[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58750-58751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23230]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA907


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the adoption of a Final Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) recovery plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Evolutionarily Significant Unit 
(ESU) (Final Recovery Plan). This ESU includes all naturally spawned 
coho salmon populations between Punta Gorda, California and Cape 
Blanco, Oregon, as well as coho salmon produced by three artificial 
propagation programs: The Cole Rivers Hatchery, Trinity River Hatchery, 
and Iron Gate Hatchery. As required by the ESA, the Final Recovery Plan 
contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals, and estimates 
of the time and costs required to implement recovery actions. The Final 
Recovery Plan is now available. In addition, informative public 
meetings will be held.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Recovery Plan are available 
online at: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/southern_oregon_northern_california_coast/southern_oregon_northern_california_coast_recovery_plan_documents.html.
    A CD ROM of the Final Recovery Plan can be obtained by emailing a 
request to [email protected] with the subject line ``CD ROM 
Request for SONCC coho Salmon Recovery Plan'', by phone at 707-825-
5163, or by writing to NMFS California Coastal Area Office, 1655 
Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95519, ATTN: Recovery Coordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Weeder, Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast Recovery Coordinator by email at [email protected] 
or by phone at 707-825-5168.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS is responsible for developing and implementing recovery plans 
for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the ESA of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means that the listed 
species and their ecosystems are sufficiently restored, and their 
future secured, to the point that the protections of the ESA are no 
longer necessary. Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires that recovery 
plans include, to the extent practicable: (1) Objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the 
species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and (3) 
estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions.
    The ESA requires that NMFS develop and implement recovery plans for 
the conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species 
under its jurisdiction, unless it is determined that such plans would 
not result in the conservation of the species. NMFS designated Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon as threatened in the 
Federal Register on May 6, 1997 (62 FR 24588) and reaffirmed its 
threatened status on June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37160). NMFS published a 
Notice of Availability of the Public Draft Recovery Plan (Draft Plan) 
in the Federal Register on January 5, 2012 (77 FR 476). NMFS held five 
public meetings to obtain comments on the Draft Plan. In response to 
multiple requests, the public comment period was extended for an 
additional 60 days on February 10, 2012 (77 FR 7134). NMFS received 
extensive comments on the Draft Plan and prepared responses to each 
comment. The Draft Plan was revised based on the comments received, and 
this final version now constitutes the Final Recovery Plan for the 
Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Southern Oregon/Northern California 
Coast Coho Salmon.

Contents of Plan

    The ESA requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the extent 
practicable: (1) Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would 
result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or 
endangered; (2) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve 
the plan's goals; and (3) estimates of the time required and costs to 
implement recovery actions. The goal of the Final Recovery Plan is to 
restore threatened SONCC coho salmon to the point where they are again 
secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystems and no longer need 
the protections of the ESA.
    The Final Recovery Plan provides background on the natural history 
of SONCC coho salmon, population trends and the stresses and threats 
that affect their viability. The Final Recovery Plan lays out a 
recovery strategy to reduce these stresses and threats which is based 
on the best available science and includes goals that incorporate 
objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a 
determination that the species be removed from the list. The Final 
Recovery Plan is not regulatory. It presents guidance for use by the 
general public, government agencies, tribal governments, and other 
interested parties to assist in the recovery of SONCC coho salmon. The 
Final Recovery Plan identifies all actions needed to achieve recovery 
by rebuilding populations and reducing stresses and threats. The 
strategy for recovery includes a linkage between management actions and 
an active research and monitoring program intended to fill data gaps 
and assess effectiveness. The Final Recovery Plan incorporates an 
adaptive management framework by which recovery actions and other 
elements will evolve and adapt as information is gained. The Final 
Recovery Plan also describes NMFS' plan for reviews of the status of 
the species. The Final Recovery Plan references many of the significant 
efforts already underway to restore Southern Oregon/Northern California 
Coast coho salmon access to high quality habitat and to improve 
degraded habitat, and to reduce the impacts of several activities 
including fishing and timber harvest.

Conclusion

    Section 4(f)(1)(B) of the ESA requires that recovery plans 
incorporate, to the extent practicable, (1) objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the 
species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and (3) 
estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions. 
NMFS concludes that the Plan meets the requirements of ESA section 4(f) 
and adopts it as the Recovery Plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Coho Salmon.

[[Page 58751]]

Public Meetings

    Public meetings are planned. The dates and locations of meetings 
can be obtained by contacting Julie Weeder at 707-825-5168 or 
[email protected]. Exact locations, dates and times of public 
meetings will also be posted on the above Web site.

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

    Dated: September 18, 2014.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-23230 Filed 9-29-14; 8:45 am]
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