[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22903-22904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10799]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 227

[I.D. 040797B]


Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating 
Critical Habitat: Petition To Revise Critical Habitat Designation for 
Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon in Idaho

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

ACTION: Notice of finding and request for information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received a petition to revise critical habitat for 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to 
not include Napias Creek, a tributary to the Salmon River, located in 
the State of Idaho. NMFS has determined that the petition presents 
substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned 
revision may be warranted. Therefore, NMFS is initiating a review to 
determine if the petitioned action is warranted. NMFS is soliciting 
information and comments on the petitioned revision.

DATES: Information and comments on the revision must be received by 
June 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Information and comments on this action should be submitted 
to Garth Griffin, Protected Species Program, NMFS, 525 NE Oregon 
Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, NMFS, Northwest Region, 
(503) 231-2005 or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 
(301) 713-1401.


[[Page 22904]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    NMFS proposed listing Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (56 
FR 29542) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) on June 27, 1991. The final determination listing Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon as threatened was published on April 22, 
1992 (57 FR 14653) and corrected on June 3, 1992 (57 FR 23458). 
Critical habitat was designated for Snake River spring/summer chinook 
salmon on December 28, 1993 (58 FR 68543). An emergency 
reclassification of spring/summer chinook salmon was published on 
August 18, 1994, (59 FR 42529) and expired twelve months later.
    Section 4(b)(3)(D) of the ESA contains provisions concerning 
petitions from interested persons requesting the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to revise a critical habitat determination. Section 
4(b)(3)(D)(i) of the ESA requires that, to the maximum extent 
practicable, within 90 days after receiving such a petition, the 
Secretary make a finding whether the petition presents substantial 
scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be 
warranted.
    On January 6, 1997, the Secretary received a petition from Meridian 
Gold Company to revise critical habitat for Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon in Napias Creek, a tributary to the Salmon River, 
located near Salmon, ID. Copies of this petition are available (see 
ADDRESSES). The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has 
determined that the petition presents substantial scientific 
information indicating that a revision may be warranted pursuant to the 
criteria specified in 50 CFR 424.14(c)(2). In accordance with section 
4(b)(3)(D)(ii) of the ESA, the Secretary will make his determination 
whether a revision is warranted within 12 months from the date the 
petition was received (January 6, 1997). Interested parties are 
encouraged to provide comments and additional information on this 
action (see DATES and ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: April 21, 1997.
Hilda Diaz-Soltero,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10799 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
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