[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33468-33469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD756


Endangered and Threatened Species; 5-Year Reviews for 28 Listed 
Species of Pacific Salmon, Steelhead, and Eulachon

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS' West Coast Region announces the availability of 5-year 
reviews for 17 evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Pacific 
salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.), 10 distinct population segments (DPSs) of 
steelhead (O. mykiss), and the southern DPS of eulachon (Thaleichthys 
pacificus) as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA). The purpose of the reviews was to evaluate whether the 
listing classifications of these species remains accurate or should be 
changed. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial 
data, we conclude that no changes in the ESA-listing status for the 27 
salmonid ESUs and DPSs, or the southern DPS of eulachon, are warranted 
at this time.

ADDRESSES: Additional information about the 5-year reviews may be 
obtained by visiting the NMFS West Coast Region's Web site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov, or by writing to us at: NMFS West 
Coast Region, Protected Resources Division, 1201 Lloyd Blvd., Suite 
1100, Portland, OR 97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Scott Rumsey at the above address, 
by phone at (503) 872-2791, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of 
listed species at least once every 5 years. On the basis of such 
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether any species 
should be removed from the list (delisted), or reclassified from 
endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered. During 5-
year reviews, we consider the best scientific and commercial data 
available, including new information that has become available since 
the last listing determination or most recent status review of a 
species.
    On February 6, 2015, the NMFS West Coast Region announced 
initiation of 5-year reviews of all 28 ESA-listed Pacific salmon ESUs 
and steelhead DPSs, the southern DPS of eulachon, and three DPSs of 
Puget Sound rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) (80 FR 6695). Both ESUs and DPSs 
are treated as `species' under the ESA. At the time of our 
announcement, we requested information on species viability, threats to 
the species, and protective efforts, from the public, concerned 
governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, environmental 
entities, and other interested parties.
    This notice addresses the following ESUs and DPSs: (1) Sacramento 
River winter-run Chinook salmon ESU; (2)

[[Page 33469]]

Upper Columbia River spring-run Chinook salmon ESU; (3) Snake River 
spring/summer-run Chinook salmon ESU; (4) Central Valley spring-run 
Chinook salmon ESU; (5) California Coastal Chinook salmon ESU; (6) 
Puget Sound Chinook salmon ESU; (7) Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon 
ESU; (8) Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon ESU; (9) Hood Canal 
summer-run chum salmon ESU; (10) Columbia River chum salmon ESU; (11) 
Central California Coast coho salmon ESU; (12) Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast coho salmon ESU; (13) Lower Columbia River coho salmon 
ESU; (14) Oregon Coast coho salmon ESU; (15) Snake River sockeye salmon 
ESU; (16) Ozette Lake sockeye salmon ESU; (17) Southern California 
steelhead DPS; (18) Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS; (19) Middle 
Columbia River steelhead DPS; (20) Snake River Basin steelhead DPS; 
(21) Lower Columbia River steelhead DPS; (22) Upper Willamette River 
steelhead DPS; (23) South-Central California Coast steelhead DPS; (24) 
Central California Coast steelhead DPS; (25) Northern California 
steelhead DPS; (26) California Central Valley steelhead DPS; (27) Puget 
Sound steelhead DPS; and (28) the southern DPS of eulachon.
    On January 16, 2015, we received a petition from the Chinook 
Futures Coalition to delist the Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU under 
the ESA. On April 22, 2015, we published a positive 90-day finding (80 
FR 22468) that the petition presented substantial scientific or 
commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be 
warranted, and we announced the initiation of a status review. While 
the Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon ESU was included as part of our 
5-year reviews of West Coast salmon and steelhead, the results of our 
review of Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon and our finding on the 
delisting petition are addressed in a separate notice in this issue of 
the Federal Register. The 5-year review findings for the three Puget 
Sound/Georgia Basin DPSs of yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and 
bocaccio rockfish will be announced separately on our Web site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.
    We used a multi-step process to complete the subject 5-year review. 
First, we asked scientists from NMFS' Northwest and Southwest Fisheries 
Science Centers to collect and analyze new information about species 
viability. To evaluate species viability, our scientists evaluate four 
criteria--abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity. 
They also considered new genetic and biogeographic information 
regarding species' ranges. At the end of this process, the Northwest 
and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers prepared two reports detailing 
the results of their analyses.
    Next, biologists from the NMFS West Coast Region with expertise in 
salmonid hatchery management conducted a review of all West Coast 
salmonid hatchery programs associated with the ESA-listed salmon and 
steelhead. Their evaluation was guided by NMFS' Policy on the 
Consideration of Hatchery-Origin Fish in Endangered Species Act Listing 
Determinations for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead (Hatchery Listing 
Policy) (70 FR 37204; June 28, 2005). A memorandum (Jones 2015) 
summarizes their evaluation of the relatedness of related hatchery 
stocks relative to the local natural populations to determine if the 
stocks warrant inclusion as part of the respective ESA listings.
    Finally, we formed geographically-based teams of salmon and 
eulachon management biologists from our West Coast Region to evaluate 
information related to the five ESA section 4(a)(1) listing factors. 
These section 4(a)(1) factors are: (1) The present or threatened 
destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or 
range; (2) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other natural or man-made 
factors affecting the species' continued existence. These teams 
produced ``5-Year Review Reports'' that incorporate the findings of the 
Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers' reports, summarize 
new information concerning the delineation of the subject ESUs and DPSs 
and inclusion of closely related salmonid hatchery programs, and detail 
the evaluation of the ESA section 4(a)(1) listing factors. The 
Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers' reports, the 5-year 
review reports, and additional information are available on our Web 
site: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.

Findings

    After considering the best available information, we conclude that 
the 17 Pacific salmon ESUs, the 10 steelhead DPSs, and the southern DPS 
of eulachon detailed above shall remain listed as currently classified.
    We also conclude that, based on the best information available, no 
adjustments to the species' ranges are necessary. We did conclude that 
the species membership of several salmonid hatchery programs will need 
to be revised. We will adjust the hatchery memberships through a 
subsequent rulemaking.

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

    Dated: May 23, 2016.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12454 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
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