67618 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 1998 / Rules and Regulations bears depend (Department of the Air corridor, with long-term protection of species due to extinction may be Force 1993). This management is the habitat. In contrast, the Florida black warranted. expected to be compatible with the bear currently has four stable DATES: The finding announced in this continued existence of bears, although populations on conservation lands that document was made on November 25, the limited bear population size may have long-term protection. 1998. require augmentation in the future. The USDA Forest Service Land and Finding ADDRESSES: Those having questions, Resource Management Plan (Plan) for We have reviewed the petition, 1998 comments, or information concerning National Forests in Florida, covering status review, available literature, and this petition may send them to the Field lands which make up most core bear other information. After reviewing the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife conservation lands, is expected to be best scientific and commercial Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, compatible with the continued information available, we conclude that Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. maintenance of bears at current levels the continued existence of the Florida The petition finding, supporting data, (U.S. Forest Service 1998). The main black bear is not threatened by any of and comments are available for land management practices in the Plan the five factors alone or in combination. inspection, by appointment, during are prescribed burning and timber We find, therefore, that the Florida normal business hours at the above management. One of the Plan’s goals is black bear is not endangered nor likely address. to maintain or restore ecosystem to become endangered within the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. composition, structure, and function foreseeable future throughout all or a John F. Milio at the above address or within the natural range of variability. significant portion of its range and that telephone 904/232–2580, ext. 112. Meeting this goal should ensure that listing as threatened or endangered is SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: silvicultural practices are compatible not warranted. with maintaining bears on the National Background References Cited Forests. Specific management activities Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered include thinning of young pine A complete list of all references cited Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended plantations, initiation of uneven-aged herein is available from the Jacksonville (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that we management, and sand pine clearcuts. Field Office (see FOR FURTHER make a finding on whether a petition to Hardwoods will be left to supply mast INFORMATION section). list, delist, or reclassify a species (nuts and fruits of forest trees). Author: The primary author of this presents substantial scientific or Prescribed fire will emphasize growing- notice is Dr. Michael M. Bentzien (for commercial information demonstrating season burns. These measures are address and phone number, see FOR that the petitioned action may be predicted to increase forage and acorn FURTHER INFORMATION section). warranted. To the maximum extent availability for bears. Most road activity practicable, we will make the finding is expected to be maintenance and Authority within 90 days of receipt of the petition, reconstruction of existing Forest Service The authority for this action is the and promptly publish the finding in the roads. Cross-country travel will be Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 Federal Register. Following a positive limited to pedestrians and horse riders. et seq.). The Big Cypress National Preserve finding, we must promptly commence a management goals are to preserve the Dated: November 25, 1998. status review of the species. watershed and its natural flora and Jamie Rappaport Clark, The processing of this petition fauna, through prescribed burning, the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. conforms with our current listing control of exotic plants, and the [FR Doc. 98–32547 Filed 12–7–98; 8:45 am] priority guidance for fiscal years 1998 restoration of hydrology (National Park BILLING CODE 4310±55±P and 1999, published in the Federal Service 1991). This management is Register on May 8, 1998 (63 FR 25502). expected to be compatible with the The guidance gives highest priority continued existence of the bear. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Tier 1) to processing emergency rules to On National Wildlife Refuges, add species to the Lists of Endangered management goals include ecosystem Fish and Wildlife Service and Threatened Wildlife and Plants management for the maintenance of (Lists); second priority (Tier 2) to 50 CFR Part 17 diverse natural habitats for a variety of processing final determinations on proposals to add species to the Lists, wildlife. The forestry and burning Endangered and Threatened Wildlife processing new proposals to add species practices plans of Okefenokee and and Plants; 90-Day Finding for a to the Lists, processing administrative Florida Panther NWRs are expected to Petition to Delist the Squirrel Chimney findings on petitions (to add species to continue providing good bear habitat Cave Shrimp into the foreseeable future. the Lists, delist species, or reclassify Based on projected compatible habitat AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, listed species), and processing a limited management for bears on core habitat Interior. number of proposed or final rules to areas, these lands are predicted to ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition delist or reclassify species; and third continue providing secure bear habitat finding. priority (Tier 3) to processing proposed into the foreseeable future. or final rules designating critical habitat. The Florida black bear, in comparison SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service Processing of this petition is a Tier 2 to bears not federally protected in other announces a 90-day finding for a action. parts of the southeast, is similar in petition to delist the Squirrel Chimney The Florida Game and Fresh Water population size and total secure habitat. cave shrimp ( cummingi) Fish Commission (GFC) submitted the The recovery criteria for the federally under the Endangered Species Act of petition, dated August 5, 1997, which threatened Louisiana black bear (Ursus 1973, as amended. We find that the we received on August 8, 1997. We have americanus luteolus) (U.S. Fish and petition does not present substantial made a 90-day finding on this petition Wildlife Service 1995) calls for two scientific or commercial information to delist the Squirrel Chimney cave viable subpopulations linked by a indicating that delisting this Florida shrimp, Palaemonetes cummingi. Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 1998 / Rules and Regulations 67619

