[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32454-32455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15745]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Revised Technical/Agency Draft 
Recovery Plan for the Carolina Heelsplitter 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 revised technical/agency draft 
recovery plan for the Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata). This 
rare freshwater mussel inhabits small- to medium-sized creeks and 
rivers with cool, slow- to moderate-flowing, well-oxygenated water. The 
Carolina heelsplitter currently has a very fragmented, relict 
distribution, but

[[Page 32455]]

historically was known from several locations in the Pee Dee and 
Catawba River systems in North Carolina and the Pee Dee and Savannah 
River systems (and possibly the Saluda River system) in South Carolina. 
Presently, the species is known to still survive in Waxhaw Creek 
(Catawba River system) and Goose Creek (Pee Dee River system) in Union 
County, North Carolina; Lynches River (Pee Dee River system) in 
Chesterfield, Lancaster, and Kershaw Counties, South Carolina; Flat 
Creek (Pee Dee River system), a small tributary to the Lynches River in 
Lancaster County, South Carolina; and Turkey Creek (Savannah River 
system) and two of its tributaries, Mountain and Beaverdam Creeks, in 
Edgefield County, South Carolina. The species has been restricted to 
short reaches of each of these streams, primarily as a result of 
impoundments and the general deterioration of water quality resulting 
from siltation and other pollutants contributed as a result of poor 
land-use practices. 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 23, 1996, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the revised agency 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. John Fridell at the address shown above, telephone (704) 258-3939 
(Ext. 225).

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 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 for implementing 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 the 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 
Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata). The areas of emphasis for 
recovery actions are portions of the Pee Dee and Catawba River systems 
in North Carolina and the Pee Dee and Savannah River systems in South 
Carolina. Habitat protection, reintroduction, and preservation of 
genetic material are the 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 12, 1996.
Richard G. Biggins,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-15745 Filed 6-21-96; 8:45 am]
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