80 FR 61379 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 197 (October 13, 2015)

Page Range		61379-61381
FR Document		2015-25866

We, NMFS, announce that the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Proposed Plan) is available for public review and comment. The Proposed Plan addresses the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) listed as threatened under the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the Pacific Ocean and freshwater habitat (rivers, streams and lakes) from the Necanicum River near Seaside, Oregon, on the northern end to the Sixes River near Port Orford, Oregon on the south. As required under the ESA, the Proposed Plan contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the Proposed Plan's goals, and estimates of the time and costs required to implement recovery actions. We are soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Proposed Plan.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61379-61381]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25866]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE231


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce that the Proposed Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Proposed Plan) is 
available for public review and comment. The Proposed Plan addresses 
the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) evolutionarily 
significant unit (ESU) listed as threatened under the ESA. The 
geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the Pacific Ocean and 
freshwater habitat (rivers, streams and lakes) from the Necanicum River 
near Seaside, Oregon, on the northern end to the Sixes River near Port 
Orford, Oregon on the south. As required under the ESA, the Proposed 
Plan contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the Proposed Plan's goals, and 
estimates of the time and costs required to implement recovery actions. 
We are soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested 
parties on the Proposed Plan.

DATES: We will consider and address, as appropriate, all substantive 
comments received during the comment period. Comments on the Proposed 
Plan must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight time on 
December 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Public Draft Recovery Plan by 
the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via: [email protected]. Please include ``Comments on 
Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan'' in the subject line of the 
email.
     Facsimile: (503) 872-2737.
     Mail: Robert Walton, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure 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. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Proposed Plan are available on the NMFS 
Web site at: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/oregon_coast/oregon_coast_recovery_plan.html. Persons wishing to obtain an 
electronic copy on CD ROM of the Proposed Plan may do so by calling 
Nancy Johnson at (503) 230-5442 or by emailing a request to 
[email protected] with the subject line ``CD ROM Request for 
Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Walton, NMFS Oregon Coast Coho 
Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 231-2285, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    We are responsible for developing and implementing recovery plans 
for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the ESA of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means that the listed 
species and their ecosystems are sufficiently restored, and their 
future secured, to the point that the protections of the ESA are no 
longer necessary. Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires that recovery 
plans include, 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.
    We believe it is essential to have local support of recovery plans 
by those whose activities directly affect the listed species and whose 
continued commitment and leadership will be needed to implement the 
necessary recovery actions. We therefore support and participate in 
locally led, collaborative efforts to develop recovery plans that 
involve state, tribal, and

[[Page 61380]]

Federal entities, local communities, and other stakeholders. We have 
determined that this Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho 
Salmon meets the statutory requirements for a recovery plan and are 
proposing to adopt it as the ESA recovery plan for this threatened 
species. Section 4(f) of the ESA, as amended in 1988, requires that 
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided prior to final approval of a recovery plan. This notice 
solicits comments on this Proposed Plan.

Development of the Proposed Plan

    For the purpose of recovery planning for the ESA-listed species of 
Pacific salmon and steelhead in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, NMFS 
designated five geographically based ``recovery domains.'' The Oregon 
Coast Coho Salmon ESU spawning range is in the Oregon Coast domain. For 
each domain, NMFS appointed a team of scientists, nominated for their 
geographic and species expertise, to provide a solid scientific 
foundation for recovery plans. The Oregon and Northern California 
Coasts Technical Recovery Team (TRT) included scientists from NMFS, 
other Federal agencies, the state of Oregon, and the private sector.
    A primary task for the Oregon and Northern California Coasts 
Technical Recovery Team was to recommend criteria for determining when 
the ESU should be considered viable (i.e., when they are have a low 
risk of extinction over a 100-year period) and when the ESU would have 
a risk of extinction consistent with no longer needing the protections 
of the ESA. All Technical Recovery Teams used the same biological 
principles for developing their recommendations; these principles are 
described in the NOAA technical memorandum Viable Salmonid Populations 
and the Recovery of Evolutionarily Significant Units (McElhany et al., 
2000). Viable salmonid populations (VSP) are defined in terms of four 
parameters: abundance, productivity or growth rate, spatial structure, 
and diversity.
    For this Proposed Plan, we collaborated with state, tribal and 
Federal scientists and resource managers and stakeholders to provide 
technical information that NMFS used to write the Proposed Plan which 
is built upon locally-led recovery efforts.
    The Proposed Plan, including the recovery plan modules, is now 
available for public review and comment.

