Proposal Seeks to Remove ʻIo From Endangered Species List

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period on the Aug. 6, 2008, proposed rule to remove the Hawaiian hawk, or ʻIo (Buteo solitarius), from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act. The Service is also making the draft post-delisting monitoring plan for the Hawaiian hawk available for public review and invites comments on that draft plan. The public comment period is now open and will close on Nov. 28.

Originally listed in 1967, the ʻIo no longer meets the definition of threatened or endangered because it has demonstrated the ability to adapt to changing habitat, population stability, and conservation efforts, according to the Service.  The proposal to take the Hawk off of the list is based on studies that have shown range-wide population estimates have been stable for over 30 years. The ʻIo is nesting and foraging successfully in both native and altered habitats and has large areas of managed habitat. Based on the Service’s analysis, the ʻio is no longer at risk of extinction now, or in the foreseeable future.

The Service published a proposal to delist the ʻIo on Aug. 6, 2008, with a 60-day comment period. A draft post-delisting monitoring plan was proposed on Feb. 11, 2009, with a 60-day comment period. Public comment on the proposed delisting and the draft post-delisting monitoring plan was reopened for 60 days on June 5, 2009 and again on Feb. 12, 2014.

The Service is now reopening the public comment period to gather new information, as well as information that may have changed since the last comment period. Comments submitted during previous comment periods in 2008, 2009, and 2014 will all be considered at this time and do not need to be resubmitted.

Anyone interested in submitting a comment can do so by one of the following ways:

• Electronically:  Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: In the Search box, enter FWS–R1–ES–2007–0024, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document.  You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!” Ensure that you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment.
• By hard copy:  Submit by US mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R1–ES–2007–0024, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS:  BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3808.

The Service is encouraging the public to submit their comments by Nov. 28. This information will help in the Service’s final evaluation of whether the species should be removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The Service will post all comments online.

More information about the ʻIo, the proposal, and instructions on how to submit comments can be found online.

More information on past proposals and comment periods, as well as a detailed description of the ʻIo, its status and threats, and a summary of factors affecting the species can be found online.