[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 63631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26794]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG653


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; re-opening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is announcing the 
re-opening of a public comment period regarding recreational fisheries 
in the State of Idaho. The FMEP, provided by the Idaho Department of 
Fish and Game (IDFG), specifies the implementation of fisheries 
targeting adipose-fin-clipped, hatchery-origin Snake River steelhead 
within the State of Idaho and in boundary waters with Oregon and 
Washington. On November 6, 2018, NMFS opened a 30-day public comment 
period on a Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) pursuant to 
the protective regulations promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). That comment period ended on 
December 6, 2018. In response to a request received from the public, 
NMFS intends to obtain additional information.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on December 
13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be addressed to 
the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 
1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments may be submitted by email. The 
mailbox address for providing email comments is: 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line 
of the email comment the following identifier: Idaho's Snake River 
Steelhead Fisheries Plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allyson Purcell, at phone number: 
(503) 736-4736, or via email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened, naturally 
produced and artificially propagated Snake River Spring/Summer and 
Snake River Fall.
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Snake River Basin.
    Sockeye salmon (O. nerka): endangered, naturally produced and 
artificially propagated Snake River.
    IDFG submitted the FMEP to NMFS describing fisheries targeting 
adult adipose-fin-clipped, hatchery-origin steelhead within the State 
of Idaho and in boundary waters with Oregon and Washington. The plan 
was submitted under ESA limit 4 of the 4(d) Rule. These fisheries were 
designed to support fishing opportunities while minimizing potential 
risks to ESA-listed species. The FMEP describes timing, location, 
harvest impact limits, licensing, and gear requirements, and requires 
that all fish caught with an intact adipose fin be released unharmed. A 
variety of monitoring and evaluation is included in the FMEP.
    This reopening is in place of a planned extension of the comment 
period. NMFS had previously considered extending the comment period by 
seven days, until December 13. However, extensions may only occur while 
the comment period is ongoing, and NMFS could not be certain that a 
public notice of an extension would be published before December 6. 
Therefore, to avoid potential confusion, we are executing a reopening 
of the comment period to accept comments until December 13, so that the 
result is identical to the planned extension. This additional period 
for public comment will not affect NMFS's overall schedule for 
completing our ESA review.
    As specified in the July 10, 2000, 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 the FMEP's 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, June 28, 2005) specifies categories of activities that 
contribute to the conservation of listed salmonids and sets out the 
criteria for such activities. Limit 4 of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 
223.203(b)(4)) further provides that the prohibitions of paragraph (a) 
of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(a)) do not apply to fisheries 
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, June 28, 2005).

    Dated: December 6, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26794 Filed 12-10-18; 8:45 am]
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