[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71424-71425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34213]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and availability of
draft conservation agreement.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that
the public comment period on the proposal to list the Pecos pupfish
(Cyprinodon pecosensis) as an endangered species is reopened. The
Service, in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Game and
Fish, New Mexico State Parks Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, and Bureau of Reclamation, has formulated a draft
Conservation Agreement that may provide significant new information
concerning the threats to the survival of the species. The reopening of
the comment period will allow all interested parties to submit comments
on the proposal and the draft Conservation Agreement. The draft
Conservation Agreement is available for
[[Page 71425]]
review (see ADDRESSES), and we are seeking comments or suggestions from
the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific
community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning the
proposed rule and the draft Conservation Agreement.
DATES: The comment period for this proposal is reopened and will close
on January 27, 1999. All comments on the proposal and the draft
Conservation Agreement will be accepted through January 27, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to the Field
Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Comments and materials received will be
available for public inspection during normal business hours, by
appointment, at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Fowler-Propst, Field
Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, at the above
address (505) 346-2525. A copy of the draft Conservation Agreement for
the Pecos pupfish can be requested by writing to the above address or
calling (800) 299-0196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Pecos pupfish was proposed for listing as an endangered species
on January 30, 1998 (63 FR 4608). A public hearing on the proposal was
held in Carlsbad, New Mexico on April 9, 1998. During the extended
public comment period (January 30 to November 20, 1998), we contacted
State and Federal land and resource management agencies in New Mexico
and Texas to determine if adequate protections could be implemented
through a Conservation Agreement. The draft Conservation Agreement
formulated by these agencies is available for public review (see
ADDRESSES). The Agreement and any comments received concerning it will
be fully considered by the Service in determining if the threats upon
which the proposal to list the species was based have been sufficiently
addressed.
The draft Conservation Agreement sets forth the commitments of
State and Federal agencies to control nonnative competing species and
to protect and manage the Pecos pupfish and its habitat to ensure its
survival and promote its conservation. The Agreement addresses the
significant threats to the species arising from its small, isolated
populations and from the potential for hybridization with the
sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). The signatory agencies to
the Agreement have made commitments to protect known extant populations
of pure Pecos pupfish, expand the distribution of the species within
its native range by establishing new populations, and to prohibit the
use of sheepshead minnow through revision of baitfish regulations in
New Mexico and Texas. If these commitments are adequate in removing the
identified threats to the Pecos pupfish, listing of the species may not
be required.
Author
The primary author of this document is Jennifer Fowler-Propst, New
Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1532 et seq.).
Dated: December 18, 1998.
Renne Lohoefener,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34213 Filed 12-24-98; 8:45 am]
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