# Notice of Availability of an Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Palezone Shiner for Review and Comment > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-16502 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** June 28, 1996 - **Citation:** 61 FR 33762 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Availability of an Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Palezone Shiner for Review and Comment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service. Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the palezone shiner (Notropis albizonatus). This small fish occurs in large creeks and small rivers in the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. Although the palezone shiner was likely once more widespread within the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems or drainages, it is presently known from only two widely disjunct populations--the Paint Rock River (a Tennessee River tributary) in Jackson County, Alabama, and the Little South Fork of the Cumberland River in Wayne and McCreary Counties, Kentucky. Two other known populations are extirpated. Populations of this species have been fragmented by habitat alteration (primarily impoundments), and extant populations are impacted by deteriorated water quality, primarily resulting from poor land-use practices (e.g., agriculture and coal mining). The species' present limited distribution also makes it vulnerable to extirpation from stochastic events. 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 August 27, 1996 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, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. 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 above address (704/258-3939 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 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 the species, criteria for recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and initial estimates of time and costs 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 palezone shiner (Notropis albizonatus). The areas of emphasis for recovery actions are the Little South Fork of the Cumberland River in the upper Cumberland River basin in south-central Kentucky and the Paint Rock River in the Tennessee River system in northeastern Alabama. Habitat protection, population augmentation/reintroduction, and preservation of genetic material are major objectives of this recovery 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: June 21, 1996. Brian P. Cole, Field Supervisor. [FR Doc. 96-16502 Filed 6-27-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-16502. Public record. Not legal advice.