[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51481-51482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26094]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the 
Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail (Novisuccinea Chittenangoensis) for 
Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability 
for public review of a draft revised Recovery Plan for the Chittenango 
ovate amber snail (Novisuccinea Chittengangoensis). The Chittenango 
ovate amber snail is a terrestrial species with only one known 
population, which is located in the Chittenango Falls State Park in 
Madison County, New York. It was listed as a threatened species in July 
1978, and the initial recovery plan was completed in March 1983. This 
species was listed due to its rarity and population decline; since 
listing, habitat protection and captive propagation activities have 
been implemented, but the species' status remains exceedingly 
precarious. The primary threat to the Chittenango ovate amber snail is 
considered to be over-competition by an introduced snail, Succiena sp 
B. Additionally, potential threats persist from habitat changes and 
inadvertent human disturbance. The revised recovery objective for this 
species is to stabilize it by maintaining, to the extent possible, the 
extant Chittenango ovate

[[Page 51482]]

amber snail population in its Chittenango Falls habitat while 
establishing or verifying five additional discrete populations in 
protected habitats. The Service solicits review and comment from the 
public on this draft Plan revision.

DATES: Comments on the draft Recovery Plan must be received December 1, 
1997, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft Recovery Plan can obtain 
a copy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region 
Endangered Species Program, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, 
Massachusetts 01035, telephone 413-253-8628. Comments should be sent to 
this address, to the attention of Mary Parkin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Parkin (see Addresses).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem 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, 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 
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 Recovery Plans.
    The document submitted for review is the draft Chittenango Ovate 
Amber Snail (Novisuccinea chittenangoensis) Revised Recovery Plan. 
Since its discovery in 1905, only one extant Chittenango ovate amber 
snail population has been verified, from a site within the Chittenango 
Falls State Park in New York.
    This terrestrial snail requires the cool, mild-temperature, moist 
conditions provided by the spray and mist in its environment. Its 
habitat lies within a ravine at the base of a 167-foot waterfall, and 
the ledges it occupies comprise an early successional sere that is 
periodically rejuvenated to a bare substrate by floodwaters. This snail 
is found on green vegetation such as various mosses, liverworts, and 
other low herbaceous vegetation within the spray zone of the falls.
    The Chittenango ovate amber snail was listed as a threatened 
species in July 1978 based on its rarity and a decline in its 
population, and the initial recovery plan for the species was completed 
in March 1983. Since then, full protection of the snail's habitat has 
been achieved and a captive propagation program is underway, but the 
species' status remains exceedingly precarious. The primary threat to 
the sole wild population of this snail is considered to be over-
competition by an introduced snail, Succinea sp B. Additionally, 
potential threats persist from habitat changes and inadvertent human 
disturbance.
    Due to the pervasive threat posed by the competitor Succinea sp. B, 
delisting of the Chittenango ovate amber snail is not deemed achievable 
at this time. The revised recovery objective for this species, 
therefore, is to stabilize, to the extent possible, the extant 
population at Chittenango Falls while establishing or verifying five 
additional, discrete Chittenango ovate amber snail colonies in 
protected habitats free from the competition of Succinea sp. B. To 
achieve this objective, four major actions need to be implemented: (1) 
continued protection of the species and its habitat and Chittenango 
Falls; (2) acquiring more data on the biological and environmental 
requirements of N. chittenangoensis; (3) enhancing the snail's habitat 
at Chittenango Falls as feasible or appropriate; and (4) as feasible, 
broadening the distribution of the Chittenango ovate amber snail.
    The draft Recovery Plan revision is being submitted for agency 
review. After consideration of comments received during the review 
period, the revised Plan 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 25, 1997.
Ronald E. Lambertson,
Regional Director, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 97-26094 Filed 9-30-97; 8:45 am]
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