80 FR 78719 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 242 (December 17, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 242 (December 17, 2015)
| Page Range | 78719-78721 | |
| FR Document | 2015-31748 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 78719-78721] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-31748] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XE232 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the extension of the comment period for the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon (Proposed Plan) published on November 2, 2015. The Proposed Plan addresses the Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), which is listed as threatened under the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the lower and middle mainstem Snake River and tributaries as well as the mainstem Columbia River below its confluence with the Snake River. As required under the ESA, the Proposed Plan contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the Proposed [[Page 78720]] 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 close of the comment period is being extended--from January 4, 2016, to February 5, 2016--to provide additional opportunity for public comment. DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the Proposed Recovery Plan published on November 2, 2015 (80 FR 67386), is extended to close of business on February 5, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Proposed Recovery Plan by the following methods:Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via: nmfs.wcr.snakeriverfallchinookplan@noaa.gov. Please include ``Comments on Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan'' in the subject line of the email. Facsimile: (503) 230-5441. Mail: Patricia Dornbusch, 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 that they 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 at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/snake_river/current_snake_river_recovery_plan_documents.html. Persons wishing to obtain an electronic copy on CD ROM of the Proposed Plan may do so by calling Bonnie Hossack at (503) 736-4741 or by emailing a request to bonnie.hossack@noaa.gov with the subject line ``CD ROM Request for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Dornbusch, NMFS Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 230-5430, or patty.dornbusch@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Extension of Comment Period On November 2, 2015 (80 FR 67386) we (NMFS) published in the Federal Register a request for public comment on the Proposed Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon. The public comment period for this action is set to end on January 4, 2016. The comment period is being extended through February 5, 2016, 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.). 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 collaborative efforts to develop recovery plans that involve state, tribal, and federal entities, local communities, and other stakeholders. For this Proposed Plan for threatened Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon, we worked collaboratively with state, tribal, and federal partners to produce a recovery plan that satisfies the ESA requirements. We have determined that this Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon meets the statutory requirements for a recovery plan and we 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 Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon ESU spawning range is in the Interior Columbia 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 Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team included biologists from NMFS, other federal agencies, states, tribes, and academic institutions. A primary task for the Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team was to recommend criteria for determining when each component population within an ESU or distinct population segment (DPS) should be considered viable (i.e., when they are have a low risk of extinction over a 100-year period) and when ESUs or DPSs 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. We also collaborated with state, tribal, and federal biologists and resource managers to provide technical information used to develop the Proposed Plan. In addition, NMFS established a multi-state (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), tribal, and federal partners' regional forum called the Snake River Coordination Group that addresses the four ESA- listed Snake River salmon and steelhead species. They met twice a year to be briefed and provide technical and policy information to NMFS. We presented regular updates on the status of this Proposed Plan to the Snake River Coordination Group and posted draft chapters on NMFS' West Coast Region Snake River recovery planning Web page. We also made full drafts of the Proposed Plan available for review to the state, tribal, and Federal entities with which we collaborated to develop the plan. In addition to the Proposed Plan, we developed and incorporated the Module for the Ocean Environment (Fresh et al. 2014) as Appendix D to address Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon recovery needs in the Columbia River estuary, plume, and Pacific Ocean. To address recovery needs related to the Columbia River Hydropower System, we developed and incorporated the Supplemental Recovery Plan Module for Snake River Salmon and Steelhead Mainstem Columbia River Hydropower Projects (NMFS 2014b) as Appendix E of this Proposed Plan. To address recovery needs related to the Lower Columbia River mainstem and estuary, we incorporated the Columbia River Estuary ESA Recovery Plan Module for Salmon and Steelhead (NMFS 2011a) as Appendix F. To address recovery needs for fishery harvest management in the mainstem Snake and Columbia Rivers, Columbia River estuary, and ocean, we developed and incorporated the Snake [[Page 78721]] River Harvest Module (NMFS 2014a) as Appendix G. The Public Draft Recovery 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, guidelines for assessing salmonid population and ESU status, and a brief summary of Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team products on population structure and species status. It also presents NMFS' proposed biological viability criteria and threats criteria for delisting. As described in Chapter 2 of the Proposed Plan, the historical Snake River fall Chinook salmon ESU consisted of two populations. The population above the Hells Canyon Dam Complex is extirpated, leaving only one extant population--the Lower Mainstem Snake River population. An ESU with a single population would be at greater extinction risk than an ESU with multiple populations. This is a key consideration in the proposed Snake River fall Chinook salmon biological viability criteria, since there is more than one possible scenario for achieving the criteria. The proposed viability criteria include two possible scenarios and a placeholder for developing additional scenarios that would be consistent with delisting. Scenario A focuses on achieving ESA delisting with two populations (i.e., the extant Lower Mainstem Snake River population and a recovered Middle Snake population above the Hells Canyon Complex). Scenario B illustrates a single-population pathway to delisting. The placeholder scenario describes a framework under which additional single-population scenarios could be developed that would involve developing natural production emphasis areas that would have a low percentage of hatchery-origin spawners. NMFS is interested in comments on how such additional scenarios might be developed, potentially for inclusion in the final recovery plan. The Proposed Plan also describes specific information on the following: current status of Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon; limiting factors and threats throughout the life cycle that have contributed to the species decline; recovery strategies and actions addressing these limiting factors and threats; and a proposed research, monitoring, and evaluation program for adaptive management. For recovery actions, the Proposed Plan includes a table summarizing each proposed action, life stage affected, estimated costs, timing, and potential implementing entities. It also describes how implementation, prioritization of actions, and adaptive management will proceed. The Proposed Plan also summarizes time and costs (Chapter 9) required to implement recovery actions. In some cases, costs of implementing actions could not be determined at this time and NMFS is interested in additional information regarding scale, scope, and costs of these actions. We are also particularly interested in comments on establishing appropriate forums to coordinate implementation of the recovery plan. 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. While we invite comments on all aspects of the Proposed Plan, we are particularly interested in comments on developing specific scenarios to address the placeholder recovery scenario, comments on the cost of recovery actions for which we have not yet determined implementation costs, and comments on establishing an appropriate implementation forum for 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. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: December 14, 2015. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-31748 Filed 12-16-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 242 / Thursday, December 17, 2015 / Notices 78719
Fisheries Service; and the Office of the dollars, plus the application of NOAA’s The FY 2014 rates will be applied to
General Counsel Natural Resources leave surcharge and benefits rates to all damage assessment and restoration
Section (GCNRS). The DARRP conducts direct labor. Direct labor costs for case costs incurred between October 1,
Natural Resource Damage Assessments contractors from ERT, Inc. (ERT), 2013 and September 30, 2014. DARRP
(NRDAs) as a basis for recovering Freestone Environmental Services, Inc. will use the FY 2014 indirect cost rates
damages from responsible parties, and (Freestone), and Genwest Systems, Inc. for future fiscal years, beginning with
uses the funds recovered to restore (Genwest) were included in the direct FY 2015, until subsequent year-specific
injured natural resources. labor base because Cotton determined rates can be developed.
Consistent with federal accounting that these costs have the same For cases that have settled and for
requirements, the DARRP is required to relationship to the indirect cost pool as cost claims paid prior to the effective
account for and report the full costs of NOAA direct labor costs. ERT, date of the fiscal year in question, the
its programs and activities. Further, the Freestone, and Genwest provided on- DARRP will not re-open any resolved
DARRP is authorized by law to recover site support to the DARRP in the areas matters for the purpose of applying the
reasonable costs of damage assessment of injury assessment, natural resource revised rates in this policy for these
and restoration activities under economics, restoration planning and fiscal years. For cases not settled and
CERCLA, OPA, and the NMSA. Within implementation, and policy analysis. cost claims not paid prior to the
the constraints of these legal provisions Subsequent federal notices have been effective date of the fiscal year in
and their regulatory applications, the published in the Federal Register as question, costs will be recalculated
DARRP has the discretion to develop follows: using the revised rates in this policy for
indirect cost rates for its component
• FY 2002, published on October 6, these fiscal years. Where a responsible
organizations and formulate policies on party has agreed to pay costs using
2003 (68 FR 57672)
the recovery of indirect cost rates
• FY 2003, published on May 20, 2005 previous year’s indirect rates, but has
subject to its requirements. not yet made the payment because the
(70 FR 29280)
The DARRP’s Indirect Cost Effort • FY 2004, published on March 16, settlement documents are not finalized,
2006 (71 Fed Reg. 13356) the costs will not be recalculated.
