[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46818-46819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22602]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Alabama
Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Alabama
cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). The albinistic Alabama cave shrimp
has been found in five caves (three cave systems) near the city of
Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. One cave is found on the Redstone
Arsenal, an army installation, while the other four caves are privately
owned. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this
draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before November 15, 1996, to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi
39213. Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be
addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above address. Comments and
materials received are available on request for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Theresa Jacobson at the above
address (601-965-4900, ext. 30).
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 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the
Service is working to prepare recovery plans for most of the listed
species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions
considered necessary for conservation of
[[Page 46819]]
the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting
or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing the
recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (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 a public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will
consider all information presented during a public comment period prior
to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
The species considered in this draft recovery plan is the Alabama
cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). The Alabama cave shrimp is a small,
colorless, and nearly transparent decapod crustacean up to 30
millimeters (1.2 inches) in total length. The shrimp occurs in pools of
water in a cave environment. In caves with high energy flows, the
shrimp must have access through cave windows (openings) to calmer
groundwater habitat. This species was listed as endangered on September
7, 1988. Available information indicates the overall population may be
declining and the shrimp is apparently extirpated from Shelta Cave, the
type locality. Groundwater contamination represents the major threat to
this cave-dwelling species. Other threats include destruction of
habitat, collecting, and predation.
The objective of this proposed plan is reclassification of the
Alabama cave shrimp to threatened status. Reclassification will be
considered when five reproducing populations have been identified and
protected in five groundwater basins, and the populations persist in
these basins, as evidenced by monitoring, over a 20-year period. Proper
public stewardship of groundwater and surface water quality and
quantity surrounding the five populations is essential for recovery.
Actions needed to reach this goal--1) protecting populations and
habitat, 2) encouraging local stewardship for caves and recharges areas
through education, 3) monitoring populations, 4) searching for
additional populations, 5) studying species biology, and 6) modifying
or replacing gated entrance to Shelta cave.
This Plan is being submitted for agency review. After consideration
of comments received during the review period, it will be submitted for
final approval.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to approval of the plan.
Authority: The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: August 29, 1996.
Cary Norquist,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-22602 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
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