81_FR_94543 81 FR 94296 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly in Northwestern Oregon

81 FR 94296 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly in Northwestern Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)

Page Range94296-94310
FR Document2016-30817

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), with the support of the State of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), propose to establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta), a threatened species, under the authority of section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This proposed rule provides a plan for reintroducing the Oregon silverspot butterfly into portions of the subspecies' historical range at two sites in northwestern Oregon: Saddle Mountain State Natural Area (SNA) in Clatsop County, and Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Tillamook County. It would also provide for allowable legal incidental taking of the Oregon silverspot butterfly within the defined NEP areas. The best available data indicate that reintroduction of the Oregon silverspot butterfly to Saddle Mountain SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR is biologically feasible and would promote the conservation of the subspecies.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 94296-94310]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30817]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2016-0102; FXES11130900000 167 FF09E42000]
RIN 1018-BB74


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a 
Nonessential Experimental Population of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly 
in Northwestern Oregon

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), 
with the support of the State of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department 
(OPRD), propose to establish a nonessential experimental population 
(NEP) of the Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta), a 
threatened species, under the authority of section 10(j) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This proposed rule 
provides a plan for reintroducing the Oregon silverspot butterfly into 
portions of the subspecies' historical range at two sites in 
northwestern Oregon: Saddle Mountain State Natural Area (SNA) in 
Clatsop County, and Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in 
Tillamook County. It would also provide for

[[Page 94297]]

allowable legal incidental taking of the Oregon silverspot butterfly 
within the defined NEP areas. The best available data indicate that 
reintroduction of the Oregon silverspot butterfly to Saddle Mountain 
SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR is biologically feasible and would promote the 
conservation of the subspecies.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
February 21, 2017. Please note that if you are using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES), the deadline for submitting an 
electronic comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date. We must 
receive requests for public hearings, in writing, at the address shown 
in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by February 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Written comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS-R1-
ES-2016-0102, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, 
click the Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on 
the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on 
the box next to Proposed Rules to locate this document. You may submit 
a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
     By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: 
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2016-0102, Division of 
Policy, Performance, and Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS; BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).
    Copies of documents: This proposed rule is available on http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2016-0102. In addition, 
the supporting file for this proposed rule will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the 
Newport Field Office, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365; 
telephone 541-867-4558. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Todd, Field Supervisor, 541-867-
4558. Persons who use a TDD may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 
1-800-877-8339. Direct all questions or requests for additional 
information to: OREGON SILVERSPOT BUTTERFLY QUESTIONS, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Newport Field Office, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, 
Newport, OR 97365.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Comments

    We want any final rule resulting from this proposal to be as 
effective as possible. Therefore, we invite Tribal and governmental 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, and other interested 
parties to submit comments or recommendations concerning any aspect of 
this proposed rule. Comments should be as specific as possible.
    To issue a final rule to implement this proposed action, we will 
take into consideration all comments and any additional information we 
receive. Such communications may lead to a final rule that differs from 
this proposal. All comments, including commenters' names and addresses, 
if provided to us, will become part of the supporting record.
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. Comments must be 
submitted to http://www.regulations.gov before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern 
Time) on the date specified in DATES. We will not consider hand-
delivered comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are 
not postmarked, by the date specified in DATES.
    We will post your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. If you provide 
personal identifying information in your comment, you may request at 
the top of your document that we withhold this information from public 
review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as some of the 
supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will 
be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov. All 
comments and materials we receive, as well as all supporting 
documentation, will be available by appointment, during normal business 
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newport Field Office (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    We particularly seek comments regarding:
     Any possible adverse effects on Oregon silverspot 
butterfly populations as a result of removal of individuals for the 
purposes of captive rearing and reintroduction of their offspring 
elsewhere;
     The likelihood that the proposed NEP will become 
established and survive in the foreseeable future;
     The relative effects that establishment of the NEP will 
have on the recovery of the subspecies; and
     The extent to which the reintroduced population may be 
affected by existing or anticipated Federal or State actions or private 
activities within or adjacent to the proposed NEP areas.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our Interagency Cooperative Policy for Peer 
Review in Endangered Species Act Activities, which was published on 
July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), and a recent internal memorandum clarifying 
the Service's interpretation and implementation of that policy (USFWS 
2016), we will seek the expert opinion of at least three appropriate 
independent specialists regarding scientific data and interpretations 
contained in this proposed rule. We will send copies of this proposed 
rule to the peer reviewers immediately following publication in the 
Federal Register. The purpose of such review is to ensure that our 
decisions are based on scientifically sound data, assumptions, and 
analysis. Accordingly, the final decision may differ from this 
proposal.

Background

Statutory and Regulatory Framework

    We listed the Oregon silverspot butterfly as a threatened species 
under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on October 15, 1980 (45 FR 
44935; July 2, 1980). We designated critical habitat for the subspecies 
at the time of listing (45 FR 44935; July 2, 1980).
    Species listed as endangered or threatened are afforded protection 
primarily through the prohibitions of section 9 of the Act and the 
requirements of section 7 of the Act. Section 9 of the Act, among other 
things, prohibits the take of endangered wildlife. ``Take'' is defined 
by the Act as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 
capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct. Our 
regulations (50 CFR 17.31) generally extend the prohibition of take to 
threatened wildlife species. Section 7 of the Act outlines the 
procedures for Federal interagency cooperation to conserve federally 
listed species and protect designated critical habitat. It mandates 
that all Federal agencies use their existing authorities to further the

[[Page 94298]]

purposes of the Act by carrying out programs for the conservation of 
listed species. It also states that Federal agencies must, in 
consultation with the Service, ensure that any action they authorize, 
fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence 
of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of designated critical habitat. Section 7 of the Act does 
not affect activities undertaken on private land unless they are 
authorized, funded, or carried out by a Federal agency.
    The 1982 amendments to the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) included 
the addition of section 10(j), which allows for the designation of 
reintroduced populations of listed species as ``experimental 
populations.'' The provisions of section 10(j) were enacted to 
ameliorate concerns that reintroduced populations would negatively 
impact landowners and other private parties, by giving the Secretary 
greater regulatory flexibility and discretion in managing the 
reintroduction of listed species to encourage recovery in collaboration 
with partners, especially private landowners. Under section 10(j) of 
the Act and our regulations at 50 CFR 17.81, the Service may designate 
as an experimental population an endangered or threatened species that 
has been or will be released into suitable natural habitat outside the 
species' current natural range (but within its probable historical 
range, absent a finding by the Director of the Service in the extreme 
case that the primary habitat of the species has been unsuitably and 
irreversibly altered or destroyed).
    As discussed below (see Relationship of the NEP to Recovery 
Efforts), we are considering the reintroduction of the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly into areas of suitable habitat within its 
historical range for the purpose of restoring populations to meet 
recovery goals. Oregon silverspot butterfly populations have been 
reduced from at least 20 formerly known locations to only 5, thus 
reintroductions are important to achieve biological redundancy in 
populations and to broaden the distribution of populations within the 
geographic range of the subspecies. The restoration of multiple 
populations of Oregon silverspot butterfly distributed across its range 
is one of the recovery criteria identified for the subspecies (USFWS 
2001, pp. 39-41).
    When we establish experimental populations under section 10(j) of 
the Act, we must determine whether such a population is essential or 
nonessential to the continued existence of the species. This 
determination is based solely on the best scientific and commercial 
data available. Our regulations (50 CFR 17.80(b)) state that an 
experimental population is considered essential if its loss would be 
likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival of that species 
in the wild. All other populations are considered nonessential. We find 
the proposed experimental population to be nonessential for the 
following reasons: (1) Oregon silverspot butterflies are currently 
found at five locations, from the central Oregon coast to northern 
California (see Biological Information, below); (2) There are ongoing 
management efforts, including captive rearing and release, to maintain 
or expand Oregon silverspot butterfly populations at these five 
locations (VanBuskirk 2010, entire; USFWS 2012, entire); (3) The 
experimental population will not provide demographic support to the 
wild populations (see Location and Boundaries of the NEP, below); (4) 
The experimental population will not possess any unique genetic or 
adaptive traits that differ from those in the wild populations because 
it will be established using donor stock from extant wild populations 
of Oregon silverspot butterflies (see Donor Stock Assessment and 
Effects on Donor Populations, below); and (5) loss of the experimental 
population will not preclude other recovery options, including future 
efforts to reestablish Oregon silverspot butterfly populations 
elsewhere. Therefore, we are proposing to designate a nonessential 
experimental population (NEP) of Oregon silverspot butterfly at two 
sites in northwest Oregon.
    With the NEP designation, the relevant population is treated as if 
it were listed as a threatened species for the purposes of establishing 
protective regulations, regardless of the species' designation 
elsewhere in its range. This approach allows us to develop tailored 
take prohibitions that are necessary and advisable to provide for the 
conservation of the species. In these situations, the general 
regulations that extend most section 9 prohibitions to threatened 
species do not apply to that species. The protective regulations 
adopted for an experimental population in a section 10(j) rule contain 
the applicable prohibitions and exceptions for that population. These 
section 9 prohibitions and exceptions apply on all lands within the 
NEP.
    For the purposes of section 7 of the Act, which addresses Federal 
cooperation, we treat an NEP as a threatened species when the NEP is 
located within a National Wildlife Refuge or unit of the National Park 
Service, and Federal agency conservation requirements under section 
7(a)(1) and the Federal agency consultation requirements of section 
7(a)(2) of the Act apply. Section 7(a)(1) of the Act requires all 
Federal agencies to use their authorities to carry out programs for the 
conservation of listed species. Section 7(a)(2) requires that Federal 
agencies, in consultation with the Service, ensure that any action they 
authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of a listed species or adversely modify its critical habitat. 
When NEPs are located outside a National Wildlife Refuge or National 
Park Service unit, then, for the purposes of section 7, we treat the 
population as proposed for listing and only section 7(a)(1) and section 
7(a)(4) of the Act apply. In these instances, NEPs provide additional 
flexibility because Federal agencies are not required to consult with 
us under section 7(a)(2). Section 7(a)(4) requires Federal agencies to 
confer (rather than consult) with the Service on actions that are 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a species proposed to 
be listed. The results of a conference are in the form of conservation 
recommendations that are optional to the agencies carrying out, 
funding, or authorizing activities. If finalized, the NEP area within 
Nestucca Bay NWR will still be subject to the provisions of section 
7(a)(2), and intra-agency consultation would be required on the refuge. 
Section 7(a)(2) consultation would not be required outside of the 
refuge.
    Before authorizing the release as an experimental population 
(including eggs, propagules, or individuals) of an endangered or 
threatened species, and before authorizing any necessary transportation 
to conduct the release, the Service must find, by regulation, that such 
release will further the conservation of the species. In making such a 
finding, the Service uses the best scientific and commercial data 
available to consider the following factors (see 49 FR 33893; August 
27, 1984): (1) Any possible adverse effects on extant populations of a 
species as a result of removal of individuals, eggs, or propagules for 
introduction elsewhere (see Donor Stock Assessment and Effects on Donor 
Populations, below); (2) the likelihood that any such experimental 
population will become established and survive in the foreseeable 
future (see Likelihood of Population Establishment and Survival, 
below); (3) the relative effects that establishment of an experimental 
population will have on the recovery of the species (see Relationship 
of the NEP

[[Page 94299]]

to Recovery Efforts, below); and (4) the extent to which the introduced 
population may be affected by existing or anticipated Federal or State 
actions or private activities within or adjacent to the experimental 
population area (see Extent to Which the Reintroduced Population May Be 
Affected by Land Management Within the Proposed NEP, below).
    Furthermore, as set forth at 50 CFR 17.81(c), all regulations 
designating experimental populations under section 10(j) must provide: 
(1) Appropriate means to identify the experimental population, 
including, but not limited to, its actual or proposed location, actual 
or anticipated migration, number of specimens released or to be 
released, and other criteria appropriate to identify the experimental 
population(s) (see Location and Boundaries of the NEP, below); (2) a 
finding, based solely on the best scientific and commercial data 
available, and the supporting factual basis, on whether the 
experimental population is, or is not, essential to the continued 
existence of the species in the wild (see discussion in this section, 
above); (3) management restrictions, protective measures, or other 
special management concerns of that population, which may include but 
are not limited to, measures to isolate and/or contain the experimental 
population designated in the regulation from natural populations (see 
Extent to Which the Reintroduced Population May Be Affected by Land 
Management Within the Proposed NEP, below); and (4) a process for 
periodic review and evaluation of the success or failure of the release 
and the effect of the release on the conservation and recovery of the 
species (see Reintroduction Effectiveness Monitoring and Donor 
Population Monitoring, below).
    Under 50 CFR 17.81(d), the Service must consult with appropriate 
State fish and wildlife agencies, local governmental entities, affected 
Federal agencies, and affected private landowners in developing and 
implementing experimental population rules. To the maximum extent 
practicable, section 10(j) rules represent an agreement between the 
Service, the affected State and Federal agencies, and persons holding 
any interest in land which may be affected by the establishment of an 
experimental population.
    Section 10(j)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act states that critical habitat 
shall not be designated for any experimental population that is 
determined to be nonessential. Accordingly, we cannot designate 
critical habitat in areas where we establish an NEP.

Biological Information

    The Oregon silverspot butterfly is a small, darkly marked coastal 
subspecies of the Zerene fritillary, a widespread butterfly species in 
montane western North America (USFWS 2001, p. 1). Historically, the 
Oregon silverspot butterfly was documented at 20 locations, from the 
border of northern California to the southern coast of Washington 
(McCorkle et al. 1980, p. 7). Its current distribution is limited to 
five locations, one near Lake Earl, along the coast of Del Norte 
County, California; two on the central Oregon coast in Lane County, 
Oregon; and two in Tillamook County, Oregon. With the exception of the 
two populations on the central Oregon coast that are only about 5 miles 
(mi) (8 kilometers (km)) apart, all remaining populations are 
geographically isolated from one another (USFWS 2001, pp. 8-10).
    The Oregon silverspot butterfly has a 1-year life cycle which 
begins when female adults lay eggs on or near early blue violets (Viola 
adunca) during their flight period from mid-August through September. 
The eggs hatch within 10 days. The tiny first-instar caterpillars eat 
their eggshells and then go into diapause, a hibernation-like state, 
until late spring the following year when violets begin growing. 
Caterpillars are cryptic in habits and feed on early blue violets and a 
few other Viola species until pupation in the summer. Adult emergence 
starts in July and extends into September.
    The Oregon silverspot butterfly occupies three types of grassland 
habitat: marine terrace and coastal headland meadows, stabilized dunes, 
and montane grasslands. Key resources needed by the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly in all of these habitats include: (1) The early blue violet, 
which is the primary host plant for Oregon silverspot caterpillars; (2) 
a variety of nectar plants that bloom during the butterfly flight 
period, including, but not limited to, yarrow (Achillea millefolium), 
pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), Pacific aster 
(Symphyotrichum chilense), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), 
tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), and edible thistle (Cirsium edule); 
(3) grasses and forbs in which the larvae find shelter; and (4) trees 
surrounding occupied meadows, which provide shelter for adult 
butterflies (45 FR 44935, July 2, 1980, p. 44939; USFWS 2001, p. 12). 
Historically, habitats with these key resources were likely widely 
distributed along the Oregon and Washington coasts (Hammond and 
McCorkle 1983, p. 222). Loss of habitat and key resources occurred as a 
result of human development and due to ecological succession and 
invasion of shrubs, trees, and tall introduced grasses which crowd-out 
the subspecies' host plants and nectar resources (Hammond and McCorkle 
1983, p. 222). Loss of habitat was the primary threat to the subspecies 
identified in our 2001 Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot 
Butterfly (USFWS 2001, entire). More recently, during a periodic review 
of the subspecies' status, we identified the reduced size, number, and 
isolation of Oregon silverspot butterfly populations as additional 
severe and imminent threats to the subspecies (USFWS 2012, pp. 24-25).
    Additional information on the biology, habitat, and life history of 
the butterfly can be found in our Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon 
Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) (USFWS 2001, pp. 11-
19), which is available online at http://www.regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2016-0102 or by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.

Relationship of the NEP to Recovery Efforts

    We are proposing to establish an NEP to promote the conservation 
and recovery of the Oregon silverspot butterfly. The recovery strategy 
for the Oregon silverspot butterfly, as detailed in our 2001 revised 
recovery plan, is to protect and manage habitat, and to augment and 
restore populations (USFWS 2001, pp. 39-41). Recovery criteria for the 
Oregon silverspot butterfly are (USFWS 2001, p. 42):
    1. At least two viable Oregon silverspot butterfly populations 
exist in protected habitat in each of the following areas: Coastal 
Mountains, Cascade Head, and Central coast in Oregon; and Del Norte 
County in California; and at least one viable Oregon silverspot 
butterfly population exists in protected habitat in each of the 
following areas: Long Beach Peninsula, Washington, and Clatsop Plains, 
Oregon. This includes the development of comprehensive management 
plans.
    2. Habitats are managed long term to maintain native, early 
successional grassland communities. Habitat management maintains and 
enhances early blue violet abundance, provides a minimum of five native 
nectar species dispersed abundantly throughout the habitat and 
flowering throughout the entire flight-period, and reduces the 
abundance of invasive, nonnative plant species.
    3. Managed habitat at each population site supports a minimum 
viable

[[Page 94300]]

population of 200 to 500 butterflies for at least 10 years.
    The reintroduction of Oregon silverspot butterflies within the 
proposed NEP would help address the limited number of populations and 
the subspecies' diminished geographic range. In addition, it is likely 
to contribute to meeting recovery criteria, as both proposed NEP areas 
have the biological attributes to support a viable butterfly population 
of butterflies and will be managed consistent with the subspecies' 
biological needs.