In December 1998, the DARRP hired
the public accounting firm Rubino & • FY 2005, published on February 9, David Westerholm,
McGeehin, Chartered (R&M) to: Evaluate 2007 (72 FR 6221) Director, Office of Response and Restoration.
the DARRP cost accounting system and • FY 2006, published on June 3, 2008 [FR Doc. 2015–31728 Filed 12–16–15; 8:45 am]
allocation practices; recommend the (73 FR 31679)
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P
appropriate indirect cost allocation • FY 2007 and FY 2008, published on
methodology; and determine the November 16, 2009 (74 FR 58948)
indirect cost rates for the three • FY 2009 and FY 2010, published on DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
organizations that comprise the DARRP. October 20, 2011 (76 FR 65182)
A Federal Register notice on R&M’s • FY 2011, published on September 17, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
effort, their assessment of the DARRP’s 2012 (77 FR 57074) Administration
cost accounting system and practice, • FY 2012, published on August 29,
RIN 0648–XE232
and their determination regarding the 2013 (78 FR 53425)
most appropriate indirect cost • FY 2013, published on October 14, Endangered and Threatened Species;
methodology and rates for FYs 1993 2014 (79 FR 61617) Recovery Plans
through 1999 was published on Cotton’s recent reports on these indirect
December 7, 2000 (65 FR 76611). rates can be found on the DARRP Web AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
R&M continued its assessment of site at www.darrp.noaa.gov. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
DARRP’s indirect cost rate system and Cotton reaffirmed that the Direct Atmospheric Administration,
structure for FYs 2000 and 2001. A Labor Cost Base is the most appropriate Commerce.
second federal notice specifying the indirect allocation method for the ACTION: Notice of availability; extension
DARRP indirect rates for FYs 2000 and development of the FY 2014 indirect of public comment period.
2001 was published on December 2, cost rates.
2002 (67 FR 71537). SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the
In October 2002, DARRP hired the The DARRP’s Indirect Cost Rates and extension of the comment period for the
accounting firm of Cotton and Company Policies Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA)
LLP (Cotton) to review and certify The DARRP will apply the indirect Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall
DARRP costs incurred on cases for cost rates for FY 2014 as recommended Chinook Salmon (Proposed Plan)
purposes of cost recovery and to by Cotton for each of the DARRP published on November 2, 2015. The
develop indirect rates for FY 2002 and component organizations as provided in Proposed Plan addresses the Snake
subsequent years. As in the prior years, the following table: River Fall Chinook Salmon
Cotton concluded that the cost (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
accounting system and allocation FY 2014 evolutionarily significant unit (ESU),
practices of the DARRP component DARRP indirect which is listed as threatened under the
organizations are consistent with federal component organization rate ESA. The geographic area covered by
accounting requirements. Consistent (%) the Proposed Plan is the lower and
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
with R&M’s previous analyses, Cotton Office of Response and Restora- middle mainstem Snake River and
also determined that the most tion (ORR) ................................. 113.54 tributaries as well as the mainstem
appropriate indirect allocation method Restoration Center (RC) ............... 67.50 Columbia River below its confluence
continues to be the Direct Labor Cost General Counsel Natural Re- with the Snake River. As required under
Base for all three DARRP component sources Section (GCNRS) ........ 29.37 the ESA, the Proposed Plan contains
organizations. The Direct Labor Cost objective, measurable delisting criteria,
Base is computed by allocating total These rates are based on the Direct site-specific management actions
indirect cost over the sum of direct labor Labor Cost Base allocation methodology. necessary to achieve the Proposed
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Dec 16, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_78961/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 242 / Thursday, December 17, 2015 / Notices 78721
River Harvest Module (NMFS 2014a) as action, life stage affected, estimated will now be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday,
Appendix G. costs, timing, and potential December 18, 2015.
implementing entities. It also describes CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
The Public Draft Recovery Plan
how implementation, prioritization of Christopher Kirkpatrick, 202–418–5964.
The Proposed Plan contains biological actions, and adaptive management will
background and contextual information proceed. The Proposed Plan also Natise Allen,
that includes description of the ESU, the summarizes time and costs (Chapter 9) Executive Assistant.
planning area, and the context of the required to implement recovery actions. [FR Doc. 2015–31877 Filed 12–15–15; 4:15 pm]
plan’s development. It presents relevant In some cases, costs of implementing BILLING CODE 6351–01–P
information on ESU structure, actions could not be determined at this
guidelines for assessing salmonid time and NMFS is interested in
population and ESU status, and a brief additional information regarding scale, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
summary of Interior Columbia scope, and costs of these actions. We are
Technical Recovery Team products on also particularly interested in comments Department of the Army
population structure and species status. on establishing appropriate forums to
It also presents NMFS’ proposed [Docket ID USA–2015–HQ–0049]
coordinate implementation of the
biological viability criteria and threats recovery plan. Proposed Collection; Comment
criteria for delisting.
