions in the Plan include research, management, monitoring, and outreach efforts, because a comprehensive approach to green sturgeon recovery is likely to have greater success than focusing on any one type of action. We expect the Plan to inform section 7 consultations with Federal agencies under the ESA and to support other ESA decisions, such as considering permits under section 10. We have already begun implementation of several actions and research priorities as described in the plan, such as partnering with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce poaching and stranding of green sturgeon and improve knowledge of the impacts of fisheries bycatch. After public comment and the adoption of the Final Recovery Plan, we will continue to implement actions in the plan for which we have authority, encourage other Federal and state agencies to implement recovery actions for which they have responsibility and authority, and work cooperatively with them on the implementation of those actions. The total time and cost to recovery are difficult to predict. The Plan outlines 19 recovery actions, as well as 17 research, eight monitoring, and two education and outreach priorities. An estimated E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Notices cost is provided for an initial 20-year period. Projections of when certain actions could occur are provided based on five year increments. Assuming all recovery actions are implemented, the cost of the first 20 years of recovery is approximately $236 million. Given a generation time for sDPS green sturgeon of approximately 22 years, a substantial increase in adult abundance in response to habitat-based recovery actions may not be observed for 66–88 years. Additional funds will thus likely be needed to monitor adult abundance after the first 20 years, with a total added projected cost of $25–40 million. Many of the most costly recovery actions (e.g., barrier removal, increased enforcement, addressing entrainment at diversions) have multi-species benefits and may be covered under recovery efforts for other species. For example, the recovery plan for ESA-listed Central Valley salmonids (NMFS 2014b) includes recovery actions designed to improve watershed-wide processes that will likely benefit sDPS green sturgeon by restoring natural ecosystem functions. Specific actions to improve delta habitat, remove barriers, and reduce entrainment could aid in the recovery of sDPS green sturgeon and reduce the recovery plan cost by $17 million. We are unable to quantify the economic benefits of sDPS green sturgeon recovery actions, but full recovery or delisting will provide multiple benefits to the ecosystem and economy. Delisting of the sDPS will enhance fishing opportunities by lifting fisheries restrictions aimed at reducing direct or incidental sDPS mortality. The ESA regulatory burden will also be eased for fisheries, water resource, industrial, and commercial activities. Accomplishing the habitat restoration measures will also result in more functional ecosystems that support other economic activities and contribute to delisting of other species. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES References Cited The complete citations for the references used in this document can be obtained by contacting NMFS (see ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or online at: https:// www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ protected_species/green_sturgeon/ green_sturgeon_pg.html. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:58 Jan 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 Dated: January 4, 2018. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–00208 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Estuarine Research Reserve System Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public comment period for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision. AGENCY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Garfield at (240) 533–0817 or Kim Texeira at (240) 533–0781 of NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATON: Notice is hereby given that the Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a thirty-day public comment period for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the revised plan will bring the reserve into compliance. The Jacques Cousteau Reserve revised plan will replace the plan approved in 2009. The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; the research/monitoring, stewardship, education, and training programs and priorities of the reserve; plans for a proposed future boundary expansion through inclusion of past and future land acquisition; and facility development priorities to support reserve operations. The Jacques Cousteau Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, linking research and education, coastal training, and stewardship functions. The Rutgers University has outlined how it will administer the reserve and its core programs by providing detailed actions that will enable it to accomplish specific goals and objectives. Since the last management plan, the reserve has: Provided technical expertise to coastal communities to reduce risks to natural PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1027 hazards; expanded monitoring programs; installed a sentinel site for monitoring marsh ecosystem response to sea level rise; upgraded exhibits; conducted training workshops; implemented K–12 education programs; purchased a marsh; installed a trail; and promoted reclamation of ghost crab pots. The total number of acres within the boundary is 116,116 acres, which is a modification of the original 114,665 acres identified in the previous management plan. The revised acreage is a result of updated mapping techniques rather than a boundary expansion resulting from inclusion of new habitats. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding document for the Jacques Cousteau Reserve for the next five years. NOAA’s Office Coastal Management will be conducting an environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act on the proposed approval of the Reserve’s revised management plan. The public is invited to provide comment or information about any potential environmental impacts of the proposed action, and these comments will be used to inform the decision making process. View the Jacques Cousteau Reserve Management Plan revision at (https:// jcnerr.org/JCNERR_MNGMTPLAN_ 2018to2023.pdf) and provide comments to the Reserve’s Assistant Manager, Lisa Auermuller (auermull@ marine.rutgers.edu). Keelin Kuipers, Acting Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2018–00182 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–08–P CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Notice Monday, January 8, 2018; 1:00 p.m.* PLACE: Hearing Room 420, Bethesda Towers, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. STATUS: Commission Meeting—Closed to the Public. MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: Compliance Matter: The Commission staff will brief the Commission on the status of a compliance matter. TIME AND DATE: * The Commission unanimously determined by recorded vote that Agency business requires calling the meeting without seven calendar days advance public notice. E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1025-1027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00208]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF897


