[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50406-50452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19195]



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Part II





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service



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50 CFR Part 17



Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical 
Habitat for the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis); 
Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 26, 2008 / Rules and Regulations

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[FWS-R8-ES-2008-0034; 92210-1117-0000-B4]
RIN 1018-AV24


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha 
bayensis)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are 
designating revised critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
(Euphydryas editha bayensis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (Act). In total, approximately 18,293 acres (ac) (7,403 
hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the revised critical 
habitat designation for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. The revision to 
critical habitat is located in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, 
California. This final revised designation therefore constitutes a 
reduction of 1,453 ac (588 ha) from our 19,746 ac (7,990 ha) proposed 
revised designation of critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly published on August 22, 2007.

DATES: This rule becomes effective on September 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The final rule, final economic analysis, and map of critical 
habitat will be available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
and http://www.fws.gov/sacramento. Comments and materials received, as 
well as supporting documentation used in the preparation of this final 
rule, are available for public inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 
Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825; telephone 916-414-
6600.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825; 
telephone 916-414-6600; facsimile 916-414-6712. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This final rule addresses revised critical habitat for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. For additional information on the taxonomy, 
biology, and ecology of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, refer to the 
final listing rule and revised proposed critical habitat rule published 
in the Federal Register on September 18, 1987 (52 FR 35366) and August 
22, 2007 (72 FR 48178), respectively. It is our intention to discuss 
only those topics directly relevant to the revised designation of 
critical habitat in this final rule.

Previous Federal Actions

    On April 30, 2001 (66 FR 21450), we published a final rule 
designating approximately 23,903 ac (9,673 ha) of critical habitat for 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, 
California. On March 30, 2005, the Home Builders Association of 
Northern California filed suit against the Service challenging critical 
habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly and other species (Home 
Builders Association of Northern California v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service cv-01363-LKK-JFM.). On February 24, 2006, a settlement 
agreement was reached that requires the Service to reevaluate the final 
critical habitat rule in light of the standards for designating 
critical habitat set forth in Home Builders Association of Northern 
California v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 268 F. Supp. 2d 1197 
(E.D. Cal 2002) and any applicable law. In addition, the settlement 
stipulated that a revised proposed rule be submitted for publication on 
or before August 14, 2007, and a final revised rule be submitted for 
publication on or before August 14, 2008. This final designation is 
being completed and published in the Federal Register in compliance 
with that settlement agreement. On August 22, 2007 (72 FR 48178), we 
published a revised proposed rule to designate approximately 19,746 ac 
(7,990 ha) in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, California. On April 
15, 2008 (73 FR 20237), we published a draft economic analysis (DEA) 
for the proposed rule to revise critical habitat.

Summary of Comments and Recommendations

    We requested written comments from the public on the proposed rule 
to revise critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly and the 
associated DEA. During the comment period, we requested all interested 
parties to submit comments or information related to the proposed 
revision to the critical habitat designation, including, but not 
limited to, the following: information regarding dispersal areas, 
species occurrence information (specifically recent occupancy of the 
Pulgas Ridge Unit) and distribution, land use designations that may 
affect critical habitat, potential economic effects of the proposed 
designation, benefits associated with critical habitat designation, 
areas considered for exclusion, and the inclusion of water sources as a 
primary constituent element (PCE).
    We also contacted appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies; 
scientific organizations; and other interested parties and invited them 
to comment on the revised proposed rule and the associated DEA. The 
comment period for the revised proposed rule opened on August 22, 2007, 
and closed on October 22, 2007. During the comment period for the 
revised proposed rule, we received eight comment letters on the 
proposed revised critical habitat designation and DEA: three from peer 
reviewers, two from local governments, and three from organizations or 
individuals. We received no comments from State or Federal agencies. 
The comment period for the DEA opened on April 15, 2008, and closed on 
May 15, 2008. We received two comment letters and no requests for 
public hearings.
    Comments and new information received in response to the revised 
proposed rule that were relevant to the final designation were 
incorporated in the final rule as appropriate and are summarized below.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our policy published on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34270), we solicited expert opinions from seven knowledgeable 
individuals with scientific expertise that included familiarity with 
the species, the geographic region in which the species occurs, and 
conservation biology principles. We received responses from three of 
the peer reviewers. The peer reviewers were generally supportive of the 
designation of critical habitat.
    We reviewed all comments received from the peer reviewers and the 
public for substantive issues and new information regarding critical 
habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. All comments received were 
grouped into general issue categories relating to the proposed rule to 
revise critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly and are 
addressed in the following summary and incorporated into this final 
revised rule as appropriate.

Peer Reviewer Comments

    In general, all three peer reviewers supported the revised critical 
habitat designation. However, two peer reviewers questioned whether 
some

[[Page 50407]]

units were ``critical.'' One peer reviewer stated that the background 
information was comprehensive and reflected the decade's worth of 
research on the butterfly and that the accounts on nitrogen deposition 
and topographic effects are good summaries. One peer reviewer felt that 
using both currently occupied and historically occupied habitats was a 
good inclusive decision and effectively covered any remaining suitable 
habitat. Individual peer comments are listed below.
    Comment 1: One peer review suggested that the designation of 
``primary'' and ``secondary'' host plants implies that eggs are always 
laid on Plantago erecta. The reviewer indicated that their work on the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly suggests that this is true in some places 
such as at Jasper Ridge; however, at Edgewood approximately 70 percent 
of oviposition occurred on Castilleja and that in the 1980s, 
approximately 20 percent of oviposition at Kirby Canyon (the southern 
portion of Coyote Ridge) occurred on Castilleja.
    Our Response: The comment is noted and clarification has been 
provided to indicate that ``primary'' refers to the host plant species 
that is used most frequently for oviposition, although not exclusively. 
Please see the ``Primary Constituent Elements'' section under ``Food'' 
for more information.
    Comment 2: One peer reviewer noted that the evidence for repeat 
diapause is more robust than is noted in the literature. The commenter 
stated that several persons had observed repeat diapause by this 
insect, although he was not aware if larvae were capable of multiyear 
diapause without the opportunity to feed in-between years.
    Our Response: We have added the peer reviewer's personal 
observations of multiple diapauses to this final rule in the ``Primary 
Constituent Elements'' section under ``Cover.''
    Comment 3: One peer reviewer confirmed the use of water or 
``puddling'' behavior described by Launer et al. (1993) in the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. The peer reviewer also noted having observed 
puddling by both sexes of other Edith's checkerspots (Euphydryas editha 
spp.). However, he also noted that while puddling could extend an 
adult's lifespan, female Bay checkerspot butterflies were still likely 
to be able to lay most of their eggs under dry conditions if they still 
had access to nectar sources.
    A second reviewer stated that while he had documented ``puddling'' 
in the Bay checkerspot butterfly and the use of water was interesting, 
it was not a significant finding. Further, the peer reviewer stated 
that water should not be considered when evaluating habitat quality for 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    A third peer reviewer stated the need for aquatic features is too 
strong and that the Bay checkerspot butterfly will use water when 
needed and available during drought years.
    Our Response: Based on the above comments from peer reviewers, the 
Service has removed aquatic features as a PCE in this final rule. For 
more information, see the ``Primary Constituent Elements'' section of 
this final rule. Because all of the units designated contain all of the 
remaining PCEs identified in the proposed rule, the removal of aquatic 
features as a PCE did not affect the overall designation of critical 
habitat.
    Comment 4: One peer reviewer questioned the utility of providing a 
list of grassland plant species and noted that an attempt to do so 
would likely result in a long list. However, he noted that, if a list 
is to be provided, that Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) should be 
included.
    Our Response: The Service attempted to provide a list of plant 
species commonly found in open grasslands in California. The list of 
grassland species was not meant to be exhaustive or to represent 
species that the Bay checkerspot butterfly depends on. Since Italian 
ryegrass is commonly found in grasslands in California, the Service 
will add it to the list of species that commonly occur in grassland 
habitats in California.
    Comment 5: One peer reviewer provided the following information 
regarding fire and prescribed burns: (1) Late spring burns reduce 
annual grass and increase native forbs for 1 to 2 years post burn, and 
in Santa Clara County grass reinvades quickly in the absence of grazing 
such that 3 to 4 years post burn the habitat is again dominated by 
annual grass; (2) fall burns reduce grass thatch but are not effective 
in reducing annual grass in subsequent years; (3) diapausing larvae can 
survive fire (in winter of 2007 and 2008, larvae were found in areas 
burned the previous spring and summer); (4) spring fires to control 
barbed goatgrass will be an essential management tool; (5) thatch 
removal by spring and fall burns are effective initially but must be 
followed by grazing to be effective in the long term; and (6) positive 
effects from burns will likely last longer in areas with lower nitrogen 
deposition (San Mateo County).
    Our Response: The Service has incorporated the information provided 
regarding fire (from the Metcalf Center Energy reports CH2M Hill 2005, 
2006, and 2008) into this final rule. Please see the ``Special 
Management Considerations or Protections'' section below for more 
information.
    Comment 6: One peer reviewer provided the following comments 
regarding potential adverse modification of critical habitat: (1) Small 
scale disturbances in serpentine grasslands generally do not pose a 
risk to Bay checkerspot butterfly populations; (2) the section 
regarding short-term mortality from grazing and fire should be 
clarified to state that the negative effects of fire and grazing are 
significantly outweighed by the positive benefit to the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly; (3) removal of grazing provides one of the biggest threats 
to the subspecies; (4) nitrogen disposition is the current greatest 
threat; and (5) pesticides inappropriately applied could cause local 
negative effects.
    Our Response: We have provided clarification in this final rule 
regarding the beneficial effects of grazing and fire to the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly's habitat. Please see the ``Special Management 
Considerations or Protections'' section below for more information.
    Comment 7: One peer reviewer stated that data regarding host plant 
density might be available from The Howard Mooney Lab at Stanford 
University.
    Our Response: The Service attempted to contact researchers with the 
Howard Mooney Lab but did not receive a reply.
    Comment 8: One peer reviewer stated that while he was part of the 
group that promoted the Bay checkerspot butterfly as a metapopulation 
species, much of the information necessary to characterize the species 
as such is not well known. As an example, the peer reviewer stated that 
extinction and recolonization events, rates of long-distance dispersal, 
and the number of individuals required to establish new populations are 
not well known. Finally, the peer reviewer stated that the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly's metapopulation is ``not well known or as 
elucidated as it is sometimes portrayed (Launer 2008 p. 1).''
    Our Response: The Service is aware that the exact nature of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly's population dynamics is highly complex and that 
long-distance dispersal, extinction or recolonization rates, and the 
threshold of individuals required to establish or re-establish a 
population is not well documented. The Service took a conservative 
approach in designating critical habitat partly because of the lack of 
data available regarding dispersal and recolonization rates. We only 
designated areas that had documented occurrences

[[Page 50408]]

of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. We did not designate all areas within 
the range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly that could support the 
species, partly because of lack of data regarding the dispersal 
capabilities of the subspecies, number of individuals required to 
establish new populations, and the minimum size necessary to support a 
population. For additional information, please see the ``Criteria Used 
to Identify Critical Habitat'' section of this rule. In addition, we 
lacked occurrence data for sites outside those we designated as 
critical habitat; sites that were not occupied at the time of listing 
or since listing did not meet our criteria for designating critical 
habitat.
    Comment 9: One peer reviewer believes that all conservation 
planning in the region (including critical habitat designations) should 
be aware of the unstable nature of the habitat in these areas. The 
conditions present today may not persist into the next quarter and half 
century; this is particularly true of the distribution of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly and the apparent acceleration of climate change. 
The reviewer also stated that as much topographic diversity and 
geographic range should be included in the designation as possible.
    Our Response: A current trend in conservation biology is the use of 
adaptive management. Adaptive management is a mechanism by which 
resource managers acknowledge the uncertainty of the effects of various 
management actions in addition to the often rapidly changing nature of 
the resource they are trying to manage. The Service is aware of the 
ongoing and often rapid changes in the environment that occur 
throughout the range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Because of the 
uncertainty in managing lands in the foreseeable future, many lands 
that have been set aside for the conservation of listed species, 
including the Bay checkerspot butterfly, now include an adaptive 
management component. While the amount of land within individual 
conservation areas is generally static, adaptive management should 
provide resource managers with the framework required to cope with a 
changing landscape. In addition, if the Service determines in the 
future that the designated area no longer meets the definition of 
critical habitat, we will consider proposing a revision to the critical 
habitat designation at that time or when our resources allow.
    Please see the ``Criteria Used to Identify Critical Habitat'' 
section in regards to the comment that topographic diversity and 
geographic range should be included in the designation where possible, 
The Service only designated areas that had documented occurrences of 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly. We did not designate all areas within 
the range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly that could support the 
species, partly because of lack of data regarding the dispersal 
capabilities of the subspecies, number of individuals required to 
establish new populations, and the minimum size necessary to support a 
population.
    Comment 10: One peer reviewer reiterated the fact that Bay 
checkerspot butterfly population levels fluctuate widely from one year 
to the next. In addition, the reviewer stated that while interesting, 
the number of individuals present at a given site in a given year is 
misleading and that multi-year trends are useful in conservation 
planning, but are much less available.
    Our Response: The Service recognizes that the number of individuals 
in a single year does not adequately reflect the overall health of the 
population within a given unit due to the population dynamics of the 
species and its tendency towards wide swings in number of individuals. 
However, when evaluating the population status of a species, it is 
incumbent on the Service to use the best data available. While the 
reviewer correctly pointed out that long multi-year population data for 
this species are not available for many of the units, multi-year 
population trends are available for some of the units (i.e., those 
along Coyote Ridge). In other units, only single year assessments are 
available. Our designation of critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly is based on the best scientific information available.
    Comment 11: One peer reviewer noted that almost all of the units 
include some area of nonserpentine soil and that these areas should 
probably be expanded in several units. The commenter also noted that, 
while these areas of nonserpentine soils do not support host plant 
densities sufficient to support checkerspot larvae, the adults do fly 
through these areas and it is important not to disrupt dispersal 
routes. The peer reviewer noted that while dispersal routes are not 
well documented for the Bay checkerspot butterflies, they are known to 
fly through nonserpentine areas, along ridgelines, and between close 
patches of suitable habitat if intervening habitats have not been 
overly modified.
    Our Response: All units support all the PCEs, although each PCE is 
not evenly distributed throughout each unit. For example, within each 
unit all PCEs are present, but PCE 2 (larval host plants) may only be 
present in scattered patches and the exact distribution of PCE 2 (and 
PCE 3, adult nectar plants) changes from one year to the next. The 
fluctuation in host plant distribution made it impossible to base unit 
boundaries solely on PCE 2 or PCE 3. Larger areas of grassland habitat 
around larval host and adult nectar plants were included within unit 
boundaries, because they support PCEs 1, 3, 4, and 5. Therefore, 
independent of facilitating dispersal between patches of larval host 
and adult nectar plants, grasslands within units provide features 
essential to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. As the 
peer reviewer noted, specific dispersal corridors have not been well 
documented (either within units or between units) for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. Since exact routes between units are unknown, 
the Service selected units occupied at listing or currently occupied 
with PCEs that were within the known dispersal distance of the species.
    Comment 12: One peer reviewer stated that even though the San Bruno 
Mt. Unit (Unit 1) is potentially a valuable site, very little habitat 
for the species remains (in part due to succession of plant communities 
and continued invasion by nonnative species) in the unit and it is not 
within ``easy butterfly dispersal distance'' (Launer 2008) or other 
recently occupied habitat. In light of this information the peer 
reviewer felt a re-evaluation of what is possible with respect to Bay 
checkerspot butterfly habitat in San Mateo County should be conducted 
and that it is possible attention should focus on the other three units 
in the County.
    A second reviewer stated the current distribution of habitat on San 
Bruno Mt. is poorly known and detailed surveys should be done. The peer 
reviewer also stated that dispersal between the Pulgas Ridge Unit and 
San Bruno Mt. is unlikely and should not be counted on as part of the 
population-metapopulation process. Finally, the peer reviewer stated 
that the exclusion of San Bruno Mt. appeared reasonable, although the 
site should be explored for potential reintroductions.
    Our Response: The Service proposed the San Bruno Mt. Unit (Unit 1) 
for exclusion for several reasons, including: (1) The large distance 
between the unit and the other units in San Mateo County and the lack 
of adequate information regarding suitable intervening habitat; (2) the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly has not been observed on San Bruno Mt. since 
the mid 1980s despite repeated surveys; (3) much of San Bruno Mt. is 
protected under a habitat conservation plan

[[Page 50409]]

(HCP); and (4) Amendment 5 of the San Bruno Mountain Habitat 
Conservation Plan (SBMHCP) would add the Bay checkerspot as a covered 
species and provide an endowment for continued management actions 
within the HCP boundaries. Furthermore, the unit is occupied by the 
endangered Callippe silverspot butterfly (Speyeria callippe callippe), 
endangered Mission blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides missionensis), 
and the endangered San Bruno elfin (Callophyrs mossii bayensis), and 
management of the unit for these species would likely be the same as 
for the Bay checkerspot butterfly; there would not likely be any 
additional benefits of designating the area as critical habitat for the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    At the time of the publication of the proposed rule, we expected 
Amendment 5 to the SBMHCP, which would include coverage specific to the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly, to have been finalized prior to the 
publication of this final designation of critical habitat. As this 
amendment is not yet finalized as of the writing of the final rule, we 
re-evaluated the proposed exclusion of the SBMHCP from critical habitat 
and determined that not to exclude this area based on the record before 
us. (See ``Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act'').
    In addition, we disagree with the peer reviewers that very little 
habitat remains for the Bay checkerspot butterfly on San Bruno Mt. or 
that the distribution of that habitat is unknown. According to the San 
Bruno Mountain Habitat Management Plan (2008 p. VIII-6), the host 
plants for the Bay checkerspot butterfly are still abundant on the 
mountain in isolated patches within and outside the 2001 designation of 
critical habitat.
    Comment 13: One peer reviewer stated that the Pulgas Ridge Unit 
(Unit 2) was marginal habitat, but prior to fragmentation, encroachment 
of surrounding development, and continued invasion by nonnative plant 
species, the unit and surrounding area supported a large population of 
Bay checkerspot butterflies. The peer reviewer also stated that the 
Pulgas Unit, in conjunction with the Edgewood Park Unit (Unit 3) and 
the Jasper Ridge Unit (Unit 4), could be useful as a complex of 
habitat.
    A second peer reviewer stated that little is known about the Pulgas 
Ridge Unit, except that it contains all the PCEs, is extensive, and has 
topography similar to the Edgewood Park Unit. The peer reviewer also 
reiterated his earlier comment that dispersal between Pulgas Ridge and 
San Bruno Mt. was unlikely given the dispersal tendencies of the 
subspecies and the lack of intervening habitat (high level of 
urbanization and lack of grasslands).
    Our Response: The Service is aware that the Pulgas Ridge Unit will 
require restoration and management in order to reduce non-native plant 
species. However, all the units are assumed to require ongoing 
restoration and management activities in order to restore and maintain 
sufficient habitat to support the Bay checkerspot butterfly, primarily 
due to the continued threat of nonnative plant species. The Service 
included the Pulgas Ridge Unit because the unit historically supported 
the subspecies, is in close proximity to the Edgewood Park Unit, where 
the subspecies was reintroduced in early 2007, and because a core 
population outside Santa Clara County is essential to the recovery of 
the subspecies. The viability of a population in San Mateo County is 
dependent on the population being self-sustaining. A single unit in San 
Mateo County is unlikely to support the metapopulation dynamics of the 
species and would likely ultimately fail.
    Comment 14: With regard to the Edgewood Park Unit one peer reviewer 
said it should be viewed as essential to the recovery of the species 
because of its multiple subunits, topographic diversity, and ``ample 
expanse,'' but that the unit will need ongoing restoration to benefit 
the species.
    A second peer reviewer stated that the Edgewood Park Unit was 
correctly identified in the proposed rule as the only potential core 
habitat remaining in San Mateo County, but the unit would need to be 
managed through rotational mowing for the time being. The reviewer also 
said that the reintroduction of the Bay checkerspot butterfly in 2007 
was not as successful as anticipated (likely due to the extremely dry 
conditions in 2007). More precise information regarding the success of 
the introduction will be available after the 2008 flight season.
    Our Response: Because the Edgewood Park Unit was occupied at the 
time of listing and continues to contain the PCEs essential to the 
conservation of the species, we agree with these peer reviewers that 
this unit should be designated as critical habitat.
    Comment 15: One peer reviewer stated that there were two main 
problems with the Jasper Ridge Unit: (1) The serpentine grasslands 
within the biological preserve are relatively small, and (2) the 
preserve is managed by non-intervention. The reviewer also commented 
that the serpentine grassland present within the unit was in general in 
fair condition, with a few smaller sites of excellent quality habitat, 
but they are within a matrix of poor to marginal quality habitat. The 
peer reviewer believed that with active management Units 2, 3, and 4 
could be essential to the recovery of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    A second peer reviewer stated that the designation includes all 
suitable Bay checkerspot butterfly habitat within the unit, although it 
also includes surrounding woodlands, chaparral, and nonnative 
grasslands. Regarding dispersal to this unit from the Santa Clara 
County units, the peer reviewer stated the likelihood was extremely 
low.
    Our Response: The Service agrees that the patches of serpentine 
soils within the unit are relatively small. However, the area of 
similar soil types within the unit encompasses the majority of the 
grasslands within the Biological Preserve. The unit supported multiple 
independent populations for several decades and we believe that in 
conjunction with Units 2 and 3, this unit is capable of supporting the 
subspecies again. In addition, we believe the unit is essential to 
maintaining a core population in San Mateo County, partly due to the 
low likelihood that individual Bay checkerspot butterflies would 
disperse from Santa Clara County.
    The Service acknowledges that the primary focus of the Jasper Ridge 
Biological Preserve (JRBP), which encompasses Unit 3, is research and 
the preserve is not currently managed for any species, including 
protection of the Bay checkerspot butterfly; however, according to the 
2004 draft Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve Strategic Plan (JRBP 2008, 
p. 1), species and habitat conservation is being proposed and these 
conservation efforts should be designed to include protection of 
habitat or individual species. Further, most units are not currently 
managed to benefit the Bay checkerspot butterfly, but still provide 
features essential to the conservation of the subspecies; Also, as 
noted above, the Service believes Unit 3 is necessary to support the 
metapopulation dynamics of the subspecies and to maintain a core 
population in San Mateo County independent of the Santa Clara County 
core population.
    Comment 16: One peer reviewer noted that Unit 5 had only recently 
been referred to as ``Coyote Ridge'' and that historically it was known 
by many names. The peer reviewer recommended a more appropriate name 
for the unit be used. In addition, the reviewer stated the entire ridge 
from the northwest corner (Silver Creek Hills) to Anderson Reservoir 
Dam in the southeast, including the nonserpentine areas, is

[[Page 50410]]

essential for the continued persistence of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly and that without it the subspecies would cease to exist. The 
reviewer supported the designation of this unit as critical habitat. 
The reviewer also believed that the unit should be expanded to include 
all nonserpentine areas along the ridge and an adequate buffer along 
the sides of the ridge.
    The peer reviewer also noted there are likely more than four 
populations on Coyote Ridge 5 as indicated in the proposed rule and 
that the four mentioned represent the centers of classic study areas, 
but that multiple subpopulations or populations exist in each of the 
four historical centers.
    A second peer reviewer also stated the unit was ``absolutely 
essential'' to the persistence of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. In 
addition, the reviewer believed the unit could be separated into 
multiple units, because some areas are separated by several kilometers 
of non-habitat. The reviewer also commented that the reduction in 
numbers of individuals in the Silver Creek population after 1992 was 
the result of removing grazing for a number of years. The reduction of 
the overall unit's population resulted from the combination of a series 
of poor weather and over-population of larvae in key areas, but that 
this likely represents natural fluctuations.
    Our Response: The Service recognizes that proposed Unit 5 (final 
Units 5 and 13) has historically been identified by a variety of names, 
several of which were noted in the Recovery Plan for Serpentine Soil 
Species of the San Francisco Bay Area (Service 2001, p. II-178). We 
clarify the naming in this final rule by separating the unit into two 
units, based on a natural break in the habitat between the two. We have 
also added information in the unit descriptions stating that the four 
historical population centers are likely not the only populations that 
occur along the ridge.
    The Service agrees with the peer reviewers regarding the importance 
of the entire ridge line. However, we disagree with one of the peer 
reviewers that additional areas should be designated as a buffer. The 
Service included almost all of the grassland on the southwest portion 
of the ridge up to U.S. Highway 101, with only a few exceptions (where 
there was existing development). On the north side of the ridge, the 
Service included all of the areas with serpentine or serpentine-like 
soils, with the exception of a few areas that were separated from the 
main ridgeline and were not grasslands (they were other habitat types). 
We did not include certain areas on the north side of the ridge, as 
explained below, based on specific information we received during 
preparation of the 2001 final critical habitat rule (i.e., information 
regarding lands owned by United Technology Corporation) as well as from 
numerous site visits to this unit.
    We did not include grassland areas on nonserpentine or similar 
soils on the north side of the ridge because we believe these areas 
lack sufficient PCEs to support the Bay checkerspot butterfly. The Act 
defines critical habitat as (1) the specific areas within the 
geographic area occupied by a species, at the time of listing in 
accordance with the Act, on which are found those physical or 
biological features (a) essential to the conservation of the species 
and (b) that may require special management considerations or 
protection; and (2) specific areas outside the geographic area occupied 
by a species at the time it is listed in accordance with section 4 of 
the Act, upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are 
essential for the conservation of the species. Buffer areas may serve 
to protect critical habitat units from encroachment by development, but 
these lands do not contain PCEs laid out in the appropriate quantity 
and spatial arrangement for the conservation of the species and 
therefore do not meet the regulatory definition of occupied critical 
habitat, nor have we concluded that such unoccupied buffer lands are 
essential to the conservation of the species. In addition, buffers were 
not a criterion used to designate critical habitat for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly.
    Comment 17: One peer reviewer stated that the Tulare Hill Unit 
(Unit 6) is valuable and provides a natural location for between ridge 
dispersal and he supported designation of the unit as critical habitat. 
In addition, the commenter stated that while habitat quality within the 
unit declined in the 1980s and 1990s, it has recently improved due to 
increased management and that unit wide management should be 
undertaken.
    A second peer reviewer identified this unit as a key link across 
the Santa Clara Valley and its value in previous assessments has been 
underemphasized. The reviewer stated that, if managed properly, the 
unit would support a population in the thousands or more; however, 
habitat on the northern portion of the unit has been degraded due to 
lack of grazing, which underscores the importance of an adequate 
grazing plan.
    Our Response: The Service agrees that the Tulare Hill Unit provides 
an essential link between the east and west portions of the valley and 
serves as the most likely location for between ridge transfers of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly. Without this unit Bay checkerspot 
butterflies' between-ridge movements are still possible, but would 
likely occur with much lower frequency. For species with a 
metapopulation dynamic, the successful colonization or recolonization 
of a site partly depends on the rate of colonization vs. the rate of 
extinction. Colonization must occur more often than extinction events 
for a site to remain occupied. Therefore, the inclusion of the Tulare 
Hill Unit in this final designation of critical habitat is necessary to 
maintain populations on the western side of the valley.
    The northern portion of the Tulare Hill Unit will soon be managed 
to benefit the Bay checkerspot butterfly as a result of the 
finalization of a Safe Harbor Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric, 
which will enable grazing of the northern portion of the unit; this 
safe harbor agreement is expected to result in an increase in the 
population of Bay checkerspot butterflies within the unit by 
facilitating grazing in the northern portion of the unit, which is not 
currently grazed and only supports low numbers of the subspecies.
    Comment 18: One peer reviewer stated that designation of the Santa 
Teresa Hills Unit (Unit 7) was reasonable, but that an extensive 
management plan would need to be established, since much of the unit is 
within Santa Teresa County Park and has not been managed for the 
benefit of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. In addition, the peer 
reviewer stated that with proper management this unit could 
significantly contribute to the recovery of the subspecies. The peer 
reviewer made similar comments regarding the Calero Reservoir Unit 
(Unit 8) with the additional comment that the unit's location, its 
topographic diversity, and large size make the unit very valuable for 
long-term conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    A second peer reviewer stated the Calero Reservoir Unit (Unit 8) 
has high potential because of its topographic diversity and large size, 
but that occupancy is unclear (according to casual surveys) as the 
habitat has been degraded due to lack of grazing, although effects from 
air pollution may be somewhat less than areas to the east. In addition, 
the reviewer stated that emphasis should be on the serpentine grassland 
and it should be made clear effects of activities outside of these 
grasslands are only a small concern.

[[Page 50411]]

    Our Response: The Service agrees that the Santa Teresa Hills Unit 
(Unit 7) will require restoration and management in order to reduce 
non-native plant species. However, as noted above, all the units are 
assumed to require ongoing restoration activities in order to restore 
and maintain adequate habitat to support the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
over time, due to the continued threat of nonnative plant species.
    The Service does not completely agree with the peer reviewer who 
commented that effects to nonserpentine grasslands are of minor 
concern. Nonserpentine grasslands within a unit between serpentine and 
serpentine-like grasslands likely play an important role in dispersal 
of adult butterflies from one habitat patch to another. Development in 
intervening nonserpentine areas within a unit will likely reduce 
movement of adults between more suitable patches. However, based on the 
peer reviewer's comments, we have revised the northwestern portion of 
the unit boundary. Much of the area removed was heavily interspersed 
with woodland habitat and did not support many of the PCEs, such as the 
presence of serpentine or serpentine-like grasslands.
    Comment 19: One peer reviewer stated that the series of small hills 
that make up the Kalana Hills Unit (Unit 9A and 9B) individually are 
not valuable to the subspecies; however, along with the intervening 
nonserpentine grasslands, they provide a significant resource for the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly. The peer reviewer supported the unit's 
inclusion as critical habitat. The peer reviewer recommended inclusion 
of more of the nonserpentine areas between the units.
    A second peer reviewer stated that the unit was well described and 
the four small serpentine outcrops can be regularly occupied.
    Our Response: The Service did not include all of the intervening 
nonserpentine areas between the large hill (subunit A) and the three 
smaller hills (subunit B) because they are separated by a disked 
agricultural field, which does not support the PCEs and does not meet 
our criteria for designating critical habitat. We did not include all 
areas between each of the three smaller hills because they are 
separated by a small network of local and private roads and at least 
two residences and do not support PCE 1, 2, 3, or 5. We did revise the 
unit boundaries slightly to reflect better resolution from vegetation 
data.
    Comment 20: One peer reviewer stated that the Morgan Hill Unit 
(Unit 10) has historically been referred to as Hale or Falcon Crest. 
The peer reviewer also noted the unit is extensive and topographically 
diverse and that with proper management the unit is important for the 
long-term conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly and the peer 
reviewer supported this unit's inclusion as critical habitat.
    Another peer reviewer commented that this area was one of the most 
important outlying areas from Coyote Ridge.
    Our Response: The Service has renamed Unit 10 from Morgan Hill to 
Hale in order to prevent confusion with final Units 5 and 13 (which 
historically have been referred to as Morgan Hill).
    Comment 21: One peer reviewer stated that the Bear Ranch Unit (Unit 
11) consists of a series of small serpentine grasslands and that, prior 
to their inclusion into the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation 
system, they were grazed and the habitat was in good condition. The 
reviewer expressed support that Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation 
has continued to graze the site. In addition, the reviewer stated that 
the nonserpentine grasslands between the patches were of great 
important to the Bay checkerspot butterfly at this site, and public 
structures (trails, parking facilities, etc.) should not be located 
between the small patches of serpentine grasslands. However, the peer 
reviewer questioned whether the site should be included as critical 
habitat because overall he believed the site was of less importance 
than the other units in Santa Clara County.
    A second peer reviewer simply noted the unit encompassed the 
serpentine grassland within the park.
    Our Response: We included this unit as critical habitat because it, 
along with Unit 12, represents the two southernmost known occurrences 
of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. As such, we believe they may provide 
an important role in the survival of the subspecies. However, the 
Service did revise this unit based on information obtained from or 
developed for the Santa Clara County HCP to better reflect the known 
distribution of serpentine bunchgrass communities within the unit and 
so as not to include nonserpentine grasslands to the west of the two 
serpentine patches.
    Comment 22: One peer reviewer stated that the San Marin Unit (Unit 
12) should not be considered critical habitat because the unit is too 
small, too hot, and too isolated. In addition, the reviewer stated that 
had development not occurred on the northern portion of the site in the 
1980s and 1990s, the site may still benefit the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly, but that now the site is of marginal value.
    A second peer reviewer also noted that the site may provide little 
value due to its size and current level of development.
    Our Response: The Service requested additional information 
regarding development in this unit, but only one peer reviewer 
responded. The reviewer noted that the development was a series of 
large residential lots in the northern portion of the unit. However, 
based on aerial photographs, there are fewer than 10 residences within 
the northern portion of the unit. Topographic maps show a variety of 
slope aspects (including cool northeast slopes) present within the 
unit. The Service acknowledges the most diverse slopes are primarily 
located in the southern portion of the unit. However, the presence of 
both north and east slopes indicates that the entire unit is not ``too 
hot'' as noted by one of the peer reviewers. It does not appear that 
the current level of development has significantly degraded the overall 
habitat within the unit. In addition, as noted above, we included both 
Unit 12 and Unit 11 because they represent the southernmost known 
occurrences of the subspecies and as such may represent important 
adaptive differences between populations of Bay checkerspots 
butterflies in these units and populations in other units. The criteria 
we used to designate critical habitat were whether the area was 
occupied at listing or since listing and whether the area had 
sufficient PCEs to support a population. The unit was occupied at 
listing and currently supports all the PCEs; therefore it meets the 
criteria for critical habitat.
    Comment 23: One peer reviewer supported non-inclusion of 
Communications Hill (Unit 6 in the 2001 designation) because, since 
development of the quarry, the remaining habitat is too hot and too 
limited.
    Our Response: Multiple surveys have been conducted at 
Communications Hill over the last two decades, including two recent 
surveys by Dr. Richard Arnold in 2000 and 2007. According to Arnold 
(2007, p. 7), approximately half of the areas that supported the 
primary larval host plant in 2000 had been eliminated. Of the sites 
that still supported the primary host plant, most did not support 
either of the two secondary host plants. In addition, adult nectar 
sources were ``almost entirely lacking'' (Arnold 2007, p. 7). We 
believe the information presented in the 2000 and 2007 surveys by Dr. 
Richard Arnold in addition to aerial photographs and vegetation maps

[[Page 50412]]

supports the conclusion that much of Communications Hill has been 
developed and what little habitat remains does not provide PCEs in 
sufficient quantities to meet one or more life history requirements of 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly. In addition, there is only one 
unconfirmed record of a single Bay checkerspot butterfly on 
Communications Hill. Given the lack of confirmed records, the current 
developed state of the area, and lack of many of the PCEs, the area did 
not meet the criteria for designation as critical habitat.