Location and Boundaries of the NEP

    Section 10(j) of the Act requires that an experimental population 
be geographically separate from other populations of the same species. 
We identified the boundary of the proposed NEP as those Public Land 
Survey System sections intersecting with a 4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius 
around the proposed release locations. This boundary was selected to 
encompass all likely movements of Oregon silverspot butterflies away 
from the release areas while maintaining geographic separation from 
existing populations. This 4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius is greater than the 
longest known flight distance of the Oregon silverspot butterfly (4.1 
mi (6.6 km)) (VanBuskirk and Pickering 1999, pp. 3-4, Appendix 1). 
Although this flight distance had previously been reported as ``5 
miles'' (VanBuskirk and Pickering 1999, p. 4; USFWS 2010, p. 10), a 
more precise measurement using the locations where the individual 
butterfly in question was marked and recaptured (rather than the 
general distance between the populations) resulted in a distance of 4.1 
mi (6.8 km). The proposed NEP areas are geographically isolated from 
existing Oregon silverspot butterfly populations by a sufficient 
distance to preclude significant contact between populations. There is 
an extremely small potential that butterflies dispersing 4.1 mi (6.8 
km) from the proposed release site on Nestucca Bay NWR may interact 
with butterflies dispersing 4.1 mi (6.8 km) from Cascade Head, because 
these locations are 8 mi (13 km) apart. Nevertheless, the likelihood of 
butterflies from these two sites interbreeding is remote because of the 
distance between the sites and the fact that there is little or no 
suitable habitat with appropriate larval host plants and adult nectar 
sources between Nestucca Bay NWR and Cascade Head. Even if butterflies 
dispersed and were present within the same area, we do not believe the 
occasional presence of a few individual butterflies meets a minimal 
biological definition of a population. Based on definitions of 
``population'' used in other experimental population rules (e.g., 59 FR 
60252, November 22, 1994; 71 FR 42298, July 26, 2006), we believe that 
a determination that a population is not geographically separate from 
the proposed NEP area would require the presence of sufficient suitable 
habitat in the intervening area to support successfully reproducing 
Oregon silverspot butterflies over multiple years. Because there is 
little to no suitable habitat between Nestucca Bay NWR and Cascade 
Head, we conclude this is unlikely to happen. Biologically, the term 
``population'' is not normally applied to dispersing individuals, and 
any individual butterflies would be considered emigrants from the 
Cascade Head population. Finally, a few butterflies would not be 
considered a self-sustaining population. Self-sustaining populations 
need a sufficient number of individuals to avoid inbreeding depression 
and occurrences of chance local extinction; a general rule of thumb is 
that the effective population size needs to be at least 50 to reduce 
the likelihood of extinction in the short term because of harmful 
effects of inbreeding depression on demographic rates, and at least 500 
to retain sufficient genetic variation to allow for future adaptive 
change (Jamieson and Allendorf 2014, p. 578).

Saddle Mountain State Natural Area

    Saddle Mountain SNA, managed by OPRD, is located in central Clatsop 
County, in northwest Oregon. Saddle Mountain was historically occupied 
by the Oregon silverspot butterfly, which was last documented at this 
site in 1973 (McCorkle et al. 1980, p. 8). Butterfly surveys in 1980 
and more recent surveys during the butterfly flight period--in 2003, 
2006, and 2010--did not document the species at Saddle Mountain (Mike 
Patterson, pers. comm. 2016), and the population there is presumed to 
be extirpated (VanBuskirk 2010, p. 27). The nearest extant Oregon 
silverspot butterfly population is 50 miles (80 km) south at Mount 
Hebo.
    Saddle Mountain SNA is a 3,225-acre (ac) (1,305-hectare (ha)) park 
known for its unique botanical community, which thrives on the thin 
rocky soils, with few invasive weeds. Habitat suitable for the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly consists of approximately 60 ac (24 ha) of meadows 
on the slopes of Saddle Mountain near its upper peaks at 3,288 feet 
(ft) (1,002 meters (m)) above sea-level. Based on recent plant surveys 
(OPRD 2012, p. 2), the proposed release site contains high-quality 
butterfly habitat with sufficient densities of the requisite species 
(Viola adunca and native nectar plants) to support an Oregon silverspot 
butterfly population (USFWS 2001, pp. 13-14). Habitat quality has been 
maintained through natural processes including vertical drainage 
patterns associated with steep ridges, thin rocky soils, elevation, and 
winter snow cover within the forb rich Roemer fescue (Festuca roemeri) 
montane grassland community (ONHIC 2004, p. 2). In a letter to the 
Service dated October 15, 2011, and a follow-up letter dated February 
12, 2016, OPRD expressed their desire to have an NEP of Oregon 
silverspot butterfly and to return this native pollinator to the 
ecosystem (OPRD in litt., 2011; OPRD in litt., 2016).
    The Saddle Mountain NEP area is centered on the coastal prairie 
habitat on top of Saddle Mountain, where we are proposing to 
reintroduce the Oregon silverspot butterfly. The proposed NEP 
encompasses all the Public Land Survey System sections that intersect 
with a 4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius around the proposed release area. The 
subspecies is territorial within habitat areas, and the reintroduced 
butterflies are expected to stay in or near meadows on top of Saddle 
Mountain, which have an abundance of the plant species they need to 
survive. The proposed Saddle Mountain butterfly population will be 
released into permanently protected suitable habitat. We are proposing 
to reintroduce the Oregon silverspot butterfly as an NEP in this area 
to address OPRD's concerns regarding potential impacts to park 
management activities, such as trail maintenance, and potential 
opposition from surrounding landowners to the reintroduction of a 
federally listed species without an NEP. Surrounding land cover is 
primarily forest (OPRD 2014, pers. comm.) and is not suitable Oregon 
silverspot butterfly habitat; therefore, we do not expect butterflies 
to use areas outside of Saddle Mountain SNA.

Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

    The Nestucca Bay NWR, managed by the Service, is located in the 
southwest corner of Tillamook County, along the northern Oregon coast. 
Although the Oregon silverspot butterfly was never documented at this 
site, it is within the historical range of the subspecies along the 
coast, and a small amount of remnant coastal prairie occurred on the 
site prior to commencement of restoration efforts in 2011. Therefore, 
it is reasonable to assume that the Oregon silverspot butterfly once 
inhabited the area, but no surveys were conducted to document its 
presence. Currently occupied Oregon silverspot butterfly

[[Page 94301]]

sites nearest to the proposed NEP area are 10 mi (16 km) to the east at 
Mount Hebo and 8 mi (13 km) south at Cascade Head, with little or no 
suitable habitat in between. There are currently no known extant Oregon 
silverspot butterfly populations to the north of the proposed release 
site, but the subspecies was historically documented near Cape Meares, 
20 mi (32 km) to the north of Nestucca Bay NWR, where it was last 
observed in 1968 (McCorkle et al. 1980, p. 7).
    The Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan includes a goal to promote the recovery of the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly by establishing an NEP on the refuge (USFWS 2013, 
p. 2-4). The approximately 1,203-ac (487-ha) refuge has 25 to 30 ac (10 
to 12 ha) of coastal prairie habitat in varying stages of restoration, 
including the conversion of degraded grasslands on the Cannery Hill 
Unit from nonnative pasture grasses to native coastal grasses and forbs 
with an emphasis on the plant species and structure required to support 
the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Since 2011, invasive weed abundance 
has been minimized, and thousands of violet and nectar plants have been 
planted to enhance and restore the coastal prairie ecosystem. Funding 
acquired by the refuge in 2015 is now being used to complete habitat 
restoration on the remaining acreage prior to the release of Oregon 
silverspot butterflies.
    The NEP area is centered on coastal prairie habitat on the Cannery 
Hill Unit of the refuge, where we are proposing to release Oregon 
silverspot butterflies. The proposed NEP encompasses all Public Land 
Survey System sections that intersect with a 4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius 
around the proposed release area. We propose to release Oregon 
silverspot butterflies into permanently protected suitable habitat at 
Nestucca Bay NWR, which will be managed to provide the plant community 
needed for the butterfly to become established and to support a 
population. We are proposing to reintroduce the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly as an NEP in this area to address adjacent landowner concerns 
regarding the impact a federally listed species might have on the sale 
or development of their property. As little or no suitable habitat is 
currently available on adjacent properties, and Oregon silverspot 
butterflies are territorial and non-migratory, we consider the 
likelihood of butterflies moving on to these adjacent lands to be low. 
Despite a few adjacent properties that Oregon silverspot butterflies 
might occasionally move through, the primary surrounding land cover is 
agriculture and forest (USFWS 2013, p. 4-3), which are not suitable 
habitat for the subspecies; therefore, occurrence of Oregon silverspot 
butterflies in surrounding areas, if any, is expected to be limited.

Likelihood of Population Establishment and Survival

    The best available scientific data indicate that the reintroduction 
of Oregon silverspot butterflies into suitable habitat is biologically 
feasible and would promote the conservation of the species. Oregon 
silverspot butterfly population augmentations have been conducted on 
the central Oregon coast from 2000 through 2015 (USFWS 2012, p. 10; 
Engelmeyer 2015, p. 4). Based on the knowledge gained from these 
efforts, we anticipate the proposed NEP areas would become successfully 
established. Butterflies would be released into high-quality habitat in 
sufficient amounts to support large butterfly populations, and no 
unaddressed threats to the species are known to exist at these sites.
    The coastal headland meadows of the Nestucca Bay NWR are being 
restored with the specific intent of providing high densities of the 
plant species needed by the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Ongoing 
habitat enhancement and management will maintain suitable habitat and 
minimize the abundance and distribution of invasive, nonnative plant 
species, which degrade habitat quality. The Nestucca Bay NWR has 
committed to the management required to restore and maintain suitable 
habitat specifically for a population of the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly. The upper meadows of the Saddle Mountain SNA have an 
abundance of the key resources, including an intact plant community 
with an abundance of plants needed to support the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly. Habitat quality has been maintained through natural 
processes, including vertical drainage patterns associated with steep 
ridges, thin rocky soils, elevation, and winter snow cover within the 
forb rich Roemer fescue montane grassland community (ONHIC 2004, p. 2). 
The habitat at Saddle Mountain is self-sustaining, does not require 
active management (see Addressing Causes of Extirpation, below), and is 
adequately protected. Additionally, within both proposed NEP areas, 
large trees surrounding the meadows would provide needed cover for 
sheltering Oregon silverspot butterflies.
    Based on all of these considerations, we anticipate that 
reintroduced Oregon silverspot butterflies are likely to become 
established and persist at Nestucca Bay NWR and Saddle Mountain SNA.

Addressing Causes of Extirpation

    The largest threat to Oregon silverspot butterfly populations is a 
lack of suitable habitat. Without regular disturbance, coastal prairie 
habitat is vulnerable to plant community succession, resulting in loss 
of prairie habitat to brush and tree invasion. Invasive, nonnative 
plants also play a significant role in the degradation of habitat 
quality and quantity for this butterfly.
    The reasons for the extirpation of the original population of 
Oregon silverspot butterflies on Saddle Mountain between 1973 and 1980 
are unknown. The habitat on top of Saddle Mountain is currently 
suitable for supporting a population of the butterfly. The grassland 
habitat at this location has been self-sustaining likely due to the 
3,000-ft (914-m) elevation, thin rocky soil type, steep slopes, 
primarily native composition of the plant community, and lack of human 
disturbance to the ecosystem. The Saddle Mountain SNA, protected as a 
special botanical area, has an annual day-use rate of 68,928 visitors 
per year. OPRD maintains a trail, accessible only by foot, which leads 
to the top of the mountain. The extremely steep grade on either side of 
the trail discourages visitors from straying off trail and into the 
adjacent meadow areas. Park rules do not allow collection of plants or 
animals (OPRD 2010). Continuance of this management regime is expected 
to protect the reintroduced population and contribute to its successful 
establishment. We acknowledge there is some uncertainty regarding 
population establishment and long-term viability at this site given 
that we have not identified the original cause of local extirpation. 
Nevertheless, this site has been identified as one of the most 
promising for a reintroduction effort given the lack of identifiable 
threats, density of host plants, and overall quality of habitat 
(VanBuskirk 2010, p. 27).
    The Nestucca Bay NWR will address habitat threats by monitoring and 
maintaining habitat quality for the benefit of the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly, in accordance with the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which sets specific targets for 
abundance of violet and nectar species. All management actions taken in 
the vicinity of the reintroduced population will defer to the habitat 
needs of the butterfly (USFWS 2013, pp. 4-37-4-43). As described above, 
the Nestucca Bay NWR is actively working to restore habitat 
specifically for the benefit of the Oregon silverspot butterfly in

[[Page 94302]]

anticipation of a potential reintroduction. Restoration efforts have 
proven successful in establishing high-quality habitat that is likely 
to support all life stages of the subspecies. Nestucca Bay NWR's 
demonstrated commitment to reestablishing and maintaining high-quality 
habitat suitable for the Oregon silverspot butterfly is expected to 
contribute to the successful establishment of the proposed NEP at this 
site.

Release Procedures

    We propose to use captive-reared butterflies to populate the NEP 
areas using proven release methods developed by the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly population augmentation program from 2000 to 2015 (USFWS 
2012, p. 10; Engelmeyer 2015, p. 2). We will release captive-reared 
caterpillars or pupae of wild female butterflies into suitable habitat 
within the proposed NEP areas, following the guidance in the Captive 
Propagation and Reintroduction Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly 
(VanBuskirk 2010, entire). We will determine the number of individuals 
to release based on the number of available healthy offspring and the 
amount of suitable habitat available, with violet densities as the 
primary measure of habitat suitability. The ultimate goal is the 
establishment of self-sustaining populations of between 200 to 500 
butterflies for 10 years at each proposed NEP area, similar to the 
recovery criteria for the other habitat conservation areas.
    Based on guidance from the Captive Propagation and Reintroduction 
Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (VanBuskirk 2010, entire), we 
propose to establish populations in each NEP area from offspring of at 
least 50 mated females. Because the number of female butterflies 
available for collection for the captive-rearing program is limited to 
5 percent of the donor population per year, it may be necessary to 
release caterpillars or pupae incrementally over a period of a few 
years. We will use annual butterfly counts during the flight period to 
monitor population establishment success. Butterfly survey methods used 
at the occupied sites (Pollard 1977, p. 116; Pickering 1992, p. 3) will 
also be used to assess population establishment success in the proposed 
NEP areas.

Donor Stock Assessment and Effects on Donor Populations

    Individual Oregon silverspot butterflies used to establish 
populations at both proposed NEP areas will most likely come from the 
offspring of the Mount Hebo population. Additional genetic research on 
the subspecies is in progress and may suggest that butterflies from 
other populations should be included in the captive-rearing program to 
enhance genetic diversity. If populations other than the Mount Hebo 
population are used as donor stock, we will evaluate the impact of 
taking females from those populations on the survival and recovery of 
the subspecies prior to issuing a recovery permit for such take.
    The Mount Hebo Oregon silverspot butterfly population has 
historically been the largest and most stable population, averaging an 
annual index count of 1,457 butterflies per year between 2000 to 2014 
(USFWS 2012, p. 10; Patterson 2014, p. 11); therefore, it is the least 
likely to be impacted by the removal of up to 5 percent of the 
population. Demographic modeling indicates that the optimal strategy 
for captive rearing of Oregon silverspot butterflies to increase the 
probability of persistence is to take females from larger donor 
populations (Crone et al. 2007, p. 108). Regional persistence can be 
increased with captive rearing, with negligible effects on the donor 
population (Crone et al. 2007, pp. 107-108). Measurable increases in 
regional persistence are predicted when one assumes each donor female 
produces four adult butterflies for release to the wild (i.e., four 
adults/female). In reality, the number of adult butterflies produced 
per female captured from the donor population has been much higher in 
recent years. For example, during 2007-2009, between 24 and 29 females 
were captured, producing between 875 and 2,391 adults for release (31-
83 adults/female) (VanBuskirk 2010, p. 12). In 2015, 14 females 
produced 815 adults for release (58 adults/female) (Engelmeyer 2015, p. 
5). These rates of production far exceed what is needed to have a 
positive impact on regional persistence, even if all the females were 
removed from small donor populations (see Crone et al. 2007, p. 109). 
As an additional protective measure, we will release some caterpillars 
and pupae from the captive-rearing program back into the donor 
population each year, concurrent with the reintroductions to the 
proposed NEP areas. This will further minimize any potential effects 
from the removal of a small number of adult females in the prior year.
    The Mount Hebo population occurs in an environment similar to the 
proposed Saddle Mountain NEP area (i.e., similar elevation, native 
plant community, and distance from the coast). Therefore, offspring of 
butterflies from Mount Hebo will likely be well-adapted to the 
environment in the meadows on top of Saddle Mountain. The Mount Hebo 
population may also serve as the best donor population for the proposed 
Nestucca Bay NEP area because it is genetically most similar to the 
existing population closest to the refuge (i.e., the Cascade Head 
population) (VanBuskirk 2000, p. 27; McHugh et al. 2013, p. 8). We will 
consider all new scientific information when making annual decisions on 
an appropriate donor population; therefore, it is possible that we will 
use donor populations other than Mount Hebo.
    The Captive Propagation and Reintroduction Plan for the Oregon 
Silverspot Butterfly (VanBuskirk 2010, entire) contains further 
information on the captive rearing program, release procedures, genetic 
considerations, population dynamics, effects of releases on population 
viability of the Oregon silverspot butterfly, and the potential for 
reintroduction to Saddle Mountain SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR (copies of 
this document are available online at http://www.regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2016-0102 or by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above).

