[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19040]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 4, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Carolina 
Heelsplitter for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service. Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery 
plan for Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata). This rare 
freshwater mussel inhabits cool, slow-moving, small- to medium-sized 
streams and rivers. The Carolina heelsplitter currently has a very 
fragmented, relict distribution but historically was known from several 
locations within the Catawaba River and Pee Dee River systems in North 
Carolina and the Saluda and Pee Dee River systems in South Carolina. 
The species is presently know to be surviving in only four streams--
Waxhaw Creek (Catawba River system) Union County, North Carolina; Goose 
Creek (Pee Dee River system), Union County, North Carolina; Lynches 
River (Pee Dee River system), Chesterfield, Lancaster, and Kershaw 
Counties, South Carolina; and Flat Creek (Pee Dee River system), a 
tributary to the Lynches River in Lancaster County, South Carolina. It 
has been reduced to a few short reaches of each of these streams, 
primarily as a result of impoundments and general deterioration of 
water quality resulting from siltation and other pollutants contributed 
by poor land use practices. The Service solicits review and comment 
from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before October 3, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the agency draft recovery plan may 
obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, North Carolina 28806 
(Telephone 704/665-1195). Written comments and materials regarding the 
plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above address. 
Comments and materials received are available on request for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. John Fridell at the address and telephone number shown above (Ext. 
225).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species 
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to 
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the 
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for recognizing the 
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time 
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, 
requires that a public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will 
consider all information presented during a public comment period prior 
to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The primary species considered in this draft recovery plan is the 
Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata). The area of emphasis for 
recovery actions is the upper Catawba River and Pee Dee River systems 
in south-central North Carolina and north-central South Carolina and 
the Saluda River system in northwestern South Carolina Habitat 
protection, reintroduction, and preservation of genetic material are 
major objectives of this recovery plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered prior to approval of the plan.


    Authority: The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: July 29, 1994.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-19040 Filed 8-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M