[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19739-19740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10463]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Oregon Chub for Review 
and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of draft recovery plan availability.

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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 Oregon chub 
(Oregonichthys crameri). The species occurs in backwaters, sloughs, and 
flooded wetlands in the Willamette River Valley of western Oregon. The 
Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments received by June 22, 1998 will be considered by the 
Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Oregon State 
Office, 2600 S.E. 98th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon, 97266; 
phone (503) 231-6179. Written comments on the plan should be addressed 
to the State 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: Cat Brown, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address.

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

[[Page 19740]]

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 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 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 Oregon chub, which was listed as endangered in 1993, is a small 
fish that occurs only in western Oregon's Willamette River Valley. The 
species evolved in slack water off-channel habitats such as beaver 
ponds, oxbows, side channels, backwater sloughs, low gradient 
tributaries, and flooded marshes. In the last 80 years, backwater and 
off-channel habitats have disappeared because of changes in seasonal 
flows resulting from the construction of dams throughout the basin, 
channelization of the Willamette River and its tributaries, and 
agricultural practices. Current threats to Oregon chub include 
continued habitat alteration; the proliferation of non-native fish and 
amphibians; accidental chemical spills; runoff from herbicide or 
pesticide application on farms or along roadways, railways, and 
powerline rights-of way; desiccation of habitats; unauthorized water 
withdrawals, diversions, or fill and removal activities; and siltation 
resulting from timber harvesting in the watershed.
    The recovery plan calls for restoration and protection of habitat 
for the Oregon chub mainly on public lands throughout the Mainstem 
Willamette, Middle Fork Willamette and Santiam Rivers. When completed, 
the plan will guide the actions of all Federal and State agencies whose 
actions affect the conservation of the Oregon chub.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the draft 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).
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-10463 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
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