Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and availability of

draft conservation agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that

the public comment period on the proposal to list the Pecos pupfish

(Cyprinodon pecosensis) as an endangered species is reopened. The

Service, in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Game and

Fish, New Mexico State Parks Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department, and Bureau of Reclamation, has formulated a draft

Conservation Agreement that may provide significant new information

concerning the threats to the survival of the species. The reopening of

the comment period will allow all interested parties to submit comments

on the proposal and the draft Conservation Agreement. The draft

Conservation Agreement is available for

[[Page 71425]]

review (see ADDRESSES), and we are seeking comments or suggestions from

the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific

community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning the

proposed rule and the draft Conservation Agreement.

DATES: The comment period for this proposal is reopened and will close

on January 27, 1999. All comments on the proposal and the draft

Conservation Agreement will be accepted through January 27, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to the Field

Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE,

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Comments and materials received will be

available for public inspection during normal business hours, by

appointment, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Fowler-Propst, Field

Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, at the above

address (505) 346-2525. A copy of the draft Conservation Agreement for

the Pecos pupfish can be requested by writing to the above address or

calling (800) 299-0196.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Pecos pupfish was proposed for listing as an endangered species

on January 30, 1998 (63 FR 4608). A public hearing on the proposal was

held in Carlsbad, New Mexico on April 9, 1998. During the extended

public comment period (January 30 to November 20, 1998), we contacted

State and Federal land and resource management agencies in New Mexico

and Texas to determine if adequate protections could be implemented

through a Conservation Agreement. The draft Conservation Agreement

formulated by these agencies is available for public review (see

ADDRESSES). The Agreement and any comments received concerning it will

be fully considered by the Service in determining if the threats upon

which the proposal to list the species was based have been sufficiently

addressed.

The draft Conservation Agreement sets forth the commitments of

State and Federal agencies to control nonnative competing species and

to protect and manage the Pecos pupfish and its habitat to ensure its

survival and promote its conservation. The Agreement addresses the

significant threats to the species arising from its small, isolated

populations and from the potential for hybridization with the

sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). The signatory agencies to

the Agreement have made commitments to protect known extant populations

of pure Pecos pupfish, expand the distribution of the species within

its native range by establishing new populations, and to prohibit the

use of sheepshead minnow through revision of baitfish regulations in

New Mexico and Texas. If these commitments are adequate in removing the

identified threats to the Pecos pupfish, listing of the species may not

be required.

Author

The primary author of this document is Jennifer Fowler-Propst, New

Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16

U.S.C. 1532 et seq.).

Dated: December 18, 1998.

Renne Lohoefener,

Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 98-34213 Filed 12-24-98; 8:45 am]

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