Legal Status of Reintroduced Populations

    Based on the current legal and biological status of the subspecies 
and the need for management flexibility, and in accordance with section 
10(j) of the Act, we propose to designate all Oregon silverspot 
butterflies released within the boundaries of the NEP areas as members 
of the NEP. Such designation allows us to establish special protective 
regulations for management of Oregon silverspot butterflies.
    With the experimental population designation, the relevant 
population is treated as threatened for purposes of section 9 of the 
Act, regardless of the species' designation elsewhere in its range. 
Treating the experimental population as threatened allows us the 
discretion to devise management programs and specific regulations for 
such a population. Section 4(d) of the Act allows us to adopt any 
regulations that are necessary and advisable to provide for the 
conservation of a threatened species. When designating an experimental 
population, the general regulations that extend most section 9 
prohibitions to threatened species do not apply to that species, and 
the section 10(j) rule contains the prohibitions and exemptions 
necessary and advisable to conserve that species.
    The 10(j) rule would further the conservation of the subspecies by 
facilitating its reintroduction into two areas of suitable habitat 
within its historical range. The rule would provide

[[Page 94303]]

assurances to landowners and development interests that the 
reintroduction of Oregon silverspot butterflies will not interfere with 
natural resource developments or with human activities (although the 
Act's section 7(a)(2) consultation requirements would still apply on 
Nestucca Bay NWR). Without such assurances, some landowners and 
developers, as well as the State, would object to the reintroduction of 
Oregon silverspot butterflies to these two areas. Except as provided 
for under sections 10(a)(1)(A) and 10(e) of the Act, or as described in 
this proposed NEP rule, take of any member of the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly NEP will be prohibited under the Act.

Extent to Which the Reintroduced Population May Be Affected by Land 
Management Within the Proposed NEP

    We conclude that the effects of Federal, State, or private actions 
and activities will not pose a threat to Oregon silverspot butterfly 
establishment and persistence at Saddle Mountain SNA or the Nestucca 
Bay NWR because the best information, including activities currently 
occurring in Oregon silverspot butterfly populations range wide, 
indicates that activities currently occurring, or likely to occur, at 
prospective reintroduction sites within proposed NEP areas are 
compatible with the species' recovery. The reintroduced Oregon 
silverspot butterfly populations would be managed by OPRD and the 
Service, and would be protected from major development activities 
through the following mechanisms:
    (1) Development activities and timber harvests are not expected to 
occur in the Saddle Mountain SNA, which is protected as a special 
botanical area. Trail maintenance and other park maintenance activities 
would continue to occur within the proposed NEP area, but are expected 
to have minimal impact on the butterfly meadow habitat areas due to the 
terrain and steepness of the slopes. Because of the rugged nature of 
the area, and also to protect the important botanical resources at this 
site, maintenance activities in this area are generally limited to 
trail maintenance by hand crews, with minimal impacts on the meadow 
areas. Additionally, the proposed Oregon silverspot butterfly NEP area 
at Saddle Mountain SNA would be protected by the Oregon State 
regulations prohibiting collection of animals on State lands (Oregon 
Administrative Rule (OAR) 736-010-0055(2)(d)). Private timberlands 
surrounding the SNA do not contain suitable butterfly habitat, and 
therefore activities on adjacent lands are not expected to impact the 
butterfly.
    (2) In accordance with the Nestucca Bay NWR Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan, all refuge management actions taken in the vicinity 
of the reintroduced population will defer to the habitat needs of the 
butterfly (USFWS 2013, pp. 4-37-4-43). In addition, the refuge must 
complete section 7(a)(2) consultation on all actions that may affect 
the butterfly. Oregon silverspot butterflies may occasionally visit or 
fly within adjacent properties near the proposed NEP area, which may be 
subject to future development. However, given the lack of suitable 
habitat for this subspecies on adjacent properties, as well as the 
butterfly's territorial and non-migratory nature, we consider negative 
impacts to the Oregon silverspot butterfly from development on adjacent 
sites to be unlikely, as there is little likelihood of individuals 
moving to these sites.
    Management issues related to the proposed Oregon silverspot 
butterfly NEP that have been considered include:
    (a) Incidental Take: The regulations implementing the Act define 
``incidental take'' as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose 
of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity (50 CFR 17.3), such as 
agricultural activities and other rural development, and other 
activities that are in accordance with Federal, Tribal, State, and 
local laws and regulations. Experimental population rules contain 
specific prohibitions and exceptions regarding the taking of individual 
animals. If we adopt this 10(j) rule as proposed, take of the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly anywhere within the NEP areas would not be 
prohibited, provided that the take is unintentional, not due to 
negligent conduct, and is in accordance with this 10(j) rule; however, 
the section 7(a)(2) consultation requirement still applies on refuge 
lands. We expect levels of incidental take to be low because the 
reintroduction is compatible with ongoing activities and anticipated 
future actions in the proposed NEP areas.
    (b) Special handling: In accordance with 50 CFR 17.32, any person 
with a valid permit issued by the Service may take the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly for educational purposes, scientific purposes, the 
enhancement of propagation or survival of the species, zoological 
exhibition, and other conservation purposes consistent with the Act. 
Additionally, any employee or agent of the Service, any other Federal 
land management agency, or a State conservation agency, who is 
designated by the agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the 
course of official duties, take an Oregon silverspot butterfly in the 
wild in the NEP area without a permit if such action is necessary for 
scientific purposes, to aid a law enforcement investigation, to 
euthanize an injured individual, to dispose of or salvage a dead 
individual for scientific purposes, or to relocate an Oregon silverspot 
butterfly to avoid conflict with human activities, to improve Oregon 
silverspot butterfly survival and recovery prospects or for genetic 
purposes, to move individuals into captivity or from one population in 
the NEP to the other, or to retrieve an Oregon silverspot butterfly 
that has moved outside the NEP area. Non-Service or other non-
authorized personnel would need a permit from the Service for these 
activities.
    (c) Coordination with landowners and land managers: We have 
coordinated with landowners likely to be affected by the proposed 
reintroduction. During this coordination we identified issues and 
concerns associated with reintroducing Oregon silverspot butterflies in 
the absence of an NEP designation. We also discussed the possibility of 
NEP designation. Affected State agencies, landowners, and land managers 
have either indicated support for, or no opposition to, the proposed 
NEP if a 10(j) rule is promulgated to allow incidental take of Oregon 
silverspot butterflies.
    (d) Public awareness and cooperation: The proposed NEP designation 
is necessary to secure needed cooperation of the States, landowners, 
agencies, and other interests in the affected area. If this proposed 
rule is adopted, we will work with our partners to continue public 
outreach on our effort to restore Oregon silverspot butterflies to 
parts of their historical range and the importance of these restoration 
efforts to the overall recovery of the subspecies.
    (e) Potential impacts to other federally listed species: No 
federally listed species occur in the proposed NEP areas that would be 
affected by the reintroductions.
    (f) Monitoring and evaluation: Annual monitoring would be performed 
by qualified personnel with the cooperation of the OPRD Saddle Mountain 
SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR. Oregon silverspot butterflies would be 
counted on designated survey transects or public trails. We do not 
anticipate that surveys would disrupt or hamper public use and would 
likely be perceived by the public as normal activities in the context 
of a natural area.

[[Page 94304]]

Reintroduction Effectiveness Monitoring

    Oregon silverspot butterfly surveys would be conducted annually 
within Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat at Nestucca Bay NWR and 
Saddle Mountain SNA using a modified Pollard walk methodology 
(Pickering et al. 1992, p. 7). This survey method is currently used at 
all occupied Oregon silverspot butterfly sites. The surveys would be 
conducted weekly during the butterfly flight period, July through 
September, on designated survey transects or public trails. The surveys 
produce an index of Oregon silverspot butterfly relative abundance that 
would be used to assess annual population trends to provide information 
on reintroduction effectiveness. We would prepare annual progress 
reports. Reintroduction efforts would be fully evaluated after 5 years 
to determine whether to continue or terminate the reintroduction 
efforts.

Donor Population Monitoring

    We would conduct annual Oregon silverspot butterfly surveys within 
the populations where donor stock is obtained using a modified Pollard 
walk methodology (Pickering et al. 1992, p. 7). Our annual monitoring 
would be used to adaptively manage the captive rearing program to 
insure that the removal of donor stock would not jeopardize the 
continued existence of the population or the species as a whole.

Monitoring Impacts to Other Listed Species

    We do not anticipate impacts to other listed species by the 
proposed reintroduction of the Oregon silverspot butterfly.

Findings

    Based on the above information, and using the best scientific and 
commercial data available (in accordance with 50 CFR 17.81), we find 
that reintroducing the Oregon silverspot butterfly into the Saddle 
Mountain SNA and the Nestucca Bay NWR and the associated protective 
measures and management practices under this proposed rulemaking would 
further the conservation of the subspecies. The nonessential 
experimental population status is appropriate for the reintroduction 
areas because we have determined that these populations are not 
essential to the continued existence of the subspecies in the wild.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

    Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will 
review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this proposed 
rule is not significant.
    Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while 
calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote 
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most 
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. 
The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches 
that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for 
the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and 
consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further 
that regulations must be based on the best available science and that 
the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open 
exchange of ideas. We have developed this proposed rule in a manner 
consistent with these requirements.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 1996; 5 U.S.C. 
60 et seq.), whenever a Federal agency is required to publish a notice 
of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare, and make 
available for public comment, a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (small businesses, 
small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). However, no 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of an agency 
certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide a statement of 
the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
We are certifying that this rule will not have a significant economic 
effect on a substantial number of small entities. The following 
discussion explains our rationale.
    The area that would be affected if this proposed rule is adopted 
includes the release areas at Saddle Mountain SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR 
and adjacent areas into which individual Oregon silverspot butterflies 
may disperse. Because of the regulatory flexibility for Federal agency 
actions provided by the proposed NEP designation and the exemption for 
incidental take in the rule, we do not expect this rule to have 
significant effects on any activities within Federal, State, or private 
lands within the proposed NEP. In regard to section 7(a)(2) of the Act, 
the population would be treated as proposed for listing, and Federal 
action agencies are not required to consult on their activities, except 
on National Wildlife Refuge and National Park land where the subspecies 
is managed as a threatened species. Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires 
Federal agencies to confer (rather than consult) with the Service on 
actions that are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a 
proposed species. However, because the proposed NEP is, by definition, 
not essential to the survival of the species, conferring will likely 
never be required for the Oregon silverspot butterfly populations 
within the NEP areas. Furthermore, the results of a conference are 
advisory in nature and do not restrict agencies from carrying out, 
funding, or authorizing activities. In addition, section 7(a)(1) of the 
Act requires Federal agencies to use their authorities to carry out 
programs to further the conservation of listed species, which would 
apply on any lands within the NEP areas. Within the boundaries of the 
Nestucca Bay NWR, the subspecies would be treated as a threatened 
species for the purposes of section 7(a)(2) of the Act. As a result, 
and in accordance with these regulations, some modifications to 
proposed Federal actions within Nestucca Bay NWR may occur to benefit 
the Oregon silverspot butterfly, but we do not expect projects to be 
substantially modified because these lands are already being 
administered in a manner that is compatible with Oregon silverspot 
butterfly recovery.
    If adopted, this proposal would broadly authorize incidental take 
of the Oregon silverspot butterfly within the NEP areas. The 
regulations implementing the Act define ``incidental take'' as take 
that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an 
otherwise lawful activity such as, agricultural activities and other 
rural development, camping, hiking, hunting, vehicle use of roads and 
highways, and other activities in the NEP areas that are in accordance 
with Federal, Tribal, State, and local laws and regulations. 
Intentional take for purposes other than authorized data collection or 
recovery purposes would not be authorized. Intentional take for

[[Page 94305]]

research or recovery purposes would require a section 10(a)(1)(A) 
recovery permit under the Act.
    The principal activities on private property near the proposed NEP 
areas are timber production, agriculture, and activities associated 
with private residences. We believe the presence of the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly would not affect the use of lands for these 
purposes because there would be no new or additional economic or 
regulatory restrictions imposed upon States, non-Federal entities, or 
private landowners due to the presence of the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly, and Federal agencies would only have to comply with sections 
7(a)(1) and 7(a)(4) of the Act in these areas, except on Nestucca Bay 
NWR lands where section 7(a)(2) of the Act would apply. Therefore, this 
rulemaking is not expected to have any significant adverse impacts to 
activities on private lands within the proposed NEP areas.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.):
    (1) If adopted, this proposal would not ``significantly or 
uniquely'' affect small governments. We have determined and certify 
under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that 
this proposed rulemaking would not impose a cost of $100 million or 
more in any given year on local or State governments or private 
entities. A Small Government Agency Plan is not required. As explained 
above, small governments would not be affected because the proposed NEP 
designation would not place additional requirements on any city, 
county, or other local municipalities.
    (2) This proposed rule would not produce a Federal mandate of $100 
million or greater in any year (i.e., it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act). The 
proposed NEP area designations for the Oregon silverspot butterfly 
would not impose any additional management or protection requirements 
on the States or other entities.

Takings (E.O. 12630)

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, the proposed rule does 
not have significant takings implications. This rule would allow for 
the take of reintroduced Oregon silverspot butterflies when such take 
is incidental to an otherwise legal activity, such as recreation (e.g., 
hiking, birdwatching), forestry, agriculture, and other activities that 
are in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. 
Therefore, we do not believe that the proposed NEP would conflict with 
existing or proposed human activities.
    A takings implication assessment is not required because this rule 
(1) will not effectively compel a property owner to suffer a physical 
invasion of property, and (2) will not deny all economically beneficial 
or productive use of the land or aquatic resources. This rule would 
substantially advance a legitimate government interest (conservation 
and recovery of a listed species) and would not present a barrier to 
all reasonable and expected beneficial use of private property.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, we have considered 
whether this proposed rule has significant Federalism effects and have 
determined that a federalism summary impact statement is not required. 
This proposed rule would not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the Federal Government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. In keeping with Department of the 
Interior policy, we requested information from and coordinated 
development of this proposed rule with the affected resource agencies 
in Oregon. Achieving the recovery goals for this subspecies would 
contribute to its eventual delisting and its return to State 
management. No intrusion on State policy or administration is expected; 
roles or responsibilities of Federal or State governments would not 
change; and fiscal capacity would not be substantially directly 
affected. The proposed rule would maintain the existing relationship 
between the State and the Federal Government, and is being undertaken 
in coordination with the State of Oregon. Therefore, this rule does not 
have significant Federalism effects or implications to warrant the 
preparation of a federalism summary impact statement under the 
provisions of Executive Order 13132.

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the Office of the 
Solicitor has determined that this rule would not unduly burden the 
judicial system and would meet the requirements of sections (3)(a) and 
(3)(b)(2) of the Order.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320, 
which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), require that Federal agencies obtain approval 
from OMB before collecting information from the public. This proposed 
rule does not contain any new information collections that require 
approval. We may not collect or sponsor, and you are not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The reintroduction of native species into suitable habitat within 
their historical or established range is categorically excluded from 
NEPA documentation requirements consistent with the Department of 
Interior's Department Manual (516 DM 8.5B(6)).

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the presidential memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951; May 4, 1994), Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 
67249; November 9, 2000), and the Department of the Interior Manual 
Chapter 512 DM 2, we have considered possible effects on federally 
recognized Indian tribes and have determined that there are no tribal 
lands affected by this proposed rule.

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (E.O. 13211)

    Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. This rule is not 
expected to significantly affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. 
Because this action is not a significant energy action, no Statement of 
Energy Effects is required.

Clarity of This Rule (E.O. 12866)

    We are required by E.O. 12866, E.O. 12988, and by the Presidential 
Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This 
means that each rule we publish must:
    (1) Be logically organized;
    (2) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (3) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (4) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (5) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us 
comments by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. To better help us 
revise the rule, your comment should be as specific as possible. For 
example, you should tell

[[Page 94306]]

us the numbers of the sections and paragraphs that are unclearly 
written, which sections or sentences are too long, or the sections 
where you feel lists and tables would be useful.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this final rule is 
available at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-
2016-0102 or upon request from the Newport Field Office (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this proposed rule are staff members of the 
Service's Newport Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
record keeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we propose to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter 
I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, 
unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.11(h) by revising the entry for ``Butterfly, Oregon 
silverspot'' under INSECTS in the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife to read as follows:


Sec.  17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              Listing citations
           Common name               Scientific name        Where listed         Status         and applicable
                                                                                                    rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
             Insects
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Butterfly, Oregon silverspot.....  Speyeria zerene      Wherever found,      T               45 FR 44935; 7/2/
                                    hippolyta.           except where                         1980,
                                                         listed as an                        50 CFR 17.95(i)
                                                         experimental                         \CH\.
                                                         population.
Butterfly, Oregon silverspot.....  Speyeria zerene      U.S.A. (OR--         XN              [Federal Register
                                    hippolyta.           specified portions                   citation of the
                                                         of Clatsop and                       final rule]
                                                         Tillamook
                                                         Counties; see Sec.
                                                           17.85(d)).
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
3. Amend Sec.  17.85 by adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  17.85  Special rules--invertebrates.

