[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54682-54683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15438]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's Snail Erinna newcombi

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the 
availability of a Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's snail (Erinna 
newcombi). This aquatic snail is listed as threatened (65 FR 4162) and 
is endemic to the Hawaiian Island of Kaua`i.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Recovery Plan are available by request from 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/792-9400); and the Hawaii State Library, 478 S. 
King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. An electronic copy of the recovery 
plan is available on the world wide Web at: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorena Wada, Invertebrate Program 
Supervisor, at the above Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office 
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. The 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Recovery 
plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered 
necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria 
for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and 
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
    Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery 
plan development. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Draft 
Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's Snail (Erinna newcombi) was available 
for public comment from March 24, 2004, through May 24, 2004 (69 FR 
13868). Information presented during the public comment period has been 
considered in the preparation of this recovery plan, and is summarized 
in the appendix to the recovery plan. We will forward substantive 
comments regarding recovery plan implementation to appropriate Federal 
or other entities so that they can take these comments into account 
during the course of implementing recovery actions.
    Newcomb's snail is an aquatic snail known to occur at 10 small 
locations in streams and springs located in 6 watersheds found in the 
mountainous interior of the Hawaiian Island of Kau[revaps]i. Newcomb's 
snail is a type of freshwater snail belonging to the lymnaeid family of 
snails. Adult Newcomb's snails are approximately 6 millimeters (0.25 
inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide. Three of the six 
watersheds containing sites where Newcomb's snails occur are privately 
owned; the remaining sites are located on State of Hawaii lands.
    Some of the historical decline of the snail may be attributed to 
habitat loss and degradation through water diversion and well drilling. 
In addition, predation by alien species, natural disasters, and habitat 
alteration are threats that imperil the Newcomb's snail. Presently, 
Newcomb's snail faces an increased likelihood of extinction from 
naturally occurring events due to the small number of remaining 
populations and their limited distribution. Significant habitat 
destruction through reduction or

[[Page 54683]]

elimination of stream or spring flow could destroy an entire population 
of Newcomb's snail, and natural disasters such as hurricanes or 
catastrophic landslides could also destroy vital habitat.
    The objective of this recovery plan is to ensure the long-term 
conservation, recovery, and eventual delisting of the species. This 
recovery will be accomplished through a variety of recovery actions 
including: (1) Conducting research on the population biology and life 
history of the Newcomb's snail; (2) analysis and potential prevention 
of predation and other forms of negative interspecific interactions 
that may limit or reduce Newcomb's snail populations; (3) assurance of 
adequate stream and spring flows to protect known and potential 
Newcomb's snail habitat; (4) making recovery of Newcomb's snail a part 
of other landscape conservation efforts, such as preservation of the 
structure and function of upland forests that maintain and regulate 
surface run-off to streams and act as areas of infiltration for ground 
water; (5) using initial recovery efforts and research to periodically 
validate recovery objectives; and (6) providing educational 
informational opportunities to build public support for conservation.

Authority

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

    Dated: May 4, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-15438 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P