80 FR 15986 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Intent To Withdraw Existing Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 58 (March 26, 2015)

Page Range		15986-15987
FR Document		2015-06926

NMFS is announcing the withdrawal of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was being prepared on two resource management plans (RMPs) and 114 supporting hatchery and genetic management plans (HGMPs) for Puget Sound hatchery programs. The plans were submitted to NMFS by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Puget Sound treaty tribes (referred to as the co- managers) for evaluation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead. Subsequent to the notice of intent to prepare an EIS in 2004, the co- managers have made important changes in hatchery programs for salmon and steelhead. Changes in the programs and updated information important for analysis are being reflected in revised joint RMPs that are generally organized on a watershed-specific basis. In light of this and the ongoing submissions of revised watershed-specific joint hatchery RMPs and considering public comments received on the draft EIS, NMFS has determined that it is appropriate to withdraw the draft EIS. NMFS will conduct NEPA reviews for the revised RMPs that are jointly submitted to NMFS by the co-managers.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15986-15987]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06926]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD827


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Intent To Withdraw 
Existing Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the withdrawal of a draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) that was being prepared on two resource 
management plans (RMPs) and 114 supporting hatchery and genetic 
management plans (HGMPs) for Puget Sound hatchery programs. The plans 
were submitted to NMFS by the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife and the Puget Sound treaty tribes (referred to as the co-
managers) for evaluation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for 
threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead. 
Subsequent to the notice of intent to prepare an EIS in 2004, the co-
managers have made important changes in hatchery programs for salmon 
and steelhead. Changes in the programs and updated information 
important for analysis are being reflected in revised joint RMPs that 
are generally organized on a watershed-specific basis. In light of this 
and the ongoing submissions of revised watershed-specific joint 
hatchery RMPs and considering public comments received on the draft 
EIS, NMFS has determined that it is appropriate to withdraw the draft 
EIS. NMFS will conduct NEPA reviews for the revised RMPs that are 
jointly submitted to NMFS by the co-managers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Leider, telephone (360) 753-
4650; fax (360) 753-9517; electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 12, 2004, NMFS published the original 
notice of intent in the Federal Register to prepare an EIS for two 
joint 2004 state and tribal RMPs for salmon and steelhead hatcheries in 
Puget Sound (69 FR 26364). On July 29, 2011, NMFS published a second 
notice of intent in the Federal Register (76 FR 45515), to remind other 
agencies and the public of its plans to analyze the effects related to 
the action, and obtain information that may not have been available in 
2004 pertinent to the scope of issues to include in the EIS. On July 
25, 2014, NMFS published notification in the Federal Register that a 
draft EIS was available for comment (79 FR 43465). In response to 
requests from the public the comment period was extended twice as 
published in the Federal Register (79 FR 59767, October 3, 2014, and 79 
FR 69470, November 21, 2014).
    Subsequent to NMFS' publication of the notice of intent to prepare 
an EIS in 2004, and subsequent to the 2004 RMPs, the co-managers have 
updated their hatchery programs to reflect important changes in 
hatchery management in different areas of Puget Sound. Such changes 
include new management practices to respond to new scientific 
information, revised purposes and sizes of some programs, and 
management responses to other issues unique to particular watersheds. 
Several hatchery programs have been terminated since 2004. Finally, the 
RMPs have been updated to reflect the 2007 listing of Puget Sound 
steelhead under the ESA.
    In light of these changes, the co-managers have begun to submit to 
NMFS for review and approval revised joint RMPs for hatchery programs, 
generally organized by watershed, but located within the same action 
area as the 2004 RMPs. Because the co-managers are in control of how to 
design their RMPs and whether to revise the underlying HGMPs, these new 
RMPs replace the RMPs submitted in 2004.
    While the draft EIS for Puget Sound hatchery programs was being 
developed, and in response to co-manager requests, NMFS conducted

[[Page 15987]]

