97-25841. Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the El Segundo Blue Butterfly for Review and Comment

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51124-51125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25841]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the El Segundo Blue 
Butterfly for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the El 
Segundo blue butterfly (Euphilotes battoides allyni). The El Segundo 
blue butterfly occurs on local and private lands in southwestern Los 
Angeles County, California. The Service solicits review and comment 
from the public on this plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before December 29, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor at the following address: 
Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker 
Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Telephone requests may be made 
by calling 760/431-9440. Comments and material received are available 
for public inspection by

[[Page 51125]]

appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Nagano at the above address and 
telephone number.

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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. They establish criteria for 
the recovery levels necessary for downlisting or delisting the species. 
They also provide an estimation of time and cost of implementing the 
recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Amended (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 that public notice, to provide an opportunity for public 
review and comment, be given during plan development. The Service will 
consider all significant information presented during a public comment 
period, prior to the approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The 
Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into 
account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The El Segundo blue butterfly has an extremely limited 
distribution, and there are only three known extant populations. The 
animal is currently known only from southwestern Los Angeles County, 
California. The threats to the species include habitat loss and 
invasive exotic species. Protection and management of its habitat and a 
captive breeding program are the primary goals of the recovery effort.

Public Comments Solicited

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

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)).

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-25841 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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