[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72960-72961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33782]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF82


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of 
Threatened Status for Two Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant 
Units (ESUs) in California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are adding 
the Central Valley spring-run Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) and 
the California Coastal ESU of the west coast chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife as threatened. This amendment to the list, authorized by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), is based on a determination by 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which has jurisdiction 
for this species.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 15, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Gloman, Chief, Division of 
Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703/358-2171).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Reorganization Plan No. 4 
of 1970, the NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Department of Commerce, is responsible for the decisions regarding the 
Central Valley spring-run and the California Coastal, both are ESUs of 
the west coast chinook salmon as defined in the Act. Under section 
4(a)(2) of the Act, NMFS must decide whether a species under its 
jurisdiction should be classified as endangered or threatened, and the 
Service is responsible for the actual addition of these species to the 
List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 50 CFR 17.11(h).
    The NMFS published its determination of threatened status for the 
Central Valley spring-run ESU and the California Coastal ESU of the 
west coast chinook salmon on September 16, 1999 (64 FR 50394). 
Accordingly, we are now adding both ESUs to the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife, as threatened species. This addition is effective 
as of November 15, 1999, as indicated in the NMFS determination. 
Because this action is nondiscretionary, and in view of the public 
comment period provided by NMFS on the March 9, 1998, proposed listing 
(63 FR 11482), we find that good cause exists to omit the notice and 
public comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

National Environmental Policy Act

    We have determined that an environmental assessment, as defined 
under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted pursuant to 
section 4(a) of the Act. We published a notice outlining our reasons 
for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 
FR 49244).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Export, Import, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter 1, title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Amend Sec. 17.11(h) by adding the following to the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, in alphabetical order under FISHES:


Sec. 17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

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                        Species                                                     Vertebrate
--------------------------------------------------------                         population where                                 Critical     Special
                                                            Historic range        endangered or         Status     When listed    habitat       Rules
           Common name                Scientific name                               threatened
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                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
              Fishes
 
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
Salmon, chinook..................  Oncorhynchus          North Pacific Basin   U.S.A. (CA) all      T                      674           NA           NA
                                    (=Salmo)              from U.S.A. (CA) to   naturally spawned
                                    tshawytscha.          Japan.                spring-run
                                                                                populations from
                                                                                the Sacramento San
                                                                                Joaquin R.
                                                                                mainstem and its
                                                                                tributaries..
Salmon, chinook..................  Oncorhynchus          North Pacific Basin   U.S.A. (CA) from     T                      674           NA           NA
                                    tshawytscha.          from U.S.A. (CA) to   Redwood Creek
                                                          Japan.                south to Russian
                                                                                R., inclusive, all
                                                                                naturally spawn
                                                                                populations in
                                                                                mainstems and
                                                                                tributaries.
 
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
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[[Page 72961]]

    Dated: December 9, 1999.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33782 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]
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