[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54177-54178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22861]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AN58


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of 
Threatened Status for One Steelhead Evolutionarily Significant Unit 
(ESU) 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 northern California Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) of 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 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.

DATES: Effective August 7, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Gloman, Chief, Office of 
Conservation and Classification, 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 decisions under the Act 
regarding the northern California ESU of steelhead. 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 
northern California ESU, of steelhead on June 7, 2000 (65 FR 36075). 
Accordingly, we are now adding the northern California steelhead ESU to 
the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, as a threatened 
species. Only naturally spawned populations of steelhead (and their 
progeny) residing below naturally occurring and man-made impassible 
barriers (e.g., impassable waterfalls and dams) are added to the list 
by this action. This addition is effective as of August 7, 2000, as 
indicated in the NMFS determination. Because this action is 
nondiscretionary, and in view of the public comment period provided by 
NMFS on the February 11, 2000, proposed listing (65 FR 6960), we find 
that good cause exists to omit the notice and public comment procedures 
of 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

    This rule does not contain any information collection requirements 
that require Office of Management and Budget approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

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) * * *

[[Page 54178]]



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                     Species                                                Vertebrate population
--------------------------------------------------     Historic range        where endangered or      Status       When        Critical       Special
          Common name            Scientific  name                                threatened                       listed       habitat         rules
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FISHES
 
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
    Steelhead.................  Oncorhynchus       North Pacific Ocean     All naturally spawned   T                  701   NA             NA
                                 (=Salmo) mykiss.   from the Kamchatka      populations (and
                                                    Peninsula in Asia to    their progeny) in
                                                    the northern Baja       river basins from
                                                    Peninsula.              Redwood Creek in
                                                                            Humboldt County, CA,
                                                                            to the Gualala River,
                                                                            in Mendocino County,
                                                                            CA (inclusive).
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    Dated: August 30, 2000.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22861 Filed 9-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P