81_FR_91026 81 FR 90785 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

81 FR 90785 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 241 (December 15, 2016)

Page Range90785-90787
FR Document2016-30163

We, NMFS, announce the extension of the comment period for the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead (Proposed Plan) published on October 27, 2016. The Proposed Plan addresses the Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), which is listed as threatened under the ESA, and the Snake River Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS), which is listed as threatened under the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the lower mainstem Snake River and its 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 Plan's goals, and estimates of the time and cost 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 December 27, 2016, to February 9, 2017--to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90785-90787]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE939


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 
Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead (Proposed Plan) 
published on October 27, 2016. The Proposed Plan addresses the Snake 
River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) 
evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), which is listed as threatened 
under the ESA, and the Snake River Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) 
distinct population segment (DPS), which is listed as threatened under 
the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the lower 
mainstem Snake River and its 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 Plan's goals, and estimates of the time and cost 
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 December 
27, 2016, to February 9, 2017--to provide additional opportunity for 
public comment.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the Proposed Plan 
published on October 27, 2016 (81 FR 74770), is extended to close of 
business on February 9, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Proposed Plan by the 
following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via: nmfs_snakeriver_ssch_st_plan.wcr@noaa.gov. Please include 
``Comments on Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook and Steelhead Recovery 
Plan'' in the subject line of the email.
     Facsimile: (503) 230-5441.
     Mail: Rosemary Furfey, 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 comment period, may not be 
considered. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments 
received are part of the public record and NMFS will generally post for 
public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal 
identifying information (e.g. name, address, etc), confidential 
business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted 
voluntarily by the sender is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Proposed Plan are available at: http://

[[Page 90786]]

www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/
recovery_planning_and_implementation/snake_river/snake_river_sp-
su_chinook_steelhead.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 mail to: bonnie.hossack@noaa.gov with the 
subject line ``CD ROM Request for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook 
Salmon and Snake River Steelhead Recovery Plan.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Furfey, NMFS Snake River 
Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Coordinator, at 
(503) 231-2149, or mail to: Rosemary.Furfey@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Extension of Comment Period

    On October 27, 2016 (81 FR 74770), we (NMFS) published in the 
Federal Register a request for public comment on the Proposed 
Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer 
Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead. The public comment period for 
this action is set to end on December 27, 2016. The comment period is 
being extended through February 9, 2017, 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 Spring/
Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead, 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 Spring/Summer 
Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead meets the statutory 
requirements for a recovery plan and are proposing to adopt it as the 
ESA recovery plan for these 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 Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon ESU and Snake River Steelhead DPS 
spawning and rearing range is in the Snake River recovery domain of the 
Interior Columbia area. 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 technical 
recovery team responsible for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon 
and Snake River Steelhead, 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 DPS should be considered viable (i.e., when 
they 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 write the 
Proposed Plan which is built upon locally-led recovery efforts. 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, including the two species addressed 
in the Proposed Plan. 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.
    For the purpose of recovery planning in the Snake River recovery 
domain, NMFS divided the domain into three different ``management 
units'' based on jurisdictional boundaries, as well as areas where 
local planning efforts were underway. The three Snake River domain 
management units include: The Northeast Oregon unit, Southeast 
Washington unit, and the Idaho unit. A recovery plan addressing 
tributary conditions for both species was developed for each management 
unit. All three management unit plans were developed in coordination 
with respective state, federal, and local agencies, tribes, and others. 
This Proposed Plan synthesizes relevant information from the three 
management unit plans at the species level and includes them as 
appendices: Appendix A is the Northeast Oregon Management Unit Plan, 
Appendix B is the Southeast Washington Management Unit Plan, and 
Appendix C is the Idaho Management Unit 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 Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River 
Steelhead recovery needs in the Columbia River estuary, plume, and 
Pacific Ocean. 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 E. 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 River Harvest Module 
(NMFS 2014a) as Appendix F. 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 G 
of this Proposed Plan.

