83_FR_64349 83 FR 64110 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

83 FR 64110 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 239 (December 13, 2018)

Page Range64110-64112
FR Document2018-27003

We, NMFS, announce that the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Puget Sound Steelhead (Proposed Plan) is available for public review and comment. The Proposed Plan addresses the Puget Sound Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which was listed as threatened under the ESA on May 11, 2007. 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.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64110-64112]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27003]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG573


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce that the Proposed Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) Recovery Plan for Puget Sound Steelhead (Proposed Plan) is 
available for public review and comment. The Proposed Plan addresses 
the Puget Sound Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population 
Segment (DPS), which was listed as threatened under the ESA on May 11, 
2007. 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.

DATES: Comments on the Proposed Plan must be received by February 11, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Proposed Plan, identified by

[[Page 64111]]

NOAA-NMFS-2018-0125, by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments on the Proposed Plan via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2018-0125. Click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments on the Proposed Plan to 
David Price, National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Dr. SE, 
Lacey, WA 98503.
    Instructions: Comments or information sent by any other method, to 
any other address or individual, or received after the end of the 
comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments and 
information received are a part of the public record and will generally 
be posted 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 will be publicly accessible. NMFS 
will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if 
you wish to remain anonymous.

    The Proposed Plan is available online at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2018-0125 or upon request from the NMFS 
West Coast Region, Protected Resources Division (see ADDRESSES or FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Price, (360) 753-9598, 
[email protected]; or Elizabeth Babcock, (206) 526-4505, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires 
that recovery plans include, to the extent practicable: (1) Objective, 
measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination 
that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-
specific management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and 
(3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery 
actions. The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for each 
listed species unless such a plan would not promote its recovery.
    We believe it is essential to have local support of recovery plans 
by those whose activities directly affect the listed species and whose 
continued commitment and leadership will be needed to implement the 
necessary recovery actions. We therefore support and participate in 
collaborative efforts to develop recovery plans that involve state, 
tribal, and Federal entities, local communities, and other 
stakeholders. For this Proposed Plan for threatened Puget Sound 
Steelhead, we worked collaboratively with local, 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 Puget Sound Steelhead meets the statutory requirements for a 
recovery plan and are proposing to adopt it as the ESA recovery plan 
for this threatened species. Section 4(f) of the ESA, as amended in 
1988, requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review 
and comment be provided prior to final approval of a recovery plan. 
This notice solicits comments on this Proposed Plan.

Development of the Proposed Plan

    The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the Puget Sound 
basin, from the Elwha River (inclusive) eastward, including rivers in 
Hood Canal, South Sound, and North Sound, including steelhead from six 
artificial propagation programs: The Green River Natural Program; White 
River Winter Steelhead Supplementation Program; Hood Canal Steelhead 
Supplementation Off-station Projects in the Dewatto, Skokomish, and 
Duckabush Rivers; and the Lower Elwha Fish Hatchery Wild Steelhead 
Recovery Program.
    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 Puget 
Sound Steelhead DPS spawning range is in the Puget Sound 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 Puget Sound Steelhead Technical 
Recovery Team included biologists from NMFS, other Federal agencies, 
state agencies, tribes, and academic institutions.
    A primary task for the Puget Sound Steelhead Technical Recovery 
Team was to recommend criteria for determining when each component 
population within a DPS or Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) 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 NMFS' 
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 the state of Washington, tribes, other 
Federal agencies, local governments, representatives of industry and 
environmental groups, other stakeholders, and the public to develop the 
Proposed Plan. The Plan for the Puget Sound steelhead DPS was developed 
by NMFS in cooperation with a Recovery Team made up of experts from the 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northwest Indian Fisheries 
Commission, Nooksack Tribe, Seattle Light, Long Live the Kings, Puget 
Sound Partnership, and NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center. These 
groups provided vital input during the planning process, and their 
continued involvement during recovery plan implementation is critical 
to the success of our joint efforts to recover Puget Sound steelhead.

