[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 76386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA852


Endangered and Threatened Species; 5-Year Reviews for 4 Distinct 
Population Segments of Steelhead in California

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of 5-year reviews.

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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest 
Region, announce the availability of 5-year reviews for four DPSs of 
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in California, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). Information about the 5-year review 
process, including copies of the 5-year review reports, may be obtained 
by visiting the NMFS Southwest Regional Office Web site at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

ADDRESSES: Additional information about the 5-year review process, 
including copies of the 5-year review reports, may be obtained by 
visiting the NMFS Southwest Regional Office Web site at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/ or by writing to us at: NMFS Southwest Region, 501 
W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802; Attn: Craig Wingert.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Wingert at the above address or 
at (562) 980-4021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the ESA, a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and 
plant species must be maintained. The list is published at 50 CFR 17.11 
(for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA 
requires that NMFS conduct a review of listed species under its 
jurisdiction at least once every 5 years (``5-year reviews''). In 
conducting 5-year reviews, we consider the best scientific and 
commercial data, including new information that has become available 
since the last listing determination or most recent status review of a 
species.
    On March 18, 2010, NMFS announced the initiation of 5-year reviews 
for listed Pacific salmon ESUs and steelhead DPSs in California, 
Oregon, Washington, and Idaho (75 FR 13082). Both ESUs and DPSs are 
treated as ``species'' under the ESA and we use the term ``species'' to 
refer to both in the remainder of this notice. In the March 18, 2010 
announcement, we requested new information regarding the biological 
status of these ESUs and DPSs and the factors that affect them from the 
public, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific 
community, environmental entities, and other interested parties.
    This notice of availability addresses our completed 5-year reviews 
for: (1) Northern California steelhead; (2) Central California Coast 
steelhead; (3) South-Central California Coast steelhead; and (4) 
Southern California steelhead. We used a two-step process to complete 
the reviews. First, we asked scientists from our Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center to collect and analyze new information about each 
species' viability. To evaluate each species' viability, our scientists 
applied the agency's Viable Salmonid Population framework, which relies 
on evaluating four key population parameters (abundance, productivity, 
spatial structure, and diversity). Using this framework, they compiled 
and evaluated all new relevant information on these four parameters and 
then updated the overall viability status of each species. They also 
considered new genetic and biogeographic information related to each 
species' freshwater and estuarine geographic boundaries. At the end of 
this process, the Center prepared a report detailing the results and 
conclusions from their analyses. To complete the review, fishery 
biologists from the Southwest Region and its field offices evaluated 
all information that has become available on the species since 2005, 
the date of its last biological status review.
    The 5-year review reports prepared by the Southwest Region, the 
Southwest Science Center's updated status assessment, and additional 
information concerning these species are available on the Southwest 
Region's Web site: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/. NMFS concludes that the 
5-year review meets the requirements of the ESA.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: November 30, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31433 Filed 12-6-11; 8:45 am]
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