[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35374-35375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16775]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing on Proposed Endangered Status for Three Aquatic Invertebrates 
in Comal and Hays Counties, Texas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that a public 
hearing will be held on the proposed determination of endangered status 
for three aquatic invertebrates: Peck's cave amphipod (Stygobromus 
pecki), Comal Springs riffle beetle (Heterelmis comalensis), and Comal 
Springs dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis). These species are 
known only from springs in Comal County and Hays County, Texas, and, in 
the case of the amphipod and dryopid beetle, the associated aquifer. 
All interested parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: The public hearing will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 
24, 1995, in New Braunfels, Texas. The comment period on this proposal 
closes on August 4, 1995. Comments must be postmarked by the closing 
date to be considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held on July 24, 1995 from 6 p.m. 
to 9 p.m. at the New Braunfels Civic Center, 380 South Seguin Street, 
New Braunfels, Texas. Written comments and materials should be sent 
directly to the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological 
Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 
78758. Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Stanford, Ecologist, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, at the 
above address, telephone: (512) 490-0057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Peck's cave amphipod, Comal Springs riffle beetle, and Comal 
Springs dryopid beetle are restricted in distribution to spring sites 
in Comal and Hays counties, Texas, and, in the case of the latter two 
species, the associated aquifer. Peck's cave amphipod is known from 
Comal Springs and Hueco Springs, both in Comal County. The Comal 
Springs riffle beetle is known from Comal Springs and San Marcos 
Springs (Hays County). The Comal Springs dryopid beetle is known from 
Comal Springs and Fern Bank Springs (Hays County). The water flowing 
out of each of these spring orifices comes from the Edwards Aquifer 
(Balcones Fault Zone--San Antonio Region), which extends from Hays 
County on the east to Kinney County on the west. Comal Springs are 
located in Landa Park, which is owned and operated by the City of New 
Braunfels, and on private property adjacent to Landa Park. Hueco 
Springs and Fern Bank Springs are located on private property. San 
Marcos Springs is located on the property of Aquarena Springs, owned by 
Southwest Texas State University. The primary threat to the habitat of 
these aquatic invertebrates is a decrease in water quantity and quality 
as a result of water withdrawal and other activities by humans 
throughout the San Antonio segment of the Edwards Aquifer.
    A proposal of endangered status for these invertebrates was 
published in the Federal Register (60 FR 29537) on June 5, 1995. 
Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that a public hearing be held if it 
is requested within 45 days of the publication of a proposed rule. On 
June 23, 1995, a request for a public hearing on this proposal was 
received from Mr. David Langford, Executive Vice President of the Texas 
Wildlife Association, San Antonio, Texas. 

[[Page 35375]]

    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a copy of his or her statement at the start of 
the hearing. In the event that there is a large attendance, the time 
allotted for oral statements may have to be limited. There is, however, 
no limit to the length of written comments or materials presented at 
the hearing or mailed to the Service. Oral and written comments receive 
equal consideration.
    The comment period on the proposed rule closes on August 4, 1995. 
Written comments must be postmarked by August 4, 1995, and sent to the 
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

    Author: The primary author of this notice is Ruth A. Stanford, 
Austin Ecological Service Field Office, at the above address.

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; U.S.C. 1531-1543; 16 
U.S.C. 4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, Stat. 3500; unless otherwise 
noted).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
record-keeping requirements, Transportation.

    Dated: June 29, 1995.
Joseph P. Mazzoni,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-16775 Filed 7-6-95; 8:45 am]
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