[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 152 (Monday, August 10, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39903-39907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 226

[Docket No. 0808061060-91139-03]
RIN 0648-AW77


Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical 
Habitat for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Gulf of Maine Distinct 
Population Segment; Final Rule

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a 
final rule to revise the regulatory language that appeared in a final 
rule that published in the Federal Register of June 19, 2009. The final 
rule designated critical habitat for the Atlantic salmon (USalmo salar) 
Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (GOM DPS) under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). We designated as critical habitat 45 
specific areas occupied by Atlantic salmon at the time of listing that 
comprise approximately 19,571 km of perennial river, stream, and 
estuary habitat and 799 square km of lake habitat within the range of 
the GOM DPS and in which are found those physical and biological 
features essential to the conservation of the species. We excluded 
approximately 1,256 km of river, stream, and estuary habitat and 100 
square km of lake habitat from critical habitat pursuant to the ESA. We 
issue this final rule to revise the designated critical habitat for the 
expanded GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon to exclude all trust and fee 
holdings of the Penobscot Indian Nation, and we correct the table to 
add an ``E'' to indicate that Belfast Bay is excluded from critical 
habitat under the ESA for reasons of economics.

DATES: Effective August 10, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Kircheis, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Maine Field Station, 17 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME 
04473 at (207) 866-7320, or Marta Nammack at (301) 713-1401 ext. 180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the proposed rule to designate critical 
habitat for the expanded GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon (73 FR 51747; 
September 5, 2008), we proposed to exclude under section 4(b)(2) of the 
ESA all tribal lands from the critical habitat designation, based on 
Secretarial Order 3206 that recognizes Tribes as having the 
governmental authority and the desire to protect and manage their 
resources in a manner that is most beneficial to them.
    In the final rule to designate critical habitat for the expanded 
GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon (74 FR 29300; June 19, 2009), we included as 
critical habitat Trust and Fee lands owned by the Penobscot Indian 
Nation, based on our interpretation of comments that we received from 
the Penobscot Indian Nation. In their comments, the Penobscot Indian 
Nation stated that ``the Nations Trust landholdings are adequately 
identified and appropriately excluded from Critical Habitat 
Designation.'' Then they stated, ``Given the extent of important salmon 
habitat located within the Penobscot Indian Reservation the Penobscot 
Nation asks that the services do not exclude any portion of the 
Penobscot Indian Reservation from the designation as Critical Habitat. 
The bed, banks, and islands that make up the Penobscot Indian 
Reservation are indeed ``critical'' to the survival of wild Atlantic 
salmon in the Penobscot River watershed. In fact, the Penobscot Nation 
believes that the recovery of the species will not be possible without 
adequate access to the Atlantic salmon habitat that is contained within 
the Penobscot Indian Reservation.'' We interpreted this to mean that 
all of the Penobscot Indian Nation's land should be included as 
critical habitat.
    On June 22, 2009, we received notice from the Tribe that we 
incorrectly included Trust and Fee lands as critical habitat when they 
were seeking to include reservation lands. This final rule corrects the 
final rule published on June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29300) to exclude all 
areas that are Trust and Fee lands of the Penobscot Indian Nation. 
Critical habitat on Penobscot Indian lands will remain designated only 
for those lands that make up the Penobscot Reservation. The exclusion 
of the Trust and Fee lands from the designation of critical habitat 
does not diminish the number of functional habitat units below those 
needed for the recovery of the species in the Penobscot Bay salmon 
habitat recovery unit.
    The effect of this correction is to exclude 1,400 instead of 1,256 
km of river, stream, and estuary habitat and 127 instead of 100 sq km 
of lake habitat from critical habitat pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of 
the ESA.
    Recent information provided by the Penobscot on Tribal ownership of 
lands within the occupied range designated as critical habitat 
discloses that the Penobscot Tribe hold approximately 60,500 acres 
(244.8 sq km) of Fee lands and lands held in Trust within the areas 
occupied by GOM DPS. We have determined that all the rivers, streams, 
lakes, and estuaries of approximately 9,500 acres (38.4 sq km) of land 
held for the Passamaquoddy tribe already disclosed in the final rule 
and approximately 60,500 acres (244.8 sq km) of Fee lands and lands 
held in Trust by the Penobscot Nation (not disclosed in the final rule) 
within the areas occupied by the GOM DPS are excluded from critical 
habitat designation based on the principles of the Secretarial Order 
discussed above. The rivers, lakes, and streams within the 
approximately 4,400-acre (17.8 sq km) Penobscot Reservation are 
included as critical habitat per request of the Penobscot Nation.
    We do not believe that exclusion of Penobscot Tribal Trust lands 
and Passamaquoddy tribal lands, including their lands in the Downeast 
Coastal Salmon Habitat Recovery Unit (SHRU), will reduce the 
conservation value or functional habitat units of Atlantic salmon 
habitat within those particular areas, given the ongoing cooperative 
efforts between the Tribes and the agencies. The Penobscot Indian 
Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe own lands within the range of the 
GOM DPS and have actively pursued or participated in activities to 
further promote the health and continued existence of Atlantic salmon 
and their habitats. The Penobscot Indian Nation has developed and 
maintained its own water quality standards that state ``it is the 
official policy of the Penobscot Nation that all waters of the Tribe 
shall be of sufficient quality to support the ancient and historical 
traditional and customary uses of such tribal waters by members of the 
Penobscot Nation.'' The Tribe is also currently participating in the 
Penobscot River Restoration Project that has the intended goal of 
restoring 11 species of diadromous fish, including