environmental reviews for the RMPs that were revised since the 2004 
RMPs were submitted to NMFS. For example, on December 10, 2012, NMFS 
completed a final Environmental Assessment (EA) and finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) for five Elwha salmon and steelhead hatchery 
programs. Subsequently, on December 15, 2014, a final supplemental EA 
and FONSI for Elwha hatchery programs was published. In addition, in 
February, NMFS published a notice of availability for a draft EA for 
three salmon hatchery programs in the Dungeness River watershed (80 FR 
9260, February 20, 2015).
    Public comments on the draft EIS for Puget Sound hatchery programs 
noted that the 2004 RMPs for hatchery programs do not accurately 
reflect current hatchery program purposes or practices, and that some 
of the information used was outdated. It was also noted that the scale 
of the review, incorporating more than a hundred hatchery programs, 
tended to mask effects for some species.
    Therefore, considering ongoing submissions of revised watershed-
specific joint RMPs within the action area of the 2004 RMPs and public 
comments received on the draft EIS, NMFS has determined it is 
appropriate to terminate the EIS and transition this effort into new 
NEPA reviews on revised hatchery RMPs that are jointly submitted to 
NMFS by the co-managers. NMFS does not plan to formally respond to 
public comments on the draft EIS; however, information in the 
terminated draft EIS, along with public comments received on the draft 
EIS, will be considered by NMFS in subsequent NEPA reviews of 
watershed-specific RMPs.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of NEPA 
as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations 
(40 CFR 1506.6), and other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, 
and policies and procedures of NMFS for compliance with those 
regulations.

    Dated: March 23, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06926 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

15986 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Notices

international trade in services and direct Paperwork Reduction Act Notice this and the ongoing submissions of
investment that are not collected This data collection has been revised watershed-specific joint
pursuant to the 2012 rule are described approved by the Office of Management hatchery RMPs and considering public
separately in 15 CFR part 801. The BE– and Budget (OMB) in accordance with comments received on the draft EIS,
45 survey forms and instructions are the Paperwork Reduction Act and NMFS has determined that it is
available on the BEA Web site at assigned control number 0608–0066. An appropriate to withdraw the draft EIS.
www.bea.gov/ssb. agency may not conduct or sponsor, and NMFS will conduct NEPA reviews for
a person is not required to respond to, the revised RMPs that are jointly
Definitions
a collection of information unless it submitted to NMFS by the co-managers.
(a) Person means any individual, displays a valid control number FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
branch, partnership, associated group, assigned by OMB. Public reporting Steve Leider, telephone (360) 753–4650;
association, estate, trust, corporation, or burden for this collection of information fax (360) 753–9517; electronic mail:
other organization (whether or not is estimated to average 8 hours per Steve.Leider@noaa.gov.
organized under the laws of any State), response. Send comments regarding this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May
and any government (including a burden estimate to Director, Bureau of 12, 2004, NMFS published the original
foreign government, the United States Economic Analysis (BE–1), U.S. notice of intent in the Federal Register
Government, a State or local Department of Commerce, Washington, to prepare an EIS for two joint 2004
government, and any agency, DC 20230; and to the Office of state and tribal RMPs for salmon and
corporation, financial institution, or Management and Budget, Paperwork steelhead hatcheries in Puget Sound (69
other entity or instrumentality thereof, Reduction Project 0608–0066, FR 26364). On July 29, 2011, NMFS
including a government-sponsored Washington, DC 20503. published a second notice of intent in
agency).
(b) United States person means any Authority: 22 U.S.C. 3101–3108. the Federal Register (76 FR 45515), to
person resident in the United States or remind other agencies and the public of
Brian C. Moyer,
subject to the jurisdiction of the United its plans to analyze the effects related to
Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis. the action, and obtain information that
States. [FR Doc. 2015–06942 Filed 3–25–15; 8:45 am]
(c) United States, when used in a may not have been available in 2004
geographic sense, means the 50 States,
BILLING CODE 3510–06–P pertinent to the scope of issues to
the District of Columbia, the include in the EIS. On July 25, 2014,
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and all NMFS published notification in the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Federal Register that a draft EIS was
territories and possessions of the United
States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric available for comment (79 FR 43465). In
(d) Foreign person means any person Administration response to requests from the public the
resident outside the United States or comment period was extended twice as
RIN 0648–XD827 published in the Federal Register (79
subject to the jurisdiction of a country
other than the United States. FR 59767, October 3, 2014, and 79 FR
Endangered and Threatened Species; 69470, November 21, 2014).
Reporting Notice of Intent To Withdraw Existing Subsequent to NMFS’ publication of
Draft Environmental Impact Statement the notice of intent to prepare an EIS in
Who Must Report: (a) Reports are
required from U.S. persons whose AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 2004, and subsequent to the 2004 RMPs,
covered transactions exceeded $8 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the co-managers have updated their
million (positive or negative) in the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hatchery programs to reflect important
prior fiscal year, or are expected to Commerce. changes in hatchery management in
exceed that amount during the current ACTION: Notice of withdrawal. different areas of Puget Sound. Such
fiscal year. changes include new management
(b) Entities required to report will be SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the practices to respond to new scientific
contacted individually by BEA. Entities withdrawal of a draft Environmental information, revised purposes and sizes
not contacted by BEA have no reporting Impact Statement (EIS) that was being of some programs, and management
responsibilities. prepared on two resource management responses to other issues unique to
What To Report: The survey collects plans (RMPs) and 114 supporting particular watersheds. Several hatchery
information on cross-border insurance hatchery and genetic management plans programs have been terminated since
transactions between U.S. insurance (HGMPs) for Puget Sound hatchery 2004. Finally, the RMPs have been
companies and foreign persons. programs. The plans were submitted to updated to reflect the 2007 listing of
How To Report: Reports can be filed NMFS by the Washington Department of Puget Sound steelhead under the ESA.
using BEA’s electronic reporting system Fish and Wildlife and the Puget Sound In light of these changes, the co-
at www.bea.gov/efile. Copies of the treaty tribes (referred to as the co- managers have begun to submit to
survey forms and instructions, which managers) for evaluation under the NMFS for review and approval revised
contain complete information on Endangered Species Act (ESA) for joint RMPs for hatchery programs,
reporting procedures and definitions, threatened Puget Sound Chinook generally organized by watershed, but
may be obtained at the BEA Web site salmon and Puget Sound steelhead. located within the same action area as
given above. Form BE–45 inquiries can Subsequent to the notice of intent to the 2004 RMPs. Because the co-
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

