[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46818-46819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22602]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Alabama 
Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) 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 Alabama 
cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). The albinistic Alabama cave shrimp 
has been found in five caves (three cave systems) near the city of 
Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. One cave is found on the Redstone 
Arsenal, an army installation, while the other four caves are privately 
owned. 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 15, 1996, 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, ext. 30).

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

[[Page 46819]]

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 the Alabama 
cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). The Alabama cave shrimp is a small, 
colorless, and nearly transparent decapod crustacean up to 30 
millimeters (1.2 inches) in total length. The shrimp occurs in pools of 
water in a cave environment. In caves with high energy flows, the 
shrimp must have access through cave windows (openings) to calmer 
groundwater habitat. This species was listed as endangered on September 
7, 1988. Available information indicates the overall population may be 
declining and the shrimp is apparently extirpated from Shelta Cave, the 
type locality. Groundwater contamination represents the major threat to 
this cave-dwelling species. Other threats include destruction of 
habitat, collecting, and predation.
    The objective of this proposed plan is reclassification of the 
Alabama cave shrimp to threatened status. Reclassification will be 
considered when five reproducing populations have been identified and 
protected in five groundwater basins, and the populations persist in 
these basins, as evidenced by monitoring, over a 20-year period. Proper 
public stewardship of groundwater and surface water quality and 
quantity surrounding the five populations is essential for recovery. 
Actions needed to reach this goal--1) protecting populations and 
habitat, 2) encouraging local stewardship for caves and recharges areas 
through education, 3) monitoring populations, 4) searching for 
additional populations, 5) studying species biology, and 6) modifying 
or replacing gated entrance to Shelta cave.
    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: August 29, 1996.
Cary Norquist,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-22602 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
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