[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 115 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31444-31445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14634]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD 22


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of the 
Comment Period on Proposed Critical Habitat Determination for Woundfin, 
Virgin River Chub, and Virgin Spinedace

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of the comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
the comment period is reopened on the proposal to designate critical 
habitat for woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus) and Virgin River chub 
(Gila seminuda = G. robusta seminuda), two species of fish federally 
listed as endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act), and 
for Virgin spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis mollispinis), a species 
proposed for listing as threatened under the Act. All three species of 
fish are endemic to the Virgin River Basin of southwestern Utah, 
northwestern Arizona, and southeastern Nevada. Comments received during 
the entire comment period, April 5 to June 20, 1995, will be considered 
before finalizing the designation of critical habitat.

DATES: The comment period, which originally closed on June 5, 1995, 
will now close on June 20, 1995. The comment period has been extended 
due to several requests from the public.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Salt Lake City Field Office, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Lincoln 
Plaza, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Comments and materials received will 
be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the above address. Copies of comments and materials 
received also will be available for public inspection at the Washington 
County Public Library in St. George, Utah.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor, at the above 
address, telephone (801) 524-5001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The woundfin, Virgin River chub and Virgin spinedace are endemic to 
the Virgin River Basin. The Virgin River originates in south-central 
Utah, running in a southwest direction from Utah, to northwestern 
Arizona, and southeastern Nevada for approximately 320 kilometers (km) 
(200 miles (mi)) before emptying into Lake Mead. The Virgin River 
populations of these fishes have declined due to the cumulative effects 
of environmental impacts that resulted in habitat loss including: 
Dewatering from numerous diversions, proliferation of nonactive fishes, 
alterations to natural flow, temperature, and sediment regimes.
    There is considerable overlap in critical habitat proposed for the 
three species, and the proposed designation includes 330.8 km (206.8 
mi) of the Virgin River in portions of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. The 
Service proposes 151.7 km (94.8 mi) of critical habitat for the 
woundfin (approximately 13.5 percent of its historical range); 151.7 km 
(94.8 mi) for the Virgin River chub (70.8 percent of its historical 
range, excluding the range historically occupied by the Muddy River 
form); and 201.9 km (126.2 mi) for the Virgin spinedace (87.3 percent 
of its historical range).
    The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the three 
fishes was published on April 5, 1995 (60 FR 17296). A public hearing 
was held on [[Page 31445]] May 8, 1995, in St. George, Utah. No further 
public hearings will be held.

Author

    The primary authors of this notice are Susan C. Linner and Robert 
D. Williams of the Service's Salt Lake City Field Office (see 
ADDRESSES).

Authority

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

    Dated: June 8, 1995.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado, Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14634 Filed 6-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M