Contents of Proposed Plan

    The Proposed Plan contains biological background and contextual 
information that includes description of the DPS, the planning area, 
and the context of the plan's development. It presents relevant 
information on DPS structure and guidelines for assessing salmonid 
population and DPS status. It provides background on the natural 
history of steelhead, population status, and threats to their 
sustainability.
    The Puget Sound steelhead DPS consists of three Major Population 
Groups (MPGs) and 32 Demographically Independent Populations (DIPs). 
NMFS based its decision to list the species in 2007 on findings by the 
Puget Sound Steelhead Biological Review Team (Hard et al. 2007). This 
team considered the major risk factors facing Puget Sound steelhead to 
be widespread declines in abundance and productivity for most natural 
steelhead populations in the DPS, including those in Skagit and 
Snohomish Rivers, previously considered strongholds for steelhead in 
the DPS; the low abundance of several summer-run populations; and the 
sharply diminishing abundance of some

[[Page 64112]]

steelhead populations, especially in south Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Continued releases of out-of-DPS hatchery 
fish from Skamania-derived summer run were a major concern for 
diversity in the DPS. In 2011, eight years after the ESA-listing 
decision, a status assessment of the DPS by NMFS' Biological Review 
Team found that the status of Puget Sound steelhead regarding risk of 
extinction had not changed (NMFS 2016; 81 FR 33468; May 26, 2016). 
Scientists on the Biological Review Team identified degradation and 
fragmentation of freshwater habitat, with consequential effects on 
connectivity, as the primary limiting factors and threats facing the 
Puget Sound steelhead DPS. They determined that most of the steelhead 
populations within the DPS continued to show downward trends in 
estimated abundance, with a few sharp declines (Ford 2011). Most 
recently, a NMFS species status review (NMFS 2016) concluded that ``The 
biological risks faced by the Puget Sound steelhead DPS have not 
substantively changed since the listing in 2007, or since the 2011 
status review.'' The NMFS review team concluded that the DPS was at 
very low viability, as were all three of its constituent MPGs, and many 
of its 32 DIPs (Hard et al. 2015).
    The Proposed Plan presents NMFS' proposed recovery goals and the 
viability criteria and listing factor criteria for making a delisting 
decision. The proposed viability criteria for the Puget Sound steelhead 
DPS are designed to improve the DPS so it ``has a negligible risk of 
extinction due to threats from demographic variation, local 
environmental variation, and genetic diversity changes over a 100-year 
time frame'' based on the status of the MPGs and DIPs, and supporting 
ecosystems (McElhany et al. 2000). A self-sustaining viable population 
has a negligible risk of extinction due to reasonably foreseeable 
changes in circumstances affecting its abundance, productivity, spatial 
structure, and diversity characteristics and achieves these 
characteristics without dependence upon artificial propagation. The 
proposed viability criteria for Puget Sound steelhead require that all 
three MPGs be viable because the three MPGs differ substantially in key 
biological and habitat characteristics that contribute in distinct ways 
to the overall viability, diversity and spatial structure of the DPS.
    The proposed listing factor criteria are based on the five listing 
factors found in the ESA section 4(a)(1). Before NMFS can remove the 
DPS from protection under the ESA, the factors that led to ESA listing 
need to have been reduced or eliminated to the point where Federal 
protection under the ESA is no longer needed, and there is reasonable 
certainty that the relevant regulatory mechanisms are adequate to 
protect Puget Sound steelhead viability. NMFS listing factor criteria 
for Puget Sound steelhead address pressures from freshwater habitat 
degradation, hatcheries, and other factors that led to the species 
listing and continue to affect its viability.
    The Proposed Plan also describes specific information on the 
following: Current status of Puget Sound steelhead; pressures (limiting 
factors) and threats throughout the life cycle that have contributed to 
the species decline; recovery strategies to address the threats based 
on the best available science; site-specific actions with timelines; 
and a proposed adaptive management framework for focusing needed 
research and evaluations and revising our recovery strategies and 
actions. The Proposed Plan also summarizes time and costs required to 
implement recovery actions.