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

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

[[Page 1026]]


ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Southern 
Distinct Population Segment of Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) 
Draft Recovery Plan (Plan) for public review. NMFS is soliciting review 
and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Plan, and 
will consider all substantive comments received during the review 
period before submitting the Plan for final approval.

DATES: Comments and information on the draft Plan must be received by 
close of business on March 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document by either of the 
following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments to [email protected].
     Mail: Submit written comments to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Attn: GS Recovery Plan Team, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 
5-100, Sacramento, CA 95814.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the above methods 
to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. 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 without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible.
    The draft recovery plan is available online at: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/green_sturgeon/green_sturgeon_pg.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Heublein, NMFS Green Sturgeon 
Recovery Coordinator, at (916) 930-3719, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 7, 2006, we, NMFS, listed the southern distinct population 
segment (sDPS) of green sturgeon as a threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (71 FR 17757). This determination was 
based on: (1) The fact that the spawning adult population occurred in 
only one river system (i.e., Sacramento River); (2) evidence of lost 
spawning habitat in the Sacramento and Feather rivers; (3) threats to 
habitat quality and quantity in the Sacramento River and Delta System; 
and (4) fish salvage data exhibiting a negative trend in juvenile sDPS 
green sturgeon abundance. The final critical habitat rule for sDPS 
green sturgeon was published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2009 
(74 FR 52300). In 2010, we appointed a recovery team to assist the NMFS 
West Coast Region with the development of research and recovery actions 
for the recovery plan. A recovery outline was completed in 2010. In 
2012, we announced initiation of a 5-year review (77 FR 64959; October 
24, 2012) for sDPS green sturgeon. Based on the 5-year review, sDPS 
green sturgeon remains listed as threatened under the ESA. The 5-year 
review (NMFS 2014a) was completed November 20, 2014, and is available 
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/green-sturgeon.html

