80 FR 76457 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 236 (December 9, 2015)

Page Range		76457-76459
FR Document		2015-30956

We, NMFS, announce the extension of the comment period for the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Proposed Plan) published on October 13, 2015. 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. The comment period is being extended--from December 14, 2015, to December 31, 2015--to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76457-76459]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30956]


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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; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the extension of the comment period for the 
Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast 
Coho Salmon (Proposed Plan) published on October 13, 2015. 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. The comment period is 
being extended--from December 14, 2015, to December 31, 2015--to 
provide additional opportunity for public comment.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the Public Draft 
Recovery

[[Page 76458]]

Plan published on October 13, 2015 (80 FR 61379), is extended to close 
of business on December 31, 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 electronically 
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:

Extension of Comment Period

    On October 13, 2015 (80 FR 61379) we (NMFS published in the Federal 
Register a request for public comment on the notice of availability of 
the Proposed Plan for the Oregon Coast Coho salmon. The public comment 
period for this action is set to end on December 14, 2015. The comment 
period is being extended through December 31, 2015, to provide 
additional opportunity for public comment.

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 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_

[[Page 76459]]

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.

    Dated: December 3, 2015.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
 [FR Doc. 2015-30956 Filed 12-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Notices 76457

done without causing disturbance to 1. Time and date of the incident; Request for Public Comments
mothers and dependent pups. 2. Description of the incident; NMFS requests comment on our
e. Staff shall approach pinnipeds analysis, the draft authorization, and
3. Environmental conditions (e.g.,
when located in the sampling plots only any other aspect of the Notice of
wind speed and direction, Beaufort sea
if there are no other means to Proposed IHA for PISCO’s proposed
state, cloud cover, and visibility);
accomplish the survey and there are no rocky intertidal monitoring program.
pups present (however, approach must 4. Description of all marine mammal
observations in the 24 hours preceding Please include with your comments any
be slow and quiet so as not to minimize supporting data or literature citations to
potential for stampede). the incident;
help inform our final decision on
5. Monitoring: The holder of this IHA 5. Species identification or PISCO’s request for an MMPA
is required to conduct monitoring of description of the animal(s) involved; authorization.
marine mammals present at study sites 6. Fate of the animal(s); and
prior to approaching the sites. Dated: December 4, 2015.
a. Information to be recorded shall 7. Photographs or video footage of the Perry Gayaldo,
include the following: animal(s). Deputy Director, Office of Protected
i. Species counts (with numbers of Activities shall not resume until Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
pups/juveniles); and NMFS is able to review the [FR Doc. 2015–31036 Filed 12–8–15; 8:45 am]
ii. Numbers of disturbances, by circumstances of the prohibited take. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
species and age, according to a three- NMFS will work with PISCO to
point scale of intensity including (1) determine what measures are necessary
Head orientation in response to to minimize the likelihood of further DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
disturbance, which may include turning prohibited take and ensure MMPA
head towards the disturbance, craning compliance. PISCO may not resume the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
head and neck while holding the body activities until notified by NMFS. Administration
rigid in a u-shaped position, or changing ii. In the event that an injured or dead RIN 0648-XE231
from a lying to a sitting position and/or marine mammal is discovered and it is
slight movement of less than 1 m; determined that the cause of the injury Endangered and Threatened Species;
‘‘alert’’; (2) Movements in response to or or death is unknown and the death is Recovery Plans
away from disturbance, over short relatively recent (e.g., in less than a AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
distances (typically two times its body moderate state of decomposition), Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
length) and including dramatic changes PISCO shall immediately report the Atmospheric Administration,
in direction or speed of locomotion for incident to the Office of Protected Commerce.
animals already in motion; Resources, NMFS, and the Southwest
‘‘movement’’; and (3) All flushes to the ACTION: Notice of availability; extension
Regional Stranding Coordinator, NMFS.
water as well as lengthier retreats (>3 of public comment period.
The report must include the same
m); ‘‘flight’’. information identified in 6(c)(i) of this SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the
6. Reporting: The holder of this IHA IHA. Activities may continue while extension of the comment period for the
is required to: NMFS reviews the circumstances of the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA)
a. Report observations of unusual incident. NMFS will work with PISCO Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho
behaviors, numbers, or distributions of to determine whether additional Salmon (Proposed Plan) published on
pinnipeds, or of tag-bearing carcasses, to mitigation measures or modifications to October 13, 2015. The Proposed Plan
NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science the activities are appropriate. addresses the Oregon Coast Coho
Center (SWFSC). Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
b. Submit a draft monitoring report to iii. In the event that an injured or
dead marine mammal is discovered and evolutionarily significant unit (ESU)
NMFS Office of Protected Resources
it is determined that the injury or death listed as threatened under the ESA. The
within 60 days after the conclusion of
is not associated with or related to the geographic area covered by the
the 2015–2016 field season or 60 days
activities authorized in the IHA (e.g., Proposed Plan is the Pacific Ocean and
prior to the start of the next field season
previously wounded animal, carcass freshwater habitat (rivers, streams and
if a new IHA will be requested. A final
with moderate to advanced lakes) from the Necanicum River near
report shall be prepared and submitted
decomposition, or scavenger damage), Seaside, Oregon, on the northern end to
within 30 days following resolution of
PISCO shall report the incident to the the Sixes River near Port Orford, Oregon
any comments on the draft report from
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, on the south. As required under the
NMFS. This report must contain the
and the Southwest Regional Stranding ESA, the Proposed Plan contains
informational elements described above,
Coordinator, NMFS, within 24 hours of objective, measurable delisting criteria,
at minimum.
c. Reporting injured or dead marine the discovery. PISCO shall provide site-specific management actions
mammals: photographs or video footage or other necessary to achieve the Proposed
i. In the event that the specified documentation of the stranded animal Plan’s goals, and estimates of the time
activity clearly causes the take of a sighting to NMFS. Activities may and costs required to implement
marine mammal in a manner prohibited continue while NMFS reviews the recovery actions. We are soliciting
by this IHA, such as an injury (Level A circumstances of the incident. review and comment from the public
and all interested parties on the
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

harassment), serious injury, or 7. This IHA may be modified,
mortality, PISCO shall immediately suspended or withdrawn if the holder Proposed Plan. The comment period is
cease the specified activities and report fails to abide by the conditions being extended—from December 14,
the incident to the Office of Protected prescribed herein or if NMFS 2015, to December 31, 2015—to provide
Resources, NMFS, and the Southwest determines the authorized taking is additional opportunity for public
Regional Stranding Coordinator, NMFS. having more than a negligible impact on comment.
The report must include the following the species or stock of affected marine DATES: The deadline for receipt of
information: mammals. comments on the Public Draft Recovery

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:32:00
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:32:00

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; extension of public comment period.
Dates		The deadline for receipt of comments on the Public Draft Recovery Plan published on October 13, 2015 (80 FR 61379), is extended to close of business on December 31, 2015.
Contact		Robert Walton, NMFS Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 231-2285, or [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 76457
RIN Number		0648-XE23

80 FR 76457 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 236 (December 9, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration