[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67618-67619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32546]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for 
a Petition to Delist the Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces a 90-day finding for a 
petition to delist the Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp (Palaemonetes 
cummingi) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We find 
that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial 
information indicating that delisting this Florida species due to 
extinction may be warranted.

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on November 25, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Those having questions, comments, or information concerning 
this petition may send them to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, 
Florida 32216. The petition finding, supporting data, and comments are 
available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours 
at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John F. Milio at the above address 
or telephone 904/232-2580, ext. 112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that we make a finding on 
whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species presents 
substantial scientific or commercial information demonstrating that the 
petitioned action may be warranted. To the maximum extent practicable, 
we will make the finding within 90 days of receipt of the petition, and 
promptly publish the finding in the Federal Register. Following a 
positive finding, we must promptly commence a status review of the 
species.
    The processing of this petition conforms with our current listing 
priority guidance for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, published in the 
Federal Register on May 8, 1998 (63 FR 25502). The guidance gives 
highest priority (Tier 1) to processing emergency rules to add species 
to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists); 
second priority (Tier 2) to processing final determinations on 
proposals to add species to the Lists, processing new proposals to add 
species to the Lists, processing administrative findings on petitions 
(to add species to the Lists, delist species, or reclassify listed 
species), and processing a limited number of proposed or final rules to 
delist or reclassify species; and third priority (Tier 3) to processing 
proposed or final rules designating critical habitat. Processing of 
this petition is a Tier 2 action.
    The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) submitted 
the petition, dated August 5, 1997, which we received on August 8, 
1997. We have made a 90-day finding on this petition to delist the 
Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp, Palaemonetes cummingi.

[[Page 67619]]

    Palaemonetes cummingi is a very rare species, with no more than a 
dozen collections (Chace 1954, Dobkin 1971, Franz 1994b) recorded 
between its discovery in 1953 (Chace 1954) and last observation in 1973 
(Franz 1994b). All collections and observations occurred at Squirrel 
Chimney Cave (Franz 1994a). Squirrel Chimney Cave is a partially water-
filled, solution cavity located on private land near Gainesville, 
Alachua County, Florida (Franz 1994a). Surveys to confirm the species 
continued existence at Squirrel Chimney Cave (Morris and Butt 1992, 
Franz 1994b) and to locate specimens at other nearby underground sites 
(Franz et al. 1994) were unsuccessful. We listed P. cummingi as a 
threatened species on June 21, 1990 (55 FR 25588).
    The petition contends that the failure to locate the species during 
a two-year (1994-1996) status survey, supports its removal from the 
List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The status survey included 
Squirrel Chimney and four additional underground aquatic sites (Doonan 
1997). Except for a 2.5 meter (8 foot) drop in water level, physical 
conditions at Squirrel Chimney remained relatively unchanged since 
Hobbs (1942) discovered the site in the early 1940's. Chemical analysis 
of water samples revealed good overall water quality. The survey 
confirmed the continued presence of redeye chub (Notropis harperi) in 
Squirrel Chimney Cave. Morris and Butt (1992) first documented this 
small, predatory fish within that locality. Its presence may be the 
result of a natural colonization through underwater passageways linked 
to other underground sites. Since the chub is capable in lab situations 
of eating other crustacea the size of Palaemonetes cummingi larvae (L. 
Straub, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, pers. 
comm., 1997, in Doonan 1997), the survey report suggested that this 
fish may be responsible for the apparent absence of the shrimp from 
Squirrel Chimney Cave. Based on survey results and analyses, the GFC 
report indicated that P. cummingi may be extinct. The GFC acknowledges 
that this assessment is not conclusive, because it only surveyed a 
small percentage of potential habitat and it omitted two high priority 
sites from its survey.
    We have reviewed the petition, its supporting information, 
information in our files, other available literature, and consulted 
with species and habitat experts. Using the best scientific and 
commercial information available, we find that the petition does not 
present substantial information indicating that delisting this species 
due to extinction may be warranted.
    We base our finding on the inadequacy of existing information on 
the Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp and its habitat. The GFC status survey 
does not include a number of underground sites the GFC rated as 
ecologically similar to and within about 8 kilometers (5 miles) of 
Squirrel Chimney. These sites are part of the Newberry Limestone Plain 
and characteristic of the karst (limestone) topography of that area 
(Williams et al. 1977). Connections among underground features occur 
frequently in karst topography (Doonan 1997). The emergence of redeye 
chub in Squirrel Chimney and its presence at other nearby underground 
sites suggest that fissures found at Squirrel Chimney actually may 
represent underwater connections to those other sites (Doonan 1997). 
Such passageways may shelter Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp and also 
provide for their dispersal. In addition, the extreme rarity of P. 
cummingi and lack of life history information suggest that its 
detection requires extensive sampling (N. Burkhead, U.S. Geological 
Survey, in litt. 1997). We believe the number of visual and trap 
samples taken during the GFC survey at sites other than Squirrel 
Chimney were too small to provide an accurate assessment of the 
species' status at those sites.
    We continue to seek new information on the Squirrel Chimney cave 
shrimp's biology, ecology, distribution, and habitat, as well as 
threats to its survival. Such information will enable us to work with 
the GFC to correctly assess the species' status and make the best 
recommendations and decisions regarding its conservation, recovery, and 
possible reclassification. We encourage interested parties to send any 
comments, data, or other information involving P. cummingi and its 
habitat to our Jacksonville Field Office listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

References Cited

Chace, F.A., Jr. 1954. Two new subterranean shrimps (Decapoda: 
Caridae) from Florida and the West Indies, with a revised key to the 
American species. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 44(10):318-324.
Dobkin, S. 1971. The larval development of Palaemonetes cummingi 
Chace, 1954 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae), reared in the laboratory. 
Crustaceana 20(3):285-297.
Doonan, T.J. 1997. Survey of Squirrel Chimney and other selected 
caves to determine the status of Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp 
(Palaemonetes cummingi). Final Report No. 7754. Florida Game and 
Fresh Water Fish Commission, Bureau of Nongame Wildlife, Lake City, 
Florida. 42 pp.
Franz, R. 1994a. Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp, Palaemonetes 
cummingi. Pp. 181-182 in Deyrup, M. and R. Franz, eds. Rare and 
Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume IV. Invertebrates. University 
Presses of Florida, Gainesville. 798 pp.
Franz, R. 1994b. Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp survey. Unpublished 
report to Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. 4 pp.
Franz, R., J. Bauer, and T. Morris. 1994. Review of biologically 
significant caves and their fauna in Florida and South Georgia. 
Brimleyana 20:1-109.
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1942. Crayfishes of Florida. Univ. FL. Biol. Sci. 
Ser. 3(2). University of Florida Press, Gainesville. 179 pp.
Morris, T., and P. Butt. 1992. A survey of the population of the 
Florida cave shrimp (Palaemonetes cummingi), other species, and the 
condition of the environment within the Squirrel Chimney cave 
system, Alachua County, Florida. Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Karst Environmental Services, Inc. (December 15, 1992). 
10pp.
Williams, K.E., D. Nicol, and A.F. Randazzo. 1977. The geology of 
the western part of Alachua County, Florida. Report of 
Investigations No. 85, Florida Bureau of Geology, Tallahassee, FL. 
98 pp.

    Author: The primary author of this document is John F. Milio, 
Jacksonville Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: November 25, 1998.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32546 Filed 12-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P