81_FR_18938 81 FR 18875 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Plan for the Behren's Silverspot Butterfly

81 FR 18875 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Plan for the Behren's Silverspot Butterfly

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 63 (April 1, 2016)

Page Range18875-18876
FR Document2016-07389

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the final recovery plan for the Behren's silverspot butterfly. The recovery plan includes recovery objectives and criteria, and it includes specific actions necessary to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened, and to achieve removal of the species from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18875-18876]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07389]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2015-N220; FXES11130000-156-FF08E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Plan for 
the Behren's Silverspot Butterfly

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of documents.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the final recovery plan for the Behren's silverspot 
butterfly. The recovery plan includes recovery objectives and criteria, 
and it includes specific actions necessary to reclassify the species 
from endangered to threatened, and to achieve removal of the species 
from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
Plants.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the final recovery plan from our 
Web site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. 
Alternatively, you may contact the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521 
(telephone 707-822-7201).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Bingham, Field Supervisor, at 
the above street address or telephone number (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of 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 and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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 
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species.
    The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of species so that protection under the Act is no longer 
necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the 
species and provides criteria that enable us to gauge whether 
downlisting or delisting the species may be warranted. Furthermore, 
recovery plans

[[Page 18876]]

help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we consider 
necessary for each species' conservation and by estimating time and 
costs for implementing needed recovery measures.
    Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide an opportunity for 
public review and comment prior to finalization of recovery plans, 
including revisions to such plans. We made the draft recovery plan for 
Behren's silverspot butterfly available for public comment from January 
20, 2004, through March 22, 2004 (69 FR 2725). We did not receive any 
comments during the public comment period for the draft recovery plan.

Recovery Plan for Behren's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene 
behrensii)

Species' History

    We listed Behren's silverspot butterfly throughout its entire range 
on December 5, 1997 (62 FR 64306). The species is endemic to the 
coastal prairie in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, California. The 
current known range of the Behren's silverspot butterfly is limited to 
a small number of sites located from the Point Arena-Manchester State 
Park area south to the Salt Point area. The best available information 
on the life history of the Behren's silverspot butterfly comes from 
studies of a closely related coastal subspecies, the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly. Those studies found that females lay their eggs in the 
debris and dried stems of the larval food plant, the early blue violet 
(Viola adunca). The early blue violet is a small, native, perennial 
herb with pale to deep violet flowers. This violet typically blooms in 
late spring to early summer and dies back to the perennial rhizome 
during winter. Early blue violets occur widely in western North 
America; within the Behren's silverspot butterfly's range, they are 
associated with coastal grasslands.
    Upon hatching, the caterpillars (larvae) wander a short distance 
and spin a silk pad upon which they pass the fall and winter in 
diapause (dormancy). The larvae are dark-colored with many branching, 
sharp spines on their backs. Upon ending diapause in the spring, the 
larvae immediately seek out the violet food plant. During the spring 
and early summer they pass through five instars (stages of development) 
before forming a pupa within a chamber of leaves that they draw 
together with silk. The adult butterflies emerge in about two weeks and 
live for approximately three weeks, during which time they feed on 
nectar and reproduce. Depending upon environmental conditions, the 
flight period ranges from about July through August or early September.
    Behren's silverspot butterfly flight behavior is moderately erratic 
and swift in windy places, 0.3 to 1.8 meters (2 to 6 feet) above ground 
surface. Flights usually occur by late morning when temperatures are 
above about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Adults may feed on nectar for as 
long as 5 minutes, returning to the same plant repeatedly. Butterflies 
may rest on bare ground, in grasses, or on ferns (bracken) and other 
foliage.
    Adult Behren's silverspot butterflies feed on nectar, which is 
their only food source, besides internal reserves present when they 
emerge from the pupae. Observations of nectar feeding are few, but 
based on observations of this and closely related silverspot 
subspecies, plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) dominate as 
nectar sources, including thistles (Cirsium spp); gumplant (Grindelia 
stricta); goldenrods (Solidago spp.); tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), 
California aster (Aster chilensis), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis 
margaritacea), seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus), and yarrow (Achillea 
millefolium). Reported nectar species from other plant families include 
yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia), sea-pink (Armeria maritima), 
and western pennyroyal (Monardella undulata).

Recovery Plan Goals

    The ultimate goal of this recovery plan is to recover Behren's 
silverspot butterfly so that it can be delisted. To meet the recovery 
goal, the following objectives have been identified:

    1. Secure self-sustaining wild metapopulations throughout the 
historic range of the subspecies.
    2. Determine metapopulation and range-wide population numbers 
and monitor them to determine long-term trends.
    3. Reduce and eliminate threats, to the extent possible.
    4. Protect, conserve, and restore healthy butterfly ecosystems 
and their function.

    As Behren's silverspot butterfly meets reclassification and 
recovery criteria, we will review its status and consider it for 
removal from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 
and Plants.

