[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47962-47963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22952]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Cave 
Crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum) 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 Cave 
crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum). The cave crayfish is only known from two 
cave streams in Benton County, northwest Arkansas. One of the caves 
(Logan) is federally owned as part of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System while the other 

[[Page 47963]]
cave (Bear Hollow) is privately owned. The surrounding watershed and 
recharge area of both caves is in private ownership. This species is 
listed as endangered without critical habitat. 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 November 30, 1995, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 
39213. 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:
Ms. Theresa Jacobson at the above address (601/965-4900).

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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 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 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), 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 species considered in this draft recovery plan is Cambarus 
aculabrum. This cave crayfish inhabits streams and pools located in two 
Ozarkian solution channels (caves) in the Mississippian cherty-
limestone Boone Formation of Benton county, Arkansas. Cave crayfish 
(troglobites) are highly specialized for living in stable cave 
environments with low light and low temperatures and as such are unable 
to cope with changes in their habitats that may be induced by human 
activities. The cave crayfish was listed as endangered in 1993 due to 
its limited distribution, with only two known populations containing a 
small number of individuals; its limited reproductive potential; the 
potential for take by humans; and threat of water quality degradation.
    The objective of this proposed plan is reclassification of the cave 
crayfish to threatened status. Reclassification will be considered when 
the two known populations are self-sustaining and are protected to the 
degree that they are secure from present or foreseeable threats. 
Actions needed to reach this goal include: (1) protecting populations 
and habitat, (2) educating the public on sensitivity of groundwater and 
fauna to pollution, (3) monitoring populations and habitat, including 
water quality, (4) searching for additional populations, (5) studying 
species biology, and (6) monitoring and studying troglophilic 
competitors and predators (non-obligate cave inhabitants).
    This Plan is being submitted for agency review. After consideration 
of comments received during the review period, it will be submitted for 
final approval.

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: September 11, 1995.
Paul Hartfield,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-22952 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am]
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