[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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