Public Comments

    Comment 24: One commenter recommended adding an area proposed as a 
conservation bank in southern Santa Clara County for inclusion within 
the critical habitat designation and noted that a small portion of the 
conservation bank is located within an area historically documented to 
support Bay checkerspot butterflies.
    Our Response: The proposed conservation bank is located in the 
southern portion of Santa Clara County and is approximately 0.5 miles 
(mi) (0.80 kilometers (km)) southwest of the San Martin Unit. According 
to the commenter, the entire site is 1,685 acres with 43.3 ac (17.52 
ha) of serpentine or serpentine-like grasslands scattered across three 
areas that includes all six PCEs. The Service agrees that portions of 
the proposed bank likely support all the PCEs; however, the overall 
amount of habitat that the butterfly could occupy at the site is low. 
According to the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), the 
Bay checkerspot occurrence (CNDDB occurrence 19) that includes a small 
portion of the proposed bank is ``nonspecific'' and includes large 
areas of forest, agriculture, and residential areas (including a golf 
course) that do not support the PCEs. The observation was made by Dr. 
Richard Arnold in 1985, but the exact location is not clear and may 
have been part of the serpentine grasslands within the San Martin Unit.
    The commenter did not provide any information regarding larvae or 
adult surveys at the proposed conservation bank or if any individual 
Bay checkerspot butterflies have been observed at the site. A review of 
the literature indicates that apart from the CNDDB's nonspecific 
occurrence by Dr. Richard Arnold, the site has not been identified as 
supporting Bay checkerspot butterflies in the past. At this time the 
Service has insufficient information regarding the ability of the site 
to support Bay checkerspot butterflies to include it in critical 
habitat.
    Comment 25: Two commenters supported non-inclusion of 
Communications Hill in the revised critical habitat designation. One 
commenter provided additional information in the form of vegetative 
surveys by Dr. Richard Arnold in 2000 and 2007.
    Our Response: According to the information provided by one of the 
commenters, additional surveys have been conducted on Communications 
Hill by Dr. Richard Arnold in 2000 and 2007. According to Arnold (2007 
p. 7) approximately half of the areas that supported the primary larval 
host plant in 2000 had been eliminated. Of the sites that still 
supported the primary host plant, most did not support either of the 
two secondary host plants. In addition, adult nectar sources were 
``almost entirely lacking'' (Arnold 2007, p. 7). We believe the 
information presented by the commenters supports the conclusion that 
much of Communications Hill has been developed and what little habitat 
remains does not provide PCEs in sufficient quantities to meet one or 
more life history requirements of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    Comment 26: One commenter stated that based on their evaluation of 
their property within the Metcalf Unit (northern portion of proposed 
Unit 5; final Unit 4) that large portions of the site do not include 
serpentine soils or any of the known host plants for the species. 
Furthermore the commenter stated that the soils appear to be thicker 
than serpentine soils and are clay-like. In addition, the commenter 
stated the Service should obtain more detailed and accurate information 
regarding soil and vegetation before designating critical habitat.
    Our Response: The Service reviewed soil and geological data from 
multiple sources over multiple years, including geographic information 
system (GIS) data from Jones and Stokes (the primary consultant writing 
the Habitat Conservation Plan for Santa Clara County). All of the 
information the Service has obtained regarding soil type indicates that 
large tracks of serpentine or serpentine-like soils occur throughout 
the majority of the Metcalf Unit. The Service reevaluated the soil 
types present north of Metcalf Road, and based on our review of land 
ownership data and the most conservative soil maps, there are 
approximately 2,547 acres of serpentine soils in the area in question. 
While the analysis shows there are patches of nonserpentine soils 
present within the area, our data indicate that the vast majority of 
the site is comprised of soils from the Montara soil series. 
Additionally, the commenter did not provide the results of any surveys 
they may have conducted regarding soil types or vegetation that is 
currently found on their property, nor did they provide a map of their 
property.
    It is incumbent on the Service to use the best available 
information when making critical habitat determinations; however, the 
Service does not have adequate resources to undertake site-specific 
surveys throughout each critical habitat unit. If site-specific surveys 
are available that the Service was unaware of, the public comment 
period should be used to provide the Service with that information. In 
this case, the commenter noted that their own evaluation of the site 
indicated serpentine soils were not present over large portions of the 
site, but did not provide those evaluations (surveys) to the Service. 
Therefore, the area in Unit 4 referred to by the commenter has not been 
removed from this final designation of critical habitat.
    Comment 27: One commenter stated that the Service should not treat 
critical habitat designations as dispositive for consultations under 
the Act and that while conducting section 7 reviews, the Service should 
not use the critical habitat designation as conclusive.
    Our Response: The Service reviews the baseline information for each 
section 7 consultation. If site-specific habitat assessments have not 
been submitted with the initial consultation package, the Service 
typically requests an assessment be prepared. If a project is within a 
critical habitat designation, and the site assessment indicates the 
PCEs are not present within the action area or will not be adversely 
affected by the proposed action, then additional consultation with the 
Service is not required. The presence of the PCEs and the effects of 
the project on those PCEs determine whether formal consultation with 
respect to adverse modification or destruction of critical habitat is 
necessary.
    Comment 28: One commenter stated that according to their records 
they were not contacted regarding the proposed critical habitat 
designation, which included portions of their property. The commenter 
requested a 60-day extension on the comment period or reopening of the 
comment period due to lack of notification.
    Our Response: According to Service records, two attempts were made 
to contact the commenter by telephone and voice messages were left both 
times, but no response was received. In addition, the Service conducted

[[Page 50413]]

outreach by notifying appropriate elected officials, local 
jurisdictions, interested groups, and property owners. We conducted 
much of this outreach through legal notices in regional newspapers, 
telephone calls, letters, and news releases faxed or mailed to 
appropriate officials, local jurisdictions, and interest groups, and 
publication of the proposed determination and associated material on 
our Internet page. A second public comment period was opened for the 
draft economic analysis, and the Service contacted the commenter for a 
third time regarding the opportunity to provide comments. We believe we 
have provided sufficient time for public comment with two open comment 
periods totaling 90 days. Additionally, we are under a court-mandated 
due date to submit a final rule to the Federal Register by August 14, 
2008. In order to meet this date, we cannot open an additional comment 
period.
    Comment 29: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) 
stated they owned 203 ac (82.15 ha) within the Pulgas Ridge Unit (final 
Unit 1) and 130 ac (52.61 ha) within proposed the Edgewood Park Unit 
(final Unit 2).
    Our Response: According to the proposed and this final rule the 
Pulgas Ridge Unit is approximately 179 ac (72 ha) total in size, all of 
which is owned by the SFPUC. A review of GIS data indicates that more 
of the Edgewood Park Unit is owned by the SFPUC than stated in the 
proposed rule. According to our information the SFPUC owns 
approximately 140 ac (57 ha) within the Edgewood Park Unit. We have 
corrected the land ownership amount in this final rule.
    Comment 30: One commenter questioned whether the Pulgas Ridge Unit 
still supports all the PCEs.
    Our Response: It is not a requirement that each unit contain all 
the PCEs in order to be designated as critical habitat. However, a 
review of the vegetation data and soils and geology data indicate the 
unit has all the PCEs. In addition, site-specific information (i.e., 
surveys) was not provided by the commenter to support whether the unit 
contained all the PCEs or not, and two peer reviewers indicated that 
the unit is extensive and has topography similar to the Edgewood Park 
Unit, where Bay checkerspot butterflies were introduced in Spring 2007. 
The unit was occupied at the time of listing and contains all the 
features essential for the conservation of the subspecies; therefore, 
it meets the definition of critical habitat.
    Comment 31: One commenter stated they were in the early stages of 
preparing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Peninsula Watershed 
Management Plan, which includes portions of the Pulgas Ridge and 
Edgewood Park Units and that they are working to protect serpentine-
endemic species.
    Our Response: The Service supports actions taken by local 
governments and the general public to protect and enhance habitat for 
listed species through a variety of programs including Safe Harbor 
Agreements, Habitat Conservation Plans, our Partners for Fish and 
Wildlife Program, and other programs. The Service looks forward to 
working with the commenter in the preparation of an HCP in order to 
benefit serpentine species in the San Francisco Bay area.
    Comment 32: Two commenters stated that the purpose of designating 
critical habitat is to facilitate species recovery and that the Service 
should designate additional areas of unoccupied serpentine and 
nonserpentine habitat to ensure the recovery of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly and sustain the metapopulation dynamics of the species.
    Our Response: In our revised proposed designation of critical 
habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly, we selected areas based on 
the best scientific data available that possess those physical and 
biological features essential to the conservation of the subspecies, 
and that may require special management considerations or protection. 
We included in the revised proposed designation areas that were 
occupied at the time of listing as well as one area occupied since the 
time of listing. However, the Service lacked specific information to 
indicate which, if any, unoccupied areas outside those we proposed are 
essential for the conservation of the species. The Service cannot 
designate as critical habitat areas occupied at the time of listing 
that we are unable to determine have the features essential to the 
conservation of the subspecies, or unoccupied areas that we are unable 
to determine are essential for the conservation of the species. 
Further, under section 3(5)(C) of the Act, critical habitat shall not 
include the entire geographical area that can be occupied by the 
species except in those circumstances determined by the Secretary of 
the Interior. Thus, in this rule, we only designate those areas we have 
determined meet the definition of critical habitat. The commenter did 
not provide information regarding unoccupied areas outside those we 
designated that would allow the Service to evaluate whether those areas 
supported the physical and biological features essential to the 
conservation of the subspecies. If such information becomes available 
in the future, the Service will consider proposing a revision to the 
critical habitat designation at that time or when our resources allow.
    Comment 33: Two commenters stated that PCE 1 should be modified. 
One commenter recommend PCE 1 be deleted and the other recommended a 
modification to remove the list of grass species.
    Our Response: All published literature on this species indicates it 
is a grassland species with relatively sedentary tendencies and may 
avoid areas of nonhabitat, including chaparral and oak woodland; 
therefore the Service believes the presence of grasslands is an 
essential component of Bay checkerspot butterfly habitat, although a 
list of specific grass species is not. In this final revised critical 
habitat rule, PCE 1 is ``The presence of annual or perennial grasslands 
with little to no overstory that provide north-south and east-west 
slopes with a tilt of more than 7 degrees for larval host plant 
survival during periods of atypical weather (for example, drought).'' 
We then list grassland species as examples of species common to 
grasslands in California, and since nonnative grasses are more common 
than native species, we include nonnative species in the example. The 
presence of any specific grass or grasses listed in the PCE is not 
required, and is not provided as a means to measure habitat quality, 
but merely as an indicator of grassland habitat; we clarify this in 
this final rule.
    Comment 34: Two commenters stated that the PCEs should include 
features that facilitate dispersal of the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
since dispersal between habitat patches is essential for 
recolonization, metapopulation persistence, and recovery. These 
commenters further stated that the Service did not designate sufficient 
critical habitat to allow for successful dispersal and that the Service 
should secure these areas and restore them.
    Our Response: PCE 1 includes both perennial and annual grasslands 
in order allow for dispersal. All of the units include some amount of 
nonserpentine grasslands interspersed with areas of serpentine and 
serpentine-like grasslands in order to enhance dispersal between the 
more suitable patches both within a unit and among units. In this way 
the Service has attempted to designate as many small patches within the 
boundaries of individual units, such as with the Metcalf and Kirby 
units, which support numerous populations and

[[Page 50414]]

subpopulations scattered over the entire eastern ridgeline in Santa 
Clara County. The Santa Teresa Hills Unit includes an area next to the 
Tulare Hill Unit that was specifically included in order to facilitate 
the dispersal of Bay checkerspot butterflies from the core population 
along Coyote Ridge on the eastern side of Santa Clara Valley, to the 
ridges on the western side of the valley. In addition, the Kalana Unit 
(Unit 9a and 9b) is also considered important for dispersing Bay 
checkerspot butterflies to the southernmost units (Units 10, 11, and 
12) in Santa Clara County. Based on the current occupancy of the 
majority of the units, the Service believes that dispersal between 
small populations within each unit, as well as between units, is 
occurring. For additional information please see the ``Criteria Used to 
Identify Critical Habitat'' section of this rule.
    Regarding the acquisition of land, the purchase and restoration of 
land for the benefit of the Bay checkerspot butterfly is beyond the 
scope of this rule.
    Comment 35: One commenter stated that PCE 5 (in the proposed rule 
and PCE 4 in this final rule) should include restored native grassland 
on nonserpentine soils and that researchers have suggested the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly's historic habitat included native grasslands on 
nonserpentine soils.
    Our Response: The Service agrees that some researchers have 
hypothesized that the range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly once 
included nonserpentine grasslands, which we noted in the proposed rule. 
The Service is not aware of any data that support the hypothesis. 
However, as noted in our response to comment 34, the Service included 
both perennial and annual grassland habitats as part of PCE 1. The 
presence of all PCEs was not a criterion used to designate critical 
habitat, and all units include areas of nonserpentine grasslands. In 
addition, the Service cannot predict where nonserpentine grassland 
habitats that will be restored in the future will be located, nor are 
we able to predict whether these areas would support other PCEs 
sufficient to support populations of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    Comment 36: One commenter stated that proposed PCE 6 (final rule 
PCE 5) should be revised to state that stable holes and cracks in the 
soil and surface rock outcrops, while beneficial and in need of 
protection, are not required for the habitat to have value.
    Our Response: The Service disagrees with the commenter regarding 
the importance of PCE 5 in this final rule. As stated in the proposed 
rule, White (1986, p. 58) observed that pupal mortality rates, as well 
as cause of mortality (i.e., predation, parasitism, crushing, or 
disease), varied significantly depending on location. For example, 
crushing was most likely in areas of bare ground, whereas pupae in 
areas with dense vegetation had a higher rate of mortality due to mold 
and viruses. Since pre-diapause larval mortality is the most 
significant factor influencing population size, a variety of diapause 
sites are necessary to ensure adequate numbers of larvae survive 
diapause. Further, because prescribed burns are an important management 
tool to control nonnative and invasive vegetation, diapause locations 
that are not at risk due to fire are important.
    Comment 37: One commenter stated that adopting PCEs 2 and 3 (larval 
host plants and adult nectar plants) risk causing temporary low-quality 
or degraded areas to be treated as non-habitat, which would allow their 
destruction or adverse modification.
    Our Response: Critical habitat designations are not required to 
support all PCEs over the entire extent of the critical habitat unit; 
as defined in section 3(5)(A) of the Act, critical habitat is defined 
as (1) the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by a 
species, at the time of listing in accordance with the Act, on which 
are found those physical or biological features (a) essential to the 
conservation of the species and (b) that may require special management 
considerations or protection; and (2) specific areas outside the 
geographic area occupied by a species at the time it is listed in 
accordance with section 4 of the Act, upon a determination by the 
Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the 
species. This definition does not require all PCEs to be present 
throughout the entire unit. Further, section 7 consultations on 
critical habitat also do not require all PCEs to be present in order to 
determine adverse modification. An adverse modification includes when 
an action impairs a unit's ability to continue to provide those 
features essential for the conservation of the species. For example, 
areas of open grasslands may not support the larval host or adult host 
plants, but would still provide open grasslands for dispersal of adults 
between patches of more suitable habitat. In this case, the absence of 
the larval host plants or adult nectar plants would not negate the 
importance of the grassland habitat, which is PCE 1.
    Comment 38: One commenter stated the principle PCE should be the 
presence of suitable soils and that the order of the PCE should be 
rearranged to indicate this.
    Our Response: The order that the PCEs appear is not an indicator of 
their importance. The Service does not believe ranking the PCEs is 
appropriate because the presence of any one of the PCEs may not 
adequately reflect habitat quality or the presence of the species. For 
example, serpentine soils occur throughout California (and the world), 
but the Bay checkerspot butterfly does not. Similarly both the larval 
host plants and adult nectar plants also have ranges that extend beyond 
the historical range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    Comment 39: One commenter stated that populations of pollinators of 
the larval and adult host plants should be a PCE and that if they are 
as poorly known as we indicated in the proposed rule the commenter 
would undertake a project to identify them for the Service. Further the 
commenter stated that our assumption regarding the presence of host 
plants implying their successful reproduction is erroneous and a 
serious error.
    Our Response: According to Home Builders Association of Northern 
California v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 268 F. Supp. 2d (1197) 
2003, the Service must describe the PCEs with a certain degree of 
specificity. In order to establish pollinators as a PCE, the Service 
would need detailed life history data of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly's larval host and adult nectar plants and list their 
pollinators. The Service has general data regarding insect pollinators, 
but we lacked data specific enough on the pollinators for the majority 
of larval host and nectar plants to designate pollinators as a PCE. In 
addition, since the Service is under a court-ordered deadline for 
publishing this final rule, there was insufficient time to undertake a 
study designed to determine the pollinators of the larval host and 
adult nectar plants.
    Comment 40: One commenter supported aquatic features as a PCE and 
stated they had observed ``puddling'' in early April 2002 and the 
weather had not been particularly hot or dry. The commenter believes 
that puddling may occur more frequently than previously believed for 
this species.
    Our Response: All three peer reviewers, while acknowledging aquatic 
features have been used by this subspecies, stated the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly was capable of surviving without access to these features. 
Murphy et al. (1983, p. 261) observed that egg production varied with 
diet (no food; water; water with 20 percent sugar; water with amino 
acids; nectar; and nectar with amino acids), but that

[[Page 50415]]

water alone had no direct role on female fitness. Therefore, based on 
expert opinion, we have removed aquatic features as a PCE.
    Comment 41: One commenter stated that mean rainfall should also be 
considered when designating critical habitat and additional units 
should be designated to include a wide variation of annual rainfall.
    Our Response: The Service agrees with the commenter regarding the 
importance of annual rainfall. Variations in amount and timing of 
rainfall play a significant role in determining when host plants become 
senescent which in turn influences larval mortality and ultimately is 
the key factor in population size (Singer 1972, p. 77; Weiss et al. 
1988, p. 1486), as we noted in the proposed rule in the section titled 
``Distribution and Population Trends.'' Variable topography (i.e., 
different slope aspects) was included as a PCE (PCE 1) in order to 
support the life cycle of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. In addition, 
we included three unoccupied units in San Mateo County, because we 
recognized that units in close proximity to one another (i.e., many of 
the units in Santa Clara County) would likely experience similar 
environmental conditions.
    Comment 42: One commenter stated that the rule should be revised to 
state that only structures present at the time of this rulemaking 
within critical habitat are excluded by text and are not designated as 
critical habitat and that areas developed after the rule making should 
not be automatically excluded by the language of the text.
    Our Response: When determining critical habitat boundaries for this 
rule, we made every effort to avoid including developed areas such as 
lands covered by buildings, paved areas, and other structures that lack 
PCEs for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. The scale of the maps prepared 
under the parameters for publication within the Code of Federal 
Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of such developed areas. Any 
such structures and the land under them inadvertently left inside 
critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this final rule have 
been excluded by text in the final rule and are not designated as 
critical habitat. Therefore, on the effective date of this rule, 
Federal actions limited to these areas would not trigger section 7 
consultation, unless they may affect the species or PCEs in adjacent 
critical habitat.
    The Service does not believe it would be appropriate to state that 
only areas that are developed at the time of this rulemaking would not 
be designated as critical habitat. Any area that is developed in the 
future, with or without consultation with the Service, would then still 
be considered critical habitat, even though it would not contain any of 
the PCEs and no longer support any of the species life history 
requirements.
    Comment 43: Two commenters stated that San Bruno Mountain Unit 
should be retained as a critical habitat unit and that the proposed 
rule was confusing regarding whether the unit was proposed for 
inclusion or for exclusion. In addition, both commenters stated that 
HCPs exist for the purpose of taking listed species and that HCPs 
include actions that are harmful to listed species. One of these 
commenters also stated the current San Bruno Mountain HCP does not 
provide adequate management or protection because it does not cover the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    Our Response: We proposed the San Bruno Mountain unit for exclusion 
because the existing San Bruno Mountain HCP covers all remaining 
habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly on the mountain, three other 
listed butterflies with some similarities in life histories and habitat 
requirements occur on San Bruno Mountain, and management of the habitat 
on the mountain for the three other listed butterflies is expected to 
benefit the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Additionally, at the time of the 
publication of the proposed rule, we expected Amendment 5 to the San 
Bruno Mountain HCP, which would include coverage specific to the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly, to have been finalized prior to the publication 
of this final designation of critical habitat. As this amendment is not 
yet finalized as of the writing of the final rule, we re-evaluated the 
proposed exclusion of the San Bruno Mountain HCP from critical habitat 
and determined on the basis of the record before us not to exclude this 
area (See ``Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act'').
    Comment 44: One commenter stated that by retaining four units on 
Coyote Ridge, the effects of projects consulted on under section 7 of 
the Act would be analyzed at the unit level and that combining the 
units would dilute or obscure the analysis of effects.
    Our Response: When analyzing the effects of a proposed project on 
critical habitat, the Service analyzes the effects of the action and 
whether the action will result in adverse modification or destruction 
of critical habitat on all units that have been designated. The Service 
does not typically limit its analysis regarding adverse modification or 
destruction of critical habitat to only the critical habitat unit in 
which the action is occurring. The Service does review the baseline 
information for the unit; however, baseline information will be the 
same for a given area regardless of whether the area has been 
identified as one unit or multiple units.
    Comment 45: One commenter stated that the Service did not designate 
habitat patches of sufficient number, quality, or proximity to ensure 
the survival and recovery of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, and at a 
minimum the Service should designate as critical habitat the number of 
habitat patches that the Recovery Plan specifies as necessary for the 
recovery of the species.
    A second commenter recommended clarification in the final rule 
regarding the Service's statement in the proposed rule that the 
designation of critical habitat may not include all habitat areas that 
we may eventually determine necessary for recovery.
    Our Response: Each unit is capable of supporting multiple 
populations; we do not believe it is necessary to match the number of 
critical habitat units with the number of populations identified in the 
Recovery Plan. In addition, the Service lacked specific information to 
indicate if any particular areas outside those we proposed to designate 
are essential for the conservation of the species. Since occupancy at 
the time of listing or since listing was a criterion for determining 
which areas were to be designated as critical habitat, additional areas 
outside of those we are designating would not meet our criteria. We 
recognize areas other than those we are designating as critical 
habitat, such as those defined in the Recovery Plan, may be important 
for the eventual recovery of the Bay checkerspot butterfly; however, 
these areas did not meet our criteria for being essential to the 
conservation of this butterfly. If such information becomes available 
in the future, the Service will consider proposing a revision to the 
critical habitat designation at that time or when our resources allow.
    Comment 46: One commenter stated the revised PCEs are problematic 
and would result in a reduced protection of the species habitat within 
(and potentially that outside of) designated units, because the PCEs 
are hyper-specific, lack any expression for the need for dispersal, and 
may be used during section 7 consultations outside of critical habitat 
to determine if a site has appropriate habitat or not. The commenter 
recommended revising the PCEs.
    Our Response: As noted above in our response to Comment 39, 
according to Home Builders Association of Northern California v. U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service 268 F. Supp. 2d (1197) 2003, the

[[Page 50416]]

Service must describe the PCEs with a certain degree of specificity. We 
revised the list of PCEs from the 2001 rule (66 FR 21450), in an 
attempt to comply with the requirements as set forth in the above 
mentioned case.
    As noted in our response to Comment 34, PCE 1 includes both 
perennial and annual grasslands, which in part is to facilitate 
dispersal within units and between units. The Santa Teresa Hills Unit 
(Unit 7) includes an area next to the Tulare Hill Unit (Unit 6) that 
was specifically included in order to facilitate the dispersal of Bay 
checkerspot butterflies from the core population along Coyote Ridge on 
the eastern side of Santa Clara Valley, to the ridges on the western 
side of the valley. In addition, Unit 9a, 9b, and 10 are also 
considered important for dispersing Bay checkerspot butterflies to the 
southern most units (Units 11 and 12) in Santa Clara County.
    The Service does not specifically use the presence or absence of 
PCEs outside of critical habitat designations to determine whether or 
not an area provides habitat for a given species. PCEs are only 
considered when a proposed project is within or may affect a designated 
critical habitat unit. The presence of all PCEs is not required in 
order to initiate consultation under section 7 of the Act. The presence 
of a single PCE within the boundaries of critical habitat and the 
potential effects of a proposed project on that PCE is sufficient. PCE 
4, soils derived from serpentinite ultramafic rock (Montara, Climara, 
Henneke, Hentine, and Obispo soil series) or similar soils (Inks, 
Candlestick, Los Gatos, Fagan, and Barnabe soil series), are present 
throughout the majority of the units, and the presence of this PCE 
alone would result in consultation for proposed projects with a Federal 
nexus.
    Comment 47: One commenter stated that the Service should undertake 
the establishment of experimental populations of the species outside 
its historically known range.
    Our Response: The establishment of experimental populations is 
outside the scope of this critical habitat rule.
    Comment 48: One commenter stated that given the species' continued 
decline, the species should be uplisted to endangered.
    Our Response: The Service will initiate a 5-year review on this 
species in 2008. Recommendations regarding the status of a species, 
including whether to uplist, downlist, or delist, will be made upon 
completion of the 5-year review.
    Comment 49: One commenter stated that annual rainfall should be 
considered in the designation of critical habitat for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly, that the Service should designate areas that 
encompass a wide range of mean annual rainfall to buffer against 
climate variability and global warming, and that ongoing climate change 
is a threat to the species.
    Our Response: See response to Comment 41 regarding rainfall. 
Current climate model forecasts vary in their predicted outcomes, and 
range from cooler and drier to warmer and wetter (Miller et al. 2003; 
Deffenbaugh et al. 2005; Leung and Ghan 1999), which makes it difficult 
to adequately assess the effects that climate change may have on 
populations of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Further, the Service is 
not aware of climate models that have been refined to provide forecasts 
at the local scale, or specifically models that have been developed for 
areas occupied by the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    Despite the lack of a consensus with respect to climate change, we 
designated units in both San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, because we 
recognized that units in close proximity to one another would likely 
experience similar environmental conditions. We designated units in San 
Mateo County that were occupied at the time of listing? despite the 
fact that all the units, with the possible exception of Edgewood Park, 
are currently? unoccupied and are beyond the reported dispersal 
capabilities of the species from occupied sites in Santa Clara County. 
However, based on information regarding land use, vegetative cover, 
soil data, and topography, we believe we have designated all potential 
habitats in San Mateo County that could support the species and meet 
the definition of critical habitat. Our designation is supported by two 
peer reviewers, who also believe that the area designated as critical 
habitat covers all remaining suitable habitat.
    In addition, as stated above in our response to Comment 45 the 
Service lacked specific information to indicate whether particular 
areas outside those we are designating are essential to the 
conservation of the species. We do not believe it is appropriate to 
designate critical habitat in areas where we are lacking adequate 
information. In the proposed rule, we specifically requested comments 
regarding the amount and distribution of Bay checkerspot butterfly 
habitat, but we did not receive specific responses. If such information 
becomes available in the future, the Service will consider proposing a 
revision to the critical habitat designation at that time or when our 
resources allow.

Comments related to the Draft Economic Analysis (DEA)

    Comment 50: One commenter stated that specific management actions 
for serpentine soil grasslands, such as grazing, had not yet been 
determined in the Santa Clara Valley HCP - NCCP (SCVHCP) and therefore 
should not be included in the DEA.
    Our Response: In order to estimate the costs of future conservation 
activities for the butterfly, the DEA must predict the actions most 
likely to be taken and estimate the amount of resources / funding 
required to implement them. Grazing and prescribed burning are 
recommended for serpentine soil management in Section 5.3.3 of the 
SCVHCP Working Draft. We recognize that these recommendations may 
change as the plan is finalized. However, the plan represents the best 
currently-available information regarding likely future conservation 
activities. Therefore, the costs of implementing these management 
actions are included in the DEA.
    Comment 51: One commenter asked for clarification as to how the 
economic impacts were determined for ``recreation and public access'' 
in Table 2-1 of the DEA.
    Our Response: The impacts for ``recreation and public access'' in 
Table 2-1 are based on the December 2007 SCVHCP Implementation Budget 
Preliminary Draft.
    Comment 52: A commenter noted that some of the County parks and 
recreation activities within those parks were not correctly identified 
in Table 1-2. The commenter also pointed out that County parks within 
proposed critical habitat were incorrectly identified in Section 2.4.3 
of the DEA.
    Our Response: Table 1-2 and Section 2.3.1 (which contains former 
Section 2.4.3) were revised to state that Unit 5 contains Motorcycle 
County Park, Field Sports Park, part of Anderson Lake Park and part of 
Coyote Creek Parkway; and Unit 6 contains part of Coyote Creek Parkway. 
Table 1-2 was revised to state that Metcalf Park is managed by the City 
of San Jose. Table 1-2 now includes off-road vehicle recreation and a 
firing range in the land use description for Motorcycle County Park and 
Field Sports Park.
    Comment 53: A commenter noted that the implementation of the 
grazing programs in Santa Teresa County Park and Calero County Park 
will occur independently of the implementation program identified in 
the SCVHCP.
    Our Response: Section 2.3.1 (which contains former Section 2.4.3) 
of the DEA was revised to clarify that these

[[Page 50417]]

grazing projects are part of the County's ongoing fire control and 
invasive plant species management and will occur independently of the 
SCVHCP grazing program. However, the costs of these projects are 
retained in the analysis, as they represent part of the baseline 
protection provided to the habitat.
    Comment 54: A commenter noted that Santa Clara County Parks uses 
many methods to manage invasive plant species, including prescribed 
fires, herbicide application and manual removal, but that livestock 
grazing is the predominant method used. The commenter said that County 
Parks conducts prescribed burns infrequently and is cutting back on 
herbicide treatment. The commenter noted that County Parks will be 
employing more costly methods, such as hand removal and grazing, to 
manage invasive plant species in the future.
    Our Response: The DEA was revised to qualitatively discuss all 
potential invasive species management options, including manual 
removal, prescribed burns, and herbicide application. However, 
according to the County Parks Department, these alternative options are 
very rarely used and are expected to be used less often in the future. 
In Section 2.3.1, the DEA quantifies the costs of grazing programs to 
manage invasive plant species in serpentine soil habitats because it is 
the current predominant method and is expected to be used even more 
widely in the future.
    Comment 55: A commenter disagreed with the economic analysis' 
assessment that livestock grazing is cost effective or that costs of 
implementing and managing a grazing program are revenue neutral.
    The commenter points out that fencing costs estimated in the DEA 
are outdated and underestimated. Additionally, the costs of fencing do 
not include the associated costs for surveys, plan development, 
administrative costs, or development of other related infrastructure 
such as water sources for livestock. The commenter requested that the 
economic analysis consider the implementation, administrative, and 
management costs associated with the grazing programs in addition to 
the fencing construction costs.
    Our Response: Section 2.3.1 of the DEA was revised to better 
quantify all the costs of implementing a grazing program, including 
costs of all infrastructure, planning, and management. The DEA also 
includes the best estimates of revenues from leasing the land to 
grazers. The updated cost and revenue information were obtained from 
the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department.

Summary of Changes from the Proposed Rule

    The areas identified in this final rule constitute a revision from 
the areas we proposed as critical habitat for Bay checkerspot butterfly 
on August 22, 2007 (72 FR 48178). The primary differences include the 
following:
    (1) Our proposed rule excluded Unit 1. The final rule includes Unit 
1 as designated critical habitat.
    (2) The 2007 revised proposed critical habitat rule consisted of 12 
units comprising a total of 19,746 ac (7,990 ha). The majority of the 
final units correspond to those in the revised proposed rule. However, 
we have refined the units to eliminate areas that are unlikely to 
support the PCEs such as areas that are forested or areas that were 
developed. Proposed rule Unit 5 was split into two individual units, 
Unit 5 and Unit 13. This was done to remove intervening areas that did 
not contain the features essential to the conservation of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. This final designation of critical habitat 
consists of 13 units.
    (3) We have clarified the list of specific species in PCE 1 to 
state that the list of grassland species is an example of species 
common to grasslands in California, and since nonnative grasses are 
more common than native species, we include nonnative species in the 
example. The presence of any specific grass or grasses listed in the 
PCE is not required, and is not provided as a means to measure habitat 
quality, but merely as an indicator of grassland habitat.
    (4) We have removed PCE 4 from the revised proposed designation, as 
well as mention of water in other PCEs. All three peer reviewers stated 
the use of water was overemphasized in the revised proposed rule. All 
three peer reviewers stated that the Bay checkerspot butterfly is 
opportunistic with regard to water and will use it when water is 
present and there is a need for water, but that absence of water did 
not influence the presence or absence of the subspecies.