[[Page 39904]]

Atlantic salmon. The Passamaquoddy Tribe has continued to maintain 
efforts to balance agricultural practices with natural resources. In a 
tract of Tribal land in Township 19, which accounts for approximately 
12 km of the 28 km of rivers and streams on Passamaquoddy land that 
contain physical and biological features essential to salmon, the Tribe 
has established an ordinance to govern its water withdrawals for these 
lands. This ordinance states, ``it is important to the Tribe that its 
water withdrawals at T. 19 do not adversely affect the Atlantic salmon 
in any of its life stages, or its habitat,'' and restricts water 
withdrawals to avoid adverse impact on the Atlantic salmon.
    The benefits of excluding Tribal lands from critical habitat 
include maintenance of a long-term working relationship between the 
Tribes and government agencies that promotes environmental conservation 
and Atlantic salmon conservation and the continued promotion of 
established national policies, our Federal trust obligations, and our 
deference to the Tribes in management of natural resources on their 
lands.
    Also, in Sec.  226.217(b)(2)(i) of the June 19, 2009, final rule 
(74 FR 29300), we inadvertently left out the ``E'' in the table to 
indicate that the Belfast Bay HUC 10 watershed was excluded from 
critical habitat based on economic impacts. This final rule corrects 
that omission.

Correction

    In FR Doc. E9-14268 appearing on page 29300 in the Federal Register 
of Friday, June 19, 2009, the following corrections are made:
    On page 29330, under the heading Other Relevant Impacts: Tribal 
Lands, third column, the first paragraph is corrected to read: 
``Secretarial Order 3206 recognizes that Tribes have governmental 
authority and the desire to protect and manage their resources in the 
manner that is most beneficial to them. Pursuant to the Secretarial 
Order, and consistent with the Federal government's trust 
responsibilities, the Services must consult with the affected Indian 
Tribes when considering the designation of critical habitat in areas 
that may impact tribal trust resources, tribally-owned fee lands, or 
the exercise of tribal rights.''

Classification

    The determinations made by the agency in the Classification section 
in the final rule published June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29300), with respect 
to Executive Order 12866, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Information Quality Act, the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Federalism, and 
Takings are unaltered by this correction.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds good 
cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it is ``unnecessary''. Exclusion 
of the Penobscot Nation's Trust and fee lands was part of the proposed 
rule on which public comment was solicited. The only comment received 
on this aspect of the proposed rule was from the Penobscot Nation. As 
such, this correction is considered a minor rule regarding which the 
public is not particularly interested. This correction actually 
responds to a further comment from the Penobscot Nation which pointed 
out that the agency had misinterpreted the intent of its comment on the 
proposed rule.
    The AA further finds pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) good cause to 
waive the thirty (30) day delayed effectiveness period because it 
relieves a burden. Activities that are funded, authorized, or carried 
out by a Federal agency, such as agriculture, development, and 
transportation, on Tribal lands might be negatively impacted by the 
designation. If the activity may affect critical habitat, then the 
Federal agency would be required to consult with NMFS under ESA section 
7 to ensure that the activity does not destroy or adversely modify 
critical habitat. Implementing this correction as soon as possible 
would remove this burden that might impact Federal activities on Tribal 
lands.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 226

    Endangered and threatened species.

    Dated: August 3, 2009.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

PART 226--DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT

0
1. The authority citation for part 226 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1533.

0
2. In Sec.  226.217 paragraphs (b)(2)(i), (b)(4), and (b)(7)(ii) are 
revised to read as follows:


Sec.  226.217  Critical habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct 
Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar).

