[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16469]



[[Page 33944]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for 
Higgins' Eye Pearly Mussel, Lampsilis higginsi, 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 (Service) announces 
availability for public review of a technical/agency draft revised 
recovery plan for the endangered Higgins' eye pearly mussel, Lampsilis 
higginsi. This freshwater mussel is known to presently occur in the 
Mississippi River from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, to 
approximately the Iowa-Missouri border, near Keokuk, Iowa, with 
populations also occurring in the Wisconsin River, downstream of 
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin; St. Croix River downstream of Taylors Falls, 
Minnesota-St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; and Rock River below Steel Dam, 
at Milan, Illinois, all tributaries to the Mississippi River. The 
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before August 21, 1998 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Twin Cities Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4101 East 80th Street, Bloomington, 
Minnesota 55125-1665 (telephone 612/725-3548). Written comments and 
materials regarding the plan should be addressed to the Field 
Supervisor at the above address. Comments and materials received will 
be available, by appointment, for public inspection during normal 
business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Gerry Bade, Rock Island Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 4469 48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201 (telephone 
309/793-5800, ext. 520), or contact Mr. Chuck Kjos, Twin Cities Field 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4101 East 80th Street, 
Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1665 (telephone 612/725-3548, ext. 206).

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 Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to prepare recovery 
plans for most of the federally threatened and endangered species 
native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered 
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for the 
recovery levels for upgrading and recovering 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 public notice and 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 document under review revises the original Higgins' eye pearly 
mussel recovery plan, which was approved by the Service in 1983. Since 
1983, additional information on the abundance, distribution, biology, 
and threats to the species has been developed--for example, the species 
is known today to be somewhat more widespread than was known in 1983 
and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), believed today to be a serious 
threat to Higgins' eye pearly mussel, did not invade U.S. waters until 
the late 1980s. Endangered species recovery planning today incorporates 
population concepts and genetic considerations to a greater and more 
developed degree than it did in 1983 and statistical methods for 
analysis of mussel populations have advanced significantly since that 
date. Much recovery work recommended in the 1983 recovery plan remains 
valid and needs to continue, but the recovery plan needs revision to 
reflect current knowledge and information of the species' present 
abundance, distribution, and welfare, as well as actions currently 
needed for its recovery. The draft revised recovery plan updates 
information on Higgins' eye pearly mussel abundance, distribution, 
threats, recommended recovery actions, and recommended criteria for 
reclassification to threatened status and delisting.
    Higgins' eye pearly mussel is known to presently occur in the 
Mississippi River from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, to 
approximately the Iowa-Missouri border, near Keokuk, Iowa, with 
populations also occurring in the St. Croix River downstream of Taylors 
Falls, Minnesota-St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; Wisconsin River downstream 
of Prairie de Sac, Wisconsin; and Rock River below Steel Dam, at Milan, 
Illinois, all tributaries to the Mississippi River. Water quality, 
navigation, past and present habitat alteration, zebra mussels, 
incidental loss via legal and illegal harvest of commercial mussel 
species, natural predation, and loss of genetic variability are 
addressed in the recovery plan. Recovery efforts will concentrate on 
protecting the habitat of areas known to support viable Higgins' eye 
pearly mussel populations and on addressing individually the above 
identified threats.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified will be 
considered prior to approval of the plan. Comments should be sent to 
the Field Supervisor, Twin Cities Field Office, at the above address.

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: June 15, 1998.
John A. Blankenship,
Assistant Regional Director, IL, IN, MO (Ecological Services), Region 
3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 98-16469 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
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