[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 47 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 10984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4441]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071206C]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Notice of availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Northwest Indian Fisheries 
Commission (NWIFC) has submitted a Tribal Resource Management Plan 
(Tribal Plan) for NMFS to evaluate. It was presented by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA) on behalf of the Northwest Indian Tribes; the 
submission fulfills the Tribes' obligations under the protective 
regulations promulgated for Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Hood Canal 
summer-run chum salmon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 
Tribal Plan describes research and assessment activities that may 
affect listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Hood Canal summer-run chum 
salmon in Washington State. NMFS has completed a proposed evaluation of 
how well the Tribal Plan fulfills ESA criteria, and the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) is making that proposed evaluation available for 
public comment.

DATES:  Written comments on the Secretary's proposed evaluation must be 
received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on April 11, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments and requests for copies of the proposed 
evaluation should be addressed to Gary Rule, Protected Resources 
Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent via fax 
to (503) 230 5441. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-
mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Rule, Portland, OR (ph.: 503- 230 
5424, Fax: 503-210-5441, e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in this Notice

    Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
    Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon (O. keta)

Authority

    Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary is required to adopt such 
regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of 
the species listed as threatened. The ESA Tribal 4(d) rule (70 FR 
37160; June 28, 2005) states that the ESA section 9 take prohibitions 
do not apply to Tribal Plans that will not appreciably reduce the 
likelihood of survival and recovery for the listed species.

The Tribal Plan

    The NWIFC-through the BIA and on behalf of the Northwest Indian 
Tribes-has submitted a Tribal Plan for scientific research and 
assessment activities within the range of the Puget Sound Chinook 
salmon and Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon ESUs. The Northwest Indian 
Tribes conduct, independently and in cooperation with other agencies, a 
variety of research and assessment projects. These projects provide the 
technical basis for managing fisheries and conserving and restoring 
salmon stocks and their habitat. The need for an improved understanding 
of salmonid survival in the freshwater and early marine life stages 
drives much of the current research. The Tribal Plan includes 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation procedures designed to 
ensure that the research is consistent with the objectives of the ESA. 
The research activities described in the Tribal Plan would take place 
over a ten-year period starting in 2007.
    As 50 CFR 223.209 requires, the Secretary must determine whether 
the Tribal Plan would appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and 
recovery for Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Hood Canal summer-run chum 
salmon ESUs. The Secretary must take comments on how the Tribal Plan 
addresses the criteria in 50 CFR 223.209 in making that determination.

    Dated: March 7, 2007.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4441 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
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