[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 20956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9017]



[[Page 20956]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA350


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of fishery plans and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Idaho Department of Fish and 
Game (IDFG) has submitted a Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan 
(FMEP) pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for salmon 
and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The FMEP 
specifies the future management of freshwater inland recreational 
fisheries potentially affecting listed salmon and steelhead in the 
State of Idaho. This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability of the FMEPs for review and comment before final approval 
or disapproval is made by NMFS.

DATES: Comments on the FMEPs must be received at the appropriate 
address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time 
on May 16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to 
the NMFS Salmon Management Division, 1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 
1100, Portland, OR 97232, or faxed to 503-872-2737. Comments may be 
submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments 
is [email protected]. Include in the subject line of the 
e-mail comment the following identifier: Comments on Idaho's FMEPs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Farman, Portland, OR, at phone 
number: (503) 231-6222, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to the Snake River Spring/summer Chinook 
Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Snake River Fall-run Chinook Salmon 
(O. tshawytscha), and Snake River Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka) 
evolutionarily significant units (ESU), and the Snake River Steelhead 
(O. mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS).
    IDFG has submitted to NMFS two FMEPs describing design and 
implementation of State-managed fisheries targeting spring and summer 
Chinook salmon and general fisheries for non-listed resident species. 
The objective of the fishery management described in these two FMEPs is 
to harvest spring Chinook salmon and resident species in a manner that 
does not exceed the harvest impact limits developed by State, Tribal, 
and Federal co-managers consistent with conservation needs of the 
listed species. Implementation of the FMEPs would assure that spawning 
escapements, hatchery brood stock requirements, and supplemental adult 
releases would be achieved in accordance with cooperative agreements. A 
variety of monitoring and evaluation tasks are specified in the FMEPs 
to assess the abundance of listed species, determine fishery effort and 
catch, and monitor angler compliance. A review of compliance within the 
provisions of the FMEP will be conducted by IDFG annually, and a 
comprehensive review of each FMEP would be required every five years. 
Each year's upcoming recreational fishery management intentions will be 
required to get NMFS concurrence beforehand to ensure compliance with 
the proposed FMEP.
    As specified in the July 10, 2000, Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
4(d) rule for salmon and steelhead (65 FR 42422) and updated June 28, 
2005 (70 FR 37160), NMFS may approve an FMEP if it meets criteria set 
forth in 50 CFR 223.203(b)(4)(i)(A) through (I). Prior to final 
approval of an FMEP, NMFS must publish notification announcing its 
availability for public review and comment.

Authority

    Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary of Commerce is required 
to adopt such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of species listed as threatened. The ESA salmon and 
steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 
37160, July 28, 2005) specifies categories of activities that 
contribute to the conservation of listed salmonids and sets out the 
criteria for such activities. The rule further provides that the 
prohibitions of paragraph (a) of the rule do not apply to activities 
associated with fishery harvest provided that an FMEP has been approved 
by NMFS to be in accordance with the salmon and steelhead 4(d) rule (65 
FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160, July 28, 2005).

    Dated: April 7, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-9017 Filed 4-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P