[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57003-57004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15795]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Approved Recovery Plan for the Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
availability of the approved recovery plan for the Hungerford's 
crawling water beetle (Brychius hungerfordi), a species that is 
federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act).

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by any of the 
following means:
    1. World Wide Web: http://midwest.fws.gov/endangered; or
    2. U.S. mail or in-person pickup: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, 
Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 48823-6316.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Tansy, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES), or by telephone at (517) 351-2555, extension 289. TTY users 
may contact Ms. Tansy through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals or plants is a primary 
goal of our endangered species program. Recovery plans describe actions 
considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establish 
criteria for delisting species, and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 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, as 
amended in 1988, requires that we provide public notice and opportunity 
for public review and comment during recovery plan development. We 
announced availability of our draft recovery plan in the Federal 
Register on August 6, 2004 (69 FR 47950) and requested public comments. 
The comment period closed on September 7, 2004. In our preparation of 
the approved recovery plan, we considered information provided to us 
during the comment period, and we have summarized this information in 
an appendix to the recovery plan. A new population of the species was 
discovered since the publication of our draft plan in 2004. However, 
the information about this new population has resulted in only a slight 
shift in our recovery strategy for the species.
    Hungerford's crawling water beetle was listed as endangered on 
March 7, 1994 (59 FR 10580). At the time of listing, this species was 
known to occur in only three streams--two in Michigan and one in 
Ontario, Canada. Since then, the species has been discovered in three 
additional streams in northern Michigan. The distribution of this 
species prior to its discovery in 1952 is not known. Currently, only 
one stream is known to support a large population of the species. 
Hungerford's crawling water beetle is an aquatic species that is found 
in areas of streams with good aeration, moderate to fast flow, 
inorganic substrate, and alkaline water conditions, often downstream 
from culverts, beaver and natural debris dams, and human-made 
impoundments. Very little information is available on the life history 
and habitat requirements of this species. Threats appear to be related 
to habitat alteration and degradation of water quality, and may include 
habitat modification, certain fish management activities, and human 
disturbance. Factors limiting the species' distribution are not known. 
The small populations and limited distribution of Hungerford's crawling 
water beetle make it vulnerable to chance demographic and environmental 
events. The recovery plan recommends research to examine important 
components of the species' biology and ecology that will contribute to 
the recovery program.
    The objective of the recovery plan is to provide a framework for 
the recovery of Hungerford's crawling water beetle so that protection 
by the Act is no longer necessary. We may consider Hungerford's 
crawling water beetle for reclassification from Endangered to 
Threatened status when the likelihood of the species becoming extinct 
in the foreseeable future has been eliminated by achievement of the 
following interim criteria: (1) Life history, ecology, population 
biology, and habitat requirements are understood well enough to fully 
evaluate threats; and (2) a minimum of five U.S. populations, in at 
least three different watersheds, have had stable or increasing 
populations for at least 10 years, and at least one population is 
considered viable.
    We will consider Hungerford's crawling water beetle for delisting 
when the likelihood of the species becoming threatened in the 
foreseeable future has been eliminated by the achievement of the 
following interim criteria: (1) Habitat necessary for long-term 
survival and recovery has been identified and conserved; and (2) a 
minimum of five U.S. populations, in at least three different 
watersheds, are sufficiently secure and adequately managed to assure 
long-term viability. The recovery criteria are interim because further 
research is needed to make them fully measurable. As new information 
about the species becomes available, and if new populations of the 
species are discovered, the recovery criteria will be revised. 
Additional details on downlisting and delisting criteria are available 
in the recovery plan.
    We will meet these criteria through the following actions: (1) 
Conserve known sites; (2) conduct scientific research to facilitate 
recovery; (3) conduct additional surveys and monitor existing sites; 
(4) develop and implement public education and outreach; (5) revise 
recovery criteria and

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recovery tasks, as appropriate, based on research and new information; 
and (6) develop a plan to monitor B. hungerfordi after it is delisted.

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

    Dated: September 15, 2006.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E6-15795 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
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