Critical Habitat

    Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
    (1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a 
species at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which 
are found those physical or biological features
    (a) essential to the conservation of the species and
    (b) that may require special management considerations or 
protection; and
    (2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a 
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas 
are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means the use 
of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring any 
endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures 
provided under the Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and 
procedures include, but are not limited to, all activities associated 
with scientific resources management such as research, census, law 
enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live 
trapping, transplantation, and in the extraordinary case where 
population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot otherwise be 
relieved, may include regulated taking.
    Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act 
through the prohibition against Federal agencies carrying out, funding, 
or authorizing the destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat. Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires consultation on Federal 
actions that may affect critical habitat. The designation of critical 
habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, 
wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such 
designation does not allow the government or public to access private 
lands. Such designation does not require implementation of restoration, 
recovery, or enhancement measures by private landowners. Where a 
landowner requests federal agency funding or authorization for an 
action that may affect a listed species or critical habitat, the 
consultation requirements of section 7(a)(2) would apply, but even in 
the event of a destruction or adverse modification finding, the 
landowner's obligation is not to restore or recover the species, but to 
implement reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid destruction or 
adverse modification of critical habitat.
    For inclusion in a critical habitat designation, the habitat within 
the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing 
must contain the physical or biological features that are essential to 
the conservation of the species, and be included only if those features 
may require special management considerations or protection. Critical 
habitat designations identify, to the extent known using the best 
scientific data available, habitat areas that provide essential life 
cycle needs of the species (areas on which are found the PCEs laid

[[Page 50418]]

out in the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for the 
conservation of the species). Under the Act, we can designate critical 
habitat in areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species 
at the time it is listed as critical habitat only when we determine 
that those areas are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on 
the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available. 
Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered 
Species Act (published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34271)), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 
106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality Guidelines 
provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure 
that our decisions are based on the best scientific data available. 
They require our biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and 
with the use of the best scientific data available, to use primary and 
original sources of information as the basis for recommendations to 
designate critical habitat.
    When we are determining which areas should be designated as 
critical habitat, our primary source of information is generally the 
information developed during the listing process for the species. 
Additional information sources may include the Recovery Plan for the 
species, articles in peer-reviewed journals, conservation plans 
developed by States and counties, scientific status surveys and 
studies, biological assessments, or other unpublished materials and 
expert opinion or personal knowledge.
    Habitat is often dynamic, and species may move from one area to 
another over time. Furthermore, we recognize that critical habitat 
designated at a particular point in time may not include all of the 
habitat areas that we may later determine are necessary for the 
recovery of the species. For these reasons, a critical habitat 
designation does not signal that habitat outside the designated area is 
unimportant or may not promote the recovery of the species.
    Areas that are important to the conservation of the species, but 
are outside the critical habitat designations, will continue to be 
subject to conservation actions that we and other Federal agencies 
implement under section 7(a)(1) of the Act. Areas that support 
populations are also subject to the regulatory protections afforded by 
the section 7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined on the basis of 
the best available scientific information at the time of the agency 
action. Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species 
outside their designated critical habitat areas may still result in 
jeopardy findings in some cases. Similarly, critical habitat 
designations made on the basis of the best available information at the 
time of designation will not control the direction and substance of 
future Recovery Plans, HCPs, or other species conservation planning 
efforts if the best scientific and commercial information available at 
the time of these planning efforts calls for a different outcome.

Methods

    As required by section 4(b) of the Act, we used the best scientific 
data available in determining areas that contain the features essential 
to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, areas unoccupied 
at the time of listing that are essential to the conservation of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly, or both. This includes information used to 
prepare the 2001 designation of critical habitat (66 FR 21450), the 
Recovery Plan for Serpentine Soil Species of the San Francisco Bay 
Area, the CNDDB, published and unpublished papers, reports, academic 
theses and surveys, Geographic Information System (GIS) data (such as 
species occurrence, soil data, land use, topography, and ownership 
maps), correspondence to the Service from recognized experts, and other 
information as available.
    We have also reviewed available information that pertains to the 
habitat requirements of this species, including:
    <bullet> Data in reports submitted during section 7 consultations 
and submitted by biologists holding section 10(a)(1)(A) recovery 
permits;
    <bullet> Research published in peer-reviewed articles and presented 
in academic theses and agency reports;
    <bullet> Information from species experts; and
    <bullet> Information gathered during site visits to Bay checkerspot 
butterfly habitat in Santa Clara County.

Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs)

    In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and the 
regulations at 50 CFR 424.12, in determining which areas within the 
geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing to 
designate as critical habitat, we consider the physical or biological 
features essential to the conservation of the species that may require 
special management considerations or protection. We consider the 
physical or biological features to be the PCEs laid out in the 
appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation of 
the species. The PCEs include:
    (1) Space for individual and population growth and for normal 
behavior;
    (2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or 
physiological requirements;
    (3) Cover or shelter;
    (4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, and rearing (or development) 
of offspring; and
    (5) Habitats that are protected from disturbance or are 
representative of the historic, geographical, and ecological 
distributions of a species.
    The specific PCEs required for the Bay checkerspot butterfly are 
derived from the biological needs of the Bay checkerspot butterfly as 
described in the Background sections of the August 22, 2007, proposed 
critical habitat rule (72 FR 48178) and in the final listing rule 
published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1987 (52 FR 35366).

Space for Individual and Population Growth and for Normal Behavior

    The Bay checkerspot butterfly occurs in open grassland habitats of 
the San Francisco Bay in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Prior to 
European settlement, California grasslands are believed to have been 
comprised of perennial bunchgrasses with both annual and perennial 
forbs (Jackson 1985, p. 349; Huenneke et al. 1990, p. 478; Corbin and 
D'Antonio 2004, p. 1273). Today, grassland habitats in California are 
almost entirely composed of Eurasian annual grasses and forbs (Jackson 
1985, p. 349; Huenneke et al. 1990, p. 478; Seabloom et al. 2003, p. 
13384; Malmstrom et al. 2005, p. 154) where classical succession does 
not occur (Huenneke et al. 1990, p. 478; Kie 2005, p. 2). Plant density 
in nonnative grasslands is extremely high compared to plant density in 
native grasslands (Malmstrom et al. 2005, p. 154). Dyer and Rice (1997, 
pp. 484, 490) estimated that pre-settlement densities of some native 
species was between 1-7 mature individuals per square meter. This is in 
sharp contrast to densities of several nonnative grasses and forbs; a 
study by Biswell and Graham (1956, pp. 116-117) found densities of some 
nonnative species, such as Bromus hordeaceus, Erodium botrys, and 
Festuca megalura, to be 20,000 to 78,000 mature individuals per square 
meter. Heady (1958, p. 405) observed somewhat lower densities than 
Biswell and Graham (1956) of the same species with densities ranging 
from 4,750 to 28,370 mature individuals per square meter. This suggests 
that grasslands with

[[Page 50419]]

nonnative species have large numbers of individuals, but few species 
(i.e., low diversity). According to Malmstrom et al. (2005, p. 154), 
California native grasslands, prior to the introduction of Eurasian 
vegetation, were likely a mix of forbs and grasses, but today these 
species are out-competed by nonnative grasses.
    Serpentine or serpentine-like soils are characterized as shallow, 
nutrient poor (typically lacking in nitrogen and calcium), containing 
high magnesium (and other heavy metals), and with low water-holding 
capacity. All currently occupied habitats of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly occur on serpentine or serpentine-like grasslands that 
support at least two of the subspecies' larval host plants. Due to poor 
nutrient availability, as well as other soil characteristics, 
serpentine and serpentine-like grasslands are, for the most part, 
inhospitable to the nonnative grasses and forbs that dominate other 
California grassland ecosystems; these areas are essentially isolated 
patches where native grassland vegetation is capable of persisting in a 
landscape that is otherwise dominated by nonnative and invasive 
species. These soils support many rare plant species including 
populations of the Bay checkerspot butterfly's larval host plants 
Plantago erecta, Castilleja densiflora, and Castilleja exserta. 
However, these remnant native grasslands are being invaded and crowded 
out by nonnative species and are under increased pressure as a result 
of nitrogen deposition primarily caused by air pollution (Weiss 1999, 
p. 1477). The enrichment of these soils with nitrogen has allowed 
nonnative grasses to invade these traditionally nutrient poor habitats, 
and the result is a thick mat of standing vegetation (thatch). Dense 
thatch has been reported to inhibit the growth of native forbs 
(Huenneke et al. 1990, p. 488). Huenneke et al. (1990, p. 489) found 
that treatment areas that were fenced to prevent grazing resulted in an 
increase in native perennial and nonnative annual grasses, but in 
grazed treatments, forbs continued to represent an important component. 
Low and moderate grazing regimes, approximately one cow per 10 acres, 
have been implemented on portions of Tulare Hill and Coyote Ridge. 
Because cattle tend to select nonnative grasses over native forbs 
(Weiss 1999, p. 1484), the result of these grazing regimes has been 
local increases of the Bay checkerspot butterfly's larval host plants.
    The Bay checkerspot butterfly requires areas with topographic 
diversity (warm south and west slopes as well as cool north and east 
slopes), because some slopes become unfavorable depending on annual 
weather conditions and time of year. Fleishman et al. (2000, p. 34) 
defined warm and very warm slopes as south-and west-facing slopes with 
a tilt greater than 11 and 17 degrees, respectively, with cool and very 
cool slopes defined as those facing north or east with a tilt greater 
than 11 and 17 degrees, respectively. Harrison et al. (1988, p. 365) 
defined warm slopes as those facing south, southwest, and southeast 
with a tilt greater than 7 degrees and cool slopes as those facing 
north or northeast with a tilt greater than 7 and 12 degrees, 
respectively. In hot, dry years, north-and east-facing slopes remain 
cool and moist longer and larval host plants tend to senesce (reach 
later maturity; grow old) later than those on other slopes (Weiss et 
al. 1988, p. 1493; Fleishman et al. 2000, p. 33). The delayed 
senescence of plants on cool, moist slopes allows larvae to reach their 
fourth instar (larval development stage or molt) and enter diapause 
(dormancy) before host plants become inedible. Larvae that are not able 
to enter diapause prior to host plant senescence starve and die (Singer 
and Ehrlich 1979, p. 54; White 1987, p. 209; Weiss 1996, p. 6). Because 
host plants on cool slopes can flower and senesce 3 or more weeks after 
those on warmer slopes (Weiss et al. 1988, p. 1493), cool slopes are 
especially important during extremely dry years (i.e., droughts). 
However, larval feeding and growth tends to increase on warm slopes 
because they receive more solar exposure than other slopes; this allows 
post-diapause larvae to grow quickly and pupate earlier than those on 
cool slopes. Individuals that pupate earlier have a much greater chance 
of reproductive success (Weiss et al. 1988, pp. 1493-94).
    In addition to weather, slope is important relative to the timing 
of egg laying. As the adult mating season (referred to as the flight 
season) progresses, females tend to lay more eggs on cool slopes than 
on warm slopes (Weiss et al. 1988, p. 1493). The timing of the adult 
flight season varies with weather, but can generally be described as 
occurring from late February to early May (Murphy et al. 2004, p. 25). 
Larvae that hatch late in the flight season have a greater chance of 
reaching diapause on cooler slopes than those laid at the same time on 
warm slopes, because host plants mature later on cool slopes. The 
pattern of larval survivorship across different slopes changes from one 
year to the next as well as within years; therefore, it becomes 
important that a variety of slopes and aspects are present to support 
the butterfly and its host plants.

Food

    The primary larval host plant for the Bay checkerspot butterfly is 
a small, annual, native plantain (Plantago erecta). The Bay checkerspot 
butterfly also requires the presence of a secondary host plant, either 
purple owl's-clover (Castilleja densiflora) or exserted paintbrush 
(Castilleja exserta) (Singer 1972, p. 76; Murphy and Ehrlick 1980, p. 
316; Fleishman et al. 1997, p. 32; Weiss 1999, p. 1478; Hellman 2002, 
pp. 926, 931). The need for a secondary host plant is related to the 
timing of senescence of the primary host plant. In many years, the 
primary host plant dries up before larvae have reached their fourth 
instar and entered diapause. Because purple owl's-clover and exserted 
paintbrush tend to senesce later than the plantain, larvae that switch 
to these plants may extend their feeding season long enough to reach 
their fourth instar. The terms ``primary'' and ``secondary'' also 
loosely refers to the host plant that females most commonly oviposit 
(lay eggs) on Plantago erecta in some locations, such as Jasper Ridge; 
however, at Edgewood approximately 70 percent of oviposition occurred 
on Castilleja and that in the 1980s approximately 20 percent of 
oviposition at Kirby Canyon (the southern portion of the Kirby Unit) 
occurred on Castilleja.
    Adult Bay checkerspot butterflies utilize nectar from a variety of 
plants associated with serpentine grasslands. Commonly used nectar 
plants include desert parsley (Lomatium spp.), California goldfields 
(Lasthenia californica), tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa), sea muilla 
(Muilla maritima), scytheleaf onion (Allium falcifolium), false 
babystars (Linanthus androsaceus), and intermediate fiddleneck 
(Amsinckia intermedia). Egg production (both size of individual eggs 
and number of eggs) significantly increases with the intake of 
nutrients (Murphy et al. 1983, p. 261; Boggs 1997a, pp.181, 184). 
Murphy et al. (1983, p. 261) observed increased longevity and reduced 
weight loss in adult Bay checkerspot butterflies that were fed sugar. 
Murphy et al. (1983, p. 261) also observed that amino acid intake 
produced heavier eggs and that larvae from these eggs had an increased 
likelihood of survival. A study by O'Brien et al. (2004, p. 286), which 
examined egg production and adult diet in three species of butterflies 
in the family Nymphalidae, found the percent of carbon in eggs, derived 
from adult

[[Page 50420]]

diets, increased with time (up to 80 percent in one species). Currently 
there is no information regarding nectar usage on adult male longevity 
or reproduction.
    All of the host plants have ranges greater than that of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly, and the larval plants may be found in areas that 
do not meet the life-history requirements of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. For example, Castilleja densiflora historically occurred 
throughout California, Plantago erecta occurred throughout California 
and Oregon, and Castilleja exserta occurred in California, Arizona, New 
Mexico, Hawaii, and Massachusetts (USDA 2007). In addition, the range 
of many of the nectar sources is also much greater than the geographic 
range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.

Soils

    The Bay checkerspot butterfly inhabits areas with soils derived 
from serpentinite ultramafic rock (Montara, Climara, Henneke, Hentine, 
and Obispo soil series) or similar nonserpentine soils (such as Inks, 
Candlestick, Los Gatos, Fagan, and Barnabe soil series). Serpentine 
soils are characterized as having low amounts of nutrients (such as 
nitrogen and calcium); high concentrations of magnesium; low water-
holding capacity; and patches of heavy metals. These characteristics 
create a refuge for many rare native plants, because other plant 
species are not capable of surviving in these soils (nitrogen is often 
a limiting factor in plant growth). The nonserpentine soils mentioned 
above have characteristics that allow them to support grassland 
communities similar to those on serpentine soils, such as low water-
holding capacity, slight to moderate acidity (pH 5.8), and varied 
topography (slopes ranging from 5 to 75 percent). Together, these soils 
provide the last remaining habitat within the geographic range of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly where the larval host plants are capable of 
persisting and not be outcompeted or crowded out by introduced annuals. 
Some researchers have hypothesized that the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
once occurred widely in nonserpentine grasslands throughout the San 
Francisco Bay area prior to the invasion of nonnative invasive grasses 
and forbs (Murphy and Weiss 1988, p. 197), but has subsequently been 
relegated to these fragmented habitats due to plant competition.

Cover

    Larval Bay checkerspot butterflies enter diapause in order to 
survive the summer dry period, once their host plants senesce. Diapause 
is an obligatory dormancy period that begins once larvae reach their 
fourth instar, which takes approximately 3 weeks, but may vary 
considerably depending on abiotic factors (non-living components of the 
biosphere) (Kuussaari, et al. 2004, p. 140). Singer (2008, p. 1) 
observed repeat diapause in small post diapause larvae in laboratory 
environments. Other researchers (White and Levin 1981, p. 355; Harrison 
1989, p. 1242; Kuussaari et al. 2004, pp. 139-140; Mattoni et al. 1997, 
p. 106) also provide evidence that larvae are capable of entering 
diapause more than once. Diapause continues until the summer dry period 
is broken by the onset of the rainy season, generally some time in 
November-January (Weiss 1996, p. 6). The larvae pass through diapause 
in holes and cracks in the soil and under rocks (White 1987, p. 209; 
Weiss 1996, p.7) that provide protection from weather, predation, and 
parasitism. White (1986, p. 58) observed that pupal mortality rates, as 
well as cause of mortality (i.e., predation, parasitism, crushing, or 
disease), varied significantly depending on location, with significant 
differences in mortality between microhabitat types. For example, 
crushing was most likely in areas of bare ground, whereas pupae in 
areas with dense vegetation had a higher rate of mortality due to mold 
and viruses.

Primary Constituent Elements for the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly

    Based on the above needs and our current knowledge of the life 
history, biology, and ecology of the species and the habitat 
requirements for sustaining the essential life history functions of the 
species, we have determined that Bay checkerspot butterfly PCEs are:
    (1) The presence of annual or perennial grasslands with little to 
no overstory that provide north-south and east-west slopes with a tilt 
of more than 7 degrees for larval host plant survival during periods of 
atypical weather (for example, drought).
    Common grassland species include wild oats (Avena fatua), soft 
chess (Bromus hordeaceus), California oatgrass (Danthonia californica), 
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), purple needlegrass (Nassella 
pulchra), and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis); less abundant in these 
grasslands are annual and perennial forbs such as filaree (Erodium 
botrys), true clovers (Trifolium sp.), and dwarf plantain (Plantago 
erecta). These species, with the exception of dwarf plantain, are not 
required by the Bay checkerspot butterfly, but merely are provided here 
as an example of species commonly found in California grasslands.
    (2) The presence of the primary larval host plant, dwarf plantain 
(Plantago erecta), and at least one of the secondary host plants, 
purple owl's-clover (Castilleja densiflora) or exserted paintbrush 
(Castilleja exserta), are required for reproduction, feeding, and 
larval development.
    (3) The presence of adult nectar sources for feeding. Common nectar 
sources include desert parsley (Lomatium spp.), California goldfields 
(Lasthenia californica), tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa), sea muilla 
(Muilla maritima), scytheleaf onion (Allium falcifolium), false 
babystars (Linanthus androsaceus), and intermediate fiddleneck 
(Amsinckia intermedia).
    (4) Soils derived from serpentinite ultramafic rock (Montara, 
Climara, Henneke, Hentine, and Obispo soil series) or similar soils 
(Inks, Candlestick, Los Gatos, Fagan, and Barnabe soil series) that 
provide areas with fewer aggressive, nonnative plant species for larval 
host plant and adult nectar plant survival and reproduction.
    (5) The presence of stable holes and cracks in the soil, and 
surface rock outcrops that provide shelter for the larval stage of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly during summer diapause.
    With this final designation of critical habitat, we intend to 
conserve the physical and biological features essential to the 
conservation of the species, which support the life history functions 
of the species, through the identification of the appropriate quantity 
and spatial arrangement of areas containing the PCEs. Some units 
contain all of these PCEs and support multiple life processes, while 
some units contain only a portion of these PCEs, those necessary to 
support the species' particular use of that habitat. Because not all 
life history functions require all the PCEs, not all critical habitat 
units will contain all the PCEs.

Special Management Considerations or Protections

    When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the areas 
determined to be occupied at the time of listing and to contain the 
physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the 
species may require special management considerations or protection. 
Threats to those features we identify as the PCEs laid out in the 
appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for conservation of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly include habitat loss and fragmentation, 
invasion of exotic plants, nitrogen deposition (including 
NO<INF>x</INF> and ammonia), pesticide

[[Page 50421]]

application (including drift), illegal collecting, fire, overgrazing, 
and gopher control.
    We have determined that the essential features in critical habitat 
units 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13 may require special management 
considerations or protection due to threats posed by habitat loss and 
fragmentation resulting from urban and suburban growth. Development 
pressure in Santa Clara County is likely to increase in the foreseeable 
future. The City of San Jose has developed a general plan to guide 
development in the area into the year 2020. Portions of the general 
plan share boundaries with critical habitat units, including Units 4, 
5, 6, 7, and 9. Some currently or proposed projects include the Coyote 
Valley Research Park, numerous projects currently proposed for 
inclusion under the Santa Clara Habitat Conservation Plan, as well as 
numerous single family residential units and road grading projects. In 
1997, the California Court of Appeals 6th District found that the City 
of San Jose's zoning did not have to be consistent with the City's 
General Plan (Juarez et al. v. City of San Jose et al. (6th District, 
Case No. CV736436 H014755)); this may result in areas not currently 
within the urban growth boundary still being proposed for development, 
including those areas that are environmentally sensitive such as 
critical habitat units. In addition, portions of Unit 10 are within the 
planning boundaries of the City of Morgan Hill's general plan.
    We have determined that the essential features in all final 
critical habitat units may require special management considerations or 
protection due to the threats posed by the invasion of nonnative 
vegetation that result from air pollution (primarily nitrogen 
deposition) (Weiss 1999, p. 1477). Nitrogen deposition enriches 
serpentine and serpentine-like soils that are usually nutrient poor. 
Increased nitrogen (typically a limiting factor in plant growth) in 
these areas has resulted in the accumulation of a thick carpet of 
vegetative material (thatch) each year. Dense thatch has been reported 
to inhibit the growth of native forbs (Huenneke et al. 1990, p. 488). 
The increased density of nonnative vegetation would negatively affect 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly's host plant through competition and 
crowding (Weiss 1999, p. 1481).
    The essential features in all final critical habitat units may 
require special management considerations or protection due to the 
threats posed by pesticide use. Use of pesticides (for example, 
insecticides and herbicides) in or adjacent to critical habitat may 
affect populations of butterflies within these units. Populations 
adjacent to areas where there is intensive use of pesticides may be at 
risk as a result of drift and runoff. In at least one instance, larvae 
appeared to have survived a direct application of malathion by the 
California Department of Food and Agriculture; however, the application 
was conducted in the fall of 1981 when larvae were still in diapause.
    We have determined that he essential features in all final critical 
habitat units may require special management considerations or 
protection due to the threat posed by fire. No Bay checkerspot 
butterflies were seen on San Bruno Mountain after a wildfire swept 
across portions of the mountain in 1986. However, only about 50 adult 
butterflies were observed on the mountain in 1984 (CNDDB 2006), so 
their subsequent disappearance may not have been solely related to the 
1986 fire. The use of fire as a management regime in serpentine 
grasslands has not been well studied. Studies that have been conducted 
are primarily monitoring opportunities made possible after wildfires.
    Use of prescribed burns may be an effective management tool 
depending on timing, intensity, and size of the area burned. Prescribed 
burns are widely used as a land management tool to counter the invasion 
of nonnative and invasive plant species and to stimulate growth and 
reproduction of those species adapted to disturbance. An experimental 
prescribed burn was conducted over a small portion of Coyote Ridge 
(portions of Unit 13) in 2006 and 2007. A third burn is proposed for 
2008, with results available sometime in early 2009. A portion of the 
Tulare Hill Unit was burned in late-May 2004 and since that time 
vegetative surveys have been conducted at this site. These studies were 
established to document differences between grazed-burned, ungrazed-
burned, and ungrazed-unburned treatments. Sites that had grazed-burned 
treatments had the highest percentage of Plantago erecta than any other 
sites (including several sites within Unit 13). In 2005, Plantago 
erecta cover was approximately 16.7 percent at grazed-burned sites 
compared to 13.9 percent at ungrazed-unburned sites (CH2M Hill 2006, p. 
6-2). Similar results were obtained in 2007, with Plantago erecta cover 
being highest at grazed-burned sites (8.6 percent) (CH2M Hill 2008, p. 
6-1). Nectar plants on Tulare Hill were also highest in grazed-burned 
sites (4.1 percent) and low at ungrazed-unburned sites (1.5 percent) 
(CH2M Hill 2006, p. 6-2). Bunchgrass cover and native plant cover was 
also highest in grazed-burned sites on Tulare Hill in 2005, 3.5 percent 
for bunchgrasses and 58 percent for native plant cover (CH2M Hill p. 6-
2).
    We also find that the essential features in all occupied final 
critical habitat units may require special management considerations or 
protection due to the threat posed by illegal collecting. The 
collecting of butterflies as a hobby is well known. The collection and 
trade of butterflies, especially rare species, is well documented. The 
Bay checkerspot butterfly's rarity and beauty make it a desirable 
addition to butterfly collections. Because butterfly numbers are so 
low, the collection of even a few individuals could harm the butterfly 
population. Collecting is illegal without a permit from the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service. Providing the public information regarding the 
detrimental effects of collecting rare species may assist in the 
conservation of Bay checkerspot butterfly.
    We have determined that the essential features in all final 
critical habitat units may require special management considerations or 
protection due to the threat posed by overgrazing or undergrazing. 
Although grazing is frequently used as a management tool to reduce 
standing biomass of nonnative vegetation, overgrazing can be a 
potential threat if grazing densities are not appropriately managed. 
Huenneke et al. (1990, p. 489) and Weiss (1999, p. 1480) found that 
areas that were fenced to prevent grazing or sites where grazing had 
been removed resulted in an increase in annual grasses, which crowd out 
forbs including those that are essential to the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. Forbs continued to be an important component in areas that 
included limited grazing. Therefore, we consider limited grazing to be 
primarily beneficial to Bay checkerspot habitat.
    We also find that the essential features in all final critical 
habitat units may require special management considerations or 
protection due to the threats posed by gopher control. Larval host 
plants have been observed to stay green and edible longer when located 
on or near soils recently tilled by gophers (Thomomys bottae) (Singer 
1972, p. 75; Murphy et al. 2004, p. 26). Huenneke et al. (1990, p. 490) 
hypothesized that soil disturbance by gophers may limit the performance 
of grasses similar to results caused by grazing, with grazers reducing 
the standing grass biomass in a system, which allowed the persistence 
of small forbs. Larval host plants that stay green longer into the dry 
season may allow prediapause larva to reach the fourth instar.

[[Page 50422]]

Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat

    Geospatial datasets were used within ArcGIS/ArcMap 9.2 
(Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California) and 
analyzed to define the areas that best contain the features that are 
essential to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. To 
delineate the units of critical habitat, we plotted all occurrence 
records of Bay checkerspot butterfly from the time of listing to the 
present on maps as polygons. We then examined whether these areas 
supported the PCEs.
    We have defined critical habitat in this rule as: (1) Those 
grasslands on serpentine or serpentine-like soils containing the PCEs 
that were occupied by the Bay checkerspot butterfly at the time of 
listing in 1987, and (2) those grasslands on serpentine or serpentine-
like soils containing the PCEs that have been occupied since the time 
of listing. Units did not have to contain all PCEs. We used information 
compiled for the proposed and final listing rules; reports prepared by 
San Mateo County Parks, Santa Clara County Parks, the CNDDB, 
researchers, and consultants; and published and unpublished literature 
to identify the specific locations occupied by the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly at the time of listing and currently occupied.
    The currently occupied habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly is 
highly fragmented and isolated; the majority of all extant occurrences 
are within an approximate 9-mile (14.5-kilometer) radius in Santa Clara 
County, California. The population estimates in San Mateo County are 
extremely small and those in Santa Clara County have declined 
significantly in recent years. As a result of population declines and 
fragmented habitats, we are designating all areas currently known to 
support the Bay checkerspot butterfly as critical habitat.
    Several areas occupied by the Bay checkerspot butterfly at the time 
of listing are not currently occupied. Some of these areas have been 
surveyed since listing and no Bay checkerspot butterflies were 
observed; however, not all of the units have been recently surveyed 
and, due to the metapopulation dynamics of the subspecies, it is 
possible that the subspecies has recolonized some of these areas. The 
metapopulation dynamics of the subspecies have shown that population 
fluctuations occur and extirpation and recolonization is a normal 
occurrence for the Bay checkerspot butterfly (Ehrlich et al. 1975, pp. 
221-228; 1980; Harrison 1994, pp. 111-128). The units that have been 
surveyed since the time of listing without observations of the 
subspecies include Pulgas Ridge and Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in 
San Mateo County, California. We are designating these areas as 
critical habitat because they were all occupied at the time of listing 
and currently contain the features essential to the conservation of the 
species and designation of these units will reduce the likelihood of 
extinction by providing source (larger patches of high-quality habitat) 
or sink (small patches of marginal habitat) areas and ``stepping 
stone'' (often smaller, unconnected areas that bridge the distance 
between larger blocks of suitable habitat) habitats for the subspecies. 
Since the Bay checkerspot butterfly is susceptible to extreme weather 
events these additional units in San Mateo County will also reduce the 
risk of extinction from stochastic natural events and extreme weather 
conditions, and will help to ensure survival of the subspecies by 
providing potential dispersal habitat for individuals that were 
reintroduced to Edgewood Park early in 2007.
    The distribution of critical habitat areas (occupied and currently 
unoccupied) was selected to help reduce the level of habitat 
fragmentation associated with a federal agency action within the 
geographic range of the Bay checkerspot butterfly by providing 
dispersal and recolonization opportunities for the subspecies. The 
butterfly is considered relatively sedentary (Ehrlich 1965, p. 333; 
Harrison 1989, pp. 50-51; Singer and Hanski 2004, p. 187) and reduced 
fragmentation should facilitate movements between habitat patches. 
McKechnie et al. (1975, p. 561) observed that, out of several years of 
mark recapture studies, only 1.7 percent of males and 4.8 percent of 
females moved a distance of approximately 1,600 feet (ft) (500 meter 
(m)). These figures are consistent with observations made by Weiss 
(1996, p. 93) who reported that adult movement declined with increasing 
distance with only about 5 percent moving between 656 to 984 ft (200 to 
300 m).
    Although the butterfly is considered sedentary, long-distance 
movements have been documented. The longest documented movements 
observed by Harrison (1989, p. 1239) were 3.5 mi (5.6 km) for one male 
and 2 mi (3.2 km) for one female. Murphy (Service 2001, p. 21451) 
reported movement of Bay checkerspot butterflies of 4.7 mi (7.6 km). 
Harrison et al. (1988, p. 371) hypothesized that habitats greater than 
4.3 to 5.0 mi (7 to 8 km) from a source population (Coyote Ridge in the 
study) were unlikely to ever sustain populations of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. This hypothesis was based on the presence or absence of 
adult Bay checkerspot butterflies in Santa Clara County in apparently 
suitable habitat and their relative distance from Coyote Ridge. The 
study was not designed to predict the Bay checkerspot butterfly's upper 
limit of dispersal. Harrison (1989, p. 371) hypothesized that the rate 
of colonization, relative to the rate of extinction, was too low to 
maintain populations of the Bay checkerspot butterfly on distant 
habitat patches (distant from a source patch; that is, greater than 5.0 
mi (8 km)). Harrison et al. (1988) modeled two scenarios: (1) 50-year 
extinction (based on patterns of extreme drought in California), and 
(2) continuous extinction (based on stepping stone habitat or 
population). The continuous model indicated that a small habitat patch 
(2.22 ac (0.9 ha)) would experience extinction events once every 1 to 
13 years, while larger patches (615.29 ac (249 ha)) would go extinct 
once every 12 to 26 years (Harrison et al. 1988, p. 377). The rate of 
colonization in Harrison et al. (1988) was variable and depended on 
both habitat patch size as well as distance from a source population. 
Given the subspecies' historical distribution, its metapopulation 
dynamics, and its sedentary tendencies, reducing habitat fragmentation, 
by designating occupied and currently unoccupied habitats that provide 
quality stepping stone habitat, will increase the likelihood of 
recolonization of more distant patches of suitable habitat.
    We have determined that, due to the limited availability of habitat 
for the subspecies, its limited distribution, and its generally low 
dispersal tendencies, the long-term conservation of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly is dependent upon the protection of all habitat that was 
occupied at the time of listing as well as additional habitat that is 
currently occupied. The presence of all six PCEs was not a requirement 
to designating a unit as critical habitat; however, all 12 units 
currently support all six PCEs.
    When determining the revisions to critical habitat boundaries for 
this final rule, we made every effort to avoid including developed 
areas such as buildings, paved areas, and other structures that lack 
PCEs for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. The scale of the maps we 
prepared under the parameters for publication within the Code of 
Federal Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of such developed 
areas. Any such structures and the land under them at the time of this 
designation and inadvertently left inside critical habitat boundaries 
shown on the maps of this

[[Page 50423]]

final critical habitat have been excluded by text in this final rule. 
Therefore, Federal actions limited to these areas would not trigger 
section 7 consultation with respect to critical habitat and the 
requirement of no adverse modification unless they may affect the 
subspecies or primary constituent elements in adjacent critical 
habitat.
    All final critical habitat units are within areas that we have 
determined were occupied at the time of listing or are currently 
occupied, and are the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement of 
areas containing the PCEs to constitute the physical and biological 
features essential to the conservation of the species, which support 
the life history functions of the species.
    Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act authorizes us to issue permits for 
the take of listed animal species incidental to otherwise lawful 
activities. An incidental take permit application must be supported by 
an HCP that identifies conservation measures that the permittee agrees 
to implement to minimize and mitigate the impacts on the species by the 
requested incidental take. We often exclude non-Federal public lands 
and private lands that are covered by an existing operative HCP and 
executed implementation agreement (IA) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Act from designated critical habitat because the benefits of such 
exclusions outweigh the benefits of inclusion as discussed in section 
4(b)(2) of the Act. To date, two HCPs, Pacific Gas and Electric's 
(PG&E) Metcalf Evendale-Monta Vista Line and their Metcalf-El Patio and 
Hicks-Vasona Lines, are the only HCPs that have been completed that 
include the Bay checkerspot butterfly as a covered species. PG&E's 
Evendale-Monta Vista Line HCP was issued in 1998, was in effect for 3 
years, and covered approximately 4 ac (1.6 ha). Because this HCP has 
expired, we are not excluding lands once covered under this HCP. PG&E's 
Metcalf-El Patio and Hicks-Vasona Lines HCP covers temporary effects to 
2.4 ac (0.97 ha). The HCP was issued in 2008 and is in effect for a 
period of 3 years. Because this HCP covers temporary effects, covers 
only a small area, and is in effect for only 3 years, we are not 
excluding lands covered under this HCP. We re-evaluated our proposed 
exclusion of the San Bruno Mountain HCP and determined not to do so on 
the basis of the record before us. Our decision considered the non-
inclusion of the Bay checkerspot butterfly as a covered species under 
the current HCP, and the inadequacy of existing funding mechanisms to 
implement specific conservation measures to conserve and protect the 
features essential to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. (See ``Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act''). 
Stanford University is developing an HCP for lands owned by Stanford 
University that includes the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (Unit 3); 
however, as currently proposed, this HCP would not include the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly or any other butterfly species, so lands covered 
by this HCP are not being excluded. Santa Clara County is currently 
developing a regional HCP that would encompass the majority of Santa 
Clara County, including all critical habitat units in the county (Units 
4 through 13). This HCP is in the early stages of development, and as 
proposed would include the Bay checkerspot butterfly. However, the 
Santa Clara County HCP is not expected to be finalized until summer of 
2010; therefore, we are not excluding lands that may be covered by this 
HCP.

Revised Critical Habitat Designation

    We are designating 13 units as critical habitat for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. These units, which generally correspond to those 
units in the 2007 proposed revised designation, when finalized, would 
entirely replace the current critical habitat designation for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly at 50 CFR 17.95(i).
    Table 1 and 2 shows the occupancy of each final revised critical 
habitat unit and the approximate area encompassed within each final 
revised critical habitat unit with land ownership.

    TABLE 1. Occupancy of revised critical habitat units for the Bay
                         checkerspot butterfly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Occupied at time      Currently           Acres
       Unit             of listing          occupied        (Hectares)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 1: San Bruno   Yes                No                 775 (314)
 Mountain
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 2: Pulgas      Yes                No                 179 (72)
 Ridge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 3: Edgewood    Yes                Yes                409 (166)
 Park
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 4: Jasper      Yes                No                 329 (133)
 Ridge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 5: Metcalf     Yes                Yes                4,503 (1,822)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 6: Tulare      Yes                Yes                348 (141)
 Hill
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 7: Santa       Yes                Yes                3,278 (1,327)
 Teresa Hills
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 8: Calero      Yes                Yes                1,543 (624)
 Reservoir
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 9: Kalana
 Hills              Yes                Yes                170 (69)
Subunit 9A          Yes                Yes                56 (23)
Subunit 9B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 10: Hale       Yes                Yes                507 (205)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 11: Bear       No                 Yes                283 (114)
 Ranch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 12: San        Yes                Yes                467 (189)
 Martin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 13: Kirby      Yes                Yes                5,446 (2,204)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                     18,293 (7,403)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 50424]]


     TABLE 2. Revised critical habitat units for the Bay checkerspot
 butterfly.[Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit
                    boundaries in acres (hectares).]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   State or                   Total Area
     Unit           Federal         Local         Private     Designated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 1: San     0               577 (234)      198 (80)       775 (314)
 Bruno Mt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 2: Pulgas  0               179 (72)       0              179 (72)
 Ridge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 3:         0               309 (165)      0              409 (166)
 Edgewood Park
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 4: Jasper  0               0              329 (133)      329 (133)
 Ridge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 5:         0               123 (50)       4,380 (1,772)  4,503
 Metcalf                                                       (1,822)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 6: Tulare  0               14 (6)         334 (135)      348 (141)
 Hill
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 7: Santa   0               425 (172)      2,853 (1,155)  3,278
 Teresa Hills                                                  (1,327)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 8: Calero  0               1,543 (624)    0              1,543
 Reservoir                                                     (624)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 9: Kalana
 Hills          0               0              170 (69)       170 (69)
Subunit 9A      0               0              56 (23)        56 (23)
Subunit 9B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 10: Hale   0               0              507 (205)      507 (205)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 11: Bear   0               283 (114)      0              283 (114)
 Ranch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 12: San    0               0              467 (189)      467 (189)
 Martin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit 13: Kirby  0               90 (37)        5,356 (2,167)  5,446
                                                               (2,204)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total           0               3,643 (1,475)  14,650         18,293
                                                (5,928)        (7,403)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We present brief descriptions of all units, and reasons why they 
meet the definition of critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly, below.

Unit 1: San Bruno Mountain

    Unit 1 consists of 775 ac (314 ha) in San Mateo County. The unit is 
primarily within San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, and is 
entirely within the boundaries of the San Bruno Mountain Area Habitat 
Conservation Plan. This unit was occupied at the time of listing and 
contains all the features essential for the conservation of the 
subspecies; however, the Bay checkerspot butterfly has not been 
observed in this unit since a wildfire in 1986 and is currently 
unoccupied. Unit 1 represents the most northerly part of the 
subspecies' range on the San Francisco peninsula. Unit 1 is necessary 
as a supporting element of the San Mateo metapopulation because it 
represents the largest area of contiguous native grassland habitat that 
can support the Bay checkerspot butterfly's host and nectar plants 
within San Mateo County. This unit currently supports populations of 
the federally endangered Callippe silverspot butterfly (Speyeria 
callippe callippe), endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly (Callophrys 
mossii bayensis), and endangered Mission blue butterfly (Icaricia 
icarioides missionensis), which share some of the habitat requirements 
as the Bay checkerspot butterfly (such as native grasslands). The 
majority of this unit, approximately 577 ac (234 ha), is within the 
boundaries of the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, while the 
rest of the unit is privately owned (198 ac (80 ha)). The distance 
between Unit 1 and the most proximate unit, Unit 2, is greater than the 
published dispersal distance of the Bay checkerspot butterfly; however, 
numerous small patches of intervening grasslands may serve as 
additional stepping stones to potentially allow for movement between 
these two units. These patches of grassland habitat are not designated 
as critical habitat because the Service has no information regarding 
the presence of sufficient PCEs within these areas.

Unit 2: Pulgas Ridge

    Unit 2 consists of 179 ac (72 ha) in San Mateo County. The unit is 
located north of the intersection of Interstate 280 and Highway 92, 
east of Crystal Springs Reservoir. This unit was occupied at the time 
of listing and contains all the features essential for the conservation 
of the subspecies. Since listing, Bay checkerspot butterflies in this 
unit have been extirpated, and the unit is currently unoccupied. 
However, the Bay checkerspot butterfly formerly inhabited this unit, 
and the unit still contains all the PCEs. The land within this unit is 
owned by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and is part 
of the Peninsula watershed and not subject to development. This unit 
provides habitat for the subspecies, especially in years with 
particularly favorable weather conditions that support expanding 
populations of Bay checkerspot butterflies; represents a stepping stone 
location to nearby units; and secures the metapopulation dynamics of 
the subspecies by providing adjacent or dispersal habitat for the 
subspecies. According to the Peninsula watershed management plan (SFPUC 
2002, pp. 2-11), portions of the watershed currently support 
populations of the endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly and the 
endangered Mission blue butterfly that share similar habitat 
requirements as the Bay checkerspot butterfly (including native 
grasslands). In addition, according to the environmental impact 
statement for the Peninsula watershed management plan (SFPD 2001, p. 
XLB-7), portions of the watershed have a high probability of supporting 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly and are designated as serpentine 
grassland habitat.

Unit 3: Edgewood Park

    Unit 3 consists of 409 ac (166 ha) in San Mateo County. This unit 
is comprised primarily of the Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, a San 
Mateo

[[Page 50425]]

County park located east of the junction of Edgewood Road and 
Interstate 280. A portion of the unit, approximately 141 ac (57 ha), is 
owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and is part of 
the Peninsula watershed. This unit was occupied at the time of listing, 
is currently occupied, and contains all the features essential to the 
conservation of the subspecies. Until recently, this unit supported the 
main population of Bay checkerspot butterflies within the San Mateo 
metapopulation. However, the subspecies was last observed here in 2002, 
after a steady decline beginning in the late 1990s. Larval Bay 
checkerspot butterflies were reintroduced to this unit in early 2007. 
The population of Bay checkerspot butterflies within this unit has been 
described as the only core population in San Mateo County, and without 
Bay checkerspot butterflies in this unit, the subspecies in San Mateo 
County is unlikely to persist, which would leave only the one 
metapopulation in Santa Clara County and the loss of Unit 3 would 
constitute a significant range reduction for the subspecies.

Unit 4: Jasper Ridge

    Unit 4 consists of 329 ac (133 ha) in San Mateo County. The unit is 
entirely contained within Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological 
Preserve. The unit is 4 mi (7 km) southeast of Unit 3 and 23 mi (37 km) 
west-northwest of Unit 5, and represents the closest connection to the 
Santa Clara County metapopulation. This unit was occupied at the time 
of listing and contains all the features essential to the conservation 
of the subspecies. Dozens of published scientific papers about the 
Jasper Ridge population of the Bay checkerspot butterfly exist. The 
population was almost extirpated by prolonged drought in the late 1970s 
and again in the late 1980s. The unit was occupied at the time of 
listing; however the last known observation of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly in this unit was in 1997. The unit is currently unoccupied. 
The unit is managed as a biological preserve by Stanford University, 
and suitable habitat, containing all the PCEs, continues to be present. 
Unit 4 is the closest unit in San Mateo County to populations of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly in Santa Clara County. While currently not 
known to be occupied, metapopulation dynamics may allow for natural 
recolonization to occur by Bay checkerspot butterflies from the 
Edgewood Park Unit (Unit 3). The Jasper Ridge Unit is the closest 
suitable habitat with sufficient PCEs to the recently reintroduced 
Edgewood Park population and is necessary to support and maintain the 
Edgewood Park population, which in turn supports the metapopulation 
dynamics of the Bay checkerspot butterfly in San Mateo County.

Unit 5: Metcalf

    Unit 5 consists of 4,503 ac (1,822 ha) in Santa Clara County. The 
unit encompasses Units 10, 11, and 12 as identified in the 2001 
designation and is the northern half of Unit 5 as identified in the 
2007 proposed revised designation. The unit comprises the northern half 
of the ridgeline currently referred to as Coyote Ridge (although in the 
past has been referenced as Morgan Hill, Kirby Canyon, and the East 
Hills), the majority of which is in private ownership, although 
approximately 110 ac (45 ha) are owned by Santa Clara County Parks for 
off-road vehicle recreation. To the north the unit is bordered by Yerba 
Buena Road near its intersection with U.S. Highway 101 and Metcalf Road 
to the south. The unit was occupied at the time of listing, contains 
all the features essential to the conservation of the subspecies, and 
represents the northern portion of the only remaining core population 
of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Other units in Santa Clara County 
depend on the core population as a source for recolonization. The unit 
represents the second largest, most contiguous, and highest quality 
habitat containing the second largest population of Bay checkerspot 
butterflies.
    Researchers historically referred to the Bay checkerspot 
butterflies within this unit as three populations, Metcalf, San Felipe, 
and Silver Creek Hills, and our 2001 designation identified them as 
separate units. However, according to Launer (2008, p. 4), there are 
likely multiple subpopulations or populations within each of the 
historically studied populations, and the four names only represent the 
centers of historic study areas. The Metcalf population supported an 
estimated 400,000 individuals in 2004, but has suffered a significant 
decline down to an estimated 45,000 individuals in 2006 (Weiss 2006, p. 
1). The Metcalf population is within the limits of the City of San Jose 
and is located on private land. The San Felipe population is also 
located on private lands and within the limits of the City of San Jose. 
The Service is unaware of any recent surveys of the San Felipe 
population; however, the population was estimated at 100,000 
individuals in 1999 (Weiss 2006, p. 1). The Silver Creek Hills 
population is the last of the three populations within this unit. The 
population was considered relatively large, with approximately 115,000 
individuals in 1993 (Weiss 2006, p. 1). This population was 
significantly affected by the development of a residential area and 
associated golf course (Ranch on Silver Creek) in the late 1990s. As a 
result of formal consultation on the Ranch on Silver Creek, 
approximately 473 ac (191 ha) owned by William Lyon Homes were 
preserved under a conservation easement and are being managed for the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly. Approximately 40 adults were observed at the 
Silver Creek Preserve in 2006 (WRA 2006, p. i).

Unit 6: Tulare Hill

    Unit 6 consists of 348 ac (141 ha) in Santa Clara County. The unit 
is located in the middle of the Santa Clara Valley, south of San Jose, 
and west of the crossing of Metcalf Road and Monterey Highway. The unit 
was occupied by the Bay checkerspot butterfly at the time of listing 
and is noted as one of the locations occupied in Harrison et al. (1988, 
p. 362). The unit is currently occupied, contains all the features 
essential to the conservation of the subspecies, and is essential to 
the conservation of the subspecies because it acts as a population 
center and because it provides a dispersal corridor across Coyote 
Valley. This unit is the closest suitable intervening habitat between 
the Coyote Ridge core population and most of the other populations in 
Santa Clara County, primarily those on the western side of Coyote 
Valley. Hundreds of butterflies have been observed on the southern half 
of the unit from 2001-2006 (Weiss 2006, p. 1). The highest numbers of 
individuals were 2,000 to 3,000 post diapause larvae in 2002, but the 
population has declined significantly, and that decline is believed to 
be due to lack of grazing over much of the unit (CH2M Hill 2008, p. 8-
8). We have determined that the long-term viability of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly in Santa Clara County depends on the presence of 
corridors for dispersal of adults between Coyote Ridge and the other 
units in Santa Clara County. Tulare Hill is an ideal location for such 
a corridor because of the narrowness of the valley at this location, 
the limited amount of development currently present, the presence of 
high elevations on the hill that may attract butterflies over the 
highways and developed areas, and the presence of suitable habitat on 
Tulare Hill itself. Migrant butterflies from either Santa Teresa Hills 
or Coyote Ridge may settle on Tulare Hill, contributing individuals to 
the population within this unit, and adults

[[Page 50426]]

from Tulare Hill may migrate to the adjacent habitat areas. Locally 
owned lands within this unit include parts of Coyote Creek Park, 
Metcalf Park, and Santa Teresa County Park totaling approximately 14 ac 
(5 ha). Roughly half of Tulare Hill itself is within the limits of the 
City of San Jose; the remainder is on private lands in unincorporated 
Santa Clara County. Approximately 114 ac (46 ha) of the unit is 
currently protected under a conservation easement and is managed for 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly by the Land Trust for Santa Clara County. 
The unit is bisected by transmission lines from Pacific Gas & Electric 
(PG&E), and the operations and maintenance of these lines are the 
subject of a Safe Harbor Agreement and Habitat Conservation Agreement 
for the Bay checkerspot butterfly.

Unit 7: Santa Teresa Hills

    Unit 7 consists of 3,278 ac (1,327 ha) in Santa Clara County. The 
unit lies north of Bailey Avenue, McKean Road, and Almaden Road; south 
of developed areas of the city of Santa Clara; and west of Santa Teresa 
Boulevard. The unit abuts Unit 6. This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing, although that was not specifically mentioned in the listing 
rule. An unspecified number of Bay checkerspot butterflies were 
observed in this unit in 1988 (CNDDB 2006, p. 26). The unit is 
currently occupied (Arnold 2007, p. 1; H.T Harvey and Associates 1998, 
p. 11), and contains the physical and biological features essential to 
the conservation of the subspecies. Further, it includes the largest 
block of undeveloped habitat containing all the PCEs west of U.S. Route 
101 in Santa Clara County. In addition, due to the prevailing winds, 
Unit 7 may experience less air pollution (i.e., nitrogen and ammonia 
deposition) than the units on the east side of Coyote Valley. 
Approximately 425 ac (172 ha) within the unit is owned by Santa Clara 
County Department of Parks and Recreation with the remainder of the 
unit consisting of private land.

Unit 8: Calero Reservoir

    Unit 8 consists of 1,543 ac (624 ha) in Santa Clara County. The 
unit is south of McKean Road and east of the town of New Almaden, 
Almaden Road, and Alamitos Creek. This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing (CNDDB 2006, p. 26), is currently occupied, and contains all 
the features essential for the conservation of the subspecies. The unit 
is less than 0.5 mi (0.8 km) south of Unit 7 and 1 mi (1.6 km) east of 
Unit 9. It is also 3.3 mi (5.3 km) southwest of the core population in 
Unit 5, and this distance is well within the dispersal capabilities of 
the subspecies; therefore, Unit 8 is an important component of the 
species' Santa Clara County metapopulation. The unit is comprised of 
over 1,400 ac (567 ha) of mapped serpentine soils on public land. The 
majority of the unit is within the Calero County Park and managed by 
Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation. The remainder is 
owned and managed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Unit 9: Kalana Hills

    Unit 9 consists of two separate subunits: Subunit 9A (170 ac (69 
ha)) and Subunit 9B (56 ac (22 ha)), totaling 226 ac (91 ha) in Santa 
Clara County. The two subunits are located on the southwest side of the 
Santa Clara Valley between Laguna Avenue and San Bruno Avenue and are 
entirely on private land. Both subunit 9A and 9B were occupied by the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly at the time of listing and are noted as one 
of the locations occupied in Harrison et al. (1988, p. 362). Adults 
were again observed during the last survey of the unit in 1997 (CNDDB 
2006, p. 23). The two subunits include four hilltop serpentine 
outcrops, which contain all the features essential for the conservation 
of the species, and some intervening grassland. The intervening 
grassland does not contain the larval host plants or serpentine or 
similar soils, but does contain PCEs 1, 3, and 4 and connects the four 
serpentine outcrops. Unit 5 lies about 2.1 mi (3.2 km) to the 
northeast, Unit 7 is 1 mi (1.6 km) to the northwest, Unit 8 is 1 mi 
(1.6 km) to the west, and Unit 10 about 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to the 
southeast. The essential physical and biological features in Unit 9 
assist in maintaining the metapopulation dynamics of the subspecies by 
providing habitat for the subspecies within dispersal distance of 
adjacent or nearby critical habitat units. Because of its proximity to 
several other large population centers for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly, we expect the Kalana Hills subunits to be regularly occupied 
by the subspecies and assist in maintaining the metapopulation dynamics 
for the subspecies. If, as is possible given the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly's large population swings, the butterfly's population in 
these subunits were to become extirpated, the subunits are likely to be 
repopulated by Bay checkerspot butterflies immigrating from adjacent 
sites. These subunits act as a ``stepping stone'' to adjacent or nearby 
units. A portion of the largest and northernmost serpentine outcrop 
within subunit 9A is within the limits of the City of San Jose; the 
remainder of the subunit is in unincorporated Santa Clara County. 
Subunit 9A's northeast boundaries are bordered by the proposed Coyote 
Valley Specific Plan.