Contents of Proposed Plan

    The Proposed Plan contains biological background and contextual 
information that includes description of the ESU, the planning area, 
and the context of the plan's development. It presents relevant 
information on ESU structure, biological status and proposed biological 
viability criteria and threats criteria for delisting.
    The Proposed Plan also describes specific information on the 
following: Current status of Oregon Coast Coho Salmon; limiting factors 
and threats for the full life cycle that contributed to the species 
decline; recovery strategies and actions addressing these limiting 
factors and threats; key information needs, and a proposed research, 
monitoring, and evaluation program for adaptive management. For 
recovery strategies and actions, Chapter 6 in the Proposed Plan 
includes proposed actions at the ESU and strata levels. Population 
level information will be posted on the recovery plan Web site (see 
below). The plan also describes how implementation, prioritization of 
actions, and adaptive management will proceed at the population, 
strata, and ESU scales. The Proposed Plan also summarizes time and 
costs (Chapter 7) required to implement recovery actions. In addition 
to the information in the Proposed Plan, readers are referred to the 
recovery plan Web site for more information on all these topics. 
(http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/oregon_coast/oregon_coast_salmon_recovery_domain.html)

How NMFS and Others Expect To Use the Plan

    With approval of the final Plan, we will commit to implement the 
actions in the Plan for which we have authority and funding; encourage 
other Federal and state agencies and tribal governments to implement 
recovery actions for which they have responsibility, authority and 
funding; and work cooperatively with the public and local stakeholders 
on implementation of other actions. We expect the Plan to guide us and 
other Federal agencies in evaluating Federal actions under ESA section 
7, as well as in implementing other provisions of the ESA and other 
statutes. For example, the Plan will provide greater biological context 
for evaluating the effects that a proposed action may have on a species 
by providing delisting criteria, information on priority areas for 
addressing specific limiting factors, and information on how future 
populations within the ESU can tolerate varying levels of risk.
    When we are considering a species for delisting, the agency will 
examine whether the section 4(a)(1) listing factors have been 
addressed. To assist in this examination, we will use the delisting 
criteria described in Chapter 4 of the Plan, which includes both 
biological criteria and criteria addressing each of the ESA section 
4(a)(1) listing factors, as well as any other relevant data and policy 
considerations.
    We will also work with the Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan 
Implementation Team described in the Proposed Plan to develop 
implementation schedules that provide greater specificity for recovery 
actions to be implemented over three-to five-year periods. This Team 
will also help promote implementation of recovery actions and 
subsequent implementation schedules, and will track and report on 
implementation progress.

Conclusion

    Section 4(f)(1)(B) 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. We conclude that the Proposed Plan meets the requirements of 
ESA section 4(f) and are proposing to adopt it as the ESA Recovery Plan 
for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon.

Public Comments Solicited

    We are soliciting written comments on the Proposed Plan. All 
substantive comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered and incorporated, as appropriate, prior to our decision 
whether to approve the plan. We will issue a news release announcing 
the adoption and availability of the final plan. We will post on the 
NMFS West Coast Region Web site (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a summary of, and 
responses to, the comments received, along with electronic copies of 
the final plan and its appendices.

Literature Cited

McElhany, P., M.H. Ruckelshaus, M.J. Ford, T.C. Wainwright, and E.P. 
Bjorkstedt. 2000. Viable salmon populations and the recovery of 
evolutionarily significant units. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Tech. 
Memo., NMFS NWFSC 42, 156 p.

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


[[Page 61381]]


    Dated: October 6, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25866 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices 61379