How NMFS and Others Expect To Use the Plan

    With approval of the final Puget Sound Steelhead recovery plan, we 
will implement the actions in the plan for which we have authority and 
funding; encourage other Federal, state and local agencies and tribal 
governments to implement recovery actions for which they have 
responsibility, authority, and funding; and work cooperatively with 
tribes, the public and local stakeholders on implementation of other 
actions. We expect the recovery plan to guide us and other Federal 
agencies in evaluating Federal actions under ESA section 7, as well as 
in implementing other provisions of the ESA and other statutes. For 
example, the plan will provide greater biological context for 
evaluating the effects that a proposed action may have on the species 
by providing delisting criteria, information on priority areas for 
addressing specific limiting factors, and information on how the DPS 
can tolerate varying levels of risk.
    When we are considering a species for delisting, the agency will 
examine whether the section 4(a)(1) listing factors have been 
addressed. To assist in this examination, we will use the delisting 
criteria described in Chapter 4 of the Proposed Plan, which include 
both viability criteria and listing factor criteria addressing each of 
the ESA section 4(a)(1) listing factors, as well as any other relevant 
data and policy considerations.

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 the 
proposed strategies and actions, comments on the cost of recovery 
actions, 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 website (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a summary of, and 
responses to, the comments received, along with electronic copies of 
the final plan and its appendices.

Literature Cited

    The complete citations for the references used in this document can 
be obtained by contacting NMFS (see ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

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

    Dated: December 6, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-27003 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                              64110                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 239 / Thursday, December 13, 2018 / Notices

                                              report which compiles and evaluates                     DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                discussed, those issues may not be the
                                              potential datasets and recommends                                                                             subject of formal action during these
                                              which datasets are appropriate for                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      meetings. Action will be restricted to
                                              assessment analyses, and describes the                  Administration                                        those issues specifically listed in this
                                              fisheries, evaluates the status of the                  RIN 0648–XG648                                        document and any issues arising after
                                              stock, estimates biological benchmarks,                                                                       publication of this document that
                                              projects future population conditions,                  Pacific Fishery Management Council;                   require emergency action under section
                                              and recommends research and                             Public Meeting                                        305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                              monitoring needs. Participants for                                                                            Conservation and Management Act,
                                                                                                      AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    provided the public has been notified of
                                              SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the                    Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  the intent to take final action to address
                                              Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and                     Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    the emergency.
                                              Caribbean Fishery Management                            Commerce.
                                              Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast                   ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
                                                                                                                                                            Special Accommodations
                                              Regional Office, Highly Migratory                                                                               The meeting is physically accessible
                                              Species Management Division, and                        SUMMARY:   The Pacific Fishery                        to people with disabilities. Requests for
                                              Southeast Fisheries Science Center.                     Management Council’s (Pacific Council)                sign language interpretation or other
                                              Participants include: Data collectors and               Groundfish Management Team (GMT)                      auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.
                                              database managers; stock assessment                     will hold a week-long work session that               Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2411, at
                                              scientists, biologists, and researchers;                is open to the public.                                least 10 business days prior to the
                                              constituency representatives including                  DATES: The GMT meeting will be held                   meeting date.
                                              fishermen, environmentalists, and non-                  Monday, January 14, 2019 through                        Dated: December 10, 2018.
                                              governmental organizations (NGOs);                      Friday, January 18, 2019. The GMT
                                                                                                                                                            Tracey L. Thompson,
                                              international experts; and staff of                     meeting will begin on Monday, January
                                                                                                                                                            Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
                                              Councils, Commissions, and state and                    14, from 1 p.m. until business for the                Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                                      day is completed. The meeting will
                                              federal agencies.                                                                                             [FR Doc. 2018–26982 Filed 12–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      reconvene Tuesday, January 15 through
