[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54682-54683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15438]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's Snail Erinna newcombi
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the
availability of a Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's snail (Erinna
newcombi). This aquatic snail is listed as threatened (65 FR 4162) and
is endemic to the Hawaiian Island of Kaua`i.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Recovery Plan are available by request from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/792-9400); and the Hawaii State Library, 478 S.
King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. An electronic copy of the recovery
plan is available on the world wide Web at: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorena Wada, Invertebrate Program
Supervisor, at the above Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office
address.
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 our endangered species program. The
Endangered Species Act (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. Recovery
plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered
necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria
for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice and an
opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery
plan development. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Draft
Recovery Plan for the Newcomb's Snail (Erinna newcombi) was available
for public comment from March 24, 2004, through May 24, 2004 (69 FR
13868). Information presented during the public comment period has been
considered in the preparation of this recovery plan, and is summarized
in the appendix to the recovery plan. We will forward substantive
comments regarding recovery plan implementation to appropriate Federal
or other entities so that they can take these comments into account
during the course of implementing recovery actions.
Newcomb's snail is an aquatic snail known to occur at 10 small
locations in streams and springs located in 6 watersheds found in the
mountainous interior of the Hawaiian Island of Kau[revaps]i. Newcomb's
snail is a type of freshwater snail belonging to the lymnaeid family of
snails. Adult Newcomb's snails are approximately 6 millimeters (0.25
inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) wide. Three of the six
watersheds containing sites where Newcomb's snails occur are privately
owned; the remaining sites are located on State of Hawaii lands.
Some of the historical decline of the snail may be attributed to
habitat loss and degradation through water diversion and well drilling.
In addition, predation by alien species, natural disasters, and habitat
alteration are threats that imperil the Newcomb's snail. Presently,
Newcomb's snail faces an increased likelihood of extinction from
naturally occurring events due to the small number of remaining
populations and their limited distribution. Significant habitat
destruction through reduction or
[[Page 54683]]
elimination of stream or spring flow could destroy an entire population
of Newcomb's snail, and natural disasters such as hurricanes or
catastrophic landslides could also destroy vital habitat.
The objective of this recovery plan is to ensure the long-term
conservation, recovery, and eventual delisting of the species. This
recovery will be accomplished through a variety of recovery actions
including: (1) Conducting research on the population biology and life
history of the Newcomb's snail; (2) analysis and potential prevention
of predation and other forms of negative interspecific interactions
that may limit or reduce Newcomb's snail populations; (3) assurance of
adequate stream and spring flows to protect known and potential
Newcomb's snail habitat; (4) making recovery of Newcomb's snail a part
of other landscape conservation efforts, such as preservation of the
structure and function of upland forests that maintain and regulate
surface run-off to streams and act as areas of infiltration for ground
water; (5) using initial recovery efforts and research to periodically
validate recovery objectives; and (6) providing educational
informational opportunities to build public support for conservation.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: May 4, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15438 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
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