Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Tumbling Creek Cavesnail as Endangered

요약

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Tumbling Creek cavesnail, Antrobia culveri, as endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). An emergency rule listing this species as endangered for 240 days is published concurrently in this issue of the Federal Register. This species is known to occur in one cave in Missouri. The distribution of this species has decreased in Tumbling Creek by 90 percent since 1974. Although cavesnail numbers fluctuated seasonally and annually between 1996 and 2000, it was not found in the monitored section of the cave stream during five surveys in 2001. A few individuals continue to be found in an upstream area, but the population has declined so drastically that the species is on the verge of extinction. Reasons for the decline are unknown, but are likely caused by activities in Tumbling Creek Cave's surface recharge area that have degraded the stream's water quality. Critical habitat is not being proposed at this time. We solicit additional data, information, and comments from the public that may assist us in making a final decision on this proposed action.