                                                 The items of discussion in the                       Friday, January 18, from 8:30 a.m. until              BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                              Assessment Scoping webinar are as                       business for each day has been
                                              follows:                                                completed.                                            DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                 Participants will review data and                    ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
                                              discuss data issues, as necessary, and                  the Pacific Council Office, Large                     National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                              initial modeling issues.                                Conference Room, 7700 NE Ambassador                   Administration
                                                 Although non-emergency issues not                    Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–                 RIN 0648–XG573
                                              contained in this agenda may come                       1384.
                                              before this group for discussion, those                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                  Endangered and Threatened Species;
                                              issues may not be the subject of formal                 Todd Phillips, Pacific Council; phone:                Recovery Plans
                                              action during this meeting. Action will                 (503) 820–2426.                                       AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                              be restricted to those issues specifically              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                        Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                              identified in this notice and any issues                primary purpose of this week-long work                Atmospheric Administration,
                                              arising after publication of this notice                session is for the GMT to prepare for                 Commerce.
                                              that require emergency action under                     2019 Pacific Council meetings. Specific               ACTION: Notice of availability; request
                                              section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens                  agenda items will include: A detailed                 for comments.
                                              Fishery Conservation and Management                     review of 2019/20 harvest specifications
                                              Act, provided the public has been                       and management measure process,                       SUMMARY:   We, NMFS, announce that the
                                              notified of the intent to take final action             planning for the 2021/22 harvest                      Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA)
                                                                                                      specifications and management measure                 Recovery Plan for Puget Sound
                                              to address the emergency.
                                                                                                      process, meeting with representatives                 Steelhead (Proposed Plan) is available
                                              Special Accommodations                                  from the Pacific Council’s Ecosystem                  for public review and comment. The
                                                                                                      Workgroup; consideration of the                       Proposed Plan addresses the Puget
                                                This meeting is accessible to people                  groundfish workload prioritization                    Sound Steelhead (Onchorhynchus
                                              with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary               process and Council Operating                         mykiss) Distinct Population Segment
                                              aids should be directed to the SAFMC                    Procedure 9, Endangered Species Act                   (DPS), which was listed as threatened
                                              office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5                       salmon mitigation measures, and GMT                   under the ESA on May 11, 2007. As
                                              business days prior to the meeting.                     chair/vice chair elections. The GMT                   required under the ESA, the Proposed
                                                Note: The times and sequence specified in             may also address work assigned by the                 Plan contains objective, measurable
                                              this agenda are subject to change.                      Pacific Council that relates to                       delisting criteria, site-specific
                                                                                                      groundfish management, such as: A                     management actions necessary to
                                                 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.                    methodology overview of Sablefish                     achieve the Proposed Plan’s goals, and
                                                                                                      Management and Trawl Allocation                       estimates of the time and cost required
                                                Dated: December 10, 2018.
                                                                                                      Attainment Committee analysis needs                   to implement recovery actions. We are
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                                              Tracey L. Thompson,                                                                                           soliciting review and comment from the
                                                                                                      and impact analysis of proposed
                                              Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable           changes to the directed Pacific halibut               public and all interested parties on the
                                              Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.           fishery on groundfish. A detailed                     Proposed Plan.
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–26979 Filed 12–12–18; 8:45 am]            agenda will be available on the Pacific               DATES: Comments on the Proposed Plan
                                              BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                  Council’s website prior to the meeting.               must be received by February 11, 2019.
                                                                                                         Although nonemergency issues not                   ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                                                                      contained in the meeting agenda may be                on the Proposed Plan, identified by


