[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52679-52680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26791]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AE31
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of
Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the Illinois Cave
Amphipod
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that
the comment period is reopened on the proposal to list the Illinois
cave amphipod (Gammarus acherondytes) as endangered, pursuant to
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Service is reopening
the comment period to allow members of the public additional time to
submit comments on this proposal.
DATES: The reopened comment period on the proposal will close on
December 8, 1997. Comments must be received by the Service on or before
that date in order to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning the proposal should be
sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field
Office, 4469 48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois. Comments and
materials received will be available for public inspection by
appointment during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Nelson, Field Supervisor,
Illinois Field Office (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 309/793-5800;
facsimile 309/793-5804).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 28, 1997, the Service proposed to add the Illinois cave
amphipod (amphipod) to the list of endangered and threatened animals
(62 CFR 40319). The amphipod is historically known from six underground
cave streams in St. Clair and Monroe Counties in southwestern Illinois.
Recent searches for the amphipod indicate that it may exist in only
three cave streams in Monroe County, all within a 10-mile radius of
Waterloo, Illinois. The cause of the amphipod's decline in geographic
range and in the number of populations is believed to be deteriorating
water quality in the cave streams which it
[[Page 52680]]
inhabits. Surface pollutants can readily enter the cave stream systems
by way of sinkholes that directly connect the land surface to the
underground cave systems. Agricultural chemicals and effluent from
improperly installed or maintained residential septic and sewage
systems likely are the primary pollutants affecting subsurface water
quality and the health of the amphipod.
The comment period for the proposal ended on September 26, 1997.
During that comment period the Service received requests for an
extension of the comment period from the Illinois Farm Bureau
Federation, the St. Clair County Farm Bureau Federation, the Growmark
Corporation, and Congressman Jerry F. Costello. The Service recognizes
that seasonal agricultural activities may have made it difficult for
some interested and potentially affected parties to prepare and submit
timely comments on the proposal. Therefore, the Service is reopening
the comment period for another 60 days to provide all interested
parties a reasonable opportunity to submit comments.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Ronald L. Refsnider,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building,
1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056 (612/725-3536 ext.
241 or fax 612/725-3526).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C.
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.
Dated: October 1, 1997.
John A. Blankenship,
Assistant Regional Director, Region 3, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 97-26791 Filed 10-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
