[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2725-2726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1121]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Recovery Plan for Behren's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria
zerene behrensii)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Behren's Silverspot
Butterfly (Speyeria zerene behrensii). This draft recovery plan
includes specific criteria and measures to be taken in order to
effectively recover the species to the point where delisting is
warranted. We solicit review and comment from local, State, and Federal
agencies, and the public on this draft recovery plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before March 22, 2004 to receive our consideration.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the recovery plan are available for inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the following location:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 1655
Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521. Requests for copies of the
draft recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding the
plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above address.
Electronic comments on the draft recovery plan can be sent via e-mail
to: [email protected]. An electronic copy of the draft
recovery plan is also available at http://www.pacific.fws.gov/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/default.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Watkins, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above Arcata address (telephone: 707-822-7201).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants is a
primary goal of our endangered species program and the Endangered
Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement
of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no
longer appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the
Act. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing
the measures needed for recovery.
The 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 requires that public notice
and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during
recovery plan development. We will consider all information presented
during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or
revised recovery plan. Substantive technical comments may result in
changes to the plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery plan
implementation may not necessarily result in changes to the recovery
plan, but will be forwarded to appropriate Federal or other entities so
that they can take these comments into account during the course of
implementing recovery actions. Individual responses to comments will
not be provided.
The Behren's silverspot butterfly occupies early successional
coastal terrace prairie habitat that contains Viola adunca (early blue
violet), the larval host plant, adult nectar sources, and adult
courtship areas. Several populations have apparently been extirpated,
and the species likely remains at a single location near Point Arena,
Mendocino County, California. It was federally listed as an endangered
species on December 5, 1997 (62 FR 64306). Threats include invasion by
exotic species, natural succession, fire suppression, residential
development, and collection.
This draft recovery plan includes conservation measures designed to
ensure that a self-sustaining population of Behren's silverspot
butterfly will continue to exist, distributed throughout its extant and
historic range. Specific recovery actions focus on protection and
management of suitable habitat with larval food plants. The draft
recovery plan also addresses the need to re-establish multiple
populations of Behren's silverspot butterfly within its historic range.
The ultimate objective of this recovery plan is to delist Behren's
silverspot butterfly through implementation of a variety of recovery
[[Page 2726]]
actions including: (1) Protecting existing habitat; (2) locating or
establishing new metapopulations; (3) developing and implementing
management plans; (4) monitoring metapopulations and habitat; and (5)
reducing take and sources of mortality.
Public Comments Solicited
We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan described.
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered in
developing a final recovery plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: November 5, 2003.
Steve Thompson,
Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1121 Filed 1-16-04; 8:45 am]
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