Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
Notice of document availability.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces availability for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered Karner blue butterfly (
Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before April 4, 2002 to receive consideration by the Service.
Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor of the Green Bay Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1015 Challenger Court, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311 or by accessing the website:
Ms. Catherine Carnes, (at the above address) Telephone: (920) 465–7415. TTY users may contact Ms. Carnes through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
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 listed species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for reclassification and delisting, and an estimate of time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531
The document submitted for review is the Karner Blue Butterfly (
The Karner blue butterfly was listed as endangered on January 21, 1992. The butterfly depends on savanna and barrens habitats that support wild lupine (
The primary objective of the draft recovery plan is to restore and protect an adequate number of Karner blue butterfly populations throughout its range to ensure long-term viability of the species in the wild. The plan proposes a total of 13 recovery units throughout a six state recovery area (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, New York, and New Hampshire). In order to reclassify the butterfly from endangered to threatened status, the plan proposes the establishment of at least 28 metapopulations within the recovery units. In order to remove the butterfly from the Federal list of “Threatened and Endangered Species,” the plan recommends a minimum of 29 metapopulations be established throughout the recovery units.
The draft recovery plan presents a blueprint for action by Federal and state agencies, as well as other organizations, and private landowners interested in helping in the recovery of this endangered species. Recovery actions include restoration and protection of Karner blue butterfly habitat, population monitoring, continued refinement of habitat management guidelines, research to guide habitat management and captive propagation efforts, and education and outreach efforts. Working with Federal, state and private landowners on a voluntary basis will be necessary to reduce the threats, and conserve, protect, and manage key habitat areas for the Karner blue butterfly.
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan described. All comments received by the date specified will be considered prior to approval of the plan. Comments should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, at the above address.
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).