[Federal Register: July 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 37806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jy99-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Hine's Emerald
Dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Hine's
emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana), a species that is federally
listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). This species occurs on public and private land in
Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The Service solicits review and
comment from the public on this draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by September 13,
1999 will be considered by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Chicago, Illinois, Field
Office, 1000 Hart Road, Suite 180, Barrington, Illinois 60010,
telephone (847) 381-2253. Written comments and materials regarding the
plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above address.
Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection
by appointment during normal business hours, at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louise Clemency at the above address,
or telephone at (847) 381-2253, x215.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help
guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to prepare recovery
plans for most of the federally threatened and endangered species
native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria which
when met would result in a determination that the species no longer
needs the protection of the Act, and provide estimates of the time and
cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,
requires public notice and opportunity for public review and comment be
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider
all information presented during a public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other
Federal agencies will also take these comments into consideration in
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
The Hine's emerald dragonfly was listed as endangered on January
26, 1994. It inhabits marshes, sedge meadows, wet prairies and fens
that have small ground water fed streams and occur in areas of dolomite
bedrock. Fragmentation and destruction of habitat are believed to be
the main reasons for this species' endangered status and continue to be
the primary threats to its recovery. The species also seems to be
vulnerable to off-site impacts to the ground water that feeds the
habitat. The Hine's emerald dragonfly currently occurs at nine sites in
the lower DesPlaines River valley in Illinois, at eleven sites in Door
County, Wisconsin, and at seven sites in the Hiawatha National Forest
in Mackinac County, Michigan. The Hine's emerald dragonfly has
apparently been extirpated from Indiana and Ohio.
Recovery will be achieved and this species may be removed from the
list of threatened and endangered plants when at least six viable
populations, each composed of at least three subpopulations supporting
500 reproductive adults, are being protected and managed for the
dragonfly. Site protection will be accomplished through negotiating
cooperative agreements with landowners and working with land managers.
Other recovery activities will include managing habitat, restoring
populations, monitoring populations to detect trends, research,
surveys, and conducting a general information program for the public.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by September 13, 1999 will be
considered prior to approval of the plan. Comments should be sent to
the Field Supervisor, Chicago, Illinois, Field Office, at the above
address.
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: July 6, 1999.
Charles M. Wooley,
Program Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3,
Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 99-17676 Filed 7-12-99; 8:45 am]
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