PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Proposed Endangered Status for Flying Earwig Hawaiian Damselfly (Megalagrion nesiotes) and Pacific Hawaiian Damselfly (M. pacificum) Throughout Their Ranges on the Islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Molokai

On July 8, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (74 FR 32490) to list the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion nesiotes) and the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly (M. pacificum), as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act’s protections to these species. We have determined that critical habitat for these two Hawaiian damselflies is prudent, but not determinable at this time. Comments and materials related to this proposal are solicited.

The flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly is currently known only on Maui though historically it was also found on the Big Island. The Pacific Hawaiian damselfly is currently found on Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island. This species no longer occurs on Kauai, Oahu, and Lanai.

A complete copy of the proposed rule can be found at our website at http://pacificislands.fws.gov, or you may call us at 808-792-9400 during business hours (8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday) and request a printed copy.

DATES: We must receive comments by September 8, 2009, in order to consider them in our final determination. We must receive requests for public hearings, in writing, by August 24, 2009 at the address below.

If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment-including any personal identifying information-will be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on http://www.regulations.gov. Please include sufficient information with your comments to allow us to verify any scientific or commercial information you include.

Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov, or by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.