[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26764-26765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12839]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AE86
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public
Hearing on Proposed Endangered Status for Devils River Minnow (Dionda
diaboli)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that
a public hearing will be held on the proposed determination of
endangered status for the Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli). This
fish is found in
[[Page 26765]]
Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, and Coahuila, Mexico. All
interested parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.
DATES: The public hearing will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May
28, 1998, in Del Rio, Texas. The comment period closes July 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Freshmen School
Cafeteria of the San Felipe-Del Rio Independent School District,
located at 90 Memorial Drive in Del Rio, Texas. Written comments and
materials concerning the proposal should be sent to the Field
Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78758.
Comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Allan, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 512/490-0057; facsimile
512/490-0974).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The current range of the Devils River minnow is limited to three
stream systems in Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, and one
drainage in Coahuila, Mexico. The species' range has been significantly
contracted and fragmented. In addition, the numbers of Devils River
minnows collected during fish surveys has declined dramatically over
the past 25 years; the species has declined from one of the most
abundant fish to one of the least abundant. Based on the current
information, the decline of the species in both distribution and
abundance may be attributed in large part to the effects of habitat
loss and modification and the introduction of nonnative fish into
habitats of the Devils River minnow.
On March 27, 1998, the Service published a proposed rule to list
the Devils River minnow as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
(Act) of 1973, as amended. Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that
a public hearing be held if requested within 45 days of the proposal's
publication in the Federal Register. Because of the past public
interest in the listing of this species, the Service opened the public
comment period for 120 days and planned the public hearing in advance
of a request.
The Service has scheduled this hearing for 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on
May 28, 1998, at the Freshmen School Cafeteria of the San Felipe-Del
Rio Independent School District, located at 90 Memorial Drive in Del
Rio, Texas. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to be presented
to the Service at the start of the hearing. In the event there is a
large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be
limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There
are no limits on the length of written comments presented at this
hearing or mailed to the Service. Legal notices announcing the date,
time and location of the hearing are being published in newspapers
concurrently with this Federal Register notice.
The comment period on the proposal will remain open until July 27,
1998. Written comments may be submitted until that date to the Service
office in the ADDRESSES section.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Nathan Allan (see ADDRESSES
section) (telephone 512/490-0057; facsimile 512/490-0974).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 7, 1998.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12839 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
