[Federal Register: March 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 58)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 14676-14685]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr99-50]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF56

 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule To 
List the Alabama Sturgeon as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list 
the Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi) as endangered under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The 
Alabama sturgeon's historic range once included about 1,600 kilometers 
(km) (1,000 miles (mi)) of the Mobile River system in Alabama 
(Black Warrior, Tombigbee, Alabama, Coosa, Tallapoosa, 
Mobile, Tensaw, and Cahaba rivers) and Mississippi (Tombigbee River). 
Since 1985, all confirmed captures have been from a short, free-flowing 
reach of the Alabama River below Miller's Ferry and Claiborne locks and 
dams in Clarke, Monroe, and Wilcox counties, Alabama. The historic 
decline of the Alabama sturgeon is attributed to over-fishing, loss and 
fragmentation of habitat as a result of navigation-related development, 
and water quality degradation. Current threats primarily result from 
its small population numbers and its inability to offset mortality 
rates with reproduction and recruitment. This proposed rule, if made 
final, would extend the Act's protection to the Alabama sturgeon.

DATES: Send your comments to reach us on or before May 26, 1999. We 
will not consider comments received after the above date in making our 
decision on the proposed rule. We must receive requests for public 
hearings by May 10, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and materials concerning this proposal to the 
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View 
Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi 39213. Comments and materials received 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hartfield at the above address 
(telephone 601/965-4900, extension 25; facsimile 601/965-4340).