The deadline to submit comments on a proposal to designate critical habitat for the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly has been extended, the Service announced today. Comments will be accepted through July 2, 2007.
The Service originally proposed critical habitat for the species in July 2006. In March 2007, the Service published a revised proposal, asking for public input on the proposal and on a draft economic analysis also released in March. The Service has extended the deadline to allow interested individuals and groups to comment on the proposal, the revised proposal and the draft economic analysis.
In total, approximately 27,836 acres fall within the boundaries of 50 proposed critical habitat units in Cook, DuPage and Will counties in Illinois; Alpena, Mackinac and Presque Isle counties in Michigan; Dent, Iron, Morgan, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, Washington and Wayne counties in Missouri; and Door and Ozaukee Counties in Wisconsin. Under provisions of the Endangered Species Act, the Service is considering excluding all units in Missouri and two units in Michigan from the critical habitat designation. Exclusions under consideration by the Service are based on conservation partnerships on non-federal lands, conservation agreements and forest plans.
Critical habitat is a provision of the ESA that identifies specific geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and which may require special management considerations. The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other special conservation area. It does not allow government or public access to private lands. However, federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.
The proposed critical habitat designation, revised proposal, draft economic analysis and other information on the Hine’s emerald dragonfly are available on the Web at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered.
Comments on the proposal and the draft economic analysis may be submitted electronically to hedch@fws.gov or http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be mailed or hand-delivered to John Rogner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chicago Illinois Ecological Services Field Office, 1250 S. Grove, Suite 103, Barrington, IL 60010; or faxed to (847) 381–2285. Deadline is July 2, 2007.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 96-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