[[Page 90787]]

The Proposed Recovery Plan

    The Proposed Plan contains biological background and contextual 
information that includes descriptions of the ESU and DPS, the planning 
area, and the context of the plan's development. It presents relevant 
information on ESU and DPS structure, guidelines for assessing salmonid 
population and ESU and DPS 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.
    The Proposed Plan also describes specific information on the 
following: current status of Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon 
and Snake River Steelhead (Chapter 4); limiting factors and threats 
throughout the life cycle that have contributed to each species' 
decline (Chapter 5); recovery strategies and actions addressing these 
limiting factors and threats (Chapter 6); and a proposed research, 
monitoring, and evaluation program for adaptive management (Chapter 7). 
For recovery actions, the Proposed Plan incorporates the site-specific 
actions in each management unit plan, together with the associated 
location, life stage affected and potential implementing entity. The 
Proposed Plan also summarizes time and costs (Chapter 8) 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 (Chapter 9) to coordinate 
implementation of the Proposed Plan. We are also interested in 
information to address critical uncertainties identified in the 
Proposed Plan, particularly regarding causes of mortality of juvenile 
fish as they move from natal tributaries into the Salmon and Snake 
Rivers during migration to the Pacific Ocean.

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 
addressing critical uncertainties in our knowledge about the early 
juvenile life stage survival from natal tributaries downstream into the 
Salmon and Snake Rivers, 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. After 
considering the public comments, 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 12, 2016.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30163 Filed 12-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices                                          90785

                                               (Secretary) as to whether                               her pending determination as to                       ESA, and the Snake River Steelhead
                                               implementation of the joint plans will                  whether the joint plans for hatchery                  (Onchorhynchus mykiss) distinct
                                               appreciably reduce the likelihood of                    programs in the Snohomish River basin                 population segment (DPS), which is
                                               survival and recovery of ESA-listed                     would appreciably reduce the                          listed as threatened under the ESA. The
                                               Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget                    likelihood of survival and recovery of                geographic area covered by the
                                               Sound steelhead.                                        the ESA-listed Puget Sound salmon and                 Proposed Plan is the lower mainstem
                                                 This notice further advises the public                steelhead.                                            Snake River and its tributaries, as well
                                               of the availability for review of a draft                                                                     as the mainstem Columbia River below
                                                                                                       Authority
                                               Environmental Assessment of the effects                                                                       its confluence with the Snake River. As
                                               of the NMFS determination on the                          Under section 4 of the ESA, the                     required under the ESA, the Proposed
                                               subject joint plans.                                    Secretary of Commerce is required to                  Plan contains objective, measurable
                                               DATES: Comments must be received at
                                                                                                       adopt such regulations as she deems                   delisting criteria, site-specific
                                               the appropriate address or fax number                   necessary and advisable for the                       management actions necessary to
                                               (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m.                 conservation of species listed as                     achieve the Proposed Plan’s goals, and
                                               Pacific time on January 17, 2017.                       threatened. The ESA salmon and                        estimates of the time and cost required
                                                                                                       steelhead 4(d) Rule (65 FR 42422; July                to implement recovery actions. We are
                                               ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
                                                                                                       10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160;                  soliciting review and comment from the
                                               proposed evaluation and pending                         June 28, 2005) specifies categories of
                                               determination should be addressed to                                                                          public and all interested parties on the
                                                                                                       activities that contribute to the                     Proposed Plan. The close of the
                                               the Tim Tynan, NMFS Sustainable                         conservation of listed salmonids and
                                               Fisheries Division, 510 Desmond Drive,                                                                        comment period is being extended—
                                                                                                       sets out the criteria for such activities.            from December 27, 2016, to February 9,
                                               Suite 103, Lacey, WA 98503. Comments                    Limit 6 of the updated 4(d) Rule (50
                                               may be submitted by email. The                                                                                2017—to provide additional
                                                                                                       CFR 223.203(b)(6)) further provides that              opportunity for public comment.
                                               mailbox address for providing email                     the prohibitions of paragraph (a) of the
                                               comments is:                                                                                                  DATES: The deadline for receipt of
                                                                                                       updated 4(d) Rule (50 CFR 223.203(a))
                                               SnohomishHatcheries.wcr@noaa.gov.                       do not apply to activities associated                 comments on the Proposed Plan
                                               Include in the subject line of the email                with a joint state/tribal artificial                  published on October 27, 2016 (81 FR
                                               comment the following identifier:                       propagation plan provided that the joint              74770), is extended to close of business
