[Federal Register: June 18, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 117)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 33038-33039] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr18jn97-14] - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AE28 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Coho Salmon AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Final rule. - SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is adding the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) as a threatened species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This amendment to the List includes all coho salmon naturally reproduced in streams between Cape Blanco in Curry County, Oregon and Punta Gorda in Humboldt County, California. This amendment is based on a determination by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has jurisdiction for this species. EFFECTIVE DATE: June 5, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. LaVerne Smith, Chief, Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop 452, Arlington, Virginia 22203 (703/358-2171). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Act and the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, NMFS has jurisdiction over the coho salmon. Under section 4(a)(2) of the Act, NMFS must decide whether a species under its jurisdiction should be classified as endangered or threatened. The Service is responsible for the actual amendment of the List in 50 CFR 17.11(h). On July 25, 1995, NMFS published a proposed rule to list as threatened three ESUs or distinct vertebrate population segments of the coho salmon in California and Oregon, including the Southern Oregon/ Northern California Coast ESU (60 FR 38011). The proposed rule solicited comments from peer reviewers, the public, and all other interested parties. On May 6, 1997, NMFS published a final rule to list the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast ESU of the coho salmon as threatened (62 FR 24588). The final rule addressed the comments received in response to the proposed rule. Because NMFS provided a public comment period on the proposed rule, and because this action of the Service to amend the List in accordance with the determination by NMFS is nondiscretionary, the Service has omitted the notice and public comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) for this action. National Environmental Policy Act The Service has determined that an Environmental Assessment, as defined under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the Act. A notice outlining the Service's reasons for this determination was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). Required Determinations The Service has examined this regulation under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and found it to contain no information collection requirements. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened species, Export, Import, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation. Regulation Promulgation PART 17[AMENDED] Accordingly, part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as set forth below: 1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted. Sec. 17.11 [Amended] 2. Section 17.11(h) is amended by adding the following, in alphabetical order under FISHES, to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife: Species Vertebrate population where Critical Special Historic range endangered or Status When listed habitat rules Common name Scientific name threatened * * * * * * * Fishes * * * * * * * Salmon, coho..................... Oncorhynchus kisutch North Pacific Basin U.S.A. (natural T 618 NA NA from U.S.A. (CA to populations in AK) to Russia to river basins Japan. between Cape Blanco in Curry County, OR and Punta Gorda in Humboldt County, CA). [[Page 33039]] Dated: May 30, 1997. John G. Rogers, Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 97-15923 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P | |
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