[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16890-16891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8678]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF33


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing and Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Rule for 
Listing Nine Bexar County, Texas Invertebrates as Endangered.

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of extension of comment period and 
announcement of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the 
public comment period is extended and a public hearing will be held on 
the proposed determination of endangered status for nine Bexar County 
invertebrates. The species proposed for listing (63 FR 71855; December 
30, 1998) are Rhadine exilis (no common name) and Rhadine infernalis 
(no common name), small, essentially eyeless ground beetles; Batrisodes 
venyivi (Helotes mold beetle), a small, eyeless mold beetle; Texella 
cokendolpheri (Robber Baron Cave harvestman), a small, eyeless 
harvestman (daddy-longlegs); Cicurina baronia (Robber Baron cave 
spider), Cicurina madla (Madla's cave spider), Cicurina venii (no 
common name), Cicurina vespera (vesper cave spider), and Neoleptoneta 
microps (Government Canyon cave spider), all small eyeless, or 
essentially eyeless, spiders. All interested parties are invited to 
submit comments on this proposal.


[[Page 16891]]


DATES: A public hearing will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on 
April 20, 1999 in San Antonio, Texas. Information displays and an 
opportunity to ask questions will be available from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 
on April 20, 1999. The extended comment period closes May 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing and information displays will be held at 
the Lee High School cafeteria located at 1400 Jackson Keller Road in 
San Antonio, Texas. Written comments and materials concerning the 
proposal should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Ecological Services, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, 
Texas 78758-4460. Comments and materials received will be available for 
public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alisa Shull, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 512-490-0057: facsimile 512-
490-0974).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    These nine invertebrates are obligate cave-dwelling species 
(troglobites) of local distribution in caves in northern Bexar County, 
Texas. The life habits of the species are not well known. They are 
probably predaceous on the eggs, larvae, or adults of other cave 
invertebrates.
    Threats to these species and their habitats include destruction 
and/or deterioration of habitat by commercial, residential, and road 
construction; filling of caves, and loss of permeable cover; potential 
contamination from such things as septic effluent, sewer leaks, run-
off, and pesticides; predation by and competition with non-native fire 
ants; and vandalism.
    In 1994 we began discussions with a coalition of landowners, 
developers, and other interested parties about creating a conservation 
agreement that might preclude the need for listing these species. We 
have been working since then with interested parties to develop a 
conservation strategy and agreement. However, all the details necessary 
to accomplish this goal have not yet been agreed to. These issues 
relate primarily to determining what is needed for species 
conservation, responsibility and commitment for implementation and 
funding, and the amount of time required to implement the conservation 
measures. If these issues are resolved before a final listing decision 
is made, the final listing decision may differ from that proposed for 
some or all of these species.
    Public hearings are designed to gather relevant information the 
public may have that we should consider in determining the status of 
and threats to these species. During the hearing the Service will 
present information about the proposed action of listing the nine Bexar 
County invertebrates as endangered. We invite the public to submit 
information and comments either at the hearing on April 20, 1999, or in 
writing. We request that comments be as specific as possible.
    This hearing will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. In the event there 
are a large number of people who wish to comment, the time allotted for 
oral statements may have to be limited. Persons wishing to comment at 
the hearing are encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement 
at the start of the hearing. There is no limit on the length of written 
comments. Written comments may also be submitted at any time during the 
open comment period and are given equal consideration to oral comments. 
Written comments should be sent to: Supervisor, USFWS, 10711 Burnet 
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758, and must be received by May 31, 
1999.
    From 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., prior to the public hearing, several 
information booths will be set up at the hearing site (see ADDRESSES) 
to allow the public to gather information and ask questions. The best 
time to ask questions or discuss issues will be from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 
at the information displays. Although the Service will present 
information at the beginning of the hearing about the proposed action 
of listing the nine Bexar County invertebrates as endangered, the 
format of the hearing will not allow for questions and answers or two-
way dialogue during the hearing.
    Additional information that would be particularly useful to the 
Service in making a final listing determination includes any additional 
biological data; the location of any additional caves containing these 
species or caves where searches have been conducted and the species not 
found; areas planned for development or other activities that might 
affect any of the nine invertebrates; and existing local, state, or 
Federal regulations that provide protection for these species and their 
habitat.

Author: The primary author of this notice is Christina Longacre 
(see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 512/490-0057: facsimile 512/490-
0974).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: March 29, 1999.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-8678 Filed 4-5-99; 11:55 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P