[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26764-26765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12839]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE86


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing on Proposed Endangered Status for Devils River Minnow (Dionda 
diaboli)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
a public hearing will be held on the proposed determination of 
endangered status for the Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli). This 
fish is found in

[[Page 26765]]

Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, and Coahuila, Mexico. All 
interested parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: The public hearing will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 
28, 1998, in Del Rio, Texas. The comment period closes July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Freshmen School 
Cafeteria of the San Felipe-Del Rio Independent School District, 
located at 90 Memorial Drive in Del Rio, Texas. Written comments and 
materials concerning the proposal should be sent to the Field 
Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78758. 
Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Allan, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 512/490-0057; facsimile 
512/490-0974).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The current range of the Devils River minnow is limited to three 
stream systems in Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, and one 
drainage in Coahuila, Mexico. The species' range has been significantly 
contracted and fragmented. In addition, the numbers of Devils River 
minnows collected during fish surveys has declined dramatically over 
the past 25 years; the species has declined from one of the most 
abundant fish to one of the least abundant. Based on the current 
information, the decline of the species in both distribution and 
abundance may be attributed in large part to the effects of habitat 
loss and modification and the introduction of nonnative fish into 
habitats of the Devils River minnow.
    On March 27, 1998, the Service published a proposed rule to list 
the Devils River minnow as endangered under the Endangered Species Act 
(Act) of 1973, as amended. Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that 
a public hearing be held if requested within 45 days of the proposal's 
publication in the Federal Register. Because of the past public 
interest in the listing of this species, the Service opened the public 
comment period for 120 days and planned the public hearing in advance 
of a request.
    The Service has scheduled this hearing for 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on 
May 28, 1998, at the Freshmen School Cafeteria of the San Felipe-Del 
Rio Independent School District, located at 90 Memorial Drive in Del 
Rio, Texas. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to be presented 
to the Service at the start of the hearing. In the event there is a 
large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be 
limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There 
are no limits on the length of written comments presented at this 
hearing or mailed to the Service. Legal notices announcing the date, 
time and location of the hearing are being published in newspapers 
concurrently with this Federal Register notice.
    The comment period on the proposal will remain open until July 27, 
1998. Written comments may be submitted until that date to the Service 
office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Nathan Allan (see ADDRESSES 
section) (telephone 512/490-0057; facsimile 512/490-0974).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: May 7, 1998.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12839 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
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