[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 37806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17676]


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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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