Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Relict Darter for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery

Plan for the Relict Darter 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 relict

darter. The relict darter is apparently endemic to the Bayou du Chien

drainage. Within this drainage the fish is now known from five sites in

Graves and Hickman Counties, Kentucky, and it is known to spawn in only

one Bayou due Chien tributary in Graves County. The species has been

and continues to be impacted by water quality and habitat deterioration

resulting from channel dredging, siltation contributed by poor land use

practices, and by other water pollutants. The fish's limited

distribution also makes it vulnerable to toxic chemical spills. The

Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft

plan.

DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be

received on or before February 28, 1995 to receive consideration by the

Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting the Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 330 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, North Carolina 28806. 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:

Mr. Richard Biggins at the address at telephone number shown above

(Ext. 228).

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 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 the species, establish criteria for recognizing the

recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time

and cost to implement the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.) (Act), 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 primary species considered in this draft recovery plan is the

relict darter (Etheostoma chienense). The area of emphasis for recovery

is the Bayou du Chien drainage in Graves and Hickman Counties,

Kentucky. The protection of this only existing population,

reestablishment of spawning populations in other tributaries, life

history studies, habitat restoration, and public education are among

the management actions outlined in the plan.

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: December 21, 1994.

Brian P. Cole,

Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 94-32186 Filed 12-29-94; 8:45 am]

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