[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106-107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-34154]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Rio 
Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus) for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability 
for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Rio Grande silvery 
minnow, (Hybognathus amarus). The species currently occurs in only 10 
percent of the historic range, 180 miles of the Rio Grande in New 
Mexico between Cochiti Lake and Elephant Butte Reservoir. Historically, 
the species occurred from Espanola in north central New Mexico 
downstream to the Gulf of Mexico on the main stem of the Rio Grande, 
and from Santa Rosa, New Mexico to the confluence with the Rio Grande 
in the Pecos River. 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 April 2, 1998 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may 
examine a copy by contacting Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna Road 
NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87113, telephone (505) 761-4525. Written 
comments and materials regarding the plan should also be addressed to 
the same address above. Comments and materials received are available 
on request for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery C. Whitney, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES) at (505) 761-4525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem 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 native species native to the United States. Recovery 
plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the 
species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for down listing or 
delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing the 
recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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 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 silvery minnow was listed as endangered on July 18, 1994. This 
Recovery Plan is the product of considerable biological and 
hydrological data developed by a team of scientists, agency personnel, 
stakeholders from the management community, Native American community 
and conservation organizations. It includes scientific information 
about the species and provides management procedures for protecting its 
habitat and expanding its range and abundance to the extent that no 
natural or man-caused disturbance will result in irrevocable losses.

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).


[[Page 107]]


    Dated: December 23, 1997.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-34154 Filed 12-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P