Authority

    We developed our recovery plan under the authority of section 4(f) 
of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under section 
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-07389 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices 18875 playback experiments) the endangered monitoring, and research purposes DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Florida grasshopper sparrow throughout the species’ range. (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) Fish and Wildlife Service for a multi-part behaviorial ecology Permit Application Number: TE 13844A–3 [FWS–R8–ES–2015–N220; FXES11130000– study in the State of Florida. 156–FF08E00000] Permit Application Number: TE Applicant: Tony Miller, Lexington, 125620–4 Kentucky Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Plan for the Applicant: Brian Roh, Burns & The applicant requests to amend their Behren’s Silverspot Butterfly McDonnel Environmental Consulting, permit to take (enter hibernacula or Kansas City, Missouri maternity roost caves; capture with AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, The applicant requests an amendment mist-nets and harp traps; collect Interior. to their permit to take (capture, handle, biometric data, tissue, and/or hair; band; ACTION: Notice of availability of release) the federally endangered and radio-tag) gray bats, Indiana bats, documents. American burying beetle (Nicrophorus northern long-eared bats, and Virginia SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and americanus) for the purpose of big-eared bats for presence/absence Wildlife Service, announce the conducting presence/absence surveys in surveys, population monitoring, and the States of Arkansas, Kansas, availability of the final recovery plan for research purposes throughout the the Behren’s silverspot butterfly. The Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. species’ range. recovery plan includes recovery Permit Application Number: TE Permit Application Number: TE objectives and criteria, and it includes 91373A–3 91733B–0 specific actions necessary to reclassify Applicant: Jonathan Miller, Brundidge, the species from endangered to Applicant: Joshua Adams, Lexington, threatened, and to achieve removal of Alabama Kentucky the species from the Federal Lists of The applicant requests to amend their Endangered and Threatened Wildlife current permit to take (capture, identify, The applicant requests a permit to and Plants. release) additional species of federally take (capture with mist-net and harp ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of listed mussels for the purpose of trap, handle, band, and radio tag) the final recovery plan from our Web conducting presence/absence surveys in Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, gray bat, Ozark big-eared bat, and species/recovery-plans.html. Mississippi, and Louisiana. Virginia big-eared bat throughout the Alternatively, you may contact the Permit Application Number: TE species’ ranges for conducting presence/ Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. 91366A–3 absence surveys, studies to document Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 habitat use, and population monitoring. Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521 Applicant: Paul Stewart, Troy, Alabama The applicant requests additional (telephone 707–822–7201). The applicant requests to amend their authorizations to take (capture with FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: current permit to take (capture, identify, electrofishing and seining) the blackside Bruce Bingham, Field Supervisor, at the release) additional species of federally dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis) and above street address or telephone listed mussels for the purpose of the Kentucky arrow darter (Etheostoma number (see ADDRESSES). conducting presence/absence surveys in spilotum) for conducting presence/ the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: absence surveys, studies to document Mississippi, and Louisiana. habitat use, and population monitoring Background Permit Application Number: TE in Kentucky and Tennessee. Recovery of endangered or threatened 54578B–1 animals and plants to the point where Permit Application Number: TE Applicant: Mary Frazer, Raleigh, North they are again secure, self-sustaining 91755B–0 Carolina members of their ecosystems is a Applicant: Nathan Clink, Frankfort, primary goal of our endangered species The applicant requests a permit to Kentucky program and the Endangered Species take (capture with mist-net and harp Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. trap, handle, band, and radio tag) The applicant requests a permit to 1531 et seq.). Recovery means Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, take (capture, identify, and release) improvement of the status of listed gray bat, and Virginia big-eared bat several species of federally listed species to the point at which listing is throughout the species’ ranges for mussels for the purpose of conducting no longer appropriate under the criteria conducting presence/absence surveys, presence/absence surveys in the specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. studies to document habitat use, and Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Act requires the development of population monitoring. recovery plans for listed species, unless Dated: March 28, 2016. Permit Application Number: TE such a plan would not promote the Franklin J. Arnold III, 63633A–3 conservation of a particular species. Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological The purpose of a recovery plan is to asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Applicant: Biodiversity Research Services, Southeast Region. provide a framework for the recovery of Institute, Portland, Maine [FR Doc. 2016–07390 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] species so that protection under the Act The applicant requests to amend their BILLING CODE 4310–55–P is no longer necessary. A recovery plan current permit to take (capture with includes scientific information about mist nets, handle, identify, and release) the species and provides criteria that Indiana bats and northern long-eared enable us to gauge whether downlisting bats for the purpose of conducting or delisting the species may be presence/absence surveys, population warranted. Furthermore, recovery plans VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1

