[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58111-58112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20159]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Recovery Plan for Silene spaldingii (Spalding's Catchfly)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Recovery Plan for Silene spaldingii (Spalding's 
Catchfly). Silene spaldingii is a plant native to portions of Idaho, 
Montana, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. We listed 
this species as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act 
in 2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final recovery plan are available by request 
from the following offices: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River 
Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 
83709 (telephone: 208-378-5243; fax: 208-378-5262); U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Helena Field Office, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, Montana 
59601 (telephone: 406-449-5225; fax: 406-449-5339); U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, La Grande Field Office, 3502 Highway 30, La Grande, 
Oregon 97850 (telephone: 541-962-8584; fax: 541-962-8581); and U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, 
11103 East Montgomery Drive, Suite 2, Spokane, Washington 99206 
(telephone: 509-891-6839; fax: 509-891-6748). Requests for copies of 
the document should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above 
offices. An electronic copy of the recovery plan will also be made 
available online at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans 
and at http://idahoes.fws.gov. Printed copies of the recovery plan will 
be available for distribution in 4 to 6 weeks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Duke, Division Chief, at the 
above Boise address (telephone: 208-387-5345; e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. The 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.) (ESA) requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Recovery 
plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered 
necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria 
for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and 
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et 
seq.) (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 as amended in 1988 requires 
that public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided during recovery plan development. The Draft Recovery Plan for 
Silene spaldingii (Spalding's catchfly) was available for public 
comment from March 16 through May 15, 2006 (71 FR 13625). Information 
presented during the public comment period has been considered in the 
preparation of this final recovery plan, and is summarized in an 
appendix to the recovery plan. We will forward substantive comments 
regarding recovery plan implementation to appropriate Federal or other 
entities so they can take these comments into account during the course 
of implementing recovery actions.
    Silene spaldingii (Spalding's catchfly) is a long-lived perennial 
forb in the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) with four to 
seven pairs of lance-shaped leaves and small greenish-white flowers. 
The green portions of the plant are covered in sticky hairs that often 
catch debris and small insects, hence the common name of the plant, 
``Spalding's catchfly.'' Silene spaldingii is currently known from 99 
primarily small populations; only 10 of these have more than 500 
individuals, and an additional 23 populations have at least 100 
individuals. Occupied habitat includes five physiographic regions in 
Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and British Colombia. These regions 
are as follows: the Palouse Grasslands in west-central Idaho and 
southeastern Washington, the Channeled Scablands in eastern Washington, 
the Blue Mountain Basins in northeastern Oregon, the Canyon Grasslands 
of the Snake River and its tributaries in Washington and Idaho, and the 
Intermontane Valleys of northwestern Montana and southern British 
Columbia.
    Silene spaldingii is impacted by habitat loss due to human 
development, habitat degradation associated with domestic livestock and 
wildlife grazing, and invasions of aggressive nonnative plants. In 
addition, a loss of genetic fitness is a problem for many small, 
fragmented populations where genetic exchange is limited. Other impacts 
include changes in fire frequency and seasonality, off-road vehicle 
use, and herbicide spraying and drift.
    The objective of this recovery plan is to recover Silene spaldingii 
by protecting and maintaining reproducing, self-sustaining populations 
in identified key conservation areas in each of its five distinct 
physiographic regions. Under the recovery plan this would be 
accomplished by developing habitat management plans at those key 
conservation areas that provide a strategy for managing Silene 
spaldingii and effectively address the threats to the species. Key 
conservation areas would need to support at least 500 reproducing 
individuals of Silene spaldingii, be composed of at least 80 percent 
native vegetation, have adjacent habitat to support pollinating 
insects, and are not small or fragmented (intact habitat, preferably at 
least 40 acres [16 hectares] in size). Delisting of Silene spaldingii 
would be considered when 27 populations occur rangewide at key 
conservation areas. Populations at these key conservation areas would 
have to demonstrate stable or increasing

[[Page 58112]]

population trends for at least 20 years, nonnative plants would have to 
be successfully controlled, and prescribed burning must be conducted to 
mimic historical fire regimes and with care not to impact Silene 
spaldingii or to exacerbate invasive nonnative plant populations. Seed 
banking would also occur across the species' range, and a post-
delisting monitoring program would be developed and ready for 
implementation at the time of delisting.

    Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: September 16, 2007.
Renne R. Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20159 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
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