83 FR 60825 - Marine Mammals; Pinniped Removal Authority; Approval of Application
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 228 (November 27, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 228 (November 27, 2018)
| Page Range | 60825-60825 | |
| FR Document | 2018-25871 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)] [Notices] [Page 60825] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-25871] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration XRIN 0648-XF763 Marine Mammals; Pinniped Removal Authority; Approval of Application AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce (NOAA). ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of an application from the state of Oregon (state) for lethal removal of individually identifiable predatory California sea lions (CSL; Zalophus californianus) in the vicinity of Willamette Falls to minimize pinniped predation on Upper Willamette River (UWR) spring-run Chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus spp.) and UWR winter steelhead, both listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), in the Willamette River in Oregon. This authorization is pursuant to section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS also announces availability of decision documents and other information relied upon in making this determination. ADDRESSES: Additional information about our determination may be obtained by visiting the NMFS West Coast Region's website: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov, or by writing to us at: NMFS West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division, 1201 Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Anderson at the above address, by phone at (503) 231-2226, or by email at, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 120 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361, et seq.) allows the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, and the West Coast Regional Administrator of NMFS, the discretion to authorize the intentional lethal taking of individually identifiable pinnipeds that are having a significant negative impact on salmonid fishery stocks that are either: (1) Listed under the ESA, (2) approaching a threatened or endangered status, or (3) migrate through the Ballard Locks in Seattle. The authorization applies only to pinnipeds that are not: (1) Listed under the ESA, (2) designated as depleted, or (3) designated a strategic stock. On October 6, 2017, NMFS received an application signed by the director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) on the state's behalf, requesting authorization under section 120 of the MMPA to intentionally take, by lethal methods, individually identifiable predatory CSL in the vicinity of Willamette Falls, which were then having a significant negative impact on the recovery of threatened UWR spring-run Chinook salmon and UWR winter steelhead. As required under the MMPA, NMFS convened a Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force (Task Force). The role of the Task Force is to recommend to NMFS approval or denial of the state's application along with recommendations of the proposed location, time, and method of such taking, criteria for evaluating the success of the action, and the duration of the intentional lethal taking authority. The Task Force must also suggest non-lethal alternatives, if available and practicable, including a recommended course of action. Pursuant to the MMPA, NMFS determined that the state's application contained sufficient information to warrant convening the Task Force. On November 9, 2017, NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register (82 FR 52083), announcing receipt of the state's application, and soliciting public comments on the application and any additional information that NMFS should consider in making its decision. On August 20-22, 2018, NMFS convened a Task Force that was open to the public. The Task Force reviewed the state's application, public comments on the application, and other information related to CSL predation on UWR spring-run Chinook salmon and UWR winter steelhead at Willamette Falls. The Task Force completed and submitted its report to NMFS on October 15, 2018. The majority of Task Force members present at the meeting (12 of 16) recommended that NMFS approve the state's application, while 1 Task Force member recommended that NMFS deny the state's application, and 3 Task Force members abstained. All decision documents, including a copy of the authorization, are available on NMFS's West Coast Region web page (see ADDRESSES). Findings As required under section 7(a)(2) under the ESA, NMFS completed informal consultation, and in accordance with NEPA, NMFS completed an environmental assessment with a finding of no significant impact. In considering a state's application to lethally remove pinnipeds, NMFS is also required, pursuant to section 120(b)(1) of the MMPA, to determine that individually identifiable pinnipeds are having a significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of at-risk salmonid fishery stocks. Based on these requirements, considerations, and analyses, NMFS has determined that the requirements of section 120 of the MMPA have been met and it is therefore reasonable to issue an authorization to the state for the lethal removal of individually identifiable predatory CSL through 2023. Dated: November 21, 2018. Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-25871 Filed 11-26-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 27, 2018 / Notices 60825
Special Accommodations Background Force members present at the meeting
Section 120 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. (12 of 16) recommended that NMFS
This meeting is accessible to people
1361, et seq.) allows the Secretary of approve the state’s application, while 1
with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
Commerce, acting through the Assistant Task Force member recommended that
aids should be directed to the SAFMC
Administrator for Fisheries, and the NMFS deny the state’s application, and
office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
West Coast Regional Administrator of 3 Task Force members abstained. All
business days prior to the meeting.