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 239 / Thursday, December 13, 2018 / Notices                                          64111

                                              NOAA–NMFS–2018–0125, by either of                       whose activities directly affect the listed           or DPSs have a risk of extinction
                                              the following methods:                                  species and whose continued                           consistent with no longer needing the
                                                 • Electronic Submission: Submit all                  commitment and leadership will be                     protections of the ESA. All NMFS’
                                              electronic public comments on the                       needed to implement the necessary                     Technical Recovery Teams used the
                                              Proposed Plan via the Federal                           recovery actions. We therefore support                same biological principles for
                                              eRulemaking Portal. Go to                               and participate in collaborative efforts              developing their recommendations;
                                              www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=                   to develop recovery plans that involve                these principles are described in the
                                              NOAA-NMFS-2018-0125. Click the                          state, tribal, and Federal entities, local            NOAA technical memorandum Viable
                                              ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the                     communities, and other stakeholders.                  Salmonid Populations and the Recovery
                                              required fields, and enter or attach your               For this Proposed Plan for threatened                 of Evolutionarily Significant Units
                                              comments.                                               Puget Sound Steelhead, we worked                      (McElhany et al. 2000). Viable salmonid
                                                 • Mail: Submit written comments on                   collaboratively with local, state, tribal,            populations (VSP) are defined in terms
                                              the Proposed Plan to David Price,                       and Federal partners to produce a                     of four parameters: Abundance,
                                              National Marine Fisheries Service, 510                  recovery plan that satisfies the ESA                  productivity or growth rate, spatial
                                              Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, WA 98503.                        requirements. We have determined that                 structure, and diversity.
                                                 Instructions: Comments or                            this Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for                      We also collaborated with the state of
                                              information sent by any other method,                   Puget Sound Steelhead meets the                       Washington, tribes, other Federal
                                              to any other address or individual, or                  statutory requirements for a recovery                 agencies, local governments,
                                              received after the end of the comment                   plan and are proposing to adopt it as the             representatives of industry and
                                              period, may not be considered by                        ESA recovery plan for this threatened                 environmental groups, other
                                              NMFS. All comments and information                      species. Section 4(f) of the ESA, as                  stakeholders, and the public to develop
                                              received are a part of the public record                amended in 1988, requires that public                 the Proposed Plan. The Plan for the
                                              and will generally be posted for public                 notice and an opportunity for public                  Puget Sound steelhead DPS was
                                              viewing on www.regulations.gov                          review and comment be provided prior                  developed by NMFS in cooperation
                                              without change. All personal identifying                to final approval of a recovery plan.                 with a Recovery Team made up of
                                              information (e.g., name, address, etc.),                This notice solicits comments on this                 experts from the Washington
                                              confidential business information, or                   Proposed Plan.                                        Department of Fish and Wildlife,
                                              otherwise sensitive information                                                                               Northwest Indian Fisheries
                                                                                                      Development of the Proposed Plan                      Commission, Nooksack Tribe, Seattle
                                              submitted voluntarily by the sender will
                                              be publicly accessible. NMFS will                         The geographic area covered by the                  Light, Long Live the Kings, Puget Sound
                                              accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/                   Proposed Plan is the Puget Sound basin,               Partnership, and NMFS Northwest
                                              A’’ in the required fields if you wish to               from the Elwha River (inclusive)                      Fisheries Science Center. These groups
                                              remain anonymous.                                       eastward, including rivers in Hood                    provided vital input during the
                                                                                                      Canal, South Sound, and North Sound,                  planning process, and their continued
                                                 The Proposed Plan is available online                including steelhead from six artificial               involvement during recovery plan
                                              at www.regulations.gov/                                 propagation programs: The Green River                 implementation is critical to the success
                                              #!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2018-                       Natural Program; White River Winter                   of our joint efforts to recover Puget
                                              0125 or upon request from the NMFS                      Steelhead Supplementation Program;                    Sound steelhead.
                                              West Coast Region, Protected Resources                  Hood Canal Steelhead Supplementation
                                              Division (see ADDRESSES or FOR FURTHER                  Off-station Projects in the Dewatto,                  Contents of Proposed Plan
                                              INFORMATION CONTACT).                                                                                           The Proposed Plan contains biological
                                                                                                      Skokomish, and Duckabush Rivers; and
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        the Lower Elwha Fish Hatchery Wild                    background and contextual information
                                              David Price, (360) 753–9598,                            Steelhead Recovery Program.                           that includes description of the DPS, the
                                              david.price@noaa.gov; or Elizabeth                        For the purpose of recovery planning                planning area, and the context of the
                                              Babcock, (206) 526–4505,                                for the ESA-listed species of Pacific                 plan’s development. It presents relevant
                                              elizabeth.babcock@noaa.gov.                             salmon and steelhead in Idaho, Oregon,                information on DPS structure and
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              and Washington, NMFS designated five                  guidelines for assessing salmonid
                                                                                                      geographically based ‘‘recovery                       population and DPS status. It provides
                                              Background                                              domains.’’ The Puget Sound Steelhead                  background on the natural history of
                                                We are responsible for developing and                 DPS spawning range is in the Puget                    steelhead, population status, and threats
                                              implementing recovery plans for Pacific                 Sound domain. For each domain, NMFS                   to their sustainability.
                                              salmon and steelhead listed under the                   appointed a team of scientists,                         The Puget Sound steelhead DPS
                                              ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.                      nominated for their geographic and                    consists of three Major Population
                                              1531 et seq.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA               species expertise, to provide a solid                 Groups (MPGs) and 32 Demographically
                                              requires that recovery plans include, to                scientific foundation for recovery plans.             Independent Populations (DIPs). NMFS
                                              the extent practicable: (1) Objective,                  The Puget Sound Steelhead Technical                   based its decision to list the species in
                                              measurable criteria which, when met,                    Recovery Team included biologists from                2007 on findings by the Puget Sound
                                              would result in a determination that the                NMFS, other Federal agencies, state                   Steelhead Biological Review Team
                                              species is no longer threatened or                      agencies, tribes, and academic                        (Hard et al. 2007). This team considered
                                              endangered; (2) site-specific                           institutions.                                         the major risk factors facing Puget
                                              management actions necessary to                           A primary task for the Puget Sound                  Sound steelhead to be widespread
                                              achieve the plan’s goals; and (3)                       Steelhead Technical Recovery Team                     declines in abundance and productivity
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                                              estimates of the time required and costs                was to recommend criteria for                         for most natural steelhead populations
                                              to implement recovery actions. The ESA                  determining when each component                       in the DPS, including those in Skagit
                                              requires the development of recovery                    population within a DPS or                            and Snohomish Rivers, previously
                                              plans for each listed species unless such               Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU)                 considered strongholds for steelhead in
                                              a plan would not promote its recovery.                  should be considered viable (i.e., when               the DPS; the low abundance of several
                                                We believe it is essential to have local              they are have a low risk of extinction                summer-run populations; and the
                                              support of recovery plans by those                      over a 100-year period) and when ESUs                 sharply diminishing abundance of some