                                               Comments on Snohomish River                             plan has been determined by NMFS to                   on February 9, 2017.
                                               hatchery programs. The documents are                    be in accordance with the salmon and                  ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                               available on the Internet at                            steelhead 4(d) Rule (65 FR 42422; July                on the Proposed Plan by the following
                                               www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.                       10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160;                  methods:
                                               Comments received will also be                          June 28, 2005).                                          • Electronic Submissions: Submit all
                                               available for public inspection, by                                                                           electronic public comments via: nmfs_
                                               appointment, during normal business                       Dated: December 12, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                             snakeriver_ssch_st_plan.wcr@noaa.gov.
                                               hours by calling (360) 753–9579.                        Donna S. Wieting,                                     Please include ‘‘Comments on Snake
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim                    Director, Office of Protected Resources,              River Spring/Summer Chinook and
                                                                                                       National Marine Fisheries Service.                    Steelhead Recovery Plan’’ in the subject
                                               Tynan at (360) 753–9579 or by email at
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2016–30180 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am]          line of the email.
                                               tim.tynan@noaa.gov.
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                   • Facsimile: (503) 230–5441.
                                                                                                                                                                • Mail: Rosemary Furfey, National
                                               ESA-Listed Species Covered in This                                                                            Marine Fisheries Service, 1201 NE.
                                               Notice                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland,
                                                 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus                                                                                OR 97232.
                                                                                                       National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                               tshawytscha): threatened, naturally                                                                              Instructions: Comments must be
                                                                                                       Administration
                                               produced and artificially propagated                                                                          submitted by one of the above methods
                                               Puget Sound.                                            RIN 0648–XE939                                        to ensure that they are received,
                                                 Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened,                                                                          documented, and considered by NMFS.
                                               naturally produced and artificially                     Endangered and Threatened Species;                    Comments sent by any other method, to
                                               propagated Puget Sound.                                 Recovery Plans                                        any other address or individual, or
                                                                                                       AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    received after the comment period, may
                                               Background                                                                                                    not be considered. Attachments to
                                                                                                       Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                 The Washington Department of Fish                     Atmospheric Administration,                           electronic comments will be accepted in
                                               and Wildlife and the Tulalip Tribes                     Commerce.                                             Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF
                                               have submitted to NMFS plans for six                    ACTION: Notice of availability; extension             file formats only. All comments
                                               jointly operated hatchery programs in                   of public comment period.                             received are part of the public record
                                               the Snohomish River region. The plans                                                                         and NMFS will generally post for public
                                               were submitted from December 2012 to                    SUMMARY:   We, NMFS, announce the                     viewing on www.regulations.gov
                                               September 2016, pursuant to limit 6 of                  extension of the comment period for the               without change. All personal identifying
                                               the 4(d) Rule for ESA-listed salmon and                 Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA)                 information (e.g. name, address, etc),
                                               steelhead. The hatchery programs                        Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/                 confidential business information, or
                                               release ESA-listed Chinook salmon and                   Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake                       otherwise sensitive information
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                                               non-listed coho and fall chum salmon                    River Steelhead (Proposed Plan)                       submitted voluntarily by the sender is
                                               into the Snohomish River basin and                      published on October 27, 2016. The                    publicly accessible. NMFS will accept
                                               nearby.                                                 Proposed Plan addresses the Snake                     anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
                                                 As required by the ESA 4(d) Rule (65                  River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon                    the required fields if you wish to remain
                                               FR 42422; July 10, 2000, as updated in                  (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha)                           anonymous).
                                               70 FR 37160; June 28, 2005), the                        evolutionarily significant unit (ESU),                   Electronic copies of the Proposed Plan
                                               Secretary is seeking public comment on                  which is listed as threatened under the               are available at: http://


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                                               90786                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices

                                               www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/                       meets the statutory requirements for a                including the two species addressed in
                                               protected_species/salmon_steelhead/                     recovery plan and are proposing to                    the Proposed Plan. They met twice a
                                               recovery_planning_and_                                  adopt it as the ESA recovery plan for                 year to be briefed and provide technical
                                               implementation/snake_river/snake_                       these threatened species. Section 4(f) of             and policy information to NMFS. We
                                               river_sp-su_chinook_steelhead.html.                     the ESA, as amended in 1988, requires                 presented regular updates on the status
                                                  Persons wishing to obtain an                         that public notice and an opportunity                 of this Proposed Plan to the Snake River
                                               electronic copy on CD ROM of the                        for public review and comment be                      Coordination Group and posted draft
                                               Proposed Plan may do so by calling                      provided prior to final approval of a                 chapters on NMFS’ West Coast Region
                                               Bonnie Hossack at (503) 736–4741, or by                 recovery plan. This notice solicits                   Snake River recovery planning Web
                                               emailing a request to mail to:                          comments on this Proposed Plan.                       page. We also made full drafts of the
                                               bonnie.hossack@noaa.gov with the                        Development of the Proposed Plan                      Proposed Plan available for review to
                                               subject line ‘‘CD ROM Request for Snake                                                                       the state, tribal, and federal entities with
                                               River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon                         For the purpose of recovery planning               which we collaborated to develop the
                                               and Snake River Steelhead Recovery                      for the ESA-listed species of Pacific                 plan.
                                               Plan.’’                                                 salmon and steelhead in Idaho, Oregon,                  For the purpose of recovery planning
                                                                                                       and Washington, NMFS designated five                  in the Snake River recovery domain,
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        geographically based ‘‘recovery
                                               Rosemary Furfey, NMFS Snake River                                                                             NMFS divided the domain into three
                                                                                                       domains.’’ The Snake River Spring/                    different ‘‘management units’’ based on
                                               Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and                        Summer Chinook Salmon ESU and
                                               Steelhead Recovery Coordinator, at                                                                            jurisdictional boundaries, as well as
                                                                                                       Snake River Steelhead DPS spawning
                                               (503) 231–2149, or mail to:                                                                                   areas where local planning efforts were
                                                                                                       and rearing range is in the Snake River
                                               Rosemary.Furfey@noaa.gov.                                                                                     underway. The three Snake River
                                                                                                       recovery domain of the Interior
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                             domain management units include: The
                                                                                                       Columbia area. For each domain, NMFS
                                                                                                                                                             Northeast Oregon unit, Southeast
                                               Extension of Comment Period                             appointed a team of scientists,
                                                                                                                                                             Washington unit, and the Idaho unit. A
                                                                                                       nominated for their geographic and
                                                 On October 27, 2016 (81 FR 74770),                                                                          recovery plan addressing tributary
                                                                                                       species expertise, to provide a solid
                                               we (NMFS) published in the Federal                                                                            conditions for both species was
                                                                                                       scientific foundation for recovery plans.
                                               Register a request for public comment                                                                         developed for each management unit.
                                                                                                       The technical recovery team responsible
                                               on the Proposed Endangered Species                                                                            All three management unit plans were
                                                                                                       for Snake River Spring/Summer
                                               Act Recovery Plan for Snake River                       Chinook Salmon and Snake River                        developed in coordination with
                                               Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and                        Steelhead, the Interior Columbia                      respective state, federal, and local
                                               Snake River Steelhead. The public                       Technical Recovery Team, included                     agencies, tribes, and others. This
                                               comment period for this action is set to                biologists from NMFS, other Federal                   Proposed Plan synthesizes relevant
                                               end on December 27, 2016. The                           agencies, states, tribes, and academic                information from the three management
                                               comment period is being extended                        institutions.                                         unit plans at the species level and
                                               through February 9, 2017, to provide                       A primary task for the Interior                    includes them as appendices: Appendix
                                               additional opportunity for public                       Columbia Technical Recovery Team was                  A is the Northeast Oregon Management
                                               comment.                                                to recommend criteria for determining                 Unit Plan, Appendix B is the Southeast
                                                                                                       when each component population                        Washington Management Unit Plan, and
                                               Background                                                                                                    Appendix C is the Idaho Management
                                                                                                       within an ESU or DPS should be
                                                  We are responsible for developing and                considered viable (i.e., when they have               Unit Plan.
                                               implementing recovery plans for Pacific                 a low risk of extinction over a 100-year                In addition to the Proposed Plan, we
                                               salmon and steelhead listed under the                   period) and when ESUs or DPSs have a                  developed and incorporated the Module
                                               ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.                      risk of extinction consistent with no                 for the Ocean Environment (Fresh et al.,
                                               1531 et seq.). The ESA requires the                     longer needing the protections of the                 2014) as Appendix D to address Snake
                                               development of recovery plans for each                  ESA. All Technical Recovery Teams                     River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon
                                               listed species unless such a plan would                 used the same biological principles for               and Snake River Steelhead recovery
                                               not promote its recovery.                               developing their recommendations;                     needs in the Columbia River estuary,
                                                  We believe it is essential to have local             these principles are described in the                 plume, and Pacific Ocean. To address
                                               support of recovery plans by those                      NOAA technical memorandum Viable                      recovery needs related to the Lower
                                               whose activities directly affect the listed             Salmonid Populations and the Recovery                 Columbia River mainstem and estuary,
                                               species and whose continued                             of Evolutionarily Significant Units                   we incorporated the Columbia River
                                               commitment and leadership will be                       (McElhany et al., 2000). Viable                       Estuary ESA Recovery Plan Module for
                                               needed to implement the necessary                       salmonid populations (VSP) are defined                Salmon and Steelhead (NMFS 2011a) as
                                               recovery actions. We, therefore, support                in terms of four parameters: Abundance,               Appendix E. To address recovery needs
                                               and participate in collaborative efforts                productivity or growth rate, spatial                  for fishery harvest management in the
                                               to develop recovery plans that involve                  structure, and diversity.                             mainstem Snake and Columbia Rivers,
                                               state, tribal, and federal entities, local                 We also collaborated with state, tribal,           Columbia River estuary, and ocean, we
                                               communities, and other stakeholders.                    and Federal biologists and resource                   developed and incorporated the Snake
                                               For this Proposed Plan for threatened                   managers to provide technical                         River Harvest Module (NMFS 2014a) as
                                               Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook                       information used to write the Proposed                Appendix F. To address recovery needs
                                               Salmon and Snake River Steelhead, we                    Plan which is built upon locally-led                  related to the Columbia River
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                                               worked collaboratively with state, tribal,              recovery efforts. In addition, NMFS                   Hydropower System, we developed and
                                               and Federal partners to produce a                       established a multi-state (Idaho, Oregon,             incorporated the Supplemental
                                               recovery plan that satisfies the ESA                    and Washington), tribal, and Federal                  Recovery Plan Module for Snake River
                                               requirements. We have determined that                   partners’ regional forum called the                   Salmon and Steelhead Mainstem
                                               this Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for                     Snake River Coordination Group that                   Columbia River Hydropower Projects
                                               Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook                       addresses the four ESA-listed Snake                   (NMFS 2014b) as Appendix G of this
                                               Salmon and Snake River Steelhead                        River salmon and steelhead species,                   Proposed Plan.


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices                                           90787

                                               The Proposed Recovery Plan                              recovery actions for which we have not                include in the EIS. This notice further
                                                  The Proposed Plan contains biological                yet determined implementation costs,                  serves to notify the public of the
                                               background and contextual information                   and comments on establishing an                       availability of the four HGMPs for
                                               that includes descriptions of the ESU                   appropriate implementation forum for                  comment prior to a decision by NMFS
                                               and DPS, the planning area, and the                     the plan. After considering the public                on whether to approve the proposed
                                               context of the plan’s development. It                   comments, we will issue a news release                hatchery programs.
                                               presents relevant information on ESU                    announcing the adoption and                           DATES: Written or electronic scoping
                                               and DPS structure, guidelines for                       availability of the final plan. We will               comments must be received at the
                                               assessing salmonid population and ESU                   post on the NMFS West Coast Region                    appropriate address or email mailbox
                                               and DPS status, and a brief summary of                  Web site (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a                         (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m.
                                               Interior Columbia Technical Recovery                    summary of, and responses to, the                     Pacific Time January 30, 2017.
                                               Team products on population structure                   comments received, along with                         ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by
                                               and species status. It also presents                    electronic copies of the final plan and               either of the following methods:
                                               NMFS’ proposed biological viability                     its appendices.                                          • Email to the following address:
                                               criteria and threats criteria for delisting.              Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.                   WillametteHatcheryEIS.wcr@noaa.gov
                                                  The Proposed Plan also describes                       Dated: December 12, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                             with the following identifier in the
                                               specific information on the following:                                                                        subject line: Comments on Intent to
                                                                                                       Donna Wieting,
                                               current status of Snake River Spring/                                                                         Prepare the Willamette Hatchery EIS.
                                                                                                       Director, Office of Protected Resources,                 • Mail or hand-deliver to NMFS
                                               Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake                         National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                               River Steelhead (Chapter 4); limiting                                                                         Sustainable Fisheries Division, 2900
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2016–30163 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am]          NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR
                                               factors and threats throughout the life
                                               cycle that have contributed to each                     BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                97471.
                                               species’ decline (Chapter 5); recovery                                                                           • Fax to (541) 957–3386.
                                               strategies and actions addressing these                                                                          Instructions: NMFS may not consider
                                                                                                       DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                comments if they are sent by any other
                                               limiting factors and threats (Chapter 6);
                                               and a proposed research, monitoring,                                                                          method, to any other address or
                                                                                                       National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      individual, or received after the
                                               and evaluation program for adaptive                     Administration
                                               management (Chapter 7). For recovery                                                                          comment period ends. All comments
                                               actions, the Proposed Plan incorporates                 RIN 0648–XF077                                        received are part of the public record
                                               the site-specific actions in each                                                                             and NMFS will generally post for public
                                                                                                       Endangered and Threatened Species;                    viewing on www.regulations.gov
                                               management unit plan, together with                     Take of Anadromous Fish
                                               the associated location, life stage                                                                           without change. All personal identifying
                                               affected and potential implementing                     AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    information (for example, name,
                                               entity. The Proposed Plan also                          Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
                                               summarizes time and costs (Chapter 8)                   Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    the commenter will be publicly
                                               required to implement recovery actions.                 Commerce.                                             accessible. Do not submit confidential
                                               In some cases, costs of implementing                                                                          business information or otherwise
                                                                                                       ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
                                               actions could not be determined at this                                                                       sensitive or protected information.
                                                                                                       environmental impact statement;
                                               time and NMFS is interested in                                                                                NMFS will accept anonymous
                                                                                                       request for comments.
                                               additional information regarding scale,                                                                       comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required
                                               scope, and costs of these actions. We are               SUMMARY:   Pursuant to the National                   fields if you wish to remain
                                               also particularly interested in comments                Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this                 anonymous).
                                               on establishing appropriate forums                      notice announces that NMFS intends to                    Additional information to assist with
                                               (Chapter 9) to coordinate                               obtain information necessary to prepare               consideration of the notice of intent, as
                                               implementation of the Proposed Plan.                    an Environmental Impact Statement                     well as the HGMPs themselves, is
                                               We are also interested in information to                (EIS) for salmon and steelhead hatchery               available on the Internet at
                                               address critical uncertainties identified               programs currently operating in the                   www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
                                               in the Proposed Plan, particularly                      Upper Willamette River Basin of                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               regarding causes of mortality of juvenile               Oregon. NMFS is also requesting public                Lance Kruzic, NMFS, by phone at (541)
                                               fish as they move from natal tributaries                review and comment on four Hatchery                   957–3381, or email to lance.kruzic@
                                               into the Salmon and Snake Rivers                        and Genetic Management Plans                          noaa.gov.
                                               during migration to the Pacific Ocean.                  (HGMPs) submitted by the U.S. Army                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                       Corps of Engineers (USACE) for
                                               Public Comments Solicited                               evaluation and determination under                    ESA-listed Species Covered in This
                                                 We are soliciting written comments                    Limit 5 of the Endangered Species Act                 Notice
                                               on the Proposed Plan. All substantive                   (ESA) 4(d) rule for threatened salmon                   Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha):
                                               comments received by the date specified                 and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the                  threatened, naturally-produced and
                                               above will be considered and                            propagation of hatchery spring Chinook                specified artificially-produced stocks in
                                               incorporated, as appropriate, prior to                  salmon released in the North Santiam,                 the Upper Willamette ESU.
                                               our decision whether to approve the                     South Santiam, McKenzie, Middle Fork                    Winter steelhead (O. mykiss):
                                               plan. While we invite comments on all                   Willamette, Coast Fork Willamette, and                threatened, naturally-produced in the
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                               aspects of the Proposed Plan, we are                    Molalla Rivers.                                       Upper Willamette distinct population
                                               particularly interested in comments on                     NMFS provides this notice to: (1)                  segment.
                                               addressing critical uncertainties in our                Advise other agencies and the public of
                                               knowledge about the early juvenile life                 its plans to analyze effects related to the           Background
                                               stage survival from natal tributaries                   action, and (2) obtain suggestions and                  The USACE has submitted four
                                               downstream into the Salmon and Snake                    information that may be useful to the                 HGMPs for spring Chinook salmon
                                               Rivers, comments on the cost of                         scope of issues and alternatives to                   hatchery programs in the Upper


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Document Created: 2016-12-15 01:10:25
Document Modified: 2016-12-15 01:10:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability; extension of public comment period.
DatesThe deadline for receipt of comments on the Proposed Plan published on October 27, 2016 (81 FR 74770), is extended to close of business on February 9, 2017.
ContactRosemary Furfey, NMFS Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Coordinator, at (503) 231-2149, or mail to: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 90785 
RIN Number0648-XE93

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