Public Comments Solicited Request
As described in Chapter 2 of the
Proposed Plan, the historical Snake We are soliciting written comments AGENCY: Office of the Administrative
River fall Chinook salmon ESU on the Proposed Plan. All substantive Assistant to the Secretary of the Army,
consisted of two populations. The comments received by the date specified (OAA–AAHS), DoD.
population above the Hells Canyon Dam above will be considered and ACTION: Notice.
Complex is extirpated, leaving only one incorporated, as appropriate, prior to
extant population—the Lower Mainstem our decision whether to approve the SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Snake River population. An ESU with a plan. While we invite comments on all Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
single population would be at greater aspects of the Proposed Plan, we are Office of the Administrative Assistant to
extinction risk than an ESU with particularly interested in comments on the Secretary of the Army announces a
multiple populations. This is a key developing specific scenarios to address proposed public information collection
consideration in the proposed Snake the placeholder recovery scenario, and seeks public comment on the
River fall Chinook salmon biological comments on the cost of recovery provisions thereof. Comments are
viability criteria, since there is more actions for which we have not yet invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
than one possible scenario for achieving collection of information is necessary
determined implementation costs, and
the criteria. The proposed viability for the proper performance of the
comments on establishing an
criteria include two possible scenarios functions of the agency, including
appropriate implementation forum for
and a placeholder for developing whether the information shall have
the plan. We will issue a news release
additional scenarios that would be practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
announcing the adoption and
consistent with delisting. Scenario A agency’s estimate of the burden of the
availability of the final plan. We will
focuses on achieving ESA delisting with proposed information collection; (c)
post on the NMFS West Coast Region
two populations (i.e., the extant Lower ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
Web site (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a
Mainstem Snake River population and a clarity of the information to be
summary of, and responses to, the
recovered Middle Snake population collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
above the Hells Canyon Complex). comments received, along with
electronic copies of the final plan and burden of the information collection on
Scenario B illustrates a single- respondents, including through the use
population pathway to delisting. The its appendices.
of automated collection techniques or
placeholder scenario describes a Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
other forms of information technology.
framework under which additional Dated: December 14, 2015. DATES: Consideration will be given to all
single-population scenarios could be Angela Somma, comments received by February 16,
developed that would involve Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 2016.
developing natural production emphasis of Protected Resources, National Marine
areas that would have a low percentage Fisheries Service. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
of hatchery-origin spawners. NMFS is [FR Doc. 2015–31748 Filed 12–16–15; 8:45 am]
identified by docket number and title,
interested in comments on how such by any of the following methods:
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
additional scenarios might be • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
developed, potentially for inclusion in www.regulations.gov. Follow the
the final recovery plan. instructions for submitting comments.
The Proposed Plan also describes COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING • Mail: Department of Defense, Office
specific information on the following: COMMISSION of the Deputy Chief Management
current status of Snake River Fall Officer, Directorate of Oversight and
Chinook Salmon; limiting factors and Sunshine Act Meetings Compliance, Regulatory and Audit
threats throughout the life cycle that Matters Office, 9010 Defense Pentagon,
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FEDERAL REGISTER CITATION OF PREVIOUS
have contributed to the species decline; Washington, DC 20301–9010.
ANNOUNCEMENT: 80 FR 76948, Dec. 11,
recovery strategies and actions Instructions: All submissions received
addressing these limiting factors and 2015. must include the agency name, docket
threats; and a proposed research, PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF number and title for this Federal
monitoring, and evaluation program for THE MEETING: 10:00 a.m., Friday, Register document. The general policy
adaptive management. For recovery December 18, 2015. for comments and other submissions
actions, the Proposed Plan includes a CHANGES IN THE MEETING: The time of from members of the public is to make
table summarizing each proposed the meeting has changed. This meeting these submissions available for public
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Dec 16, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_78961/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:17:55
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:17:55
| 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 Proposed Recovery Plan published on November 2, 2015 (80 FR 67386), is extended to close of business on February 5, 2016. | |
| Contact | Patricia Dornbusch, NMFS Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 230-5430, or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 78719 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE23 |
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR