[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13513-13514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7373]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan 
for the Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) 
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 announces the availability 
for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery plan for the 
Mitchell's satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii). It occurs 
on private and public lands in southeastern Michigan and northern 
Indiana. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on 
this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be 
receive on or before May 28, 1996, to receive consideration by the 
Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting Charles M. Wooley, Field Supervisor, East Lansing 
Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823-6316, 
telephone (517) 351-2555. Comments and materials received are available 
for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at 
the above address. Comments on the plan should be addressed to Mark 
Hodgkins (see Addresses) .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Hodgkins at the above address, or telephone (517) 351-6289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point

[[Page 13514]]
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) 
endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the 
Service is working to prepare recovery plans for most of the listed 
species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions 
considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish 
criteria for the recovery levels to reclassify to threatened or delist 
them, and estimate time and cost to implement the recovery measures 
needed. The Service revises existing recovery plans, as needed, to 
reflect important new biological information, significant changes in a 
species' status, or the accomplishment of tasks identified in the 
original plan.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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 that public notice and an 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 account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The document submitted for review is the draft Mitchell's Satyr 
Butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) Recovery Plan. Of the 30+ 
historic populations known, only 11 extant, isolated populations remain 
in southwestern Michigan and one in northern Indiana. The species is 
considered extirpated from Ohio, New Jersey, and Maryland (if it 
actually occurred in that state).
    The Mitchell's satyr butterfly was emergency listed as endangered 
on June 25, 1991, due to a perceived threat posed by overcollection. On 
May 20, 1992, the Mitchell's satyr butterfly received long-term 
protection through the normal listing process. The literature reflects 
some variability in the description of Mitchell's satyr habitat. Known 
habitats are all peatlands but range along a continuum from prairie/bog 
fen to meadow/swamp. However, a constant attribute in all historical 
and active habitats is a herbaceous community which is dominated by 
sedges, usually Carex stricta, with scattered deciduous and/or 
coniferous shrubs, most often tamaracks, or red cedar. Mitchell's satyr 
habitat is most easily characterized as a sedge-dominated fen 
community. The greatest threat to N. m. mitchellii is continued loss of 
habitat due to development and fen alteration leading to disruption of 
ecological processes which create and maintain habitat.
    The primary objective of this draft recovery plan is to protect an 
adequate number of Mitchell's satyr butterfly sites to ensure long-term 
viability of the species in the wild. Conditions that must be met to 
reclassify the Mitchell's satyr butterfly from endangered to threatened 
status include protection of a minimum of 16 geographically distinct, 
self-sustaining populations established or discovered range wide. 
Delisting will be considered when 25 geographically distinct, self-
sustaining populations are established or discovered range wide for 
five consecutive years following reclassification. Also, a minimum of 
15 of these sites would need the establishment of permanent protection 
with long-term management programs requiring some intervention.
    Site protection will be accomplished through negotiating 
cooperative agreements and conservation easements with land owners and 
managers, acquiring lands from willing sellers, and using existing 
legislation to protect the Mitchell's satyr and their habitat. Other 
recovery activities will include searching for additional populations, 
monitoring population levels and habitat conditions, managing habitat 
as needed, conducting necessary studies, and conducting a general 
information program for the public.
    The draft recovery plan is available for technical/agency review. 
After consideration of comments received during the review period, the 
recovery plan will be submitted to the Regional Director, Region 3, for 
final approval.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered prior to approval of the recovery plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: March 20, 1996.
Mamie A. Parker,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services.
[FR Doc. 96-7373 Filed 3-26-96; 8:45 am]
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