Draft Recovery Plan

    Recovery plans describe actions beneficial to the conservation and 
recovery of species listed under the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires that recovery plans 
incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable: (1) Objective, 
measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination 
that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-
specific management actions necessary to achieve the Plan's goals; and 
(3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery 
actions. The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for each 
listed species unless such a plan would not promote its recovery.
    The Plan for sDPS green sturgeon was developed by NMFS in 
cooperation with a recovery team made up of experts from the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water 
Resources, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, NMFS Northwest and 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, R2 Resource Consultants, U.S. 
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. 
Geological Survey.
    NMFS's goal is to restore the threatened sDPS green sturgeon to the 
point where it is a self-sustaining species that no longer needs the 
protections of the ESA. The Plan provides background on the natural 
history of green sturgeon, population status, and threats to their 
viability, based on a formal threats assessment. The Plan lays out a 
recovery strategy to address the threats based on the best available 
science, identifies site-specific actions with time lines and costs, 
and includes recovery goals and criteria.
    In order to recover sDPS green sturgeon, recovery actions within 
the Plan aim to restore passage and habitat, reduce mortality and 
poaching, address threats in the areas of contaminants, predation, and 
sediment loading, and forecast sDPS habitat and distribution changes 
with climate change. Most of the recovery efforts focus on the 
Sacramento River Basin and San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary 
environments, as threats in spawning and rearing habitats were 
considered the greatest impediments to recovery. To better inform the 
recovery process, the Plan further characterizes research priorities in 
these areas as well as in the areas of competition for habitat, altered 
prey base, non-native species, oil and chemical spills, and disease.
    The Plan is not regulatory, but presents guidance for use by 
agencies and interested parties to assist in the recovery of sDPS green 
sturgeon. The Plan identifies substantive actions needed to achieve 
recovery by assessing the species' population abundance, distribution, 
and diversity and addressing the threats to the species. When 
determining recovery actions, the Plan prioritized actions that address 
the most important threats, improve understanding of whether a 
particular threat is limiting recovery, and improve our understanding 
of, and ability to manage, that threat. The actions in the Plan include 
research, management, monitoring, and outreach efforts, because a 
comprehensive approach to green sturgeon recovery is likely to have 
greater success than focusing on any one type of action.
    We expect the Plan to inform section 7 consultations with Federal 
agencies under the ESA and to support other ESA decisions, such as 
considering permits under section 10. We have already begun 
implementation of several actions and research priorities as described 
in the plan, such as partnering with the California Department of Fish 
and Wildlife to reduce poaching and stranding of green sturgeon and 
improve knowledge of the impacts of fisheries bycatch. After public 
comment and the adoption of the Final Recovery Plan, we will continue 
to implement actions in the plan for which we have authority, encourage 
other Federal and state agencies to implement recovery actions for 
which they have responsibility and authority, and work cooperatively 
with them on the implementation of those actions.
    The total time and cost to recovery are difficult to predict. The 
Plan outlines 19 recovery actions, as well as 17 research, eight 
monitoring, and two education and outreach priorities. An estimated

[[Page 1027]]

cost is provided for an initial 20-year period. Projections of when 
certain actions could occur are provided based on five year increments. 
Assuming all recovery actions are implemented, the cost of the first 20 
years of recovery is approximately $236 million. Given a generation 
time for sDPS green sturgeon of approximately 22 years, a substantial 
increase in adult abundance in response to habitat-based recovery 
actions may not be observed for 66-88 years. Additional funds will thus 
likely be needed to monitor adult abundance after the first 20 years, 
with a total added projected cost of $25-40 million.
    Many of the most costly recovery actions (e.g., barrier removal, 
increased enforcement, addressing entrainment at diversions) have 
multi-species benefits and may be covered under recovery efforts for 
other species. For example, the recovery plan for ESA-listed Central 
Valley salmonids (NMFS 2014b) includes recovery actions designed to 
improve watershed-wide processes that will likely benefit sDPS green 
sturgeon by restoring natural ecosystem functions. Specific actions to 
improve delta habitat, remove barriers, and reduce entrainment could 
aid in the recovery of sDPS green sturgeon and reduce the recovery plan 
cost by $17 million.
    We are unable to quantify the economic benefits of sDPS green 
sturgeon recovery actions, but full recovery or delisting will provide 
multiple benefits to the ecosystem and economy. Delisting of the sDPS 
will enhance fishing opportunities by lifting fisheries restrictions 
aimed at reducing direct or incidental sDPS mortality. The ESA 
regulatory burden will also be eased for fisheries, water resource, 
industrial, and commercial activities. Accomplishing the habitat 
restoration measures will also result in more functional ecosystems 
that support other economic activities and contribute to delisting of 
other species.

References Cited

    The complete citations for the references used in this document can 
be obtained by contacting NMFS (see ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) or online at: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/green_sturgeon/green_sturgeon_pg.html.

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

    Dated: January 4, 2018.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00208 Filed 1-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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