Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Marine and Anadromous Taxa: Additions, Removal, Updates, and Corrections to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are amending the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) by adding several marine taxa, removing one species, and revising the entries of many more in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These amendments are based on previously published determinations by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has jurisdiction for these species.

DATES:

This rule is effective July 23, 2014. For the applicability date for the status of newly listed taxa, see the individual species documents referenced in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Franz, 703-358-2171.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In accordance with the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (35 FR 15627; October 6, 1970), NMFS has jurisdiction over the marine and anadromous taxa specified in this rule. Under section 4(a)(2) of the Act, NMFS must decide whether a species under its jurisdiction should be classified as endangered or threatened. NMFS makes these determinations via its rulemaking process. We, the Service, are then responsible for publishing final rules to amend the List in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11(h).

As described below and set forth at the table in the rule portion of this document, NMFS has published rules regarding each of the species mentioned in this rule. Section 4(a)(2)(A) applies to all of the rules except that for the Steller sea lion (Eastern DPS); with respect to those rules, by publishing this final rule, we are simply taking the necessary administrative step to codify these changes in the CFR 4(a)(2)(B) applies to the NMFS's recommendation to delist the Steller sea lion (Eastern DPS); we have concurred with NMFS's recommendation, and this rule implements that action. In the lists below, DPS stands for distinct population segment, ESU stands for evolutionarily significant unit, and XN stands for nonessential experimental population.

Listings

We are adding the following 16 species to the List based on NMFS final rules:

• Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS), designation of nonessential experimental population (XN) (78 FR 2893; January 15, 2013)
• Seal, bearded (Beringia DPS), as threatened (77 FR 76740; December 28, 2012)
• Seal, bearded (Okhotsk DPS), as threatened (77 FR 76740; December 28, 2012)
• Seal, ringed (Arctic subspecies), as threatened (77 FR 76706; December 28, 2012)
• Seal, ringed (Baltic subspecies), as threatened (77 FR 76706; December 28, 2012)
• Seal, ringed (Ladoga subspecies), as endangered (77 FR 76706; December 28, 2012)
• Seal, ringed (Okhotsk subspecies), as threatened (77 FR 76706; December 28, 2012)
• Whale, false killer (Main Hawaiian Islands Insular DPS), as endangered (77 FR 70915; November 28, 2012)
• Salmon, coho (Central California Coast ESU), reaffirmed as endangered but with range extension (77 FR 19552; April 2, 2012)
• Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Carolina DPS), as endangered (77 FR 5914; February 6, 2012)
• Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Chesapeake Bay DPS), as endangered (77 FR 5880; February 6, 2012)
• Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Gulf of Maine DPS), as threatened (77 FR 5880; February 6, 2012)
• Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; New York Bight DPS), as endangered (77 FR 5880; February 6, 2012)
• Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; South Atlantic DPS), as endangered (77 FR 5914; February 6, 2012)
• Sawfish, largetooth, as endangered (76 FR 40822; July 12, 2011)
• Salmon, coho (Oregon Coast ESU), as threatened with critical habitat (76 FR 35755; June 20, 2011) reaffirming listing (73 FR 7816; February 11, 2008)

Please note: The Oregon Coast coho salmon ESU was listed on August 10, 1998, as threatened (63 FR 42587), but in 2001, the U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, set aside that listing (Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans, 161 F. Supp 2d 1154, (D. Or. 2001)). On February 11, 2008, NMFS listed the Oregon Coast coho salmon ESU as threatened, issued protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act (known as a 4(d) rule), and designated critical habitat (73 FR 7816). As a result of another court challenge (Douglas County v. Balsiger (Civ. No. 08-1547; D. Or. 2008)), NMFS reached a settlement with the litigants and agreed to conduct another status review of the ESU. After conducting the additional status review, NMFS affirmed the status for this ESU by promulgating a rule to supersede its February 11, 2008, listing determination (76 FR 35755; June 20, 2011).

Delisting

We are removing the following species from the List based on a NMFS final rule:

• Sea lion, Steller (Eastern DPS) (78 FR 66140; November 4, 2013)

Critical Habitat

We are adding critical habitat to the following species based on a NMFS final rule:

• Abalone, black (76 FR 66806; October 27, 2011)
• Eulachon, Pacific (Southern DPS) (76 FR 65324; October 20, 2011)
• Whale, beluga (Cook Inlet DPS) (76 FR 20180; April 11, 2011)

Updating

We are updating 42 entries on the List by referencing the respective NMFS Lists at 50 CFR 223.102 or 50 CFR 224.101 in the “Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened” column to make it easier for the public to identify and obtain the current descriptions of the following listed marine taxa:

• Bocaccio (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Eulachon, Pacific (Southern DPS)
• Rockfish, canary (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Rockfish, yelloweye (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Salmon, Atlantic (Gulf of Maine DPS)
• Salmon, Chinook (California Coastal ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Central Valley spring-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Lower Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Puget Sound ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Sacramento River winter-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Snake River fall-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Snake River spring/summer-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Upper Columbia River spring-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Upper Willamette River ESU)
• Salmon, chum (Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, chum (Hood Canal summer-run ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Central California Coast ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Lower Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Oregon Coast ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast ESU)
• Salmon, sockeye (Ozette Lake ESU)
• Salmon, sockeye (Snake River ESU)
• Sawfish, smalltooth (United States DPS)
• Sea lion, Steller (Western DPS)
• Sea turtle, green
• Sea turtle, olive ridley
• Seal, spotted (Southern DPS)
• Steelhead (California Central Valley DPS)
• Steelhead (Central California Coast DPS)
• Steelhead (Lower Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Northern California DPS)
• Steelhead (Puget Sound DPS)
• Steelhead (Snake River Basin DPS)
• Steelhead (South-Central California Coast DPS)
• Steelhead (Southern California DPS)
• Steelhead (Upper Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Upper Willamette River DPS)
• Sturgeon, North American green (Southern DPS)
• Whale, beluga (Cook Inlet DPS)
• Whale, gray (Western North Pacific DPS)
• Whale, killer (Southern Resident DPS)

Correcting

We are updating 53 entries on the List based on NMFS final rules and to make these entries easier to understand for the public. Updates include: corrections to the scientific and common names of species that were either misspelled or omitted in error in previous Federal Register notices; grouping change; corrections to the “Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened” column where previously “NA” was used in error; and, additions to the “Special rules” column for some marine taxa where previously “NA” was used or the rule was not included. Below are the marine taxa for which updates are being applied:

• Abalone, black
• Abalone, white
• Bocaccio (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Coral, elkhorn
• Coral, staghorn
• Dolphin, Indus River
• Eulachon, Pacific (Southern DPS)
• Rockfish, canary (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Rockfish, yelloweye (Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS)
• Salmon, Atlantic (Gulf of Maine DPS)
• Salmon, Chinook (California Coastal ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Central Valley spring-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Lower Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Puget Sound ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Sacramento River winter-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Snake River fall-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Snake River spring/summer-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Upper Columbia River spring-run ESU)
• Salmon, Chinook (Upper Willamette River ESU)
• Salmon, chum (Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, chum (Hood Canal summer-run ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Central California Coast ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Lower Columbia River ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Oregon Coast ESU)
• Salmon, coho (Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast ESU)
• Salmon, sockeye (Ozette Lake ESU)
• Salmon, sockeye (Snake River ESU)
• Sawfish, smalltooth (United States DPS)
• Sea lion, Steller (Western DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (Mediterranean Sea DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Indian Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Pacific Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Atlantic Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Pacific Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean DPS)
• Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southwest Indian Ocean DPS)
• Seal, spotted (Southern DPS)
• Steelhead (California Central Valley DPS)
• Steelhead (Central California Coast DPS)
• Steelhead (Lower Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Northern California DPS)
• Steelhead (Puget Sound DPS)
• Steelhead (Snake River Basin DPS)
• Steelhead (South-Central California Coast DPS)
• Steelhead (Southern California DPS)
• Steelhead (Upper Columbia River DPS)
• Steelhead (Upper Willamette River DPS)
• Sturgeon, North American green (Southern DPS)
• Whale, beluga (Cook Inlet DPS)
• Whale, killer (Southern Resident DPS)

Changes to Common Names

We are changing the presentation of the common names of the following species to conform with the way that NMFS refers to these species:

• “Dolphin, Indus River” will now appear on the List as “Dolphin, South Asian River (Indus River subspecies).”
• “Eulachon, Pacific (Southern DPS)” will now appear on the List as “Eulachon (Southern DPS).”
• “Sea-lion, Steller” will now appear on the List as “Sea lion, Steller (Western DPS).”
• “Seal, Saimaa” will now appear on the List as “Seal, ringed (Saimaa subspecies).”
• “Sturgeon, Gulf” will now appear on the List as “Sturgeon, Atlantic (Gulf subspecies).”
• “Sturgeon, North American green (Southern DPS)” will now appear on the List as “Sturgeon, green (Southern DPS).”
• “Sturgeon, white” will now appear on the List as “Sturgeon, white (Kootenai River DPS).”

Administrative Procedure Act

Because NMFS provided a public comment period on each of the proposed rules for these taxa, we find good cause that the notice and public comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary for this action. We also find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective immediately under publication. The NMFS rules extended protection under the Act to these species and listed them in 50 CFR parts 223 and 224 or designated critical habitat under 50 CFR part 226; this rule is an administrative action to add the species to or update their status on the List in 50 CFR 17.11(h). The public would not be served by delaying the effective date of this rulemaking action.

Required Determinations

National Environmental Policy Act

We have 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. We outlined our reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

Paperwork Reduction Act

We have examined this regulation under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and found it to contain no information collection requirements. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

• Endangered and threatened species
• Exports
• Imports
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Transportation

Regulation Promulgation

Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, unless otherwise noted.

2. Amend § 17.11(h) by:

a. Removing entries under Mammals for Dolphin, Indus River (Platanista minor); both entries for Sea-lion, Steller (Eumetopias jubatus); and Seal, Saimaa (Phoca hispida saimensis);

b. Removing entries under Reptiles for Sea turtle, loggerhead, Mediterranean Sea (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, North Indian Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, North Pacific Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, Northeast Atlantic Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, Northwest Atlantic Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, South Atlantic Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, South Pacific Ocean (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead, Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean (Caretta caretta); and Sea turtle, loggerhead, Southwest Indian Ocean (Caretta caretta);

c. Removing entries under Fishes for Eulachon, Pacific (Southern DPS) (Thaleichthyspacificus); Sturgeon, Gulf (Acipenser oxyrinchus (=oxyrhynchus) desotoi); Sturgeon, North American green (Southern DPS) (Acipensermedirostris); and Sturgeon, white (Acipenser transmontanus);

d. Removing the entry under Clams for Abalone, white (Haliotis sorenseni);

e. Adding entries in alphabetical order under Mammals for Dolphin, South Asian River (Indus River subspecies) (Platanista gangetica minor); Sea lion, Steller (Western DPS) (Eumetopias jubatus); Seal, bearded (Beringia DPS) (Erignathus barbatus nauticus); Seal, bearded (Okhotsk DPS) (Erignathus barbatus nauticus); Seal, ringed (Arctic subspecies) (Phoca (= Pusa) hispida hispida); Seal, ringed (Baltic subspecies) (Phoca (= Pusa) hispida botnica); Seal, ringed (Ladoga subspecies) (Phoca (=Pusa) hispida ladogensis); Seal, ringed (Okhotsk subspecies) (Phoca (=Pusa) hispida ochotensis); Seal, ringed (Saimaa subspecies) (Phoca hispida saimensis); and Whale, false killer (Main Hawaiian Islands Insular DPS) (Pseudorca crassidens);

f. Adding entries in alphabetical order under Reptiles for Sea turtle, loggerhead (Mediterranean Sea DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Indian Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Pacific Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Atlantic Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Pacific Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta); and Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southwest Indian Ocean DPS) (Caretta caretta);

g. Adding entries in alphabetical order under Fishes for Eulachon (Southern DPS) (Thaleichthys pacificus); Salmon, Chinook (Central Valley spring-run ESU—XN) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), to follow the current entry for “Salmon, Chinook (California Coastal ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)”; Sawfish, largetooth (Pristis perotteti); Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS—XN) (Oncorhynchus mykiss), to follow the current entry for “Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss)”; Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Carolina DPS) (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus); Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Chesapeake Bay DPS) (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus); Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; Gulf of Maine DPS) (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus); Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; New York Bight DPS) (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus); Sturgeon, Atlantic (Atlantic subspecies; South Atlantic DPS) (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus); Sturgeon, Atlantic (Gulf subspecies) (Acipenser oxyrinchus (=oxyrhynchus) desotoi); Sturgeon, green (Southern DPS) (Acipenser medirostris); and Sturgeon, white (Kootenai River DPS) (Acipenser transmontanus);

h. Adding an entry in alphabetical order under Snails for Abalone, white (Haliotis sorenseni);

i. Revising entries under Mammals for Seal, spotted (Southern DPS) (Phoca largha); Whale, beluga (Cook Inlet DPS) (Delphinapterus leucas); Whale, gray (Western North Pacific DPS) (Eschrichtius robustus); and Whale, killer (Southern Resident DPS) (Pseudorca crassidens);

j. Revising under Reptiles both entries for Sea turtle, green (Chelonia mydas) and both entries for Sea turtle, olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea);

k. Revising entries under Fishes for Bocaccio (Puget Sound—Georgia Basin DPS) (Sebastes paucispinis); Rockfish, canary (Puget Sound—Georgia Basin DPS) (Sebastes pinniger); Rockfish, yelloweye (Puget sound—Georgia Basin DPS) (Sebastes ruberrimus); Salmon, Atlantic (Gulf of Maine DPS) (Salmo salar); Salmon, Chinook (California Coastal ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Central Valley spring-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Lower Columbia River ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Puget Sound ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Sacramento River winter-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Snake River fall-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Snake River spring/summer-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Upper Columbia River spring-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, Chinook (Upper Willamette River ESU) (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); Salmon, chum (Columbia River ESU) (Oncorhynchus keta); Salmon, chum (Hood Canal summer-run ESU) (Oncorhynchus keta); Salmon, coho (Central California Coast ESU) (Oncorhynchus kisutch); Salmon, coho (Lower Columbia River ESU) (Oncorhynchus kisutch); Salmon, coho (Oregon Coast ESU) (Oncorhynchus kisutch); Salmon, coho (Southern Oregon—Northern California Coast ESU) (Oncorhynchus kisutch); Salmon, sockeye (Ozette Lake ESU) (Oncorhynchus nerka); Salmon, sockeye (Snake River ESU) (Oncorhynchus nerka); Sawfish, smalltooth (United States DPS) (Pristis pectinata); Steelhead (California Central Valley DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Central California Coast DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Lower Columbia River DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Middle Columbia River DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Northern California DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Puget Sound DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Snake River Basin DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (South-Central California Coast DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Southern California DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Steelhead (Upper Columbia River DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss); and Steelhead (Upper Willamette River DPS) (Oncorhynchus mykiss);

l. Revising the entry under Snails for Abalone, Black (Haliotiscracherodii); and

m. Revising the entries under Corals for Coral, elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Coral, staghorn (Acropora cervicornis.)

The additions and revisions read as follows: