[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72307-72308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6759]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Final Recovery Plan for Six Mobile 
Basin Aquatic Snails

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability 
of the final recovery plan for six Mobile Basin aquatic snails. The six 
snails included in the recovery plan are: the endangered cylindrical 
lioplax (Lioplax cyclostomaformis), flat pebblesnail (Lepyriam 
showalteri), and plicate rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla); and the threatened 
painted rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata), round rocksnail (Leptoxis 
ampla), and lacy elimia (Elimia crenatella). All are endemic to the 
Mobile River Basin (Basin) where they inhabit shoals, rapids and 
riffles of large streams and rivers above the Fall Line. All six 
species have disappeared from more than 90 percent of their historic 
ranges as a result of impoundment, channelization, mining, dredging, 
and pollution from point and non-point sources. The final recovery plan 
includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order 
to reclassify (downlist) the cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and 
plicate rocksnail to threatened species and for the eventual delisting 
of all six species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act).

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of this recovery plan by contacting 
the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood 
View Parkway, Jackson, MS 39213 (telephone 601/965-4900), or by 
visiting our recovery plan Web site at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hartfield (telephone 601/321-
1125).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 28, 1998, (63 FR 57610), we listed six aquatic snails, 
in the Mobile River Basin, as threatened (painted rocksnail, round 
rocksnail, lacy elimia) or endangered (cylindrical lioplax, flat 
pebblesnail, plicate rocksnail) under the Act. These six snails are 
endemic to portions of the Mobile River Basin in central Alabama. The 
cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and round rocksnail are found in 
the Cahaba River drainage; the lacy elimia and painted rocksnail are in 
the Coosa River drainage; and the plicate rocksnail is in the Black 
Warrior River drainage. These snails require rock, boulder, or cobble 
substrates and clean, unpolluted water and are found on shoals and 
riffles of large streams and rivers. Impoundment and water quality 
degradation have eliminated the six snails from 90 percent or more of 
their historic habitat. Known populations are restricted to small 
portions of stream drainages. These surviving populations are currently 
threatened by pollutants such as sediments and nutrients that wash into 
streams from the land surface.
    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 endangered species program. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans for most listed 
species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery 
measures.
    The Act 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 requires us to provide 
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during 
recovery plan development. A notice of availability of the technical 
agency draft recovery plan for six Mobile Basin aquatic snails was 
published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2005 (70 FR 2879). A 
60-day comment period was opened with the notice, closing on March 21, 
2005. We received comments from two interested parties. Comments and 
information submitted were considered in the preparation of this final 
plan and, where appropriate, incorporated.
    The cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and plicate rocksnail, 
will be considered for reclassification to threatened status when the 
following criteria are met:
    1. The existing population has been shown to be stable or 
increasing over a period of 10 years (2 to 5 generations). This may be 
measured by numbers/area, catch per unit/effort, or other methods 
developed through population monitoring, and must be demonstrated 
through annual monitoring.
    2. There are no apparent or immediate threats to the listed 
population (see Listing/Recovery Criteria, below).
    3. A captive population has been established at an appropriate 
facility, and the species has been successfully propagated.
    4. A minimum of two additional populations have been established 
(or discovered) within historic range.
    The lacy elimia, round rocksnail, painted rocksnail, cylindrical 
lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and plicate rocksnail will be considered for 
delisting when:
    1. A minimum of three natural or re-established populations have 
been shown to be persistent (i.e., stable or increasing) for a period 
of 10 years (2 to 5 generations).
    2. There are no apparent or immediate threats to the populations 
(see Listing/Recovery Factor Criteria, below).

[[Page 72308]]

    The objective of this final plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of these six aquatic snails so that protection under the Act 
is no longer necessary. As reclassification and recovery criteria are 
met, the status of these species will be reviewed and they will be 
considered for reclassification or removal from the Federal List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR part 17).

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

    Dated: September 8, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E5-6759 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
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