[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52679-52680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26791]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE31


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the Illinois Cave 
Amphipod

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
the comment period is reopened on the proposal to list the Illinois 
cave amphipod (Gammarus acherondytes) as endangered, pursuant to 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Service is reopening 
the comment period to allow members of the public additional time to 
submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: The reopened comment period on the proposal will close on 
December 8, 1997. Comments must be received by the Service on or before 
that date in order to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning the proposal should be 
sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field 
Office, 4469 48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection by 
appointment during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Nelson, Field Supervisor, 
Illinois Field Office (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 309/793-5800; 
facsimile 309/793-5804).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 28, 1997, the Service proposed to add the Illinois cave 
amphipod (amphipod) to the list of endangered and threatened animals 
(62 CFR 40319). The amphipod is historically known from six underground 
cave streams in St. Clair and Monroe Counties in southwestern Illinois. 
Recent searches for the amphipod indicate that it may exist in only 
three cave streams in Monroe County, all within a 10-mile radius of 
Waterloo, Illinois. The cause of the amphipod's decline in geographic 
range and in the number of populations is believed to be deteriorating 
water quality in the cave streams which it

[[Page 52680]]

inhabits. Surface pollutants can readily enter the cave stream systems 
by way of sinkholes that directly connect the land surface to the 
underground cave systems. Agricultural chemicals and effluent from 
improperly installed or maintained residential septic and sewage 
systems likely are the primary pollutants affecting subsurface water 
quality and the health of the amphipod.
    The comment period for the proposal ended on September 26, 1997. 
During that comment period the Service received requests for an 
extension of the comment period from the Illinois Farm Bureau 
Federation, the St. Clair County Farm Bureau Federation, the Growmark 
Corporation, and Congressman Jerry F. Costello. The Service recognizes 
that seasonal agricultural activities may have made it difficult for 
some interested and potentially affected parties to prepare and submit 
timely comments on the proposal. Therefore, the Service is reopening 
the comment period for another 60 days to provide all interested 
parties a reasonable opportunity to submit comments.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Ronald L. Refsnider, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 
1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056 (612/725-3536 ext. 
241 or fax 612/725-3526).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

    Dated: October 1, 1997.
John A. Blankenship,
Assistant Regional Director, Region 3, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 97-26791 Filed 10-8-97; 8:45 am]
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