* * * * *
    (d) Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta).
    (1) Where is the Oregon silverspot butterfly designated as a 
nonessential experimental population (NEP)? (i) The NEP areas for the 
Oregon silverspot butterfly are within the subspecies' historical range 
in Tillamook and Clatsop Counties, Oregon. The boundary of the NEP 
includes those Public Land Survey System sections intersecting with a 
4.25-mile (6.8-kilometer) radius around the release locations. This 
boundary was selected to encompass all likely movements of Oregon 
silverspot butterflies away from the release areas while maintaining 
geographic separation from existing populations.
    (A) The Nestucca Bay NEP area, centered on the coastal prairie 
habitat on the Cannery Hill Unit of the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife 
Refuge (Nestucca Bay NEP area), includes Township 4 South, Range 10 
West, Sections 15 through 36; Township 4 South, Range 11 West, Sections 
13, 24, 25, and 36; Township 5 South, Range 10 West, Sections 2 through 
11, 14 through 23, 27 through 30; and Township 5 South, Range 11 West, 
Sections 12, 13, 24, and 25.
    (B) The Saddle Mountain NEP area, centered on the coastal prairie 
habitat on top of Saddle Mountain State Natural Area (Saddle Mountain 
NEP area), includes Township 6 North, Range 7 West, Sections 7, 17 
through 20, 29 through 32; Township 6 North, Range 8 West, Sections 1 
through 36; Township 6 North, Range 9 West, Sections 1, 11 through 14, 
23 through 26, 35, and 36; Township 5 North, Range 7 West, Sections 5 
through 8, 17, 18, and 19; Township 5 North, Range 8 West, Sections 1 
through 24; and Township 5 North, Range 9 West, Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 
12, 13, and 14.
    (ii) The nearest known extant population to the Nestucca Bay NEP 
area is 8 miles (13 kilometers) to the south, beyond the longest known 
flight distance of the butterfly (4.1 miles (6.6 kilometers)) and with 
little or no suitable habitat between them. The nearest known extant 
population to the Saddle Mountain NEP area is 50 miles (80 kilometers) 
to the south, well beyond the longest known flight distance of the 
butterfly (4.1 miles (6.6 kilometers)). Given its habitat requirements, 
movement patterns, and distance from extant populations, the NEP is 
wholly separate from extant populations and we do not expect the 
reintroduced Oregon silverspot butterflies to become established 
outside the NEP areas. Oregon silverspot butterflies outside of the NEP 
boundaries will assume the status of Oregon silverspot butterflies 
within the geographic area in which they are found.
    (iii) We will not change the NEP designations to ``essential 
experimental,'' ``threatened,'' or ``endangered'' within the NEP areas 
without engaging in notice-and-comment rulemaking. Additionally, we 
will not designate critical habitat for this NEP, as provided by 16 
U.S.C. 1539(j)(2)(C)(ii).
    (2) What take of the Oregon silverspot butterfly is allowed in the 
NEP areas?
    (i) Oregon silverspot butterflies may be taken within the NEP area, 
provided that such take is not willful, knowing, or due to negligence, 
and is incidental to carrying out an otherwise lawful activity, such as 
agriculture, forestry and wildlife management, land development, 
recreation, and other activities that are in accordance with Federal, 
State, Tribal, and local laws and regulations.

[[Page 94307]]

    (ii) Any person with a valid permit issued by the Service under 50 
CFR 17.32 may take the Oregon silverspot butterfly for educational 
purposes, scientific purposes, the enhancement of propagation or 
survival of the species, zoological exhibition, and other conservation 
purposes consistent with the Act. Additionally, any employee or agent 
of the Service, any other Federal land management agency, or a State 
conservation agency, who is designated by the agency for such purposes, 
may, when acting in the course of official duties, may take an Oregon 
silverspot butterfly in the wild in the NEP area if such action is 
necessary:
    (A) For scientific purposes;
    (B) To relocate Oregon silverspot butterflies to avoid conflict 
with human activities;
    (C) To relocate Oregon silverspot butterflies within the NEP area 
to improve Oregon silverspot butterfly survival and recovery prospects 
or for genetic purposes;
    (D) To relocate Oregon silverspot butterflies from one population 
in the NEP into another in the NEP, or into captivity;
    (E) To euthanize an injured Oregon silverspot butterfly;
    (F) To dispose of a dead Oregon silverspot butterfly, or salvage a 
dead Oregon silverspot butterfly for scientific purposes;
    (G) To relocate an Oregon silverspot butterfly that has moved 
outside the NEP area back into the NEP area; or
    (H) To aid in law enforcement investigations involving the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly.
    (3) What take of Oregon silverspot butterfly is not allowed in the 
NEP area?
    (i) Except as expressly allowed in paragraph (d)(2) of this 
section, all of the provisions of 50 CFR 17.31(a) and (b) apply to the 
Oregon silverspot butterfly in areas identified in paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section.
    (ii) A person may not possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, 
ship, import, or export by any means, Oregon silverspot butterflies, or 
parts thereof, that are taken or possessed in a manner not expressly 
allowed in paragraph (d)(2) of this section or in violation of 
applicable State fish and wildlife laws or regulations or the Act.
    (iii) Any manner of take not described under paragraph (d)(2) of 
this section is prohibited in the NEP areas.
    (iv) A person may not attempt to commit, solicit another to commit, 
or cause to be committed any take of the Oregon silverspot butterfly, 
except as expressly allowed in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
    (4) How will the effectiveness of these reintroductions be 
monitored? We will monitor populations annually for trends in abundance 
in cooperation with partners and prepare annual progress reports. We 
will fully evaluate reintroduction efforts after 5 years to determine 
whether to continue or terminate the reintroduction efforts.
    (5) Maps of the NEP areas for the Oregon silverspot butterfly in 
Northwest Oregon.
    (i) Note: Map of the Oregon silverspot butterfly NEP follows:

[[Page 94308]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23DE16.000

    (ii) Note: Map of Nestucca Bay NEP area for the Oregon silverspot 
butterfly follows:

[[Page 94309]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23DE16.001

    (iii) Note: Map of Saddle Mountain NEP area for the Oregon 
silverspot butterfly follows:

[[Page 94310]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23DE16.002

* * * * *

    Dated: December 19, 2016.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-30817 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                    94296                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    Parcel’’), and EPA requests public                      and it will not take effect. We will, as              Petition is available for viewing and
                                                    comments on this proposed action. The                   appropriate, address all public                       copying at the FCC Reference
                                                    NPL, promulgated pursuant to section                    comments in a subsequent final Notice                 Information Center, 445 12th Street SW.,
                                                    105 of the Comprehensive                                of Partial Deletion based on this Notice              Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554.
                                                    Environmental Response,                                 of Intent for Partial Deletion. We will               It also may be accessed online via the
                                                    Compensation, and Liability Act                         not institute a second comment period                 Commission’s Electronic Comment
                                                    (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is found                  on this Notice of Intent for Partial                  Filing System at: https://www.fcc.gov/
                                                    at Appendix B of the National Oil and                   Deletion. Any parties interested in                   ecfs/. The Commission will not send a
                                                    Hazardous Substances Pollution                          commenting must do so at this time.                   copy of this document pursuant to the
                                                    Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and                       For additional information, see the                 Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C.
                                                    the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,                       direct final Notice of Partial Deletion,              801(a)(1)(A), because this document
                                                    through the Pennsylvania Department of                  which is located in the ‘‘Rules’’ section             does not have an impact on any rules of
                                                    Environmental Protection (PADEP),                       of this Federal Register.                             particular applicability.
                                                    have determined that all appropriate                                                                             Subject: In the Matter of Connect
                                                    response actions under CERCLA, other                    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300                   America Fund; In the Matter of
                                                    than five-year reviews, have been                         Environmental protection, Air                       Developing a Unified Intercarrier
                                                    completed at the Administrative Parcel.                 pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous               Compensation Regime; Petitions for
                                                    However, this partial deletion does not                 waste, Hazardous substances,                          Waiver of § 51.917 of the Commission’s
                                                    preclude future actions at the                          Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,               Rules, FCC 16–140, released October 20,
                                                    Administrative Parcel under Superfund.                  Reporting and recordkeeping                           2016, in WC Docket No. 10–90 and CC
                                                       This partial deletion pertains only to               requirements, Superfund, Water                        Docket No. 01–92.
                                                    the soils and groundwater of the                        pollution control, Water supply.                         Number of Petitions Filed: 1
                                                    approximately 6.5 acre Administrative                     Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C.          Federal Communications Commission.
                                                    Parcel portion of the Site. The other                   9601–9657; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR,            Marlene H. Dortch,
                                                    portions of the Site will remain on the                 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923,           Secretary.
                                                    NPL, and are not being considered for                   3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
                                                                                                                                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–30763 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    deletion as part of this action.                          Dated: December 5, 2016.                            BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
                                                    DATES: Comments must be received by
                                                                                                            Cecil Rodrigues,
                                                    January 23, 2017.
                                                                                                            Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
                                                    ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2016–31016 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                    identified by Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                    SFUND–1989–0009, by mail to Huu Ngo                                                                           Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                    (3HS21), U.S. Environmental Protection
                                                    Agency, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia,                                                                       50 CFR Part 17
                                                    PA 19103–2029. Comments may also be                     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
                                                    submitted electronically or through                     COMMISSION                                            [Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2016–0102;
                                                    hand delivery/courier by following the                                                                        FXES11130900000 167 FF09E42000]
                                                    detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES                  47 CFR Parts 10 and 11
                                                                                                                                                                  RIN 1018–BB74
                                                    section of the direct final rule located in             [WC Docket No. 10–90, CC Docket No. 01–
                                                    the ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’ section of                92; Report No. 3062]                                  Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
                                                    this Federal Register.                                                                                        and Plants; Establishment of a
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Huu                    Petition for Reconsideration of Action                Nonessential Experimental Population
                                                    Ngo, Remedial Project Manager (3HS21),                  in Rulemaking Proceeding                              of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly in
                                                    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,                                                                         Northwestern Oregon
                                                                                                            AGENCY:  Federal Communications
                                                    Region III, 1650 Arch Street,                           Commission.                                           AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,
                                                    Philadelphia, PA 19103–2029; (215)                                                                            Interior.
                                                                                                            ACTION: Petition for reconsideration.
                                                    814–3187; email: ngo.huu@epa.gov.                                                                             ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              SUMMARY:   A Petition for Reconsideration
                                                       In the ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’                     (Petition) has been filed in the                      SUMMARY:   We, the U.S. Fish and
                                                    Section of today’s Federal Register, we                 Commission’s rulemaking proceeding                    Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS),
                                                    are publishing a direct final Notice of                 by Russell M. Blau, on behalf of Smart                with the support of the State of Oregon
                                                    Partial Deletion of the Administrative                  City Telecommunications LLP.                          Parks and Recreation Department
                                                    Parcel of the North Penn Area 6                         DATES: Oppositions to the Petition must
                                                                                                                                                                  (OPRD), propose to establish a
                                                    Superfund Site without prior Notice of                  be filed on or before January 9, 2017.                nonessential experimental population
                                                    Intent for Partial Deletion because EPA                 Replies to an opposition must be filed                (NEP) of the Oregon silverspot butterfly
                                                    views this as a noncontroversial                        on or before January 17, 2017.                        (Speyeria zerene hippolyta), a
                                                    revision and anticipates no adverse                                                                           threatened species, under the authority
                                                                                                            ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
                                                    comment. We have explained our                                                                                of section 10(j) of the Endangered
                                                    reasons for this partial deletion in the                Commission, 445 12th Street SW.,                      Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
                                                    preamble to the direct final Notice of                  Washington, DC 20554.                                 This proposed rule provides a plan for
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    Partial Deletion, and those reasons are                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      reintroducing the Oregon silverspot
                                                    incorporated herein. If we receive no                   Victoria Goldberg, Wireline Competition               butterfly into portions of the subspecies’
                                                    adverse comment(s) on this partial                      Bureau, phone: (202) 418–7353; email:                 historical range at two sites in
                                                    deletion action, we will not take further               Victoria.Goldberg@fcc.gov.                            northwestern Oregon: Saddle Mountain
                                                    action on this Notice of Intent for Partial             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a                  State Natural Area (SNA) in Clatsop
                                                    Deletion. If we receive adverse                         summary of the Commission’s                           County, and Nestucca Bay National
                                                    comment(s), we will withdraw the                        document, Report No. 3062, released                   Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Tillamook
                                                    direct final Notice of Partial Deletion                 December 13, 2016. The full text of the               County. It would also provide for


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           94297

                                                    allowable legal incidental taking of the                800–877–8339. Direct all questions or                 the purposes of captive rearing and
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly within the                  requests for additional information to:               reintroduction of their offspring
                                                    defined NEP areas. The best available                   OREGON SILVERSPOT BUTTERFLY                           elsewhere;
                                                    data indicate that reintroduction of the                QUESTIONS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife                        • The likelihood that the proposed
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly to Saddle                   Service, Newport Field Office, 2127 SE                NEP will become established and
                                                    Mountain SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR                       Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR                     survive in the foreseeable future;
                                                    is biologically feasible and would                      97365.                                                   • The relative effects that
                                                    promote the conservation of the                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                  establishment of the NEP will have on
                                                    subspecies.                                                                                                   the recovery of the subspecies; and
                                                    DATES: We will accept comments
                                                                                                            Public Comments                                          • The extent to which the
                                                    received or postmarked on or before                       We want any final rule resulting from               reintroduced population may be
                                                    February 21, 2017. Please note that if                  this proposal to be as effective as                   affected by existing or anticipated
                                                    you are using the Federal eRulemaking                   possible. Therefore, we invite Tribal and             Federal or State actions or private
                                                    Portal (see ADDRESSES), the deadline for                governmental agencies, the scientific                 activities within or adjacent to the
                                                    submitting an electronic comment is                     community, industry, and other                        proposed NEP areas.
                                                    11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date.                   interested parties to submit comments                 Peer Review
                                                    We must receive requests for public                     or recommendations concerning any
                                                                                                            aspect of this proposed rule. Comments                  In accordance with our Interagency
                                                    hearings, in writing, at the address
                                                                                                            should be as specific as possible.                    Cooperative Policy for Peer Review in
                                                    shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                                              To issue a final rule to implement this             Endangered Species Act Activities,
                                                    CONTACT by February 6, 2017.
                                                                                                            proposed action, we will take into                    which was published on July 1, 1994
                                                    ADDRESSES: Written comments: You may
                                                                                                            consideration all comments and any                    (59 FR 34270), and a recent internal
                                                    submit comments by one of the                                                                                 memorandum clarifying the Service’s
                                                    following methods:                                      additional information we receive. Such
                                                                                                                                                                  interpretation and implementation of
                                                       • Electronically: Go to the Federal                  communications may lead to a final rule
                                                                                                            that differs from this proposal. All                  that policy (USFWS 2016), we will seek
                                                    eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                                                                            comments, including commenters’                       the expert opinion of at least three
                                                    www.regulations.gov. In the Search box,
                                                                                                            names and addresses, if provided to us,               appropriate independent specialists
                                                    enter Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2016–
                                                                                                            will become part of the supporting                    regarding scientific data and
                                                    0102, which is the docket number for
                                                                                                            record.                                               interpretations contained in this
                                                    this rulemaking. Then, click the Search
                                                                                                              You may submit your comments and                    proposed rule. We will send copies of
                                                    button. On the resulting page, in the
                                                                                                            materials concerning the proposed rule                this proposed rule to the peer reviewers
                                                    Search panel on the left side of the
                                                                                                            by one of the methods listed in                       immediately following publication in
                                                    screen, under the Document Type
                                                                                                            ADDRESSES. Comments must be
                                                                                                                                                                  the Federal Register. The purpose of
                                                    heading, click on the box next to
                                                                                                            submitted to http://www.regulations.gov               such review is to ensure that our
                                                    Proposed Rules to locate this document.
                                                                                                            before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the               decisions are based on scientifically
                                                    You may submit a comment by clicking
                                                                                                            date specified in DATES. We will not                  sound data, assumptions, and analysis.
                                                    on ‘‘Comment Now!’’
                                                       • By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail                  consider hand-delivered comments that                 Accordingly, the final decision may
                                                    or hand-delivery to: Public Comments                    we do not receive, or mailed comments                 differ from this proposal.
                                                    Processing, Attn: FWS–R1–ES–2016–                       that are not postmarked, by the date                  Background
                                                    0102, Division of Policy, Performance,                  specified in DATES.
                                                    and Management Programs, U.S. Fish                        We will post your entire comment—                   Statutory and Regulatory Framework
                                                    and Wildlife Service, MS; BPHC; 5275                    including your personal identifying                      We listed the Oregon silverspot
                                                    Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041–                  information—on http://                                butterfly as a threatened species under
                                                    3803.                                                   www.regulations.gov. If you provide                   the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on
                                                       We will post all comments on http://                 personal identifying information in your              October 15, 1980 (45 FR 44935; July 2,
                                                    www.regulations.gov. This generally                     comment, you may request at the top of                1980). We designated critical habitat for
                                                    means that we will post any personal                    your document that we withhold this                   the subspecies at the time of listing (45
                                                    information you provide us (see Public                  information from public review.                       FR 44935; July 2, 1980).
                                                    Comments, below, for more                               However, we cannot guarantee that we                     Species listed as endangered or
                                                    information).                                           will be able to do so.                                threatened are afforded protection
                                                       Copies of documents: This proposed                     Comments and materials we receive,                  primarily through the prohibitions of
                                                    rule is available on http://                            as well as some of the supporting                     section 9 of the Act and the
                                                    www.regulations.gov under Docket No.                    documentation we used in preparing                    requirements of section 7 of the Act.
                                                    FWS–R1–ES–2016–0102. In addition,                       this proposed rule, will be available for             Section 9 of the Act, among other
                                                    the supporting file for this proposed                   public inspection on http://                          things, prohibits the take of endangered
                                                    rule will be available for public                       www.regulations.gov. All comments and                 wildlife. ‘‘Take’’ is defined by the Act as
                                                    inspection, by appointment, during                      materials we receive, as well as all                  harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
                                                    normal business hours, at the Newport                   supporting documentation, will be                     wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
                                                    Field Office, 2127 SE Marine Science                    available by appointment, during                      attempt to engage in any such conduct.
                                                    Drive, Newport, OR 97365; telephone                     normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish               Our regulations (50 CFR 17.31)
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    541–867–4558. Persons who use a                         and Wildlife Service, Newport Field                   generally extend the prohibition of take
                                                    telecommunications device for the deaf                  Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                   to threatened wildlife species. Section 7
                                                    (TDD) may call the Federal Relay                        CONTACT).                                             of the Act outlines the procedures for
                                                    Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339.                          We particularly seek comments                       Federal interagency cooperation to
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        regarding:                                            conserve federally listed species and
                                                    Laura Todd, Field Supervisor, 541–867–                    • Any possible adverse effects on                   protect designated critical habitat. It
                                                    4558. Persons who use a TDD may call                    Oregon silverspot butterfly populations               mandates that all Federal agencies use
                                                    the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–                   as a result of removal of individuals for             their existing authorities to further the


