Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Pygmy Madtom for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the

Pygmy Madtom 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 pygmy

madtom. This small catfish presently has a very fragmented

distribution, but the species was probably formerly much more

widespread within the Tennessee River system. The pygmy madtom is

currently known to inhabit only two short river reaches within the Duck

River, Humphreys County, Tennessee, and the Clinch River, Hancock

County, Tennessee. The species has been and continues to be impacted by

water quality deterioration. This deterioration occurred as a result of

siltation (contributed by coal mining and poor land use practices),

other water pollution, and impoundments. 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 April 18, 1994 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 and 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

pygmy madtom (Noturus stanauli). The area of emphasis for recovery

actions is the Duck River, Humphreys County, Tennessee, and the Clinch

River, Hancock County, Tennessee. The protection of existing

populations, habitat restoration, preservation of genetic material, 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: February 8, 1994.

Richard G. Biggins,

Acting Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 94-3667 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]

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