12-Month Findings on Petitions to List Spring-run Oregon Coast Chinook Salmon and Spring-run Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal Chinook Salmon as Threatened or Endangered

We, NOAA Fisheries, announce 12-month findings on two petitions to list populations of spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) as threatened or endangered Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listings. We have completed a comprehensive analysis of Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal spring-run Chinook salmon populations in response to the petitions. Based on the best scientific and commercial data available, including the ESU configuration report, we have determined that listing the Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal spring-run Chinook salmon populations as threatened or endangered ESUs is not warranted. We determined that the Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal spring-run Chinook salmon populations do not meet the ESU policy criteria to be considered ESUs separate from the Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal fall-run Chinook salmon populations. We also announce the availability of the ESU configuration report that was used to inform our determination.