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                                              64112                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 239 / Thursday, December 13, 2018 / Notices

                                              steelhead populations, especially in                    under the ESA, the factors that led to                any other relevant data and policy
                                              south Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and the                  ESA listing need to have been reduced                 considerations.
                                              Strait of Juan de Fuca. Continued                       or eliminated to the point where Federal
                                                                                                                                                            Public Comments Solicited
                                              releases of out-of-DPS hatchery fish                    protection under the ESA is no longer
                                              from Skamania-derived summer run                        needed, and there is reasonable                         We are soliciting written comments
                                              were a major concern for diversity in the               certainty that the relevant regulatory                on the Proposed Plan. All substantive
                                              DPS. In 2011, eight years after the ESA-                mechanisms are adequate to protect                    comments received by the date specified
                                              listing decision, a status assessment of                Puget Sound steelhead viability. NMFS                 above will be considered and
                                              the DPS by NMFS’ Biological Review                      listing factor criteria for Puget Sound               incorporated, as appropriate, prior to
                                              Team found that the status of Puget                     steelhead address pressures from                      our decision whether to approve the
                                              Sound steelhead regarding risk of                       freshwater habitat degradation,                       plan. While we invite comments on all
                                              extinction had not changed (NMFS                        hatcheries, and other factors that led to             aspects of the Proposed Plan, we are
                                              2016; 81 FR 33468; May 26, 2016).                       the species listing and continue to affect            particularly interested in comments on
                                              Scientists on the Biological Review                     its viability.                                        the proposed strategies and actions,
                                              Team identified degradation and                            The Proposed Plan also describes                   comments on the cost of recovery
                                              fragmentation of freshwater habitat,                    specific information on the following:                actions, and comments on establishing
                                              with consequential effects on                           Current status of Puget Sound steelhead;              an appropriate implementation forum
                                              connectivity, as the primary limiting                   pressures (limiting factors) and threats              for the plan. We will issue a news
                                              factors and threats facing the Puget                    throughout the life cycle that have                   release announcing the adoption and
                                              Sound steelhead DPS. They determined                    contributed to the species decline;                   availability of the final plan. We will
                                              that most of the steelhead populations                  recovery strategies to address the threats            post on the NMFS West Coast Region
                                              within the DPS continued to show                        based on the best available science; site-            website (www.wcr.noaa.gov) a summary
                                              downward trends in estimated                            specific actions with timelines; and a                of, and responses to, the comments
                                              abundance, with a few sharp declines                    proposed adaptive management                          received, along with electronic copies of
                                              (Ford 2011). Most recently, a NMFS                      framework for focusing needed research                the final plan and its appendices.
                                              species status review (NMFS 2016)                       and evaluations and revising our
                                              concluded that ‘‘The biological risks                                                                         Literature Cited
                                                                                                      recovery strategies and actions. The
                                              faced by the Puget Sound steelhead DPS                  Proposed Plan also summarizes time                      The complete citations for the
                                              have not substantively changed since                    and costs required to implement                       references used in this document can be
                                              the listing in 2007, or since the 2011                  recovery actions.                                     obtained by contacting NMFS (see
                                              status review.’’ The NMFS review team                                                                         ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER
                                              concluded that the DPS was at very low                  How NMFS and Others Expect To Use                     INFORMATION CONTACT).
                                              viability, as were all three of its                     the Plan
                                                                                                                                                              Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
                                              constituent MPGs, and many of its 32                       With approval of the final Puget
                                              DIPs (Hard et al. 2015).                                                                                        Dated: December 6, 2018.
                                                                                                      Sound Steelhead recovery plan, we will
                                                 The Proposed Plan presents NMFS’                                                                           Donna S. Wieting,
                                                                                                      implement the actions in the plan for
                                              proposed recovery goals and the                                                                               Director, Office of Protected Resources,
                                                                                                      which we have authority and funding;
                                              viability criteria and listing factor                                                                         National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                                      encourage other Federal, state and local
                                              criteria for making a delisting decision.                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–27003 Filed 12–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                              The proposed viability criteria for the                 agencies and tribal governments to
                                                                                                      implement recovery actions for which                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                              Puget Sound steelhead DPS are
                                              designed to improve the DPS so it ‘‘has                 they have responsibility, authority, and
                                              a negligible risk of extinction due to                  funding; and work cooperatively with
                                                                                                      tribes, the public and local stakeholders             DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                              threats from demographic variation,
                                              local environmental variation, and                      on implementation of other actions. We                National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                              genetic diversity changes over a 100-                   expect the recovery plan to guide us and              Administration
                                              year time frame’’ based on the status of                other Federal agencies in evaluating
                                              the MPGs and DIPs, and supporting                       Federal actions under ESA section 7, as
                                                                                                                                                            RIN 0648–XG668
                                              ecosystems (McElhany et al. 2000). A                    well as in implementing other
                                              self-sustaining viable population has a                 provisions of the ESA and other                       Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and
                                              negligible risk of extinction due to                    statutes. For example, the plan will                  South Atlantic; Southeast Data,
                                              reasonably foreseeable changes in                       provide greater biological context for                Assessment, and Review (SEDAR);
                                              circumstances affecting its abundance,                  evaluating the effects that a proposed                Public Meeting
                                              productivity, spatial structure, and                    action may have on the species by
                                              diversity characteristics and achieves                  providing delisting criteria, information             AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                              these characteristics without                           on priority areas for addressing specific             Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                              dependence upon artificial propagation.                 limiting factors, and information on                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                              The proposed viability criteria for Puget               how the DPS can tolerate varying levels               Commerce.
                                              Sound steelhead require that all three                  of risk.                                              ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 64 Data
                                              MPGs be viable because the three MPGs                      When we are considering a species for              webinar for Gulf of Mexico and South
                                              differ substantially in key biological and              delisting, the agency will examine                    Atlantic yellowtail snapper.
                                              habitat characteristics that contribute in              whether the section 4(a)(1) listing
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              distinct ways to the overall viability,                 factors have been addressed. To assist in             SUMMARY:  The SEDAR 64 assessment
                                              diversity and spatial structure of the                  this examination, we will use the                     process of Gulf of Mexico and South
                                              DPS.                                                    delisting criteria described in Chapter 4             Atlantic yellowtail snapper will consist
                                                 The proposed listing factor criteria are             of the Proposed Plan, which include                   of a Data Workshop, and a series of
                                              based on the five listing factors found in              both viability criteria and listing factor            assessment webinars, and a Review
                                              the ESA section 4(a)(1). Before NMFS                    criteria addressing each of the ESA                   Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY
                                              can remove the DPS from protection                      section 4(a)(1) listing factors, as well as           INFORMATION.



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Document Created: 2018-12-13 01:15:55
Document Modified: 2018-12-13 01:15:55
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; request for comments.
DatesComments on the Proposed Plan must be received by February 11, 2019.
ContactDavid Price, (360) 753-9598, [email protected]; or Elizabeth Babcock, (206) 526-4505, [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 64110 
RIN Number0648-XG57

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