Palaemonetes cummingi is a very rare delisting this species due to extinction 182 in Deyrup, M. and R. Franz, eds. Rare species, with no more than a dozen may be warranted. and Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume collections (Chace 1954, Dobkin 1971, We base our finding on the IV. Invertebrates. University Presses of Franz 1994b) recorded between its inadequacy of existing information on Florida, Gainesville. 798 pp. the Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp and Franz, R. 1994b. Squirrel Chimney cave discovery in 1953 (Chace 1954) and last shrimp survey. Unpublished report to observation in 1973 (Franz 1994b). All its habitat. The GFC status survey does Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish collections and observations occurred at not include a number of underground Commission. 4 pp. Squirrel Chimney Cave (Franz 1994a). sites the GFC rated as ecologically Franz, R., J. Bauer, and T. Morris. 1994. Squirrel Chimney Cave is a partially similar to and within about 8 kilometers Review of biologically significant caves water-filled, solution cavity located on (5 miles) of Squirrel Chimney. These and their fauna in Florida and South private land near Gainesville, Alachua sites are part of the Newberry Limestone Georgia. Brimleyana 20:1–109. County, Florida (Franz 1994a). Surveys Plain and characteristic of the karst Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1942. Crayfishes of Florida. to confirm the species continued (limestone) topography of that area Univ. FL. Biol. Sci. Ser. 3(2). University of Florida Press, Gainesville. 179 pp. existence at Squirrel Chimney Cave (Williams et al. 1977). Connections among underground features occur Morris, T., and P. Butt. 1992. A survey of the (Morris and Butt 1992, Franz 1994b) and population of the Florida cave shrimp to locate specimens at other nearby frequently in karst topography (Doonan (Palaemonetes cummingi), other species, underground sites (Franz et al. 1994) 1997). The emergence of in and the condition of the environment were unsuccessful. We listed P. Squirrel Chimney and its presence at within the Squirrel Chimney cave system, cummingi as a on other nearby underground sites suggest Alachua County, Florida. Report to U.S. June 21, 1990 (55 FR 25588). that fissures found at Squirrel Chimney Fish and Wildlife Service, Karst The petition contends that the failure actually may represent underwater Environmental Services, Inc. (December 15, 1992). 10pp. to locate the species during a two-year connections to those other sites (Doonan 1997). Such passageways may shelter Williams, K.E., D. Nicol, and A.F. Randazzo. (1994–1996) status survey, supports its 1977. The geology of the western part of removal from the List of Endangered Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp and also provide for their dispersal. In addition, Alachua County, Florida. Report of and Threatened Wildlife. The status Investigations No. 85, Florida Bureau of the extreme rarity of P. cummingi and survey included Squirrel Chimney and Geology, Tallahassee, FL. 98 pp. four additional underground aquatic lack of life history information suggest that its detection requires extensive Author: The primary author of this sites (Doonan 1997). Except for a 2.5 document is John F. Milio, Jacksonville Field sampling (N. Burkhead, U.S. Geological meter (8 foot) drop in water level, Office (see ADDRESSES section). Survey, in litt. 1997). We believe the physical conditions at Squirrel Chimney number of visual and trap samples taken Authority remained relatively unchanged since during the GFC survey at sites other Hobbs (1942) discovered the site in the The authority for this action is the than Squirrel Chimney were too small to early 1940’s. Chemical analysis of water Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 provide an accurate assessment of the samples revealed good overall water et seq.). species’ status at those sites. quality. The survey confirmed the We continue to seek new information Dated: November 25, 1998. continued presence of redeye chub on the Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp’s Jamie Rappaport Clark, (Notropis harperi) in Squirrel Chimney biology, ecology, distribution, and Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. Cave. Morris and Butt (1992) first habitat, as well as threats to its survival. [FR Doc. 98–32546 Filed 12–7–98; 8:45 am] documented this small, predatory fish Such information will enable us to work BILLING CODE 4310±55±P within that locality. Its presence may be with the GFC to correctly assess the the result of a natural colonization species’ status and make the best through underwater passageways linked recommendations and decisions DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR to other underground sites. Since the regarding its conservation, recovery, and chub is capable in lab situations of possible reclassification. We encourage Fish and Wildlife Service eating other crustacea the size of interested parties to send any 50 CFR Part 20 Palaemonetes cummingi larvae (L. comments, data, or other information Straub, U.S. Geological Survey, involving P. cummingi and its habitat to RIN 1018±AE38 Biological Resources Division, pers. our Jacksonville Field Office listed in comm., 1997, in Doonan 1997), the the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Migratory Bird Hunting; Temporary survey report suggested that this fish Conditional Approval of Tungsten- may be responsible for the apparent References Cited Matrix Shot as Nontoxic for the 1998± absence of the shrimp from Squirrel Chace, F.A., Jr. 1954. Two new subterranean 99 Season Chimney Cave. Based on survey results shrimps (: Caridae) from Florida and analyses, the GFC report indicated and the West Indies, with a revised key to AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, that P. cummingi may be extinct. The the American species. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. Interior. 44(10):318–324. GFC acknowledges that this assessment ACTION: Final rule. is not conclusive, because it only Dobkin, S. 1971. The larval development of Palaemonetes cummingi Chace, 1954 surveyed a small percentage of potential (Decapoda, ), reared in the SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife habitat and it omitted two high priority laboratory. Crustaceana 20(3):285–297. Service (Service) amends Section sites from its survey. Doonan, T.J. 1997. Survey of Squirrel 20.21(j) to grant temporary conditional We have reviewed the petition, its Chimney and other selected caves to approval of tungsten-matrix shot as supporting information, information in determine the status of Squirrel Chimney nontoxic for the 1998–99 migratory bird our files, other available literature, and cave shrimp (Palaemonetes cummingi). hunting season only, except in the consulted with species and habitat Final Report No. 7754. Florida Game and Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y–K) Delta, Alaska, Fresh Water Fish Commission, Bureau of experts. Using the best scientific and Nongame Wildlife, Lake City, Florida. 42 while chronic toxicity/reproductive commercial information available, we pp. testing is being completed. Tungsten- find that the petition does not present Franz, R. 1994a. Squirrel Chimney cave matrix shot has been submitted for substantial information indicating that shrimp, Palaemonetes cummingi. Pp. 181– consideration as nontoxic by Kent