18876 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices help guide our recovery efforts by and reproduce. Depending upon Endangered Species Act of 1973, as describing actions we consider environmental conditions, the flight amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). necessary for each species’ conservation period ranges from about July through Alexandra Pitts, and by estimating time and costs for August or early September. implementing needed recovery Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Behren’s silverspot butterfly flight Region. measures. behavior is moderately erratic and swift Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to [FR Doc. 2016–07389 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] in windy places, 0.3 to 1.8 meters (2 to provide an opportunity for public BILLING CODE 4333–15–P review and comment prior to 6 feet) above ground surface. Flights finalization of recovery plans, including usually occur by late morning when revisions to such plans. We made the temperatures are above about 60 degrees DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR draft recovery plan for Behren’s Fahrenheit. Adults may feed on nectar for as long as 5 minutes, returning to the Bureau of Indian Affairs silverspot butterfly available for public comment from January 20, 2004, same plant repeatedly. Butterflies may [167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/ through March 22, 2004 (69 FR 2725). rest on bare ground, in grasses, or on A0A501010.999900] We did not receive any comments ferns (bracken) and other foliage. Renewal of Agency Information during the public comment period for Adult Behren’s silverspot butterflies Collection for Energy Resource the draft recovery plan. feed on nectar, which is their only food Development Program Grants Recovery Plan for Behren’s Silverspot source, besides internal reserves present Butterfly (Speyeria zerene behrensii) when they emerge from the pupae. AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Observations of nectar feeding are few, Interior. Species’ History but based on observations of this and ACTION: Notice of request for comments. We listed Behren’s silverspot butterfly closely related silverspot subspecies, throughout its entire range on December plants in the sunflower family SUMMARY: In compliance with the 5, 1997 (62 FR 64306). The species is (Asteraceae) dominate as nectar sources, Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the endemic to the coastal prairie in including thistles (Cirsium spp); Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs is Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, gumplant (Grindelia stricta); goldenrods seeking comments on the renewal of California. The current known range of (Solidago spp.); tansy ragwort (Senecio Office of Management and Budget the Behren’s silverspot butterfly is jacobaea), California aster (Aster (OMB) approval for the collection of limited to a small number of sites information for grants under the Office chilensis), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis located from the Point Arena- of Indian Energy and Economic margaritacea), seaside daisy (Erigeron Manchester State Park area south to the Development Office’s Energy and glaucus), and yarrow (Achillea Salt Point area. The best available Mineral Development Program millefolium). Reported nectar species information on the life history of the authorized by OMB Control Number from other plant families include yellow Behren’s silverspot butterfly comes from 1076–0174. This information collection sand verbena (Abronia latifolia), sea- expires June 30, 2016. studies of a closely related coastal pink (Armeria maritima), and western subspecies, the Oregon silverspot DATES: Submit comments on or before pennyroyal (Monardella undulata). butterfly. Those studies found that May 31, 2016. females lay their eggs in the debris and Recovery Plan Goals ADDRESSES: You may submit comments dried stems of the larval food plant, the on the information collection to Rebecca The ultimate goal of this recovery Naragon, U.S. Department of the early blue violet (Viola adunca). The plan is to recover Behren’s silverspot Interior, Office of Indian Energy and early blue violet is a small, native, butterfly so that it can be delisted. To Economic Development, 1951 perennial herb with pale to deep violet meet the recovery goal, the following Constitution Avenue NW., MS–16–SIB, flowers. This violet typically blooms in objectives have been identified: Washington, DC 20245; email: late spring to early summer and dies back to the perennial rhizome during 1. Secure self-sustaining wild Rebecca.Naragon@bia.gov. winter. Early blue violets occur widely metapopulations throughout the historic FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: in western North America; within the range of the subspecies. Rebecca Naragon, (202) 208–4401. Behren’s silverspot butterfly’s range, 2. Determine metapopulation and range- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: they are associated with coastal wide population numbers and monitor them grasslands. to determine long-term trends. I. Abstract Upon hatching, the caterpillars 3. Reduce and eliminate threats, to the The Energy Policy Act of 2005, 25 (larvae) wander a short distance and extent possible. U.S.C. 3503 authorizes the Secretary of spin a silk pad upon which they pass 4. Protect, conserve, and restore healthy the Interior to provide grants to Indian the fall and winter in diapause butterfly ecosystems and their function. Tribes as defined in 25 U.S.C. (dormancy). The larvae are dark-colored 3501(4)(A) and (B). The Office of Indian As Behren’s silverspot butterfly meets with many branching, sharp spines on Energy and Economic Development their backs. Upon ending diapause in reclassification and recovery criteria, we (IEED) administers and manages the the spring, the larvae immediately seek will review its status and consider it for energy resource development grant out the violet food plant. During the removal from the Federal Lists of program under the Energy and Minerals asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES spring and early summer they pass Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Development Program (EMDP). through five instars (stages of and Plants. Congress may appropriate funds to development) before forming a pupa Authority EMDP on a year-to-year basis. When within a chamber of leaves that they funding is available, IEED may solicit draw together with silk. The adult We developed our recovery plan proposals for energy and mineral butterflies emerge in about two weeks under the authority of section 4(f) of the resource development projects from and live for approximately three weeks, Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this Indian Tribes for use on Indian lands as during which time they feed on nectar notice under section 4(f) of the defined in 25 U.S.C. 3501. The projects VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1


Document Created: 2016-04-06 00:08:14
Document Modified: 2016-04-06 00:08:14
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability of documents.
ContactBruce Bingham, Field Supervisor, at
FR Citation81 FR 18875 
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