[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75066-75067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30408]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE212


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
extension of the comment period for the notice of availability of the 
public draft of the Endangered Species Act Coastal Multispecies 
Recovery Plan for the California Coastal Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), the Northern 
California steelhead (O. mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and 
the Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss) DPS, which published 
on October 5, 2015. These species spawn and rear in streams and rivers 
along the central and northern California coast, and in tributaries to 
San Francisco Bay. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the 
public and all interested parties on the Public Draft Recovery Plan, 
and will consider all substantive comments received during the review 
period before submitting the Recovery Plan for final approval. The 
comment period is being extended--from December 4, 2015, to January 18, 
2016--to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the Public Draft 
Recovery Plan published on October 5, 2015 (80 FR 60125), is extended 
to close of business on January 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Public Draft Recovery Plan by 
the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via: [email protected]
     Mail: Recovery Team, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure comments are received, documented, and considered by 
NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or 
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be 
considered. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Public Draft Recovery Plan are available 
online at: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementation/north_central_california_coast/north_central_california_coast_salmon_recovery_domain.html. A CD-ROM of 
these documents can be obtained by emailing a request to 
[email protected] or by writing to: Recovery Team, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Korie Schaeffer, (707) 575-6087, 
[email protected], or Erin Seghesio, (707) 578-8515, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Extension of Comment Period

    On October 5, 2015, (80 FR 60125) we (NMFS) published in the 
Federal Register a request for public comment on the notice of 
availability of the Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan for the 
California Coastal Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), the Northern California 
steelhead (O. mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and the 
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss) DPS. The public comment 
period for this action is set to end on December 4, 2015. The comment 
period is being extended through January 18, 2016, to provide 
additional opportunity for public comment.

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) requires we develop and implement recovery plans for the 
conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species under 
our jurisdiction, unless it is determined that such plans would not 
promote the conservation of the species. The Public Draft Recovery Plan 
was developed for three salmon and steelhead species: The California 
Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon ESU, and the Northern California (NC) and 
Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead DPSs. Between 1997 and 2000, 
NMFS listed the CCC steelhead DPS (62 FR 43937; August 18, 1997), the 
CC Chinook salmon ESU (64 FR 50394; September 16, 1999), and the NC 
steelhead DPS (65 FR 36074; June 7, 2000), as threatened under the ESA 
due to the precipitous and ongoing declines in their populations.
    Our goal is to restore the threatened CC Chinook salmon, and NC and 
CCC steelhead to the point where they are self-sustaining populations 
within their ecosystems and no longer need the protections of the ESA.

The Public Draft Recovery Plan

    The ESA requires recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum 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 goal for the conservation and survival of the species; and 
(3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery 
actions.
    The Public Draft Recovery Plan provides background on the natural 
history, population trends and the potential threats to the viability 
of CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead. The Public Draft 
Recovery Plan lays out a recovery strategy to address conditions and 
threats based on the best available science and incorporates objective, 
measurable criteria for recovery. The Public Draft Recovery Plan is not 
regulatory, but presents guidance for use by agencies and interested 
parties to assist in the recovery of CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC 
steelhead. The Public Draft

[[Page 75067]]

Recovery Plan identifies actions needed to achieve recovery by 
improving population and habitat conditions and addressing threats to 
the species; links management actions to a research and monitoring 
program intended to fill data gaps and assess effectiveness of actions; 
incorporates an adaptive management framework by which management 
actions and other elements may evolve as we gain information through 
research and monitoring; and describes agency guidance on time lines 
for reviews of the status of species and recovery plans. To address 
threats related to the species, the Public Draft Recovery Plan 
references many of the significant efforts already underway to restore 
salmon and steelhead access to high quality habitat and to improve 
habitat previously degraded.
    Recovery of CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC steelhead will 
require a long-term effort in cooperation and coordination with 
Federal, state, tribal and local government agencies, and the 
community. Consistent with the Recovery Plan, we will implement 
relevant actions for which we have authority, work cooperatively on 
implementation of other actions, and encourage other Federal and state 
agencies to implement recovery actions for which they have 
responsibility and authority.
    In compliance with the requirements of the ESA section 4(f), NMFS 
is providing public notice and an opportunity to review and comment on 
the Public Draft Recovery Plan for CC Chinook salmon, and NC and CCC 
steelhead prior to its final approval.

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

    Dated: November 25, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30408 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
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