81 FR 70666 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 198 (October 13, 2016)

Page Range		70666-70667
FR Document		2016-24716

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of the Final Endangered Species Act (ESA) Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan for the California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), Northern California (NC) steelhead (O. mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead (O. mykiss) DPS. These species spawn and rear in streams and rivers along the central and northern California coast, and in tributaries to San Francisco Bay.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70666-70667]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24716]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE212


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
adoption of the Final Endangered Species Act (ESA) Coastal Multispecies 
Recovery Plan for the California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), 
Northern California (NC) steelhead (O. mykiss) Distinct Population 
Segment (DPS), and Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead (O. mykiss) 
DPS. These species spawn and rear in streams and rivers along the 
central and northern California coast, and in tributaries to San 
Francisco Bay.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Public Final Recovery Plan are 
available online at: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/north_central_california_coast/north_central_california_coast_salmon_recovery_domain.html. A CD-ROM of 
these documents can be obtained by emailing a request to 
[email protected] or by writing to: Recovery Team, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Korie Schaeffer, (707) 575-6087, 
[email protected], or Erin

[[Page 70667]]

Seghesio, (707) 578-8515, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) requires we develop and implement recovery plans for the 
conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species under 
our jurisdiction, unless it is determined that such plans would not 
promote the conservation of the species. The Coastal Multispecies 
Recovery Plan was developed for: The CC Chinook salmon ESU, and NC and 
CCC steelhead DPSs. Between 1997 and 2000, NMFS listed the CCC 
steelhead DPS (62 FR 43937; August 18, 1997), the CC Chinook salmon ESU 
(64 FR 50394; September 16, 1999), and the NC steelhead DPS (65 FR 
36074; June 7, 2000), as threatened under the ESA due to the 
precipitous and ongoing declines in their populations.
    We published a Notice of Availability of the Draft Recovery Plan in 
the Federal Register on October 5, 2015 (80 FR 60125) and held five 
public meetings to present and receive comments on the Draft Plan. In 
response to multiple requests, we extended the public comment period 
for an additional 45 days on December 1, 2015 (80 FR 75066). We 
received comments on the Draft Plan. We revised the Draft Plan based on 
the comments received, and this final version now constitutes the 
Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan for the CC Chinook salmon ESU, and 
NC and CCC steelhead DPSs. Our goal is to restore the threatened CC 
Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead to the point where they are 
self-sustaining populations within their ecosystems and no longer need 
the protections of the ESA.

The Final Recovery Plan

    The ESA requires 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 goal for the conservation and survival of the species; and 
(3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery 
actions.
    The Recovery Plan provides background on the natural history, 
population trends and the potential threats to the viability of CC 
Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead. The Recovery Plan lays out a 
recovery strategy to address conditions and threats based on the best 
available science and incorporates objective, measurable criteria for 
recovery. The Recovery Plan is not regulatory, but presents guidance 
for use by agencies and interested parties to assist in the recovery of 
CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead. The Recovery Plan 
identifies actions needed to achieve recovery by improving population 
and habitat conditions and addressing threats to the species; links 
management actions to a research and monitoring program intended to 
fill data gaps and assess effectiveness of actions; and incorporates an 
adaptive management framework by which management actions and other 
elements may evolve as we gain information through research and 
monitoring. To address threats related to the species, the Recovery 
Plan references many of the significant efforts already underway to 
restore salmon and steelhead access to high quality habitat and to 
improve habitat previously degraded.
    Recovery of CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead will 
require a long-term effort in cooperation and coordination with 
Federal, state, tribal and local government agencies, and the 
community. Consistent with the Recovery Plan, we will implement 
relevant actions for which we have authority, work cooperatively on 
implementation of other actions, and encourage other Federal and state 
agencies to implement recovery actions for which they have 
responsibility and authority.

Conclusion

    NMFS has reviewed the Recovery Plan for compliance with the 
requirements of the ESA section 4(f), determined that it does 
incorporate the required elements and is therefore adopting it as the 
Final Recovery Plan for the CC Chinook salmon ESU, NC steelhead DPS, 
and CCC steelhead DPS.