be made by phone to BEA at (202) 606– prepare an EIS in 2004, the co-managers managers are in control of how to design
5588 or by sending an email to have made important changes in their RMPs and whether to revise the
be45help@bea.gov. hatchery programs for salmon and underlying HGMPs, these new RMPs
When To Report: Reports are due to steelhead. Changes in the programs and replace the RMPs submitted in 2004.
BEA 60 days after the end of the fiscal updated information important for While the draft EIS for Puget Sound
quarter, except for the final quarter of analysis are being reflected in revised hatchery programs was being
the reporter’s fiscal year, when reports joint RMPs that are generally organized developed, and in response to co-
must be filed within 90 days. on a watershed-specific basis. In light of manager requests, NMFS conducted

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Notices 15987

environmental reviews for the RMPs DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE addition, Anchi, Wanli, Federal,
that were revised since the 2004 RMPs Changfeng, Fullrun, Fuyingxiang,
were submitted to NMFS. For example, International Trade Administration Qingda, Doublestar and Doublestar-
on December 10, 2012, NMFS [A–570–016] Dongfeng, and Beijing Capital each
completed a final Environmental timely filed comments regarding the
Assessment (EA) and finding of no Antidumping Duty Investigation of Department’s preliminary separate rate
significant impact (FONSI) for five Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light determinations.5 Jinhaoyang requested
Elwha salmon and steelhead hatchery Truck Tires From the People’s the Department to accept its
programs. Subsequently, on December Republic of China: Amended supplemental documentation for the
15, 2014, a final supplemental EA and Affirmative Preliminary Determination Separate Rate Application 6 which was
opposed by the Petitioner.7 Further,
FONSI for Elwha hatchery programs AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, GITI, Doublestar and Tyrechamp, and
was published. In addition, in February, International Trade Administration, CIC timely filed requests for correcting
NMFS published a notice of availability Department of Commerce. misspelled names.8 Petitioner filed
for a draft EA for three salmon hatchery SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce rebuttal comments and ministerial error
programs in the Dungeness River (Department) is amending the comments on February 10, 2015.9 The
watershed (80 FR 9260, February 20, preliminarily determination of the Sailun Group, in-turn, requested that
2015). antidumping duty (AD) investigation of the Department reject Petitioner’s
Public comments on the draft EIS for certain passenger vehicle and light truck rebuttal comments.10
Puget Sound hatchery programs noted tires (passenger tires) from the People’s
Republic of China (PRC) to correct Scope of the Investigation
that the 2004 RMPs for hatchery
programs do not accurately reflect significant ministerial errors. For a full description of the scope of
current hatchery program purposes or DATES: Effective Date: March 26, 2015. this investigation, see ‘‘Scope of
practices, and that some of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Investigation’’ at Appendix I of the
Page, Jun Jack Zhao, or Lingjun Wang, Preliminary Determination.
information used was outdated. It was
also noted that the scale of the review, AD/CVD Operations, Office VII, Analysis of Significant Ministerial
incorporating more than a hundred Enforcement and Compliance, Error Allegations
hatchery programs, tended to mask International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th The Department will analyze any
effects for some species. comments received and, if appropriate,
Street and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Therefore, considering ongoing Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) correct any significant ministerial error
submissions of revised watershed- 482–1398, (202) 482–1396, or (202) 482– by amending the preliminary
specific joint RMPs within the action 2316, respectively. determination according to 19 CFR
area of the 2004 RMPs and public 351.224(e). A ministerial error is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
comments received on the draft EIS, defined in 19 CFR 351.224(f) as ‘‘an
NMFS has determined it is appropriate Background error in addition, subtraction, or other
to terminate the EIS and transition this On January 27, 2015, the Department arithmetic function, clerical error
effort into new NEPA reviews on published its affirmative preliminary resulting from inaccurate copying,
determination that passenger tires from duplication, or the like, and any other
revised hatchery RMPs that are jointly
the PRC are being, or are likely to be, similar type of unintentional error
submitted to NMFS by the co-managers.
sold in the United States at less than fair which the Secretary considers
NMFS does not plan to formally
value, as provided by section 733 of the ministerial.’’ Further, a significant
respond to public comments on the ministerial error is defined in 19 CFR
draft EIS; however, information in the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
terminated draft EIS, along with public Act).1 The Department disclosed the
5 See Shandong Anchi Tyres Co., Ltd. (Anchi)’s

comments received on the draft EIS, calculations performed on January 26,
January 28, 2015 letter, Guangzhou Wanli Tire
2015, and set a February 2, 2015 Trading Co., Ltd. (Wanli)’s January 28, 2015 letter,
will be considered by NMFS in
deadline for submitting comments Highpoint Trading, Ltd. and Federal Tire (Jiangxi),
subsequent NEPA reviews of watershed-
concerning ministerial errors. Ltd. (collectively, Federal)’s January 28, 2015 letter,
specific RMPs. The Sailun Group 2 and GITI 3 each Shandong Changfeng Tyres Co., Ltd. (Changfeng)’s
January 30, 2015 letter, Qingdao Fullrun Tyre Corp.
Authority timely filed comments alleging Ltd. (Fullrun)’s January 30, 2015 letter, Qingdao
significant ministerial errors.4 In Fuyingxiang Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. (Fuyingxiang)’s
We provide this notice in accordance January 31, 2015 letter, Zhejiang Qingda Rubber
with the requirements of NEPA as 1 See Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Co., Ltd. (Qingda)’s January 31, 2015 letter, Qingdao
Tires from the People’s Republic of China: Doublestar Tire Industrial Co., Ltd. (Doublestar) and
amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its Doublestar-Dongfeng Tyre Co., Ltd. (Doublestar-
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than
implementing regulations (40 CFR Fair Value; Preliminary Affirmative Determination Dongfeng)’s January 31, 2015 letter, and Beijing
1506.6), and other appropriate Federal of Critical Circumstances; In Part and Capital Tire Co., Ltd. (Beijing Capital)’s February 4,
Postponement of Final Determination, 80 FR 4250 2015 letter.
laws and regulations, and policies and 6 See Qingdao Jinhaoyang International Co, Ltd.
(January 27, 2015) (Preliminary Determination).
procedures of NMFS for compliance 2 Sailun Group Co. and its affiliates, Sailun Tire (Jinhaoyang)’s February 4, 2015 letter.
with those regulations. International Corp., Shandong Jinyu Industrial Co., 7 See Petitioner’s February 10, 2015 letter.

Dated: March 23, 2015. Ltd., Jinyu International Holding Co., Limited, 8 See GITI’s January 26, 2015 letter, Qingdao

Seatex International Inc., Dynamic Tire Corp., Doublestar Tire Industrial Co., Ltd. (Doublestar)’s
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Angela Somma, Husky Tire Corp., Seatex PTE. Ltd. (collectively, the and Tyrechamp Group Co., Limited (Tyrechamp)’s
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office Sailun Group). January 23, 2015 letter, and Crown International
3 Giti Tire Global Trading Pte. Ltd., and its Corporation (CIC)’s January 26, 2015 letter.
of Protected Resources, National Marine
affiliates, Giti Tire Global Trading Pte. Ltd., Giti 9 Petitioner is United Steel, Paper, and Forestry,
Fisheries Service. Tire (USA) Ltd., Giti Tire (Anhui) Company Ltd., Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial
[FR Doc. 2015–06926 Filed 3–25–15; 8:45 am] Giti Tire (Fujian) Company Ltd., Giti Tire (Hualin) and Service Workers International Union, AFL–
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Company Ltd. (collectively, GITI). CIO, CLC. See Petitioner’s February 10, 2015
4 See Sailun Group’s and GITI’s February 2, 2015 comments.
letters. 10 See Sailun Group’s February 11, 2015 letter.

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:46:36
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:46:36

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of withdrawal.
Contact		Steve Leider, telephone (360) 753- 4650; fax (360) 753-9517; electronic mail: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 15986
RIN Number		0648-XD82

80 FR 15986 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Intent To Withdraw Existing Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 58 (March 26, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration