[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 101 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12846]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC22

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period and Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Endangered 
Status for the Barton Springs Salamander

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that a 
public hearing will be held on the proposed determination of endangered 
status for the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and that the 
comment period on the proposal is reopened. This salamander is found 
only in Barton Springs, Travis County, Texas. All interested parties 
are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: the public hearing will be held in two sessions, from 1 p.m. to 
4:30 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., on June 16, 1994, in Austin, 
Texas. The comment period, which originally closed on April 18, 1994, 
has been reopened and now closes on July 1, 1994. The Service will 
accept comments received between April 18, 1994 and July 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Both sessions of the public hearing will be held at the 
Lyndon Baines Johnson Auditorium, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library 
Complex, 2315 Red River Street, University of Texas campus, Austin, 
Texas. Written comments and materials should be sent to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 611 
East 6th Street, room 407, Austin, Texas 78701. Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lisa O'Donnell, Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin 
Ecological Services Field Office, at the above address (telephone 512/
482-5436).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Baron Springs salamander is completely aquatic and currently 
known only from Barton Springs in Travis County, Texas. The salamander 
is threatened by contamination of the waters that feed Barton Springs, 
reduced groundwater supplies, and disturbances to its surface habitat 
in the pools where it is found (such as use of chemicals and high 
pressure hoses for pool cleaning).
    On February 17, 1994, the Service published a proposed rule in the 
Federal Register (59 FR 7968) to list the Barton Springs salamander as 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a 
public hearing be held if requested within 45 days of the proposal's 
publication in the Federal Register. The first public hearing request 
received within the allotted time period came from Mr. Jon Beall, 
President of the Save Barton Creek Association, Austin, Texas. Several 
other hearing requests were subsequently received.
    The Service has scheduled the requested hearing in two sessions, 
from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., on June 16, 1994, 
at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Auditorium, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library 
Complex, 2315 Red River Street, University of Texas campus, Austin, 
Texas. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement at the start of 
the hearing. So that everyone has the opportunity to make an oral 
statement, each person who wishes to do so should make their statement 
at only one of the sessions. In the event there is a large attendance, 
the time allotted for oral statements may have to be limited. Oral and 
written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits to 
the length of written comments presented at this hearing or mailed to 
the Service.
    The comment period on the proposed rule originally closed on April 
18, 1994. The Service finds that good cause exists to reopen the 
comment period to accommodate the hearing. Written comments may now be 
submitted until July 1, 1994, to the Service office in the ADDRESS 
section. The Service will also accept comments received between April 
18, 1994, and the publication date of this notice.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Lisa O'Donnell (see 
ADDRESSES).

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.1531 et seq.).

    Dated: May 20, 1994.
John Cross,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-12846 Filed 5-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M