Comment on FR Doc # 2010-15240

These are comments regarding the Chucky Madtom, Noturus crypticus: I give my highest endorsement that this species, which is one of rarest of all fishes, should be given "endangered" status. Its extremely small range and small population size make it highly susceptible to extinction. Its known range and surrounding streams have been intensively sampled and it is unlikely that additional populations exist or that the known population is larger than thought. In the first paragraph, where the elegans complex is mentioned, might want to add N. fasciatus to members of the species group. It is probably closed related to N. crypticus, and is more common. This might be relevant because it (or N. elegans) may serve as a "surrogate" species for collection of ecological or biological data. A publication (not in your list), that describes the conservation biology of N. fasciatus is: Eisenhour, D. J., B. M. Burr, K. M. Cook, and C. A. Taylor. 1996. Conservation status review of the saddled madtom, Noturus (Rabida) sp. (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) in the Duck River system, Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 71:41-46. Some of the anthropogenic problems associated with decline of N. fasciatus may be similar to those of N. crypticus. About "factors affecting the species," and relevant to the dependence on chemoreception - Brooks Burr and I observed large amounts of herbicide-killed riparian vegetation just a few km upstream of the only known population. The entire watershed undoubtedly receives large chemical and silt input from agricultural activities, but this activity certainly stands out as an example of the immediate threats it receives!