Endangered butterfly could receive federal protection this year

Submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public review and comment on a draft programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances and issuing a proposed enhancement of survival permit to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The draft agreement concerns the island marble butterfly (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) on San Juan and Lopez islands.

A notice of availability, request for comments on the draft agreement and draft environmental action statement was published in the federal register on May 21.

WDFW developed a draft agreement and applied for a permit covering nonfederal landowners that voluntarily enroll their properties and implement specific conservation measures supporting efforts to reestablish the distribution and abundance of the island marble butterfly on San Juan and Lopez islands. If approved, the service would provide assurances to enrolled landowners that they would not be subject to increased land use restrictions if the species becomes listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the future, provided certain conditions are met. Eligible nonfederal landowners may enroll their properties so long as the island marble butterfly has not been listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The service anticipates a final listing decision for the island marble butterfly later this year.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires that federal agencies analyze and publicly disclose the social, economic and environmental effects associated with major federal actions. The service created a draft Environmental Action Statement for a determination that the agreement and permit decision may be eligible for categorical exclusion under NEPA and is now making this document available for public review and comment.

To request further information or submit written comments, please use one of the following methods, and note that your information request or comments are in reference to the “Island Marble Butterfly CCAA.”

For more information or to view or download copies of the draft agreement and the draft environmental action statement, visit www.fws.gov/wafwo/.

Comments may be emailed to wfwo_lr@fws.gov. Include “Island Marble Butterfly CCAA” in the subject line.

Mail comments to Tom McDowell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503.

For a copy of the documents or to give a comment in person, call 360-753-9440 to make an appointment (necessary for viewing or picking up documents only) during normal business hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102, Lacey, Washington 98503.

Written comments must be received on or before the close of the public review and comment period on June 20.

To learn more about management activities and conservation of the island marble butterfly, visit www.fws.gov/wafwo.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov.