Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule To List the Barton Springs Salamander as Endangered

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) withdraws the February 17, 1994, proposed rule (59 FR 7968) to list the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Service finds that information now available, discussed below, justifies withdrawal of the proposed listing of this species as endangered. Various agencies of the State of Texas have committed to expedite developing and implementing conservation measures needed for the species and the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer supporting its spring habitat, as set forth in the ``Barton Springs Salamander Conservation Agreement and Strategy'' (Agreement), signed August 13, 1996. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Service are signatories to the Agreement. The cooperative Agreement addresses risks to the survival and recovery of the Barton Springs salamander through a combination of measures. These measures include: revision, adoption, and implementation of regulations to protect water quality in the Barton Springs watershed and the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer from degradation; development and implementation of Best Management Practices to address point source contaminants; refinement and enforcement of storage and disposal of hazardous waste protocols; increased commitment to compliance enforcement, monitoring, and reporting; and development and implementation of local management plans to prevent degradation of surface and springhead habitat. The Agreement contains measures to address potential water quantity concerns and to establish captive refugia to prevent extinction in case of catastrophic or chronic events. Because the commitment by the State of Texas to fully implement the cooperative Agreement significantly reduces the risks to the species, the Service concludes that listing is no longer warranted.