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) HUC 10 watersheds in the Penobscot Bay SHRU analyzed for 
critical habitat, those that meet the criteria for critical habitat, 
and those excluded under ESA section 4(b)(2):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                               Economic
                                                                                                                                                 (E),
                                                                                                                                               Military
                   Penobscot Bay SHRU                    HUC 10 Code                       HUC 10 Name                           Status        (M), or
                                                                                                                                              Tribal (T)
                                                                                                                                              exclusions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1                                                         0102000101                          North Branch Penobscot River   ..............  ...........
2                                                         0102000102                                           Seeboomook Lak..............  ...........
3                                                         0102000103            WEST Branch Penobscot River at Chesuncook Lak..............  ...........
4                                                         0102000104                                          Caucomgomok Lak..............  ...........
5                                                         0102000105                                           Chesuncook Lak..............  ...........
6                                                         0102000106                                  Nesowadnehunk Stream   ..............  ...........
7                                                         0102000107                                    Nahamakanta Stream   ..............  ...........
8                                                         0102000108                                              Jo-Mary Lak..............  ...........
9                                                         0102000109                       West Branch Penobscot River (3)   ..............  ...........
10                                                        0102000110                       West Branch Penobscot River (4)   ..............  ...........
11                                                        0102000201                                         Webster Brook   ..............  ...........
12                                                        0102000202                                                Grand Lake MataCritical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
13                                                        0102000203                       East Branch Penobscot River (2)         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
14                                                        0102000204                                         Seboeis River         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
15                                                        0102000205                       East Branch Penobscot River (3)         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
16                                                        0102000301                        West Branch Mattawamkeag River         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
17                                                        0102000302                        East Branch Mattawamkeag River         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat

[[Page 39905]]

 
18                                                        0102000303                                Mattawamkeag River (1)         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
19                                                        0102000304                                     Baskahegan Stream   ..............  ...........
20                                                        0102000305                                Mattawamkeag River (2)         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
21                                                        0102000306                                       Molunkus Stream         Critical            E
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
22                                                        0102000307                                 Mattawamkeag River (3         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
23                                                        0102000401                                 Piscataquis River (1)         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
24                                                        0102000402                                 Piscataquis River (3)         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
25                                                        0102000403                                           Sebec River   ..............  ...........
26                                                        0102000404                                        Pleasant River         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
27                                                        0102000405                                        Seboeis Stream         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
28                                                        0102000406                                 Piscataquis River (4)         Critical           ``
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
29                                                        0102000501                   Penobscot River (1) at Mattawamkeag         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
30                                                        0102000502                   Penobscot River (2) at West Enfield         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
31                                                        0102000503                                    Passadumkeag River         Critical            E
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
32                                                        0102000505                                       Sunkhaze Stream         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
33                                                        0102000506                   Penobscot River (3) at Orson Island         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
34                                                        0102000507                                          Birch Stream         Critical            T
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
35                                                        0102000508                                         Pushaw Stream   ..............  ...........
36                                                        0102000509                     Penobscot River (4) at Veazie Dam         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
37                                                        0102000510                                     Kenduskeag Stream         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
38                                                        0102000511                                   Souadabscook Stream         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
39                                                        0102000512                                           Marsh River         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
40                                                        0102000513                                   Penobscot River (6)         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
92                                                        0105000216                                        Bagaduce River   ..............  ...........
93                                                        0105000217                                    Stonington Coastal   ..............  ...........
94                                                        0105000218                                           Belfast Bay         Critical            E
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
105                                                       0105000219                                        Ducktrap River         Critical  ...........
                                                                                                                                    Habitat
103                                                       0102000504                                         Olamon Stream   ..............  ...........
95                                                        0105000220                            West Penobscot Bay Coastal   ..............  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (4) Habitat that meets the definition of critical habitat in 
occupied habitat areas on Passamaquoddy Tribal Indian lands and Fee 
lands or lands held in Trust by the Penobscot Indian Reservation within 
the range of the GOM DPS are excluded from designation. Per request of 
the Penobscot Tribe, critical habitat does include occupied habitat 
that makes up the Penobscot Indian Reservation. The Indian lands 
specifically excluded from critical habitat are those defined in the 
Secretarial Order 3206, including:
    (i) Lands held in Trust by the United States for the benefit of any 
Indian Tribe;
    (ii) Lands held in trust by the United States for the benefit of 
any Indian Tribe or individual subject to restrictions by the United 
States against alienation;
    (iii) Fee lands, either within or outside the reservation 
boundaries, owned by the tribal government; and
    (iv) Fee lands within the reservation boundaries owned by 
individual Indians.
    The rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries on approximately 9,500 
acres (38.4 sq km) of lands held by the Passamaquoddy Tribe and 
approximately 60,500 acres (244.8 sq km) of Fee lands and land held in 
Trust for the Penobscot Tribe within the areas occupied by the GOM DPS 
are excluded from critical habitat designation based on the principles 
of the Secretarial Order discussed above. Per request of the Penobscot 
Nation, the rivers, lakes, and streams within the approximately 4,400-
acre (17.8 sq km) Penobscot Reservation are included as critical 
habitat.
* * * * *
    (7) * * *
    (ii) Penobscot Bay SHRU. Critical habitat area (in sq km), areas 
excluded under ESA section 4(b)(2) (in sq km), and exclusion type, by 
HUC 10 watershed:

[[Page 39906]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR10AU09.025


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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR10AU09.026

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[FR Doc. E9-19094 Filed 8-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S