[Federal Register: March 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 56)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 14307-14328]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr99-18]

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Department of Commeerce

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 990303060-9071-02; I.D. 022398C]
RIN 0648-AM54

 
Endangered and Threatened Species; Threatened Status for Three 
Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) in Washington 
and Oregon, and Endangered Status for One Chinook Salmon ESU in 
Washington

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is issuing final determinations to list four ESUs of west 
coast chinook salmon as threatened or endangered species under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. Previously, NMFS 
completed a comprehensive status review of west coast chinook salmon 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) which resulted in proposed listings for 
eight ESUs. After reviewing additional information, including 
biological data on the species' status and an assessment of protective 
efforts, NMFS now concludes that four chinook salmon ESUs warrant 
protection under the ESA. NMFS has determined that Puget Sound chinook 
salmon in Washington, Lower Columbia River chinook salmon in Washington 
and Oregon, and Upper Willamette spring-run chinook salmon in Oregon 
are at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future and will 
be listed as threatened species under the ESA. NMFS also has determined 
that Upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon in Washington are 
in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of 
their range and will be listed as an endangered species.

    With respect to the Central Valley spring-run, Central Valley fall/
late fall-run, and Southern Oregon and California Coastal chinook 
salmon ESUs proposed for listing, NMFS has found that substantial 
scientific disagreement precludes making final determinations and has 
extended the deadline for an additional 6 months to resolve these 
disagreements. Similarly, the proposed revision of the currently listed 
Snake River fall-run chinook salmon ESU to include fall-run chinook 
salmon in the Deschutes River, Oregon, is still under review in order 
to resolve substantial scientific disagreements about the information 
relevant to that determination. The findings regarding substantial 
scientific disagreement and extension of final determination for the 4 
chinook salmon ESUs published in the Proposed Rules section in this 
Federal Register issue.

DATES: Effective May 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Branch Chief, NMFS, Northwest Region, Protected Resources 
Division, 525 N.E. Oregon St., Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-2737; 
Salmon Coordinator, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin at (503) 231-2005, or 
Chris Mobley at (301) 713-1401.