[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 126 (Friday, June 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 33762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16502]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of an Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the 
Palezone Shiner for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service. Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability 
for public review of a draft recovery plan for the palezone shiner 
(Notropis albizonatus). This small fish occurs in large creeks and 
small rivers in the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. Although 
the palezone shiner was likely once more widespread within the 
Tennessee and Cumberland River systems or drainages, it is presently 
known from only two widely disjunct populations--the Paint Rock River 
(a Tennessee River tributary) in Jackson County, Alabama, and the 
Little South Fork of the Cumberland River in Wayne and McCreary 
Counties, Kentucky. Two other known populations are extirpated. 
Populations of this species have been fragmented by habitat alteration 
(primarily impoundments), and extant populations are impacted by 
deteriorated water quality, primarily resulting from poor land-use 
practices (e.g., agriculture and coal mining). The species' present 
limited distribution also makes it vulnerable to extirpation from 
stochastic events. 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 August 27, 1996 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, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. 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 above address (704/258-3939 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 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, criteria for 
recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and 
initial estimates of time and costs 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 
palezone shiner (Notropis albizonatus). The areas of emphasis for 
recovery actions are the Little South Fork of the Cumberland River in 
the upper Cumberland River basin in south-central Kentucky and the 
Paint Rock River in the Tennessee River system in northeastern Alabama. 
Habitat protection, population augmentation/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: June 21, 1996.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-16502 Filed 6-27-96; 8:45 am]
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