Endangered and Threatened Species; West Coast Pink Salmon Petition Determination

NMFS has determined that neither Elwha River nor lower Dungeness River pink salmon, as petitioned, constitute a ``species'' under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). However, Elwha River and lower Dungeness River pink salmon are part of a larger evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) that includes all odd-year pink salmon stocks in Washington as far west as the Elwha River and in southern British Columbia, Canada (including the Fraser River and eastern Vancouver Island), as far north as Johnstone Strait. Further, NMFS has identified a second pink salmon ESU which includes even-year pink salmon residing in the Snohomish River, WA. NMFS has determined that, at the present time, neither of these ESUs warrant listing as a threatened or endangered species.