NMFS, the discretion to authorize the decision documents, including a copy of
Note: The times and sequence specified in the authorization, are available on
this agenda are subject to change. intentional lethal taking of individually
identifiable pinnipeds that are having a NMFS’s West Coast Region web page
significant negative impact on salmonid (see ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
fishery stocks that are either: (1) Listed Findings
Dated: November 21, 2018.
under the ESA, (2) approaching a
Rey Israel Marquez, threatened or endangered status, or (3) As required under section 7(a)(2)
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable migrate through the Ballard Locks in under the ESA, NMFS completed
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Seattle. The authorization applies only informal consultation, and in
[FR Doc. 2018–25827 Filed 11–26–18; 8:45 am] to pinnipeds that are not: (1) Listed accordance with NEPA, NMFS
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P under the ESA, (2) designated as completed an environmental assessment
depleted, or (3) designated a strategic with a finding of no significant impact.
stock. In considering a state’s application to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE On October 6, 2017, NMFS received lethally remove pinnipeds, NMFS is
an application signed by the director of also required, pursuant to section
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 120(b)(1) of the MMPA, to determine
the Oregon Department of Fish and
Administration that individually identifiable pinnipeds
Wildlife (ODFW) on the state’s behalf,
requesting authorization under section are having a significant negative impact
XRIN 0648–XF763 120 of the MMPA to intentionally take, on the decline or recovery of at-risk
by lethal methods, individually salmonid fishery stocks. Based on these
Marine Mammals; Pinniped Removal identifiable predatory CSL in the requirements, considerations, and
Authority; Approval of Application vicinity of Willamette Falls, which were analyses, NMFS has determined that the
then having a significant negative requirements of section 120 of the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries MMPA have been met and it is therefore
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and impact on the recovery of threatened
UWR spring-run Chinook salmon and reasonable to issue an authorization to
Atmospheric Administration, the state for the lethal removal of
Commerce (NOAA). UWR winter steelhead. As required
under the MMPA, NMFS convened a individually identifiable predatory CSL
ACTION: Notice of availability. through 2023.
Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the (Task Force). The role of the Task Force Dated: November 21, 2018.
approval of an application from the state is to recommend to NMFS approval or Donna Wieting,
of Oregon (state) for lethal removal of denial of the state’s application along Director, Office of Protected Resources,
individually identifiable predatory with recommendations of the proposed National Marine Fisheries Service.
California sea lions (CSL; Zalophus location, time, and method of such [FR Doc. 2018–25871 Filed 11–26–18; 8:45 am]
californianus) in the vicinity of taking, criteria for evaluating the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Willamette Falls to minimize pinniped success of the action, and the duration
predation on Upper Willamette River of the intentional lethal taking
(UWR) spring-run Chinook salmon authority. The Task Force must also
suggest non-lethal alternatives, if DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
(Onchorhynchus spp.) and UWR winter
steelhead, both listed as threatened available and practicable, including a Office of the Secretary
under the Endangered Species Act recommended course of action.
(ESA), in the Willamette River in Pursuant to the MMPA, NMFS U.S. Strategic Command Strategic
Oregon. This authorization is pursuant determined that the state’s application Advisory Group; Notice of Federal
to section 120 of the Marine Mammal contained sufficient information to Advisory Committee Meeting
Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS also warrant convening the Task Force. On
announces availability of decision November 9, 2017, NMFS published a AGENCY: Office of the Chairman Joint
documents and other information relied notice in the Federal Register (82 FR Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Strategic Command
upon in making this determination. 52083), announcing receipt of the state’s Strategic Advisory Group, Department
application, and soliciting public of Defense.
ADDRESSES: Additional information
comments on the application and any ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
about our determination may be
additional information that NMFS Committee meeting.
obtained by visiting the NMFS West
should consider in making its decision.
Coast Region’s website: http:// SUMMARY: The Department of Defense
On August 20–22, 2018, NMFS
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov, or by (DoD) is publishing this notice to
convened a Task Force that was open to
writing to us at: NMFS West Coast announce that the following Federal
the public. The Task Force reviewed the
Region, Protected Resources Division, Advisory Committee meeting of the U.S.
state’s application, public comments on
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
1201 Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, Strategic Command Strategic Advisory
the application, and other information
OR 97232. Group will take place.
related to CSL predation on UWR
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. spring-run Chinook salmon and UWR DATES: Day 1—Closed to the public
Robert Anderson at the above address, winter steelhead at Willamette Falls. Thursday, November 29, 2018, from
by phone at (503) 231–2226, or by email The Task Force completed and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Day 2—Closed to
at, robert.c.anderson@noaa.gov. submitted its report to NMFS on the public Friday, November 30, 2018,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: October 15, 2018. The majority of Task from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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Document Created: 2018-11-27 01:25:08
Document Modified: 2018-11-27 01:25:08
| 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 | Mr. Robert Anderson at the above | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 60825 |
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