encased in plastic cylinders that record Dated: October 6, 2015. Instructions: Comments must be
the depth, temperature or other data, Sarah Brabson, submitted by one of the above methods
which can be downloaded electronically NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. to ensure comments are received,
from the recovered tags. The groundfish [FR Doc. 2015–25848 Filed 10–9–15; 8:45 am] documented, and considered by NMFS.
tagging and tag recovery program is part BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Comments sent by any other method, to
of the fishery resource assessment and any other address or individual, or
data collection that the National Marine received after the end of the comment
Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducts DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE period, may not be considered.
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act Attachments to electronic comments
authority as codified in 16 U.S.C. National Oceanic and Atmospheric will be accepted in Microsoft Word,
1801 (a)(8). Administration Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
RIN 0648–XE231
Electronic copies of the Proposed Plan
II. Method of Collection are available on the NMFS Web site at:
This is a volunteer program requiring Endangered and Threatened Species; http://
the actual tag from the fish to be Recovery Plans www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
returned, along with recovery protected_species/salmon_steelhead/
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries recovery_planning_and_
information. Reporting forms with pre-
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and implementation/oregon_coast/oregon_
addressed and postage-free envelopes
Atmospheric Administration, coast_recovery_plan.html. Persons
are distributed to processors and catcher
Commerce. wishing to obtain an electronic copy on
vessels.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request CD ROM of the Proposed Plan may do
III. Data for comments. so by calling Nancy Johnson at (503)
OMB Control Number: 0648–0276. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce that the 230–5442 or by emailing a request to
Form Number: None. Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) nancy.johnson@noaa.gov with the
Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho subject line ‘‘CD ROM Request for
Type of Review: Regular submission
Salmon (Proposed Plan) is available for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Recovery
(extension of a currently approved
public review and comment. The Plan.’’
collection).
Affected Public: Not-for-profit Proposed Plan addresses the Oregon FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
institutions; State, local, or tribal Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Robert Walton, NMFS Oregon Coast
government; business or other for-profit kisutch) evolutionarily significant unit Coho Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at
organizations. (ESU) listed as threatened under the (503) 231–2285, or rob.walton@
ESA. The geographic area covered by noaa.gov.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
265. the Proposed Plan is the Pacific Ocean SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and freshwater habitat (rivers, streams
Estimated Time per Response: 5 and lakes) from the Necanicum River Background
minutes for returning a regular tag, and near Seaside, Oregon, on the northern We are responsible for developing and
20 minutes for returning an internal end to the Sixes River near Port Orford, implementing recovery plans for Pacific
archival tag. Oregon on the south. As required under salmon and steelhead listed under the
Estimated Total Annual Burden the ESA, the Proposed Plan contains ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
Hours: 59. objective, measurable delisting criteria, 1531 et seq.). Recovery means that the
Estimated Total Annual Cost to site-specific management actions listed species and their ecosystems are
Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting necessary to achieve the Proposed sufficiently restored, and their future
costs. Plan’s goals, and estimates of the time secured, to the point that the protections
IV. Request for Comments and costs required to implement of the ESA are no longer necessary.
recovery actions. We are soliciting Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires that
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether review and comment from the public recovery plans include, to the maximum
the proposed collection of information and all interested parties on the extent practicable: (1) Objective,
is necessary for the proper performance Proposed Plan. measurable criteria which, when met,
of the functions of the agency, including DATES: We will consider and address, as would result in a determination that the
whether the information shall have appropriate, all substantive comments species is no longer threatened or
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the received during the comment period. endangered; (2) site-specific
agency’s estimate of the burden Comments on the Proposed Plan must management actions necessary to
(including hours and cost) of the be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific achieve the plan’s goals; and (3)
proposed collection of information; (c) daylight time on December 14, 2015. estimates of the time required and costs
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to implement recovery actions. The ESA
clarity of the information to be on the Public Draft Recovery Plan by the requires the development of recovery
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the following methods: plans for each listed species unless such
burden of the collection of information • Electronic Submissions: Submit all a plan would not promote its recovery.
on respondents, including through the electronic public comments via: We believe it is essential to have local
use of automated collection techniques 2015CohoPlan.WCR@noaa.gov. Please support of recovery plans by those
or other forms of information
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

include ‘‘Comments on Oregon Coast whose activities directly affect the listed
technology. Coho Salmon Recovery Plan’’ in the species and whose continued
Comments submitted in response to subject line of the email. commitment and leadership will be
this notice will be summarized and/or • Facsimile: (503) 872–2737. needed to implement the necessary
included in the request for OMB • Mail: Robert Walton, National recovery actions. We therefore support
approval of this information collection; Marine Fisheries Service, 1201 NE. and participate in locally led,
they also will become a matter of public Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, collaborative efforts to develop recovery
record. OR 97232. plans that involve state, tribal, and

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61380 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices

Federal entities, local communities, and that includes description of the ESU, the factors have been addressed. To assist in
other stakeholders. We have determined planning area, and the context of the this examination, we will use the
that this Proposed ESA Recovery Plan plan’s development. It presents relevant delisting criteria described in Chapter 4
for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon meets information on ESU structure, biological of the Plan, which includes both
the statutory requirements for a recovery status and proposed biological viability biological criteria and criteria
plan and are proposing to adopt it as the criteria and threats criteria for delisting. addressing each of the ESA section
ESA recovery plan for this threatened The Proposed Plan also describes 4(a)(1) listing factors, as well as any
species. Section 4(f) of the ESA, as specific information on the following: other relevant data and policy
amended in 1988, requires that public Current status of Oregon Coast Coho
considerations.
notice and an opportunity for public Salmon; limiting factors and threats for
review and comment be provided prior the full life cycle that contributed to the We will also work with the Oregon
to final approval of a recovery plan. species decline; recovery strategies and Coast Coho Conservation Plan
This notice solicits comments on this actions addressing these limiting factors Implementation Team described in the
Proposed Plan. and threats; key information needs, and Proposed Plan to develop
a proposed research, monitoring, and implementation schedules that provide
Development of the Proposed Plan evaluation program for adaptive greater specificity for recovery actions to
For the purpose of recovery planning management. For recovery strategies be implemented over three-to five-year
for the ESA-listed species of Pacific and actions, Chapter 6 in the Proposed periods. This Team will also help
salmon and steelhead in Idaho, Oregon Plan includes proposed actions at the promote implementation of recovery
and Washington, NMFS designated five ESU and strata levels. Population level actions and subsequent implementation
geographically based ‘‘recovery information will be posted on the schedules, and will track and report on
domains.’’ The Oregon Coast Coho recovery plan Web site (see below). The implementation progress.
Salmon ESU spawning range is in the plan also describes how
Oregon Coast domain. For each domain, implementation, prioritization of Conclusion
NMFS appointed a team of scientists, actions, and adaptive management will
nominated for their geographic and proceed at the population, strata, and Section 4(f)(1)(B) of the ESA requires
species expertise, to provide a solid ESU scales. The Proposed Plan also that recovery plans incorporate, to the
scientific foundation for recovery plans. summarizes time and costs (Chapter 7) maximum extent practicable, (1)
The Oregon and Northern California required to implement recovery actions. objective, measurable criteria which,
Coasts Technical Recovery Team (TRT) In addition to the information in the when met, would result in a
included scientists from NMFS, other Proposed Plan, readers are referred to determination that the species is no
Federal agencies, the state of Oregon, the recovery plan Web site for more longer threatened or endangered; (2)
and the private sector. information on all these topics. (http:// site-specific management actions
A primary task for the Oregon and www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ necessary to achieve the plan’s goals;
Northern California Coasts Technical protected_species/salmon_steelhead/ and (3) estimates of the time required
Recovery Team was to recommend recovery_planning_and_ and costs to implement recovery
criteria for determining when the ESU implementation/oregon_coast/oregon_ actions. We conclude that the Proposed
should be considered viable (i.e., when coast_salmon_recovery_domain.html) Plan meets the requirements of ESA
they are have a low risk of extinction section 4(f) and are proposing to adopt
How NMFS and Others Expect To Use
over a 100-year period) and when the it as the ESA Recovery Plan for Oregon
the Plan
ESU would have a risk of extinction Coast Coho Salmon.
consistent with no longer needing the With approval of the final Plan, we
protections of the ESA. All Technical will commit to implement the actions in Public Comments Solicited
Recovery Teams used the same the Plan for which we have authority
biological principles for developing and funding; encourage other Federal We are soliciting written comments
their recommendations; these principles and state agencies and tribal on the Proposed Plan. All substantive
are described in the NOAA technical governments to implement recovery comments received by the date specified
memorandum Viable Salmonid actions for which they have above will be considered and
Populations and the Recovery of responsibility, authority and funding; incorporated, as appropriate, prior to
Evolutionarily Significant Units and work cooperatively with the public our decision whether to approve the
(McElhany et al., 2000). Viable and local stakeholders on plan. We will issue a news release
salmonid populations (VSP) are defined implementation of other actions. We announcing the adoption and
in terms of four parameters: abundance, expect the Plan to guide us and other availability of the final plan. We will
productivity or growth rate, spatial Federal agencies in evaluating Federal post on the NMFS West Coast Region
structure, and diversity. actions under ESA section 7, as well as Web site (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a
For this Proposed Plan, we in implementing other provisions of the summary of, and responses to, the
collaborated with state, tribal and ESA and other statutes. For example,
comments received, along with
Federal scientists and resource the Plan will provide greater biological
electronic copies of the final plan and
managers and stakeholders to provide context for evaluating the effects that a
proposed action may have on a species its appendices.
technical information that NMFS used
to write the Proposed Plan which is by providing delisting criteria, Literature Cited
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

built upon locally-led recovery efforts. information on priority areas for
addressing specific limiting factors, and McElhany, P., M.H. Ruckelshaus, M.J. Ford,
The Proposed Plan, including the
information on how future populations T.C. Wainwright, and E.P. Bjorkstedt.
recovery plan modules, is now available
2000. Viable salmon populations and the
for public review and comment. within the ESU can tolerate varying
recovery of evolutionarily significant
levels of risk.
Contents of Proposed Plan When we are considering a species for units. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA
The Proposed Plan contains biological delisting, the agency will examine Tech. Memo., NMFS NWFSC 42, 156 p.
background and contextual information whether the section 4(a)(1) listing Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

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Document Created: 2018-02-27 08:48:01
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 08:48:01

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 availability; request for comments.
Contact		Robert Walton, NMFS Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 231-2285, or [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 61379
RIN Number		0648-XE23

80 FR 61379 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 197 (October 13, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration