[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33468-33469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12454]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD756
Endangered and Threatened Species; 5-Year Reviews for 28 Listed
Species of Pacific Salmon, Steelhead, and Eulachon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: NMFS' West Coast Region announces the availability of 5-year
reviews for 17 evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Pacific
salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.), 10 distinct population segments (DPSs) of
steelhead (O. mykiss), and the southern DPS of eulachon (Thaleichthys
pacificus) 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 species remains accurate or should be
changed. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial
data, we conclude that no changes in the ESA-listing status for the 27
salmonid ESUs and DPSs, or the southern DPS of eulachon, are warranted
at this time.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about the 5-year reviews may be
obtained by visiting the NMFS West Coast Region's Web site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov, or by writing to us at: NMFS West
Coast Region, Protected Resources Division, 1201 Lloyd Blvd., Suite
1100, Portland, OR 97232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Scott Rumsey at the above address,
by phone at (503) 872-2791, or by email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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 February 6, 2015, the NMFS West Coast Region announced
initiation of 5-year reviews of all 28 ESA-listed Pacific salmon ESUs
and steelhead DPSs, the southern DPS of eulachon, and three DPSs of
Puget Sound rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) (80 FR 6695). Both ESUs and DPSs
are treated as `species' under the ESA. At the time of our
announcement, we requested information on species viability, threats to
the species, and protective efforts, from the public, concerned
governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, environmental
entities, and other interested parties.
This notice addresses the following ESUs and DPSs: (1) Sacramento
River winter-run Chinook salmon ESU; (2)
[[Page 33469]]
Upper Columbia River spring-run Chinook salmon ESU; (3) Snake River
spring/summer-run Chinook salmon ESU; (4) Central Valley spring-run
Chinook salmon ESU; (5) California Coastal Chinook salmon ESU; (6)
Puget Sound Chinook salmon ESU; (7) Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon
ESU; (8) Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon ESU; (9) Hood Canal
summer-run chum salmon ESU; (10) Columbia River chum salmon ESU; (11)
Central California Coast coho salmon ESU; (12) Southern Oregon/Northern
California Coast coho salmon ESU; (13) Lower Columbia River coho salmon
ESU; (14) Oregon Coast coho salmon ESU; (15) Snake River sockeye salmon
ESU; (16) Ozette Lake sockeye salmon ESU; (17) Southern California
steelhead DPS; (18) Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS; (19) Middle
Columbia River steelhead DPS; (20) Snake River Basin steelhead DPS;
(21) Lower Columbia River steelhead DPS; (22) Upper Willamette River
steelhead DPS; (23) South-Central California Coast steelhead DPS; (24)
Central California Coast steelhead DPS; (25) Northern California
steelhead DPS; (26) California Central Valley steelhead DPS; (27) Puget
Sound steelhead DPS; and (28) the southern DPS of eulachon.
On January 16, 2015, we received a petition from the Chinook
Futures Coalition to delist the Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU under
the ESA. On April 22, 2015, we published a positive 90-day finding (80
FR 22468) that the petition presented substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be
warranted, and we announced the initiation of a status review. While
the Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon ESU was included as part of our
5-year reviews of West Coast salmon and steelhead, the results of our
review of Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon and our finding on the
delisting petition are addressed in a separate notice in this issue of
the Federal Register. The 5-year review findings for the three Puget
Sound/Georgia Basin DPSs of yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and
bocaccio rockfish will be announced separately on our Web site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
We used a multi-step process to complete the subject 5-year review.
First, we asked scientists from NMFS' Northwest and Southwest Fisheries
Science Centers to collect and analyze new information about species
viability. To evaluate species viability, our scientists evaluate four
criteria--abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity.
They also considered new genetic and biogeographic information
regarding species' ranges. At the end of this process, the Northwest
and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers prepared two reports detailing
the results of their analyses.
Next, biologists from the NMFS West Coast Region with expertise in
salmonid hatchery management conducted a review of all West Coast
salmonid hatchery programs associated with the ESA-listed salmon and
steelhead. Their evaluation was guided by NMFS' Policy on the
Consideration of Hatchery-Origin Fish in Endangered Species Act Listing
Determinations for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead (Hatchery Listing
Policy) (70 FR 37204; June 28, 2005). A memorandum (Jones 2015)
summarizes their evaluation of the relatedness of related hatchery
stocks relative to the local natural populations to determine if the
stocks warrant inclusion as part of the respective ESA listings.
Finally, we formed geographically-based teams of salmon and
eulachon management biologists from our West Coast Region to evaluate
information related to the five ESA section 4(a)(1) listing factors.
These section 4(a)(1) factors are: (1) The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or
range; (2) overutilization for 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. These teams
produced ``5-Year Review Reports'' that incorporate the findings of the
Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers' reports, summarize
new information concerning the delineation of the subject ESUs and DPSs
and inclusion of closely related salmonid hatchery programs, and detail
the evaluation of the ESA section 4(a)(1) listing factors. The
Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers' reports, the 5-year
review reports, and additional information are available on our Web
site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
Findings
After considering the best available information, we conclude that
the 17 Pacific salmon ESUs, the 10 steelhead DPSs, and the southern DPS
of eulachon detailed above shall remain listed as currently classified.
We also conclude that, based on the best information available, no
adjustments to the species' ranges are necessary. We did conclude that
the species membership of several salmonid hatchery programs will need
to be revised. We will adjust the hatchery memberships through a
subsequent rulemaking.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: May 23, 2016.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12454 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
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