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

    Dated: October 6, 2016.
Daniel Bess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24716 Filed 10-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 198 / Thursday, October 13, 2016 / Notices 70667

Seghesio, (707) 578–8515, threats based on the best available DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Erin.Seghesio@noaa.gov. science and incorporates objective,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: measurable criteria for recovery. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Recovery Plan is not regulatory, but Administration
Background
presents guidance for use by agencies RIN 0648–XE946
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 and interested parties to assist in the
(ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et recovery of CC Chinook salmon, and NC Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South
seq.) requires we develop and and CCC steelhead. The Recovery Plan Atlantic Fishery Management Council;
implement recovery plans for the identifies actions needed to achieve Public Meetings
conservation and survival of threatened
recovery by improving population and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
and endangered species under our
jurisdiction, unless it is determined that habitat conditions and addressing Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
such plans would not promote the threats to the species; links management Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
conservation of the species. The Coastal actions to a research and monitoring Commerce.
Multispecies Recovery Plan was program intended to fill data gaps and ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
developed for: The CC Chinook salmon assess effectiveness of actions; and
ESU, and NC and CCC steelhead DPSs. incorporates an adaptive management SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery
Between 1997 and 2000, NMFS listed framework by which management Management Council (Council) will
the CCC steelhead DPS (62 FR 43937; actions and other elements may evolve hold meetings of its Snapper Grouper
August 18, 1997), the CC Chinook as we gain information through research Advisory Panel (AP) and Information
salmon ESU (64 FR 50394; September and monitoring. To address threats and Education AP. The Snapper
16, 1999), and the NC steelhead DPS (65 related to the species, the Recovery Plan Grouper AP will meet to discuss items
FR 36074; June 7, 2000), as threatened references many of the significant efforts pertaining to the management of the
under the ESA due to the precipitous already underway to restore salmon and snapper grouper fishery of the South
and ongoing declines in their steelhead access to high quality habitat Atlantic Region. A meeting of the
populations. and to improve habitat previously Council’s Information and Education AP
We published a Notice of Availability degraded. will follow with the AP addressing
of the Draft Recovery Plan in the outreach efforts and communication
Federal Register on October 5, 2015 (80 Recovery of CC Chinook salmon, and needs. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FR 60125) and held five public meetings NC and CCC steelhead will require a DATES: The Snapper Grouper AP
to present and receive comments on the long-term effort in cooperation and meeting will be held on Monday,
Draft Plan. In response to multiple coordination with Federal, state, tribal October 31, 2016 and Tuesday,
requests, we extended the public and local government agencies, and the November 1, 2016, from 9 a.m. until 5
comment period for an additional 45 community. Consistent with the p.m., each day. The Information and
days on December 1, 2015 (80 FR Recovery Plan, we will implement Education AP meeting will be held
75066). We received comments on the relevant actions for which we have Wednesday, November 2, 2016, from
Draft Plan. We revised the Draft Plan authority, work cooperatively on 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Thursday,
based on the comments received, and implementation of other actions, and November 3, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 3
this final version now constitutes the encourage other Federal and state p.m.
Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan for agencies to implement recovery actions ADDRESSES:
the CC Chinook salmon ESU, and NC for which they have responsibility and Meeting address: The meetings will be
and CCC steelhead DPSs. Our goal is to authority. held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4831
restore the threatened CC Chinook Tanger Outlet Blvd., North Charleston,
salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead to Conclusion
SC 29418.
the point where they are self-sustaining Council address: South Atlantic
populations within their ecosystems NMFS has reviewed the Recovery
Plan for compliance with the Fishery Management Council, 4055
and no longer need the protections of Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N.
the ESA. requirements of the ESA section 4(f),
determined that it does incorporate the Charleston, SC 29405.
The Final Recovery Plan required elements and is therefore FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
The ESA requires recovery plans adopting it as the Final Recovery Plan Iverson, Public Information Officer,
incorporate, to the maximum extent for the CC Chinook salmon ESU, NC South Atlantic Fishery Management
practicable: (1) Objective, measurable steelhead DPS, and CCC steelhead DPS. Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite
criteria which, when met, would result 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405; phone:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (843) 571–4366 or toll free (866)
in a determination that the species is no
longer threatened or endangered; (2) Dated: October 6, 2016. SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–4520; email:
site-specific management actions Daniel Bess, kim.iverson@safmc.net.
necessary to achieve the plan’s goal for Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
the conservation and survival of the Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel will
species; and (3) estimates of the time [FR Doc. 2016–24716 Filed 10–12–16; 8:45 am]
receive an update on the status of
required and costs to implement amendments to the Snapper Grouper
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
recovery actions. Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

The Recovery Plan provides recently approved by the Council and
background on the natural history, submitted for Secretarial review, receive
population trends and the potential an update on Amendment 41,
threats to the viability of CC Chinook (addressing management of mutton
salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead. The snapper), and the draft For-Hire
Recovery Plan lays out a recovery Electronic Reporting Amendment. In
strategy to address conditions and addition, the Panel will review and

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Document Created: 2016-10-13 00:53:41
Document Modified: 2016-10-13 00:53:41

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.
Contact		Korie Schaeffer, (707) 575-6087, [email protected], or Erin Seghesio, (707) 578-8515, [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 70666
RIN Number		0648-XE21

81 FR 70666 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 198 (October 13, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration