[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16533]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 8, 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; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice 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 comment period, which originally closed on April 18, 1994, 
has been reopened and now closes on July 29, 1994. The Service will 
accept comments received between April 18, 1994, and July 29, 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 Supervisor, 
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, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Ecological Services in Austin at the above address 
(telephone 512/482-5436).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Barton 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 comment period on the proposed rule originally closed on April 
18, 1994. The Service finds that good cause exists to reopen the 
comment period. Written comments may now be submitted until July 29, 
1994, to the Service office in the ADDRESSES 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: July 1, 1994.
James A. Young,
Assistant Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16533 Filed 7-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M