[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1196]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Public Hearing and 
Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the 
Appalachian Elktoe

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
a public hearing will be held on the Service's proposal to list the 
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) as an endangered species. 
This mussel is currently limited to short reaches of several streams in 
North Carolina and Tennessee.

DATES: The public hearing will be held February 8, 1994, from 7 p.m. to 
10 p.m. The comment period, which originally closed on November 2, 
1993, is reopened from January 21, 1994, through February 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Asheville Field Office, 330 Ridgefield Court, 
Asheville, North Carolina 28806. The public hearing will be held in the 
auditorium of the Mitchell High School, 217 School Road, Bakersville, 
North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John A. Fridell at the above field 
office address (704/665-1195, Ext. 225).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Appalachian elktoe is endemic only to upper Tennessee River 
drainage in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Historically, 
the species was reported to have been fairly widely distributed in the 
French Broad River, Little River (French Broad River system), Pigeon 
River (French Broad River system), Swannanoa River (French Broad River 
system), Nolichucky River, and Tulula Creek (Little Tennessee River 
system). Presently, the species is known to be surviving in only two 
locations. One population is located in the Little Tennessee River in 
Swain and Macon Counties, North Carolina. The other population is in 
the Nolichucky River, Yancey and Mitchell Counties, North Carolina, and 
Unicoi County, Tennessee and extends a short distance up the Toe River 
in Yancey and Mitchell Counties, North Carolina, and the Cane River in 
Yancey County, North Carolina. The species has been eliminated from the 
majority of its historic range and reduced to short reaches of each of 
these rivers, primarily as a result of impoundments and general 
deterioration of water/habitat quality resulting from siltation and 
other pollutants contributed by poor land use practices and sewage and 
industrial effluents. Many of the same factors that are believed to 
have resulted in the extirpation of historic populations of the 
Appalachian elktoe threaten the two remaining populations.
    On September 3, 1993, the Service published a proposal in the 
Federal Register (58 FR 46940) to list the Appalachian elktoe as an 
endangered species. Section 4(b)(5) of the Endangered Species Act 
provides for a public hearing on a proposed listing if requested within 
45 days of proposed rule publication. The Service received letters 
requesting a public hearing from Mr. Charles F. Stover, Regional 
General Manager, UNIMIN Corporation; Mr. John Overmyer, Safety/
Environmental Director, K-T Feldspar Corporation; and Mr. William 
Condron, Plant Manager, the Feldspar Corporation.
    A public hearing will be held in the auditorium of the Mitchell 
High School, 217 School Road, Bakersville, North Carolina, on February 
8, 1994, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The comment period, which originally 
closed on November 2, 1993, is reopened from January 22, 1994, through 
February 22, 1994.
    Those parties wishing to make a statement for the record are 
encouraged to provide a copy of their statement to the Service at the 
start of the hearing. Oral statements may be limited in length if the 
number of parties present at the hearing necessitates such a 
limitation. There are, however, no limits to the length of written 
comments or materials presented at the hearing or mailed to the 
Service.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Mr. John Fridell, Asheville 
Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield Court, 
Asheville, North Carolina 28806.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531-1544).

    Dated: December 29, 1993.
James W. Pulliam, Jr.,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-1196 Filed 1-19-94; 4:15 pm]
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