[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 250 (Friday, December 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32186]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery 
Plan for the Relict Darter for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the relict 
darter. The relict darter is apparently endemic to the Bayou du Chien 
drainage. Within this drainage the fish is now known from five sites in 
Graves and Hickman Counties, Kentucky, and it is known to spawn in only 
one Bayou due Chien tributary in Graves County. The species has been 
and continues to be impacted by water quality and habitat deterioration 
resulting from channel dredging, siltation contributed by poor land use 
practices, and by other water pollutants. The fish's limited 
distribution also makes it vulnerable to toxic chemical spills. The 
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be 
received on or before February 28, 1995 to receive consideration by the 
Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the 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. 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. Richard Biggins at the address at telephone number shown above 
(Ext. 228).

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 to implement 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 
relict darter (Etheostoma chienense). The area of emphasis for recovery 
is the Bayou du Chien drainage in Graves and Hickman Counties, 
Kentucky. The protection of this only existing population, 
reestablishment of spawning populations in other tributaries, life 
history studies, habitat restoration, and public education are among 
the management actions outlined in the 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: December 21, 1994.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-32186 Filed 12-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M