Incidental Take Notice For Oconto And Marinette Counties

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare butterfly, which may result from the Pioneer to Crivitz Retirement project in parts of Oconto and Marinette counties.  

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species' overall population at risk.

American Transmission Company (ATC) is retiring an overhead transmission line between the Pioneer and Crivitz substations. Retiring consists of removing the existing transmission line. The portion of the habitat to be disturbed during the project is approximately 7.5 acres. 

The presence of the state endangered swamp metalmark is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some butterflies.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which it is a part of or the habitat that is critical to its existence.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the endangered species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the swamp metalmark are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe at Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the swamp metalmark by Dec. 16, 2023 to:

Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St.
Janesville, WI 53545
Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796