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                                                    94298                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    purposes of the Act by carrying out                     commercial data available. Our                        conservation requirements under
                                                    programs for the conservation of listed                 regulations (50 CFR 17.80(b)) state that              section 7(a)(1) and the Federal agency
                                                    species. It also states that Federal                    an experimental population is                         consultation requirements of section
                                                    agencies must, in consultation with the                 considered essential if its loss would be             7(a)(2) of the Act apply. Section 7(a)(1)
                                                    Service, ensure that any action they                    likely to appreciably reduce the                      of the Act requires all Federal agencies
                                                    authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely             likelihood of survival of that species in             to use their authorities to carry out
                                                    to jeopardize the continued existence of                the wild. All other populations are                   programs for the conservation of listed
                                                    a listed species or result in the                       considered nonessential. We find the                  species. Section 7(a)(2) requires that
                                                    destruction or adverse modification of                  proposed experimental population to be                Federal agencies, in consultation with
                                                    designated critical habitat. Section 7 of               nonessential for the following reasons:               the Service, ensure that any action they
                                                    the Act does not affect activities                      (1) Oregon silverspot butterflies are                 authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely
                                                    undertaken on private land unless they                  currently found at five locations, from               to jeopardize the continued existence of
                                                    are authorized, funded, or carried out by               the central Oregon coast to northern                  a listed species or adversely modify its
                                                    a Federal agency.                                       California (see Biological Information,               critical habitat. When NEPs are located
                                                       The 1982 amendments to the Act (16                   below); (2) There are ongoing                         outside a National Wildlife Refuge or
                                                    U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) included the                       management efforts, including captive                 National Park Service unit, then, for the
                                                    addition of section 10(j), which allows                 rearing and release, to maintain or                   purposes of section 7, we treat the
                                                    for the designation of reintroduced                     expand Oregon silverspot butterfly                    population as proposed for listing and
                                                    populations of listed species as                        populations at these five locations                   only section 7(a)(1) and section 7(a)(4)
                                                    ‘‘experimental populations.’’ The                       (VanBuskirk 2010, entire; USFWS 2012,                 of the Act apply. In these instances,
                                                    provisions of section 10(j) were enacted                entire); (3) The experimental population              NEPs provide additional flexibility
                                                    to ameliorate concerns that reintroduced                will not provide demographic support                  because Federal agencies are not
                                                    populations would negatively impact                     to the wild populations (see Location                 required to consult with us under
                                                    landowners and other private parties, by                and Boundaries of the NEP, below); (4)                section 7(a)(2). Section 7(a)(4) requires
                                                    giving the Secretary greater regulatory                 The experimental population will not                  Federal agencies to confer (rather than
                                                    flexibility and discretion in managing                  possess any unique genetic or adaptive                consult) with the Service on actions that
                                                    the reintroduction of listed species to                 traits that differ from those in the wild             are likely to jeopardize the continued
                                                    encourage recovery in collaboration                     populations because it will be                        existence of a species proposed to be
                                                    with partners, especially private                       established using donor stock from                    listed. The results of a conference are in
                                                    landowners. Under section 10(j) of the                  extant wild populations of Oregon                     the form of conservation
                                                    Act and our regulations at 50 CFR 17.81,                silverspot butterflies (see Donor Stock               recommendations that are optional to
                                                    the Service may designate as an                         Assessment and Effects on Donor                       the agencies carrying out, funding, or
                                                    experimental population an endangered                   Populations, below); and (5) loss of the              authorizing activities. If finalized, the
                                                    or threatened species that has been or                  experimental population will not                      NEP area within Nestucca Bay NWR
                                                    will be released into suitable natural                  preclude other recovery options,                      will still be subject to the provisions of
                                                    habitat outside the species’ current                    including future efforts to reestablish               section 7(a)(2), and intra-agency
                                                    natural range (but within its probable                  Oregon silverspot butterfly populations               consultation would be required on the
                                                    historical range, absent a finding by the               elsewhere. Therefore, we are proposing                refuge. Section 7(a)(2) consultation
                                                    Director of the Service in the extreme                  to designate a nonessential experimental              would not be required outside of the
                                                    case that the primary habitat of the                    population (NEP) of Oregon silverspot                 refuge.
                                                    species has been unsuitably and                         butterfly at two sites in northwest
                                                    irreversibly altered or destroyed).                     Oregon.                                                  Before authorizing the release as an
                                                       As discussed below (see Relationship                    With the NEP designation, the                      experimental population (including
                                                    of the NEP to Recovery Efforts), we are                 relevant population is treated as if it               eggs, propagules, or individuals) of an
                                                    considering the reintroduction of the                   were listed as a threatened species for               endangered or threatened species, and
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly into areas of               the purposes of establishing protective               before authorizing any necessary
                                                    suitable habitat within its historical                  regulations, regardless of the species’               transportation to conduct the release,
                                                    range for the purpose of restoring                      designation elsewhere in its range. This              the Service must find, by regulation,
                                                    populations to meet recovery goals.                     approach allows us to develop tailored                that such release will further the
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly populations                 take prohibitions that are necessary and              conservation of the species. In making
                                                    have been reduced from at least 20                      advisable to provide for the                          such a finding, the Service uses the best
                                                    formerly known locations to only 5,                     conservation of the species. In these                 scientific and commercial data available
                                                    thus reintroductions are important to                   situations, the general regulations that              to consider the following factors (see 49
                                                    achieve biological redundancy in                        extend most section 9 prohibitions to                 FR 33893; August 27, 1984): (1) Any
                                                    populations and to broaden the                          threatened species do not apply to that               possible adverse effects on extant
                                                    distribution of populations within the                  species. The protective regulations                   populations of a species as a result of
                                                    geographic range of the subspecies. The                 adopted for an experimental population                removal of individuals, eggs, or
                                                    restoration of multiple populations of                  in a section 10(j) rule contain the                   propagules for introduction elsewhere
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly distributed                 applicable prohibitions and exceptions                (see Donor Stock Assessment and
                                                    across its range is one of the recovery                 for that population. These section 9                  Effects on Donor Populations, below);
                                                    criteria identified for the subspecies                  prohibitions and exceptions apply on all              (2) the likelihood that any such
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                                                    (USFWS 2001, pp. 39–41).                                lands within the NEP.                                 experimental population will become
                                                       When we establish experimental                          For the purposes of section 7 of the               established and survive in the
                                                    populations under section 10(j) of the                  Act, which addresses Federal                          foreseeable future (see Likelihood of
                                                    Act, we must determine whether such a                   cooperation, we treat an NEP as a                     Population Establishment and Survival,
                                                    population is essential or nonessential                 threatened species when the NEP is                    below); (3) the relative effects that
                                                    to the continued existence of the                       located within a National Wildlife                    establishment of an experimental
                                                    species. This determination is based                    Refuge or unit of the National Park                   population will have on the recovery of
                                                    solely on the best scientific and                       Service, and Federal agency                           the species (see Relationship of the NEP


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          94299

                                                    to Recovery Efforts, below); and (4) the                Biological Information                                occurred as a result of human
                                                    extent to which the introduced                             The Oregon silverspot butterfly is a               development and due to ecological
                                                    population may be affected by existing                  small, darkly marked coastal subspecies               succession and invasion of shrubs, trees,
                                                    or anticipated Federal or State actions or              of the Zerene fritillary, a widespread                and tall introduced grasses which
                                                    private activities within or adjacent to                butterfly species in montane western                  crowd-out the subspecies’ host plants
                                                    the experimental population area (see                   North America (USFWS 2001, p. 1).                     and nectar resources (Hammond and
                                                    Extent to Which the Reintroduced                        Historically, the Oregon silverspot                   McCorkle 1983, p. 222). Loss of habitat
                                                    Population May Be Affected by Land                      butterfly was documented at 20                        was the primary threat to the subspecies
                                                    Management Within the Proposed NEP,                     locations, from the border of northern                identified in our 2001 Revised Recovery
                                                    below).                                                 California to the southern coast of                   Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly
                                                       Furthermore, as set forth at 50 CFR                                                                        (USFWS 2001, entire). More recently,
                                                                                                            Washington (McCorkle et al. 1980, p. 7).
                                                    17.81(c), all regulations designating                                                                         during a periodic review of the
                                                                                                            Its current distribution is limited to five
                                                    experimental populations under section                                                                        subspecies’ status, we identified the
                                                                                                            locations, one near Lake Earl, along the
                                                    10(j) must provide: (1) Appropriate                                                                           reduced size, number, and isolation of
                                                                                                            coast of Del Norte County, California;
                                                    means to identify the experimental                                                                            Oregon silverspot butterfly populations
                                                                                                            two on the central Oregon coast in Lane
                                                    population, including, but not limited                                                                        as additional severe and imminent
                                                    to, its actual or proposed location,                    County, Oregon; and two in Tillamook
                                                                                                                                                                  threats to the subspecies (USFWS 2012,
                                                    actual or anticipated migration, number                 County, Oregon. With the exception of
                                                                                                                                                                  pp. 24–25).
                                                    of specimens released or to be released,                the two populations on the central                      Additional information on the
                                                    and other criteria appropriate to identify              Oregon coast that are only about 5 miles              biology, habitat, and life history of the
                                                    the experimental population(s) (see                     (mi) (8 kilometers (km)) apart, all                   butterfly can be found in our Revised
                                                    Location and Boundaries of the NEP,                     remaining populations are                             Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot
                                                    below); (2) a finding, based solely on the              geographically isolated from one                      Butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta)
                                                    best scientific and commercial data                     another (USFWS 2001, pp. 8–10).                       (USFWS 2001, pp. 11–19), which is
                                                    available, and the supporting factual                      The Oregon silverspot butterfly has a              available online at http://
                                                    basis, on whether the experimental                      1-year life cycle which begins when                   www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
                                                    population is, or is not, essential to the              female adults lay eggs on or near early               FWS–R1–ES–2016–0102 or by
                                                    continued existence of the species in the               blue violets (Viola adunca) during their              contacting the person listed under FOR
                                                    wild (see discussion in this section,                   flight period from mid-August through                 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.
                                                    above); (3) management restrictions,                    September. The eggs hatch within 10
                                                                                                            days. The tiny first-instar caterpillars eat          Relationship of the NEP to Recovery
                                                    protective measures, or other special
                                                                                                            their eggshells and then go into                      Efforts
                                                    management concerns of that
                                                    population, which may include but are                   diapause, a hibernation-like state, until                We are proposing to establish an NEP
                                                    not limited to, measures to isolate and/                late spring the following year when                   to promote the conservation and
                                                    or contain the experimental population                  violets begin growing. Caterpillars are               recovery of the Oregon silverspot
                                                    designated in the regulation from                       cryptic in habits and feed on early blue              butterfly. The recovery strategy for the
                                                    natural populations (see Extent to                      violets and a few other Viola species                 Oregon silverspot butterfly, as detailed
                                                    Which the Reintroduced Population                       until pupation in the summer. Adult                   in our 2001 revised recovery plan, is to
                                                    May Be Affected by Land Management                      emergence starts in July and extends                  protect and manage habitat, and to
                                                    Within the Proposed NEP, below); and                    into September.                                       augment and restore populations
                                                    (4) a process for periodic review and                      The Oregon silverspot butterfly                    (USFWS 2001, pp. 39–41). Recovery
                                                    evaluation of the success or failure of                 occupies three types of grassland                     criteria for the Oregon silverspot
                                                    the release and the effect of the release               habitat: marine terrace and coastal                   butterfly are (USFWS 2001, p. 42):
                                                    on the conservation and recovery of the                 headland meadows, stabilized dunes,                      1. At least two viable Oregon
                                                    species (see Reintroduction                             and montane grasslands. Key resources                 silverspot butterfly populations exist in
                                                    Effectiveness Monitoring and Donor                      needed by the Oregon silverspot                       protected habitat in each of the
                                                    Population Monitoring, below).                          butterfly in all of these habitats include:           following areas: Coastal Mountains,
                                                       Under 50 CFR 17.81(d), the Service                   (1) The early blue violet, which is the               Cascade Head, and Central coast in
                                                    must consult with appropriate State fish                primary host plant for Oregon silverspot              Oregon; and Del Norte County in
                                                    and wildlife agencies, local                            caterpillars; (2) a variety of nectar plants          California; and at least one viable
                                                    governmental entities, affected Federal                 that bloom during the butterfly flight                Oregon silverspot butterfly population
                                                    agencies, and affected private                          period, including, but not limited to,                exists in protected habitat in each of the
                                                    landowners in developing and                            yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pearly                 following areas: Long Beach Peninsula,
                                                    implementing experimental population                    everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea),                 Washington, and Clatsop Plains,
                                                    rules. To the maximum extent                            Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum                         Oregon. This includes the development
                                                    practicable, section 10(j) rules represent              chilense), Canada goldenrod (Solidago                 of comprehensive management plans.
                                                    an agreement between the Service, the                   canadensis), tansy ragwort (Senecio                      2. Habitats are managed long term to
                                                    affected State and Federal agencies, and                jacobaea), and edible thistle (Cirsium                maintain native, early successional
                                                    persons holding any interest in land                    edule); (3) grasses and forbs in which                grassland communities. Habitat
                                                    which may be affected by the                            the larvae find shelter; and (4) trees                management maintains and enhances
                                                    establishment of an experimental                        surrounding occupied meadows, which                   early blue violet abundance, provides a
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                                                    population.                                             provide shelter for adult butterflies (45             minimum of five native nectar species
                                                       Section 10(j)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act states            FR 44935, July 2, 1980, p. 44939;                     dispersed abundantly throughout the
                                                    that critical habitat shall not be                      USFWS 2001, p. 12). Historically,                     habitat and flowering throughout the
                                                    designated for any experimental                         habitats with these key resources were                entire flight-period, and reduces the
                                                    population that is determined to be                     likely widely distributed along the                   abundance of invasive, nonnative plant
                                                    nonessential. Accordingly, we cannot                    Oregon and Washington coasts                          species.
                                                    designate critical habitat in areas where               (Hammond and McCorkle 1983, p. 222).                     3. Managed habitat at each population
                                                    we establish an NEP.                                    Loss of habitat and key resources                     site supports a minimum viable


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                                                    94300                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    population of 200 to 500 butterflies for                Based on definitions of ‘‘population’’                adunca and native nectar plants) to
                                                    at least 10 years.                                      used in other experimental population                 support an Oregon silverspot butterfly
                                                       The reintroduction of Oregon                         rules (e.g., 59 FR 60252, November 22,                population (USFWS 2001, pp. 13–14).
                                                    silverspot butterflies within the                       1994; 71 FR 42298, July 26, 2006), we                 Habitat quality has been maintained
                                                    proposed NEP would help address the                     believe that a determination that a                   through natural processes including
                                                    limited number of populations and the                   population is not geographically                      vertical drainage patterns associated
                                                    subspecies’ diminished geographic                       separate from the proposed NEP area                   with steep ridges, thin rocky soils,
                                                    range. In addition, it is likely to                     would require the presence of sufficient              elevation, and winter snow cover within
                                                    contribute to meeting recovery criteria,                suitable habitat in the intervening area              the forb rich Roemer fescue (Festuca
                                                    as both proposed NEP areas have the                     to support successfully reproducing                   roemeri) montane grassland community
                                                    biological attributes to support a viable               Oregon silverspot butterflies over                    (ONHIC 2004, p. 2). In a letter to the
                                                    butterfly population of butterflies and                 multiple years. Because there is little to            Service dated October 15, 2011, and a
                                                    will be managed consistent with the                     no suitable habitat between Nestucca                  follow-up letter dated February 12,
                                                    subspecies’ biological needs.                           Bay NWR and Cascade Head, we                          2016, OPRD expressed their desire to
                                                    Location and Boundaries of the NEP                      conclude this is unlikely to happen.                  have an NEP of Oregon silverspot
                                                                                                            Biologically, the term ‘‘population’’ is              butterfly and to return this native
                                                       Section 10(j) of the Act requires that               not normally applied to dispersing                    pollinator to the ecosystem (OPRD in
                                                    an experimental population be                           individuals, and any individual                       litt., 2011; OPRD in litt., 2016).
                                                    geographically separate from other                      butterflies would be considered                          The Saddle Mountain NEP area is
                                                    populations of the same species. We                     emigrants from the Cascade Head                       centered on the coastal prairie habitat
                                                    identified the boundary of the proposed                 population. Finally, a few butterflies                on top of Saddle Mountain, where we
                                                    NEP as those Public Land Survey                         would not be considered a self-                       are proposing to reintroduce the Oregon
                                                    System sections intersecting with a                     sustaining population. Self-sustaining                silverspot butterfly. The proposed NEP
                                                    4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius around the                      populations need a sufficient number of               encompasses all the Public Land Survey
                                                    proposed release locations. This                        individuals to avoid inbreeding                       System sections that intersect with a
                                                    boundary was selected to encompass all                  depression and occurrences of chance                  4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius around the
                                                    likely movements of Oregon silverspot                   local extinction; a general rule of thumb             proposed release area. The subspecies is
                                                    butterflies away from the release areas                 is that the effective population size                 territorial within habitat areas, and the
                                                    while maintaining geographic                            needs to be at least 50 to reduce the                 reintroduced butterflies are expected to
                                                    separation from existing populations.                   likelihood of extinction in the short                 stay in or near meadows on top of
                                                    This 4.25-mi (6.8-km) radius is greater                 term because of harmful effects of                    Saddle Mountain, which have an
                                                    than the longest known flight distance                  inbreeding depression on demographic                  abundance of the plant species they
                                                    of the Oregon silverspot butterfly (4.1                 rates, and at least 500 to retain sufficient          need to survive. The proposed Saddle
                                                    mi (6.6 km)) (VanBuskirk and Pickering                  genetic variation to allow for future                 Mountain butterfly population will be
                                                    1999, pp. 3–4, Appendix 1). Although                    adaptive change (Jamieson and                         released into permanently protected
                                                    this flight distance had previously been                Allendorf 2014, p. 578).                              suitable habitat. We are proposing to
                                                    reported as ‘‘5 miles’’ (VanBuskirk and                                                                       reintroduce the Oregon silverspot
                                                    Pickering 1999, p. 4; USFWS 2010, p.                    Saddle Mountain State Natural Area                    butterfly as an NEP in this area to
                                                    10), a more precise measurement using                      Saddle Mountain SNA, managed by                    address OPRD’s concerns regarding
                                                    the locations where the individual                      OPRD, is located in central Clatsop                   potential impacts to park management
                                                    butterfly in question was marked and                    County, in northwest Oregon. Saddle                   activities, such as trail maintenance,
                                                    recaptured (rather than the general                     Mountain was historically occupied by                 and potential opposition from
                                                    distance between the populations)                       the Oregon silverspot butterfly, which                surrounding landowners to the
                                                    resulted in a distance of 4.1 mi (6.8 km).              was last documented at this site in 1973              reintroduction of a federally listed
                                                    The proposed NEP areas are                              (McCorkle et al. 1980, p. 8). Butterfly               species without an NEP. Surrounding
                                                    geographically isolated from existing                   surveys in 1980 and more recent                       land cover is primarily forest (OPRD
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly populations                 surveys during the butterfly flight                   2014, pers. comm.) and is not suitable
                                                    by a sufficient distance to preclude                    period—in 2003, 2006, and 2010—did                    Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat;
                                                    significant contact between populations.                not document the species at Saddle                    therefore, we do not expect butterflies to
                                                    There is an extremely small potential                   Mountain (Mike Patterson, pers. comm.                 use areas outside of Saddle Mountain
                                                    that butterflies dispersing 4.1 mi (6.8                 2016), and the population there is                    SNA.
                                                    km) from the proposed release site on                   presumed to be extirpated (VanBuskirk
                                                    Nestucca Bay NWR may interact with                      2010, p. 27). The nearest extant Oregon               Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
                                                    butterflies dispersing 4.1 mi (6.8 km)                  silverspot butterfly population is 50                    The Nestucca Bay NWR, managed by
                                                    from Cascade Head, because these                        miles (80 km) south at Mount Hebo.                    the Service, is located in the southwest
                                                    locations are 8 mi (13 km) apart.                          Saddle Mountain SNA is a 3,225-acre                corner of Tillamook County, along the
                                                    Nevertheless, the likelihood of                         (ac) (1,305-hectare (ha)) park known for              northern Oregon coast. Although the
                                                    butterflies from these two sites                        its unique botanical community, which                 Oregon silverspot butterfly was never
                                                    interbreeding is remote because of the                  thrives on the thin rocky soils, with few             documented at this site, it is within the
                                                    distance between the sites and the fact                 invasive weeds. Habitat suitable for the              historical range of the subspecies along
                                                    that there is little or no suitable habitat             Oregon silverspot butterfly consists of               the coast, and a small amount of
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                                                    with appropriate larval host plants and                 approximately 60 ac (24 ha) of meadows                remnant coastal prairie occurred on the
                                                    adult nectar sources between Nestucca                   on the slopes of Saddle Mountain near                 site prior to commencement of
                                                    Bay NWR and Cascade Head. Even if                       its upper peaks at 3,288 feet (ft) (1,002             restoration efforts in 2011. Therefore, it
                                                    butterflies dispersed and were present                  meters (m)) above sea-level. Based on                 is reasonable to assume that the Oregon
                                                    within the same area, we do not believe                 recent plant surveys (OPRD 2012, p. 2),               silverspot butterfly once inhabited the
                                                    the occasional presence of a few                        the proposed release site contains high-              area, but no surveys were conducted to
                                                    individual butterflies meets a minimal                  quality butterfly habitat with sufficient             document its presence. Currently
                                                    biological definition of a population.                  densities of the requisite species (Viola             occupied Oregon silverspot butterfly


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           94301

                                                    sites nearest to the proposed NEP area                  and forest (USFWS 2013, p. 4–3), which                Addressing Causes of Extirpation
                                                    are 10 mi (16 km) to the east at Mount                  are not suitable habitat for the                         The largest threat to Oregon silverspot
                                                    Hebo and 8 mi (13 km) south at Cascade                  subspecies; therefore, occurrence of                  butterfly populations is a lack of
                                                    Head, with little or no suitable habitat                Oregon silverspot butterflies in                      suitable habitat. Without regular
                                                    in between. There are currently no                      surrounding areas, if any, is expected to             disturbance, coastal prairie habitat is
                                                    known extant Oregon silverspot                          be limited.                                           vulnerable to plant community
                                                    butterfly populations to the north of the                                                                     succession, resulting in loss of prairie
                                                                                                            Likelihood of Population Establishment
                                                    proposed release site, but the subspecies                                                                     habitat to brush and tree invasion.
                                                                                                            and Survival
                                                    was historically documented near Cape                                                                         Invasive, nonnative plants also play a
                                                    Meares, 20 mi (32 km) to the north of                      The best available scientific data
                                                                                                            indicate that the reintroduction of                   significant role in the degradation of
                                                    Nestucca Bay NWR, where it was last                                                                           habitat quality and quantity for this
                                                    observed in 1968 (McCorkle et al. 1980,                 Oregon silverspot butterflies into
                                                                                                            suitable habitat is biologically feasible             butterfly.
                                                    p. 7).                                                                                                           The reasons for the extirpation of the
                                                       The Nestucca Bay National Wildlife                   and would promote the conservation of
                                                                                                            the species. Oregon silverspot butterfly              original population of Oregon silverspot
                                                    Refuge Comprehensive Conservation
                                                                                                            population augmentations have been                    butterflies on Saddle Mountain between
                                                    Plan includes a goal to promote the
                                                                                                            conducted on the central Oregon coast                 1973 and 1980 are unknown. The
                                                    recovery of the Oregon silverspot
                                                                                                            from 2000 through 2015 (USFWS 2012,                   habitat on top of Saddle Mountain is
                                                    butterfly by establishing an NEP on the
                                                                                                            p. 10; Engelmeyer 2015, p. 4). Based on               currently suitable for supporting a
                                                    refuge (USFWS 2013, p. 2–4). The
                                                                                                            the knowledge gained from these efforts,              population of the butterfly. The
                                                    approximately 1,203-ac (487-ha) refuge
                                                                                                            we anticipate the proposed NEP areas                  grassland habitat at this location has
                                                    has 25 to 30 ac (10 to 12 ha) of coastal
                                                                                                            would become successfully established.                been self-sustaining likely due to the
                                                    prairie habitat in varying stages of
                                                                                                            Butterflies would be released into high-              3,000-ft (914-m) elevation, thin rocky
                                                    restoration, including the conversion of
                                                    degraded grasslands on the Cannery Hill                 quality habitat in sufficient amounts to              soil type, steep slopes, primarily native
                                                    Unit from nonnative pasture grasses to                  support large butterfly populations, and              composition of the plant community,
                                                    native coastal grasses and forbs with an                no unaddressed threats to the species                 and lack of human disturbance to the
                                                    emphasis on the plant species and                       are known to exist at these sites.                    ecosystem. The Saddle Mountain SNA,
                                                    structure required to support the Oregon                   The coastal headland meadows of the                protected as a special botanical area, has
                                                    silverspot butterfly. Since 2011,                       Nestucca Bay NWR are being restored                   an annual day-use rate of 68,928 visitors
                                                    invasive weed abundance has been                        with the specific intent of providing                 per year. OPRD maintains a trail,
                                                    minimized, and thousands of violet and                  high densities of the plant species                   accessible only by foot, which leads to
                                                    nectar plants have been planted to                      needed by the Oregon silverspot                       the top of the mountain. The extremely
                                                    enhance and restore the coastal prairie                 butterfly. Ongoing habitat enhancement                steep grade on either side of the trail
                                                    ecosystem. Funding acquired by the                      and management will maintain suitable                 discourages visitors from straying off
                                                    refuge in 2015 is now being used to                     habitat and minimize the abundance                    trail and into the adjacent meadow
                                                    complete habitat restoration on the                     and distribution of invasive, nonnative               areas. Park rules do not allow collection
                                                    remaining acreage prior to the release of               plant species, which degrade habitat                  of plants or animals (OPRD 2010).
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterflies.                          quality. The Nestucca Bay NWR has                     Continuance of this management regime
                                                       The NEP area is centered on coastal                  committed to the management required                  is expected to protect the reintroduced
                                                    prairie habitat on the Cannery Hill Unit                to restore and maintain suitable habitat              population and contribute to its
                                                    of the refuge, where we are proposing to                specifically for a population of the                  successful establishment. We
                                                    release Oregon silverspot butterflies.                  Oregon silverspot butterfly. The upper                acknowledge there is some uncertainty
                                                    The proposed NEP encompasses all                        meadows of the Saddle Mountain SNA                    regarding population establishment and
                                                    Public Land Survey System sections                      have an abundance of the key resources,               long-term viability at this site given that
                                                    that intersect with a 4.25-mi (6.8-km)                  including an intact plant community                   we have not identified the original
                                                    radius around the proposed release area.                with an abundance of plants needed to                 cause of local extirpation. Nevertheless,
                                                    We propose to release Oregon silverspot                 support the Oregon silverspot butterfly.              this site has been identified as one of
                                                    butterflies into permanently protected                  Habitat quality has been maintained                   the most promising for a reintroduction
                                                    suitable habitat at Nestucca Bay NWR,                   through natural processes, including                  effort given the lack of identifiable
                                                    which will be managed to provide the                    vertical drainage patterns associated                 threats, density of host plants, and
                                                    plant community needed for the                          with steep ridges, thin rocky soils,                  overall quality of habitat (VanBuskirk
                                                    butterfly to become established and to                  elevation, and winter snow cover within               2010, p. 27).
                                                    support a population. We are proposing                  the forb rich Roemer fescue montane                      The Nestucca Bay NWR will address
                                                    to reintroduce the Oregon silverspot                    grassland community (ONHIC 2004,                      habitat threats by monitoring and
                                                    butterfly as an NEP in this area to                     p. 2). The habitat at Saddle Mountain is              maintaining habitat quality for the
                                                    address adjacent landowner concerns                     self-sustaining, does not require active              benefit of the Oregon silverspot
                                                    regarding the impact a federally listed                 management (see Addressing Causes of                  butterfly, in accordance with the
                                                    species might have on the sale or                       Extirpation, below), and is adequately                Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
                                                    development of their property. As little                protected. Additionally, within both                  Comprehensive Conservation Plan,
                                                    or no suitable habitat is currently                     proposed NEP areas, large trees                       which sets specific targets for
                                                    available on adjacent properties, and                   surrounding the meadows would                         abundance of violet and nectar species.
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                                                    Oregon silverspot butterflies are                       provide needed cover for sheltering                   All management actions taken in the
                                                    territorial and non-migratory, we                       Oregon silverspot butterflies.                        vicinity of the reintroduced population
                                                    consider the likelihood of butterflies                     Based on all of these considerations,              will defer to the habitat needs of the
                                                    moving on to these adjacent lands to be                 we anticipate that reintroduced Oregon                butterfly (USFWS 2013, pp. 4–37–4–43).
                                                    low. Despite a few adjacent properties                  silverspot butterflies are likely to                  As described above, the Nestucca Bay
                                                    that Oregon silverspot butterflies might                become established and persist at                     NWR is actively working to restore
                                                    occasionally move through, the primary                  Nestucca Bay NWR and Saddle                           habitat specifically for the benefit of the
                                                    surrounding land cover is agriculture                   Mountain SNA.                                         Oregon silverspot butterfly in


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                                                    94302                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    anticipation of a potential                             progress and may suggest that butterflies             population may also serve as the best
                                                    reintroduction. Restoration efforts have                from other populations should be                      donor population for the proposed
                                                    proven successful in establishing high-                 included in the captive-rearing program               Nestucca Bay NEP area because it is
                                                    quality habitat that is likely to support               to enhance genetic diversity. If                      genetically most similar to the existing
                                                    all life stages of the subspecies.                      populations other than the Mount Hebo                 population closest to the refuge (i.e., the
                                                    Nestucca Bay NWR’s demonstrated                         population are used as donor stock, we                Cascade Head population) (VanBuskirk
                                                    commitment to reestablishing and                        will evaluate the impact of taking                    2000, p. 27; McHugh et al. 2013, p. 8).
                                                    maintaining high-quality habitat                        females from those populations on the                 We will consider all new scientific
                                                    suitable for the Oregon silverspot                      survival and recovery of the subspecies               information when making annual
                                                    butterfly is expected to contribute to the              prior to issuing a recovery permit for                decisions on an appropriate donor
                                                    successful establishment of the                         such take.                                            population; therefore, it is possible that
                                                    proposed NEP at this site.                                 The Mount Hebo Oregon silverspot                   we will use donor populations other
                                                                                                            butterfly population has historically                 than Mount Hebo.
                                                    Release Procedures                                      been the largest and most stable                         The Captive Propagation and
                                                      We propose to use captive-reared                      population, averaging an annual index                 Reintroduction Plan for the Oregon
                                                    butterflies to populate the NEP areas                   count of 1,457 butterflies per year                   Silverspot Butterfly (VanBuskirk 2010,
                                                    using proven release methods                            between 2000 to 2014 (USFWS 2012,                     entire) contains further information on
                                                    developed by the Oregon silverspot                      p. 10; Patterson 2014, p. 11); therefore,             the captive rearing program, release
                                                    butterfly population augmentation                       it is the least likely to be impacted by              procedures, genetic considerations,
                                                    program from 2000 to 2015 (USFWS                        the removal of up to 5 percent of the                 population dynamics, effects of releases
                                                    2012, p. 10; Engelmeyer 2015, p. 2). We                 population. Demographic modeling                      on population viability of the Oregon
                                                    will release captive-reared caterpillars                indicates that the optimal strategy for               silverspot butterfly, and the potential for
                                                    or pupae of wild female butterflies into                captive rearing of Oregon silverspot                  reintroduction to Saddle Mountain SNA
                                                    suitable habitat within the proposed                    butterflies to increase the probability of            and Nestucca Bay NWR (copies of this
                                                    NEP areas, following the guidance in the                persistence is to take females from larger            document are available online at http://
                                                    Captive Propagation and Reintroduction                  donor populations (Crone et al. 2007,                 www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
                                                    Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly                p. 108). Regional persistence can be                  FWS–R1–ES–2016–0102 or by
                                                    (VanBuskirk 2010, entire). We will                      increased with captive rearing, with                  contacting the person listed under FOR
                                                    determine the number of individuals to                  negligible effects on the donor                       FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above).
                                                    release based on the number of available                population (Crone et al. 2007, pp. 107–
                                                    healthy offspring and the amount of                                                                           Legal Status of Reintroduced
                                                                                                            108). Measurable increases in regional
                                                    suitable habitat available, with violet                                                                       Populations
                                                                                                            persistence are predicted when one
                                                    densities as the primary measure of                     assumes each donor female produces                       Based on the current legal and
                                                    habitat suitability. The ultimate goal is               four adult butterflies for release to the             biological status of the subspecies and
                                                    the establishment of self-sustaining                    wild (i.e., four adults/female). In reality,          the need for management flexibility, and
                                                    populations of between 200 to 500                       the number of adult butterflies                       in accordance with section 10(j) of the
                                                    butterflies for 10 years at each proposed               produced per female captured from the                 Act, we propose to designate all Oregon
                                                    NEP area, similar to the recovery criteria              donor population has been much higher                 silverspot butterflies released within the
                                                    for the other habitat conservation areas.               in recent years. For example, during                  boundaries of the NEP areas as members
                                                      Based on guidance from the Captive                    2007–2009, between 24 and 29 females                  of the NEP. Such designation allows us
                                                    Propagation and Reintroduction Plan for                 were captured, producing between 875                  to establish special protective
                                                    the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly                         and 2,391 adults for release (31–83                   regulations for management of Oregon
                                                    (VanBuskirk 2010, entire), we propose                   adults/female) (VanBuskirk 2010, p. 12).              silverspot butterflies.
                                                    to establish populations in each NEP                    In 2015, 14 females produced 815 adults                  With the experimental population
                                                    area from offspring of at least 50 mated                for release (58 adults/female)                        designation, the relevant population is
                                                    females. Because the number of female                   (Engelmeyer 2015, p. 5). These rates of               treated as threatened for purposes of
                                                    butterflies available for collection for                production far exceed what is needed to               section 9 of the Act, regardless of the
                                                    the captive-rearing program is limited to               have a positive impact on regional                    species’ designation elsewhere in its
                                                    5 percent of the donor population per                   persistence, even if all the females were             range. Treating the experimental
                                                    year, it may be necessary to release                    removed from small donor populations                  population as threatened allows us the
                                                    caterpillars or pupae incrementally over                (see Crone et al. 2007, p. 109). As an                discretion to devise management
                                                    a period of a few years. We will use                    additional protective measure, we will                programs and specific regulations for
                                                    annual butterfly counts during the flight               release some caterpillars and pupae                   such a population. Section 4(d) of the
                                                    period to monitor population                            from the captive-rearing program back                 Act allows us to adopt any regulations
                                                    establishment success. Butterfly survey                 into the donor population each year,                  that are necessary and advisable to
                                                    methods used at the occupied sites                      concurrent with the reintroductions to                provide for the conservation of a
                                                    (Pollard 1977, p. 116; Pickering 1992,                  the proposed NEP areas. This will                     threatened species. When designating
                                                    p. 3) will also be used to assess                       further minimize any potential effects                an experimental population, the general
                                                    population establishment success in the                 from the removal of a small number of                 regulations that extend most section 9
                                                    proposed NEP areas.                                     adult females in the prior year.                      prohibitions to threatened species do
                                                                                                               The Mount Hebo population occurs in                not apply to that species, and the
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                                                    Donor Stock Assessment and Effects on                   an environment similar to the proposed                section 10(j) rule contains the
                                                    Donor Populations                                       Saddle Mountain NEP area (i.e., similar               prohibitions and exemptions necessary
                                                       Individual Oregon silverspot                         elevation, native plant community, and                and advisable to conserve that species.
                                                    butterflies used to establish populations               distance from the coast). Therefore,                     The 10(j) rule would further the
                                                    at both proposed NEP areas will most                    offspring of butterflies from Mount Hebo              conservation of the subspecies by
                                                    likely come from the offspring of the                   will likely be well-adapted to the                    facilitating its reintroduction into two
                                                    Mount Hebo population. Additional                       environment in the meadows on top of                  areas of suitable habitat within its
                                                    genetic research on the subspecies is in                Saddle Mountain. The Mount Hebo                       historical range. The rule would provide


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           94303

                                                    assurances to landowners and                            and therefore activities on adjacent                  when acting in the course of official
                                                    development interests that the                          lands are not expected to impact the                  duties, take an Oregon silverspot
                                                    reintroduction of Oregon silverspot                     butterfly.                                            butterfly in the wild in the NEP area
                                                    butterflies will not interfere with natural                (2) In accordance with the Nestucca                without a permit if such action is
                                                    resource developments or with human                     Bay NWR Comprehensive Conservation                    necessary for scientific purposes, to aid
                                                    activities (although the Act’s section                  Plan, all refuge management actions                   a law enforcement investigation, to
                                                    7(a)(2) consultation requirements would                 taken in the vicinity of the reintroduced             euthanize an injured individual, to
                                                    still apply on Nestucca Bay NWR).                       population will defer to the habitat                  dispose of or salvage a dead individual
                                                    Without such assurances, some                           needs of the butterfly (USFWS 2013, pp.               for scientific purposes, or to relocate an
                                                    landowners and developers, as well as                   4–37–4–43). In addition, the refuge must              Oregon silverspot butterfly to avoid
                                                    the State, would object to the                          complete section 7(a)(2) consultation on              conflict with human activities, to
                                                    reintroduction of Oregon silverspot                     all actions that may affect the butterfly.            improve Oregon silverspot butterfly
                                                    butterflies to these two areas. Except as               Oregon silverspot butterflies may                     survival and recovery prospects or for
                                                    provided for under sections 10(a)(1)(A)                 occasionally visit or fly within adjacent             genetic purposes, to move individuals
                                                    and 10(e) of the Act, or as described in                properties near the proposed NEP area,                into captivity or from one population in
                                                    this proposed NEP rule, take of any                     which may be subject to future                        the NEP to the other, or to retrieve an
                                                    member of the Oregon silverspot                         development. However, given the lack                  Oregon silverspot butterfly that has
                                                    butterfly NEP will be prohibited under                  of suitable habitat for this subspecies on            moved outside the NEP area. Non-
                                                    the Act.                                                adjacent properties, as well as the                   Service or other non-authorized
                                                                                                            butterfly’s territorial and non-migratory             personnel would need a permit from the
                                                    Extent to Which the Reintroduced                        nature, we consider negative impacts to
                                                    Population May Be Affected by Land                                                                            Service for these activities.
                                                                                                            the Oregon silverspot butterfly from
                                                    Management Within the Proposed NEP                      development on adjacent sites to be                      (c) Coordination with landowners and
                                                       We conclude that the effects of                      unlikely, as there is little likelihood of            land managers: We have coordinated
                                                    Federal, State, or private actions and                  individuals moving to these sites.                    with landowners likely to be affected by
                                                    activities will not pose a threat to                       Management issues related to the                   the proposed reintroduction. During this
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly                             proposed Oregon silverspot butterfly                  coordination we identified issues and
                                                    establishment and persistence at Saddle                 NEP that have been considered include:                concerns associated with reintroducing
                                                    Mountain SNA or the Nestucca Bay                           (a) Incidental Take: The regulations               Oregon silverspot butterflies in the
                                                    NWR because the best information,                       implementing the Act define                           absence of an NEP designation. We also
                                                    including activities currently occurring                ‘‘incidental take’’ as take that is                   discussed the possibility of NEP
                                                    in Oregon silverspot butterfly                          incidental to, and not the purpose of,                designation. Affected State agencies,
                                                    populations range wide, indicates that                  carrying out an otherwise lawful activity             landowners, and land managers have
                                                    activities currently occurring, or likely               (50 CFR 17.3), such as agricultural                   either indicated support for, or no
                                                    to occur, at prospective reintroduction                 activities and other rural development,               opposition to, the proposed NEP if a
                                                    sites within proposed NEP areas are                     and other activities that are in                      10(j) rule is promulgated to allow
                                                    compatible with the species’ recovery.                  accordance with Federal, Tribal, State,               incidental take of Oregon silverspot
                                                    The reintroduced Oregon silverspot                      and local laws and regulations.                       butterflies.
                                                    butterfly populations would be managed                  Experimental population rules contain                    (d) Public awareness and cooperation:
                                                    by OPRD and the Service, and would be                   specific prohibitions and exceptions                  The proposed NEP designation is
                                                    protected from major development                        regarding the taking of individual                    necessary to secure needed cooperation
                                                    activities through the following                        animals. If we adopt this 10(j) rule as               of the States, landowners, agencies, and
                                                    mechanisms:                                             proposed, take of the Oregon silverspot               other interests in the affected area. If
                                                       (1) Development activities and timber                butterfly anywhere within the NEP areas               this proposed rule is adopted, we will
                                                    harvests are not expected to occur in the               would not be prohibited, provided that                work with our partners to continue
                                                    Saddle Mountain SNA, which is                           the take is unintentional, not due to                 public outreach on our effort to restore
                                                    protected as a special botanical area.                  negligent conduct, and is in accordance               Oregon silverspot butterflies to parts of
                                                    Trail maintenance and other park                        with this 10(j) rule; however, the section            their historical range and the
                                                    maintenance activities would continue                   7(a)(2) consultation requirement still                importance of these restoration efforts to
                                                    to occur within the proposed NEP area,                  applies on refuge lands. We expect                    the overall recovery of the subspecies.
                                                    but are expected to have minimal                        levels of incidental take to be low
                                                    impact on the butterfly meadow habitat                  because the reintroduction is                            (e) Potential impacts to other federally
                                                    areas due to the terrain and steepness of               compatible with ongoing activities and                listed species: No federally listed
                                                    the slopes. Because of the rugged nature                anticipated future actions in the                     species occur in the proposed NEP areas
                                                    of the area, and also to protect the                    proposed NEP areas.                                   that would be affected by the
                                                    important botanical resources at this                      (b) Special handling: In accordance                reintroductions.
                                                    site, maintenance activities in this area               with 50 CFR 17.32, any person with a                     (f) Monitoring and evaluation: Annual
                                                    are generally limited to trail                          valid permit issued by the Service may                monitoring would be performed by
                                                    maintenance by hand crews, with                         take the Oregon silverspot butterfly for              qualified personnel with the
                                                    minimal impacts on the meadow areas.                    educational purposes, scientific                      cooperation of the OPRD Saddle
                                                    Additionally, the proposed Oregon                       purposes, the enhancement of                          Mountain SNA and Nestucca Bay NWR.
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                                                    silverspot butterfly NEP area at Saddle                 propagation or survival of the species,               Oregon silverspot butterflies would be
                                                    Mountain SNA would be protected by                      zoological exhibition, and other                      counted on designated survey transects
                                                    the Oregon State regulations prohibiting                conservation purposes consistent with                 or public trails. We do not anticipate
                                                    collection of animals on State lands                    the Act. Additionally, any employee or                that surveys would disrupt or hamper
                                                    (Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR)                       agent of the Service, any other Federal               public use and would likely be
                                                    736–010–0055(2)(d)). Private                            land management agency, or a State                    perceived by the public as normal
                                                    timberlands surrounding the SNA do                      conservation agency, who is designated                activities in the context of a natural
                                                    not contain suitable butterfly habitat,                 by the agency for such purposes, may,                 area.


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                                                    94304                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    Reintroduction Effectiveness                            Required Determinations                               silverspot butterflies may disperse.
                                                    Monitoring                                                                                                    Because of the regulatory flexibility for
                                                                                                            Regulatory Planning and Review
                                                                                                                                                                  Federal agency actions provided by the
                                                       Oregon silverspot butterfly surveys                  (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
                                                                                                                                                                  proposed NEP designation and the
                                                    would be conducted annually within                        Executive Order 12866 provides that                 exemption for incidental take in the
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat at                  the Office of Information and Regulatory              rule, we do not expect this rule to have
                                                    Nestucca Bay NWR and Saddle                             Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of                       significant effects on any activities
                                                    Mountain SNA using a modified Pollard                   Management and Budget will review all                 within Federal, State, or private lands
                                                    walk methodology (Pickering et al.                      significant rules. OIRA has determined                within the proposed NEP. In regard to
                                                    1992, p. 7). This survey method is                      that this proposed rule is not significant.           section 7(a)(2) of the Act, the population
                                                    currently used at all occupied Oregon                     Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the                 would be treated as proposed for listing,
                                                    silverspot butterfly sites. The surveys                 principles of E.O. 12866 while calling                and Federal action agencies are not
                                                    would be conducted weekly during the                    for improvements in the nation’s                      required to consult on their activities,
                                                    butterfly flight period, July through                   regulatory system to promote                          except on National Wildlife Refuge and
                                                                                                            predictability, to reduce uncertainty,                National Park land where the subspecies
                                                    September, on designated survey
                                                                                                            and to use the best, most innovative,                 is managed as a threatened species.
                                                    transects or public trails. The surveys
                                                                                                            and least burdensome tools for                        Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires
                                                    produce an index of Oregon silverspot                   achieving regulatory ends. The
                                                    butterfly relative abundance that would                                                                       Federal agencies to confer (rather than
                                                                                                            executive order directs agencies to                   consult) with the Service on actions that
                                                    be used to assess annual population                     consider regulatory approaches that
                                                    trends to provide information on                                                                              are likely to jeopardize the continued
                                                                                                            reduce burdens and maintain flexibility               existence of a proposed species.
                                                    reintroduction effectiveness. We would                  and freedom of choice for the public
                                                    prepare annual progress reports.                                                                              However, because the proposed NEP is,
                                                                                                            where these approaches are relevant,
                                                    Reintroduction efforts would be fully                                                                         by definition, not essential to the
                                                                                                            feasible, and consistent with regulatory
                                                    evaluated after 5 years to determine                                                                          survival of the species, conferring will
                                                                                                            objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes
                                                    whether to continue or terminate the                                                                          likely never be required for the Oregon
                                                                                                            further that regulations must be based
                                                    reintroduction efforts.                                                                                       silverspot butterfly populations within
                                                                                                            on the best available science and that
                                                                                                                                                                  the NEP areas. Furthermore, the results
                                                                                                            the rulemaking process must allow for
                                                    Donor Population Monitoring                                                                                   of a conference are advisory in nature
                                                                                                            public participation and an open
                                                                                                                                                                  and do not restrict agencies from
                                                       We would conduct annual Oregon                       exchange of ideas. We have developed
                                                                                                                                                                  carrying out, funding, or authorizing
                                                    silverspot butterfly surveys within the                 this proposed rule in a manner
                                                                                                                                                                  activities. In addition, section 7(a)(1) of
                                                    populations where donor stock is                        consistent with these requirements.
                                                                                                                                                                  the Act requires Federal agencies to use
                                                    obtained using a modified Pollard walk                  Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601              their authorities to carry out programs to
                                                    methodology (Pickering et al. 1992, p.                  et seq.)                                              further the conservation of listed
                                                    7). Our annual monitoring would be                         Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act               species, which would apply on any
                                                    used to adaptively manage the captive                   (as amended by the Small Business                     lands within the NEP areas. Within the
                                                    rearing program to insure that the                      Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act                   boundaries of the Nestucca Bay NWR,
                                                    removal of donor stock would not                        (SBREFA) of 1996; 5 U.S.C. 60 et seq.),               the subspecies would be treated as a
                                                    jeopardize the continued existence of                   whenever a Federal agency is required                 threatened species for the purposes of
                                                    the population or the species as a                      to publish a notice of rulemaking for                 section 7(a)(2) of the Act. As a result,
                                                    whole.                                                  any proposed or final rule, it must                   and in accordance with these
                                                                                                            prepare, and make available for public                regulations, some modifications to
                                                    Monitoring Impacts to Other Listed                                                                            proposed Federal actions within
                                                    Species                                                 comment, a regulatory flexibility
                                                                                                            analysis that describes the effect of the             Nestucca Bay NWR may occur to benefit
                                                       We do not anticipate impacts to other                rule on small entities (small businesses,             the Oregon silverspot butterfly, but we
                                                    listed species by the proposed                          small organizations, and small                        do not expect projects to be
                                                    reintroduction of the Oregon silverspot                 government jurisdictions). However, no                substantially modified because these
                                                                                                            regulatory flexibility analysis is required           lands are already being administered in
                                                    butterfly.
                                                                                                            if the head of an agency certifies that the           a manner that is compatible with
                                                    Findings                                                rule will not have a significant                      Oregon silverspot butterfly recovery.
                                                                                                            economic impact on a substantial                         If adopted, this proposal would
                                                      Based on the above information, and                                                                         broadly authorize incidental take of the
                                                                                                            number of small entities. SBREFA
                                                    using the best scientific and commercial                                                                      Oregon silverspot butterfly within the
                                                                                                            amended the Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                    data available (in accordance with 50                                                                         NEP areas. The regulations
                                                                                                            to require Federal agencies to provide a
                                                    CFR 17.81), we find that reintroducing                  statement of the factual basis for                    implementing the Act define
                                                    the Oregon silverspot butterfly into the                certifying that a rule will not have a                ‘‘incidental take’’ as take that is
                                                    Saddle Mountain SNA and the Nestucca                    significant economic impact on a                      incidental to, and not the purpose of,
                                                    Bay NWR and the associated protective                   substantial number of small entities. We              the carrying out of an otherwise lawful
                                                    measures and management practices                       are certifying that this rule will not have           activity such as, agricultural activities
                                                    under this proposed rulemaking would                    a significant economic effect on a                    and other rural development, camping,
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                                                    further the conservation of the                         substantial number of small entities.                 hiking, hunting, vehicle use of roads
                                                    subspecies. The nonessential                            The following discussion explains our                 and highways, and other activities in
                                                    experimental population status is                       rationale.                                            the NEP areas that are in accordance
                                                    appropriate for the reintroduction areas                   The area that would be affected if this            with Federal, Tribal, State, and local
                                                    because we have determined that these                   proposed rule is adopted includes the                 laws and regulations. Intentional take
                                                    populations are not essential to the                    release areas at Saddle Mountain SNA                  for purposes other than authorized data
                                                    continued existence of the subspecies in                and Nestucca Bay NWR and adjacent                     collection or recovery purposes would
                                                    the wild.                                               areas into which individual Oregon                    not be authorized. Intentional take for


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            94305

                                                    research or recovery purposes would                     that are in accordance with Federal,                  Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et
                                                    require a section 10(a)(1)(A) recovery                  State, and local laws and regulations.                seq.), require that Federal agencies
                                                    permit under the Act.                                   Therefore, we do not believe that the                 obtain approval from OMB before
                                                      The principal activities on private                   proposed NEP would conflict with                      collecting information from the public.
                                                    property near the proposed NEP areas                    existing or proposed human activities.                This proposed rule does not contain any
                                                    are timber production, agriculture, and                   A takings implication assessment is                 new information collections that require
                                                    activities associated with private                      not required because this rule (1) will               approval. We may not collect or
                                                    residences. We believe the presence of                  not effectively compel a property owner               sponsor, and you are not required to
                                                    the Oregon silverspot butterfly would                   to suffer a physical invasion of property,            respond to, a collection of information
                                                    not affect the use of lands for these                   and (2) will not deny all economically                unless it displays a currently valid OMB
                                                    purposes because there would be no                      beneficial or productive use of the land              control number.
                                                    new or additional economic or                           or aquatic resources. This rule would
                                                    regulatory restrictions imposed upon                    substantially advance a legitimate                    National Environmental Policy Act
                                                    States, non-Federal entities, or private                government interest (conservation and                   The reintroduction of native species
                                                    landowners due to the presence of the                   recovery of a listed species) and would               into suitable habitat within their
                                                    Oregon silverspot butterfly, and Federal                not present a barrier to all reasonable               historical or established range is
                                                    agencies would only have to comply                      and expected beneficial use of private                categorically excluded from NEPA
                                                    with sections 7(a)(1) and 7(a)(4) of the                property.                                             documentation requirements consistent
                                                    Act in these areas, except on Nestucca                                                                        with the Department of Interior’s
                                                                                                            Federalism (E.O. 13132)
                                                    Bay NWR lands where section 7(a)(2) of                                                                        Department Manual (516 DM 8.5B(6)).
                                                    the Act would apply. Therefore, this                       In accordance with Executive Order
                                                    rulemaking is not expected to have any                  13132, we have considered whether this                Government-to-Government
                                                    significant adverse impacts to activities               proposed rule has significant                         Relationship With Tribes
                                                    on private lands within the proposed                    Federalism effects and have determined                   In accordance with the presidential
                                                    NEP areas.                                              that a federalism summary impact                      memorandum of April 29, 1994,
                                                                                                            statement is not required. This proposed              ‘‘Government-to-Government Relations
                                                    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2                         rule would not have substantial direct                with Native American Tribal
                                                    U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)                                    effects on the States, on the relationship            Governments’’ (59 FR 22951; May 4,
                                                       In accordance with the Unfunded                      between the Federal Government and                    1994), Executive Order 13175 (65 FR
                                                    Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et                   the States, or on the distribution of                 67249; November 9, 2000), and the
                                                    seq.):                                                  power and responsibilities among the                  Department of the Interior Manual
                                                       (1) If adopted, this proposal would                  various levels of government. In keeping              Chapter 512 DM 2, we have considered
                                                    not ‘‘significantly or uniquely’’ affect                with Department of the Interior policy,               possible effects on federally recognized
                                                    small governments. We have                              we requested information from and                     Indian tribes and have determined that
                                                    determined and certify under the                        coordinated development of this                       there are no tribal lands affected by this
                                                    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2                         proposed rule with the affected resource              proposed rule.
                                                    U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this proposed                 agencies in Oregon. Achieving the
                                                    rulemaking would not impose a cost of                   recovery goals for this subspecies would              Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
                                                    $100 million or more in any given year                  contribute to its eventual delisting and              (E.O. 13211)
                                                    on local or State governments or private                its return to State management. No                       Executive Order 13211 requires
                                                    entities. A Small Government Agency                     intrusion on State policy or                          agencies to prepare Statements of
                                                    Plan is not required. As explained                      administration is expected; roles or                  Energy Effects when undertaking certain
                                                    above, small governments would not be                   responsibilities of Federal or State                  actions. This rule is not expected to
                                                    affected because the proposed NEP                       governments would not change; and                     significantly affect energy supplies,
                                                    designation would not place additional                  fiscal capacity would not be                          distribution, or use. Because this action
                                                    requirements on any city, county, or                    substantially directly affected. The                  is not a significant energy action, no
                                                    other local municipalities.                             proposed rule would maintain the                      Statement of Energy Effects is required.
                                                       (2) This proposed rule would not                     existing relationship between the State
                                                    produce a Federal mandate of $100                                                                             Clarity of This Rule (E.O. 12866)
                                                                                                            and the Federal Government, and is
                                                    million or greater in any year (i.e., it is             being undertaken in coordination with                    We are required by E.O. 12866, E.O.
                                                    not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’                 the State of Oregon. Therefore, this rule             12988, and by the Presidential
                                                    under the Unfunded Mandates Reform                      does not have significant Federalism                  Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write
                                                    Act). The proposed NEP area                             effects or implications to warrant the                all rules in plain language. This means
                                                    designations for the Oregon silverspot                  preparation of a federalism summary                   that each rule we publish must:
                                                    butterfly would not impose any                          impact statement under the provisions                    (1) Be logically organized;
                                                    additional management or protection                     of Executive Order 13132.                                (2) Use the active voice to address
                                                    requirements on the States or other                                                                           readers directly;
                                                    entities.                                               Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)                        (3) Use clear language rather than
                                                                                                              In accordance with Executive Order                  jargon;
                                                    Takings (E.O. 12630)                                                                                             (4) Be divided into short sections and
                                                                                                            12988, the Office of the Solicitor has
                                                      In accordance with Executive Order                    determined that this rule would not                   sentences; and
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                                                    12630, the proposed rule does not have                  unduly burden the judicial system and                    (5) Use lists and tables wherever
                                                    significant takings implications. This                  would meet the requirements of sections               possible.
                                                    rule would allow for the take of                        (3)(a) and (3)(b)(2) of the Order.                       If you feel that we have not met these
                                                    reintroduced Oregon silverspot                                                                                requirements, send us comments by one
                                                    butterflies when such take is incidental                Paperwork Reduction Act                               of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. To
                                                    to an otherwise legal activity, such as                   Office of Management and Budget                     better help us revise the rule, your
                                                    recreation (e.g., hiking, birdwatching),                (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which                comment should be as specific as
                                                    forestry, agriculture, and other activities             implement provisions of the Paperwork                 possible. For example, you should tell


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                                                    94306                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    us the numbers of the sections and                        List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17                        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 1531–
                                                    paragraphs that are unclearly written,                                                                            1544; and 4201–4245, unless otherwise
                                                    which sections or sentences are too                         Endangered and threatened species,                    noted.
                                                    long, or the sections where you feel lists                Exports, Imports, Reporting and record
                                                    and tables would be useful.                               keeping requirements, Transportation.                   ■ 2. Amend § 17.11(h) by revising the
                                                                                                                                                                      entry for ‘‘Butterfly, Oregon silverspot’’
                                                    References Cited                                          Proposed Regulation Promulgation                        under INSECTS in the List of
                                                      A complete list of all references cited in                Accordingly, we propose to amend                      Endangered and Threatened Wildlife to
                                                    this final rule is available at http://
                                                                                                              part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title               read as follows:
                                                    www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R1–
                                                    ES–2016–0102 or upon request from the                     50 of the Code of Federal Regulations,                  § 17.11 Endangered and threatened
                                                    Newport Field Office (see FOR FURTHER                     as set forth below:                                     wildlife.
                                                    INFORMATION CONTACT).
                                                                                                                                                                      *       *    *         *     *
                                                                                                              PART 17—ENDANGERED AND
                                                    Authors                                                   THREATENED WILDLIFE                                         (h) * * *
                                                      The primary authors of this proposed
                                                    rule are staff members of the Service’s                   ■ 1. The authority citation for part 17
                                                    Newport Field Office (see FOR FURTHER                     continues to read as follows:
                                                    INFORMATION CONTACT).

                                                                                                                                                                                         Listing citations and applicable
                                                              Common name                               Scientific name                          Where listed               Status                      rules


                                                              *                       *                           *                      *                       *                       *                    *
                                                                  INSECTS

                                                               *                     *                      *                             *                   *                          *                   *
                                                    Butterfly, Oregon silverspot .......    Speyeria zerene hippolyta ........        Wherever found, except where         T             45 FR 44935; 7/2/1980,
                                                                                                                                        listed as an experimental                        50 CFR 17.95(i) CH.
                                                                                                                                        population.
                                                    Butterfly, Oregon silverspot .......    Speyeria zerene hippolyta ........        U.S.A. (OR—specified portions        XN            [Federal Register citation of
                                                                                                                                        of Clatsop and Tillamook                           the final rule]
                                                                                                                                        Counties; see § 17.85(d)).

                                                              *                       *                           *                      *                       *                       *                    *



                                                    ■ 3. Amend § 17.85 by adding paragraph                    23, 27 through 30; and Township 5                       distance from extant populations, the
                                                    (d) to read as follows:                                   South, Range 11 West, Sections 12, 13,                  NEP is wholly separate from extant
                                                                                                              24, and 25.                                             populations and we do not expect the
                                                    § 17.85   Special rules—invertebrates.                      (B) The Saddle Mountain NEP area,                     reintroduced Oregon silverspot
                                                    *      *    *     *     *                                 centered on the coastal prairie habitat                 butterflies to become established
                                                       (d) Oregon Silverspot Butterfly                        on top of Saddle Mountain State Natural                 outside the NEP areas. Oregon silverspot
                                                    (Speyeria zerene hippolyta).                              Area (Saddle Mountain NEP area),                        butterflies outside of the NEP
                                                       (1) Where is the Oregon silverspot                     includes Township 6 North, Range 7                      boundaries will assume the status of
                                                    butterfly designated as a nonessential                    West, Sections 7, 17 through 20, 29                     Oregon silverspot butterflies within the
                                                    experimental population (NEP)? (i) The                    through 32; Township 6 North, Range 8                   geographic area in which they are
                                                    NEP areas for the Oregon silverspot                       West, Sections 1 through 36; Township                   found.
                                                    butterfly are within the subspecies’                      6 North, Range 9 West, Sections 1, 11                      (iii) We will not change the NEP
                                                    historical range in Tillamook and                         through 14, 23 through 26, 35, and 36;                  designations to ‘‘essential
                                                    Clatsop Counties, Oregon. The boundary                    Township 5 North, Range 7 West,                         experimental,’’ ‘‘threatened,’’ or
                                                    of the NEP includes those Public Land                     Sections 5 through 8, 17, 18, and 19;                   ‘‘endangered’’ within the NEP areas
                                                    Survey System sections intersecting                       Township 5 North, Range 8 West,                         without engaging in notice-and-
                                                    with a 4.25-mile (6.8-kilometer) radius                   Sections 1 through 24; and Township 5                   comment rulemaking. Additionally, we
                                                    around the release locations. This                        North, Range 9 West, Sections 1, 2, 3,                  will not designate critical habitat for
                                                    boundary was selected to encompass all                    11, 12, 13, and 14.                                     this NEP, as provided by 16 U.S.C.
                                                    likely movements of Oregon silverspot                       (ii) The nearest known extant                         1539(j)(2)(C)(ii).
                                                    butterflies away from the release areas                   population to the Nestucca Bay NEP                         (2) What take of the Oregon silverspot
                                                    while maintaining geographic                              area is 8 miles (13 kilometers) to the                  butterfly is allowed in the NEP areas?
                                                    separation from existing populations.                     south, beyond the longest known flight                     (i) Oregon silverspot butterflies may
                                                       (A) The Nestucca Bay NEP area,                         distance of the butterfly (4.1 miles (6.6               be taken within the NEP area, provided
                                                    centered on the coastal prairie habitat                   kilometers)) and with little or no                      that such take is not willful, knowing,
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                                                    on the Cannery Hill Unit of the                           suitable habitat between them. The                      or due to negligence, and is incidental
                                                    Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge                     nearest known extant population to the                  to carrying out an otherwise lawful
                                                    (Nestucca Bay NEP area), includes                         Saddle Mountain NEP area is 50 miles                    activity, such as agriculture, forestry
                                                    Township 4 South, Range 10 West,                          (80 kilometers) to the south, well                      and wildlife management, land
                                                    Sections 15 through 36; Township 4                        beyond the longest known flight                         development, recreation, and other
                                                    South, Range 11 West, Sections 13, 24,                    distance of the butterfly (4.1 miles (6.6               activities that are in accordance with
                                                    25, and 36; Township 5 South, Range 10                    kilometers)). Given its habitat                         Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws
                                                    West, Sections 2 through 11, 14 through                   requirements, movement patterns, and                    and regulations.


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          94307

                                                       (ii) Any person with a valid permit                  NEP into another in the NEP, or into                  this section or in violation of applicable
                                                    issued by the Service under 50 CFR                      captivity;                                            State fish and wildlife laws or
                                                    17.32 may take the Oregon silverspot                       (E) To euthanize an injured Oregon                 regulations or the Act.
                                                    butterfly for educational purposes,                     silverspot butterfly;                                   (iii) Any manner of take not described
                                                    scientific purposes, the enhancement of                    (F) To dispose of a dead Oregon
                                                                                                                                                                  under paragraph (d)(2) of this section is
                                                    propagation or survival of the species,                 silverspot butterfly, or salvage a dead
                                                                                                                                                                  prohibited in the NEP areas.
                                                    zoological exhibition, and other                        Oregon silverspot butterfly for scientific
                                                    conservation purposes consistent with                   purposes;                                               (iv) A person may not attempt to
                                                    the Act. Additionally, any employee or                     (G) To relocate an Oregon silverspot               commit, solicit another to commit, or
                                                    agent of the Service, any other Federal                 butterfly that has moved outside the                  cause to be committed any take of the
                                                    land management agency, or a State                      NEP area back into the NEP area; or                   Oregon silverspot butterfly, except as
                                                    conservation agency, who is designated                     (H) To aid in law enforcement                      expressly allowed in paragraph (d)(2) of
                                                    by the agency for such purposes, may,                   investigations involving the Oregon                   this section.
                                                    when acting in the course of official                   silverspot butterfly.                                   (4) How will the effectiveness of these
                                                    duties, may take an Oregon silverspot                      (3) What take of Oregon silverspot                 reintroductions be monitored? We will
                                                    butterfly in the wild in the NEP area if                butterfly is not allowed in the NEP area?             monitor populations annually for trends
                                                    such action is necessary:                                  (i) Except as expressly allowed in                 in abundance in cooperation with
                                                       (A) For scientific purposes;                         paragraph (d)(2) of this section, all of              partners and prepare annual progress
                                                       (B) To relocate Oregon silverspot                    the provisions of 50 CFR 17.31(a) and                 reports. We will fully evaluate
                                                    butterflies to avoid conflict with human                (b) apply to the Oregon silverspot                    reintroduction efforts after 5 years to
                                                    activities;                                             butterfly in areas identified in paragraph            determine whether to continue or
                                                       (C) To relocate Oregon silverspot                    (d)(1) of this section.                               terminate the reintroduction efforts.
                                                    butterflies within the NEP area to                         (ii) A person may not possess, sell,
                                                    improve Oregon silverspot butterfly                     deliver, carry, transport, ship, import, or             (5) Maps of the NEP areas for the
                                                    survival and recovery prospects or for                  export by any means, Oregon silverspot                Oregon silverspot butterfly in Northwest
                                                    genetic purposes;                                       butterflies, or parts thereof, that are               Oregon.
                                                       (D) To relocate Oregon silverspot                    taken or possessed in a manner not                      (i) Note: Map of the Oregon silverspot
                                                    butterflies from one population in the                  expressly allowed in paragraph (d)(2) of              butterfly NEP follows:
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                                                    94308                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules




                                                      (ii) Note: Map of Nestucca Bay NEP
                                                    area for the Oregon silverspot butterfly
                                                    follows:
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                                                                                                                                                                                    EP23DE16.000</GPH>




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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules                          94309


                                                                                Nestucca Bay Nonessential Experimental Population Area for
                                                                                               Oregon Silverspot Butterfly




                                                      (iii) Note: Map of Saddle Mountain
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                                                    NEP area for the Oregon silverspot
                                                    butterfly follows:
                                                                                                                                                                                            EP23DE16.001</GPH>




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                                                    94310                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Proposed Rules




                                                    *      *     *       *      *                           DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                      Dated: December 19, 2016.                                                                                   Commerce.
                                                                                                            National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
                                                    Michael J. Bean,
                                                                                                            Administration
                                                    Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish                                                                 SUMMARY:   The New England Fishery
                                                    and Wildlife and Parks.                                 50 CFR Part 648                                       Management Council (Council) is
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                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–30817 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]                                                                  scheduling a public meeting of its
                                                    BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                                                                            RIN 0648–XF093                                        Herring Advisory Panel on Tuesday,
                                                                                                                                                                  January 10, 2017, to consider actions
                                                                                                            New England Fishery Management                        affecting New England fisheries in the
                                                                                                            Council; Public Meeting                               exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
                                                                                                                                                                  Recommendations from this group will
                                                                                                            AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    be brought to the full Council for formal
                                                                                                                                                                                                              EP23DE16.002</GPH>




                                                                                                            Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  consideration and action, if appropriate.


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Document Created: 2016-12-23 12:29:13
Document Modified: 2016-12-23 12:29:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWe will accept comments received or postmarked on or before February 21, 2017. Please note that if you are using the Federal
ContactLaura Todd, Field Supervisor, 541-867- 4558. Persons who use a TDD may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339. Direct all questions or requests for additional information to: OREGON SILVERSPOT BUTTERFLY QUESTIONS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newport Field Office, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365.
FR Citation81 FR 94296 
RIN Number1018-BB74
CFR AssociatedEndangered and Threatened Species; Exports; Imports; Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements and Transportation

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