Unit 10: Hale

    Unit 10 consists of 507 ac (205 ha) in Santa Clara County. The unit 
is northwest of the City of Morgan Hill, east of Willow Springs Road, 
and south of Hale Avenue. The unit name ``Hale'' was changed from 
``Morgan Hill'' in our 2007 proposed revised designation based on 
comments from peer reviews. This unit was occupied in the late 1980s 
and is described in the CNDDB as an ``active site'' (CNDDB 2006) for 
the subspecies. The unit was occupied at the time of listing and is 
noted as one of the locations occupied in Harrison et al. (1988, p. 
362). Adult butterflies were observed in the unit in 1997 (CNDDB 2006). 
Unit 10 is essential to the conservation of the subspecies because it 
has large areas of serpentine soils and grassland with a variety of 
slope exposures, contains all the PCEs, and serves as a ``stepping 
stone'' between the southernmost occurrences of the subspecies (Unit 
12) and the populations to the north. The unit is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) 
southwest of Unit 5 and 2.2 mi (3.5 km) southeast of Unit 9, provides 
dispersal habitat from adjacent critical habitat units, and provides 
habitat during years with particularly favorable weather conditions 
that support expanding populations of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. 
This unit is comprised mostly of private property, a portion of which 
is within the limits of the City of Morgan Hill and the rest in 
unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Unit 11: Bear Ranch

    Unit 11 consists of 283 ac (114 ha) in Santa Clara County. The unit 
is adjacent to Coyote Reservoir and is entirely contained within the 
Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. The Bay checkerspot 
butterfly was known to occur within this unit in the mid-1970s, but was 
considered extirpated in the listing rule; however, Bay checkerspot 
butterflies were observed in this unit in 1994, 1997, and 1999 (CNDDB 
2006, p. 15; Launer 2000, p. 1). This unit is currently occupied and is 
the most southern occurrence of the Bay checkerspot butterfly on the 
east side of Coyote Valley. Although we are unable to determine from 
the available data that Unit 11 was occupied by the species at the time 
of listing, we have determined that this area is essential for the 
conservation of the subspecies because it assists in maintaining the 
metapopulation dynamics of the subspecies by providing adjacent or

[[Page 50427]]

nearby habitat for Bay checkerspot butterflies to disperse to or to use 
as foraging or resting habitat during longer dispersal events. The unit 
contains all the features essential for the conservation of the 
species. This unit is underlined by both serpentine and serpentine-like 
soils. There are two patches of serpentine soils separated north-south 
by intermittent woody vegetation; these patches are surrounded by 
grasslands underlined by serpentine-like soils that provide adequate 
dispersal corridors between the two patches.

Unit 12: San Martin

    Unit 12 consists of 467 ac (189 ha) in Santa Clara County. The unit 
is located in the western foothills of the Santa Clara Valley. This 
unit was occupied at the time of listing, is currently occupied, and 
contains all the features essential for the conservation of the 
subspecies. The unit has extensive areas of serpentine soils 
interspersed with grasslands that have PCEs 1, 3, 4, and 5. These areas 
are important for dispersal between higher quality habitats within the 
unit that contain all the necessary features essential for conservation 
of the subspecies. The unit lies entirely on private lands in 
unincorporated Santa Clara County, about 4 mi (6.4 km) west-southwest 
of Unit 11, 4 mi (6.4 km) southeast of Unit 10, and 6 mi (9.6 km) south 
of Unit 5's core area. This unit is the southernmost occurrence of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly. The adjacent Cordevalle Golf Club has 
purchased approximately 298 ac (121 ha) of property within the unit, 
has developed a management plan for the property, and is currently 
working to establish a conservation easement for preservation as open 
space. A portion of the proposed open space, approximately 42.3 ac 
(17.1 ha), will be managed to benefit serpentine species including the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly. The remainder of the unit is privately 
owned.

Unit 13: Kirby

    Unit 13 consists of 5,446 ac (2,204 ha) in Santa Clara County. The 
unit encompasses Unit 8 identified in the 2001 designation and is the 
southern half of Unit 5 as identified in the 2007 revised proposed 
rule. The unit comprises the southern half of the ridgeline currently 
referred to as Coyote Ridge (but as noted above has been referred to by 
a variety of names in the past), the majority of which is in private 
ownership. To the north the unit is bordered by Metcalf Road, to the 
southwest by U.S. Highway 101, and Metcalf Road to the south. The unit 
was occupied at the time of listing, contains all the features 
essential to the conservation of the subspecies, and represents the 
southern portion of the only remaining core population of the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly (Unit 5 contains the northern portion of the core 
population). Other units in Santa Clara County depend on the core 
population as a source for recolonization. The unit represents the 
largest, most contiguous, and highest quality habitat containing the 
largest population of Bay checkerspot butterflies.
    The Kirby population is the southernmost of the four historically 
studied populations and has consistently had the largest numbers of Bay 
checkerspot butterflies. The Kirby area had an estimated 700,000 
individuals in 2004, 100,000 individuals in 2005 (Weiss 2006, p. 1), 
and 40,000 in 2007 (CH2M Hill p. 8-8). Although still under private 
ownership, approximately 291 ac (118 ha) of the Kirby area is under 
some form of protection or management for special status species, 
including the Bay checkerspot butterfly. In addition, a 250-ac (101-ha) 
butterfly preserve is being managed by Waste Management Incorporated 
(WMI) as compensation for adverse effects to the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly in association with its landfill. However, the protection 
afforded the butterfly preserve is not permanent, and the land the 
preserve is on is not owned by WMI. Approximately 90 ac (37 ha) is 
owned by the Santa Clara Department of Parks and Recreation.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation

Section 7 Consultation

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the 
Service, to ensure that actions they fund, authorize, or carry out are 
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or 
destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. Decisions by 
the Fifth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals have invalidated our 
definition of ``destruction or adverse modification'' (50 CFR 402.02) 
(see Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 378 
F. 3d 1059 (9th Cir 2004) and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service et al., 245 F.3d 434, 442F (5th Cir 2001)), and we do not rely 
on this regulatory definition when analyzing whether an action is 
likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Under the 
statutory provisions of the Act, we determine destruction or adverse 
modification on the basis of whether, with implementation of the 
proposed Federal action, the affected critical habitat would remain 
functional (or retain the current ability for the PCEs to be 
functionally established) to serve its intended conservation role for 
the species.
    Under section 7(a)(2) of the Act, if a Federal action may affect a 
listed species or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency 
(action agency) must enter into consultation with us. As a result of 
this consultation, we document compliance with the requirements of 
section 7(a)(2) through our issuance of:
    (1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but 
are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat; 
or
    (2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that are likely to 
adversely affect listed species or critical habitat.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or 
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat, we also provide 
reasonable and prudent alternatives to the project, if any are 
identifiable. We define ``reasonable and prudent alternatives'' at 50 
CFR 402.02 as alternative actions identified during consultation that:
    (1) Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended 
purpose of the action,
    (2) Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Federal 
agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,
    (3) Are economically and technologically feasible, and
    (4) Would, in the Director's opinion, avoid jeopardizing the 
continued existence of the listed species or destroying or adversely 
modifying critical habitat.
    Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project 
modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs 
associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are 
similarly variable.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies to reinitiate 
consultation on previously reviewed actions in instances where we have 
listed a new species or subsequently designated critical habitat that 
may be affected and the Federal agency has retained discretionary 
involvement or control over the action (or the agency's discretionary 
involvement or control is authorized by law). Consequently, Federal 
agencies may sometimes need to request reinitiation of consultation 
with us on actions for which formal consultation has been completed, if 
those actions with discretionary involvement or control may affect

[[Page 50428]]

subsequently listed species or designated critical habitat.
    Federal activities that may affect the Bay checkerspot butterfly or 
its designated critical habitat will require section 7(a)(2) 
consultation under the Act. Activities on State, Tribal, local, or 
private lands requiring a Federal permit (such as a permit from the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or a permit from us under section 10(a)(1)(B) 
of the Act) or involving some other Federal action (such as funding 
from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation 
Administration, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency) are 
examples of agency actions that may be subject to the section 7(a)(2) 
consultation process. Federal actions not affecting listed species or 
critical habitat, and actions on State, Tribal, local or private lands 
that are not federally funded, authorized, or carried out, do not 
require section 7(a)(2) consultations.

Application of the ``Adverse Modification'' Standard

    The key factor related to the adverse modification determination is 
whether, with implementation of the proposed Federal action, the 
affected critical habitat would continue to serve its intended 
conservation role for the species. Activities that may destroy or 
adversely modify critical habitat are those that alter the physical and 
biological features to an extent that appreciably reduces the 
conservation value of critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly.
    Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us to evaluate and describe in 
any proposed or final regulation that designates critical habitat, 
activities involving a Federal action that may destroy or adversely 
modify such habitat, or that may be affected by such designation.
    Activities that, when carried out, funded, or authorized by a 
Federal agency, may affect critical habitat and therefore should result 
in consultation for the Bay checkerspot butterfly include, but are not 
limited to:
    (1) Actions that would cause ground disturbance, including, but not 
limited to, trenching, grading, and discing. Ground disturbance would 
likely result in the loss of larval and adult food plants and in an 
increased mortality of larvae as a result of starvation. Individual Bay 
checkerspot butterfly larvae, pupae, and eggs could be crushed during 
any of these activities. A reduction in adult nectar sources could 
result in reduced fecundity and longevity of females, and possibly 
reduced longevity of males. Ground disturbance may also result in a 
reduction in the number of stable holes and cracks that larvae use 
during diapause, which would result in an increased risk of predation.
    (2) Actions that would remove, destroy, or alter vegetation, 
including, but not limited to, changes in grazing regimes (such as 
increase or decrease in livestock density, changes in frequency or 
timing of grazing, or removal of all grazing), prescribed burns 
(generally limited to short-term effects), or other vegetation 
management strategies that reduce densities of the larval and adult 
host plants. These actions would have similar effects as those 
associated with ground disturbance, such as loss of larval and adult 
food plants. Prescribed burns may also result in direct injury or 
mortality to larvae, pupae, and eggs if conducted during the fall or 
early spring. Grazing is likely to result in some individual larvae, 
eggs, and pupae being trampled or inadvertently eaten.
    (3) Construction activities that destroy, degrade, or fragment 
critical habitat, such as urban and suburban development (e.g., 
subdivisions, road building, placement of utilities, golf courses, 
trail construction, off-road vehicle use). These activities could 
result in the permanent loss of habitat or create barriers to movement 
between patches of habitat. Construction activities could result in 
crushing of both larval and adult food plants as well as larvae, pupae, 
and eggs. Adults may be injured or killed as a result of collisions 
with vehicles. In addition, larvae crossing open areas of construction 
sites in search of edible host plants could be trampled. Urban 
development could also cause changes in hydrology of Bay checkerspot 
butterfly habitat. The presence of unseasonal water could result in an 
alteration in the life cycle of larval and adult food plants, such that 
plant growth and blooming are out of phase with the life cycle of the 
subspecies, resulting in increased mortality of both larvae and adults. 
Artificially wet conditions may also result in an increase in parasites 
or diseases that could reduce larval and adult survival. In addition, 
changes in hydrology that result in reduced water levels in nearby 
creeks could result in increased mortality of adults during periods of 
prolonged spring drought. Activities that result in direct loss of 
habitat would also result in direct loss of individuals of all life 
stages of the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Loss of habitat patches that 
are ``stepping stone'' habitats would result in increased distances 
between other patches of suitable habitat and reduce the likelihood of 
distant patches being colonized, thus disrupting the metapopulation 
dynamics of the subspecies and resulting in a decrease in the stability 
of core populations and possible extinction of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly.
    (4) Direct application on, or drift onto, critical habitat of 
pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or other chemicals or biological 
agents. Drift or runoff of chemicals, pesticides, and other biological 
agents could kill or injure Bay checkerspot butterflies through direct 
toxicity or by harming their food plants.
    (5) Deposition or release onto critical habitat of nitrogen 
compounds, such as NO<INF>x</INF> and ammonia. Nitrogen deposition 
(i.e., NO<INF>x</INF> and ammonia) in and around Bay checkerspot 
butterfly habitat would result in nutrient enrichment of serpentine and 
serpentine-like soils. This enrichment allows for the successful 
invasion of exotic and invasive plants, which out-compete nativeforbs 
and grasses, into serpentine grasslands, resulting in lower densities 
of larval and adult food plants. Lower densities of both larval and 
adult food plants would result in fewer larval and adult Bay 
checkerspot butterflies.
    We have determined that all of the units designated contain 
features essential to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. All units are within the geographic range of the species, 
all were occupied by the species at the time of listing or are 
currently occupied (based on most recent observations made), and all 
are likely or have the potential to be used by the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly. Federal agencies already consult with us on activities in 
areas currently occupied by the Bay checkerspot butterfly, as well as 
unoccupied critical habitat units, to ensure that their actions, which 
may affect the species or its designated critical habitat, are not 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly or result in adverse modification of critical habitat.

Economic Analysis

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires us to designate critical 
habitat on the basis of the best scientific information available and 
to consider economic, national security and other relevant impacts of 
designating a particular area as critical habitat. Section 4(b)(2) of 
the Act allows the Secretary to exclude areas from critical habitat if 
the Secretary determines that the benefits of such exclusion exceed the 
benefits of designating the area as critical habitat.

[[Page 50429]]

However, this exclusion cannot occur unless the Secretary determines 
that it will not result in the extinction of the species concerned.
    Following the publication of the proposed critical habitat 
designation, we conducted an economic analysis to estimate the 
potential economic effect of the designation. On April 15, 2008, we 
published a notice of availability (73 FR 20237), the draft analysis 
(dated March 12, 2008), and we accepted public comments on the draft 
document from April 15, 2008 to May 15, 2008. We received two public 
comments related to the draft economic analysis. A final analysis of 
the potential economic effects of the designation was developed 
(Berkeley Economic Consulting 2008), taking into consideration any 
relevant new information.
    The primary purpose of the economic analysis is to estimate the 
potential economic impacts associated with the designation of revised 
critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. This information is 
intended to assist the Secretary in making decisions about whether the 
benefits of excluding particular areas from the designation outweigh 
the benefits of including those areas in the designation. This economic 
analysis considers the economic efficiency effects that may result from 
the designation, including habitat protections that may be co-extensive 
with the listing of the subspecies. It also addresses distribution of 
impacts, including an assessment of the potential effects on small 
entities and the energy industry. This information can be used by the 
Secretary to assess whether the effects of the designation might unduly 
burden a particular group or economic sector.
    The economic analysis quantifies impacts associated with the 
conservation of Bay checkerspot butterfly including future urban 
development, management of invasive plants, pesticide use, and 
overgrazing or undergrazing. These activities were identified as 
factors that may require special management (72 FR 48183-48184). Pre-
designation (1987 to 2007) impacts associated with species conservation 
activities in areas designated as critical habitat are estimated at 
approximately $9 million in 2007 dollars. The final EA forecasts 
baseline economic impacts in the areas designated to be approximately 
$390 million ($24 million annualized) (2008 dollars) applying a 3 
percent discount rate over the next 22 years and $270 million ($24 
million annualized) (2008 dollars) applying a 7 percent discount rate 
over the next 22 years. The final EA forecasts incremental economic 
impacts to be approximately $0 to $750,000 ($0 to $44,000 annualized) 
(2008 dollars) applying a 3 percent discount rate over the next 22 
years. The cost estimates are based on the proposed revised designation 
of critical habitat published in the Federal Register on August 22, 
2007 (72 FR 48178).
    The final EA considers the potential economic effects of actions 
relating to the conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, 
including costs associated with sections 4, 7, and 10 of the Act, as 
well as costs attributable to the designation of revised critical 
habitat. It further considers the economic effects of protective 
measures taken as a result of other Federal, State, and local laws that 
aid habitat conservation for the Bay checkerspot butterfly in areas 
containing features essential to the conservation of the species. The 
final EA considers both economic efficiency and distributional effects. 
In the case of habitat conservation, efficiency effects generally 
reflect the ``opportunity costs'' associated with the commitment of 
resources to comply with habitat protection measures (such as lost 
economic opportunities associated with restrictions on land use).
    The final EA also addresses how potential economic impacts are 
likely to be distributed, including an assessment of any local or 
regional impacts of habitat conservation and the potential effects of 
conservation activities on government agencies, private businesses, and 
individuals. The final EA measures lost economic efficiency associated 
with residential and commercial development and public projects and 
activities, such as economic impacts on water management and 
transportation projects, Federal lands, small entities, and the energy 
industry. Decision-makers can use this information to assess whether 
the effects of the revised designation might unduly burden a particular 
group or economic sector. Finally, the final EA looks retrospectively 
at costs that have been incurred since the date we listed the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly as endangered (52 FR 35366, September 18, 1987) 
and considers those costs that may occur in the 22 years following the 
designation of critical habitat. Because the final EA considers the 
potential economic effects of all actions relating to the conservation 
of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, including costs associated with 
sections 4, 7, and 10 of the Act and those attributable to a revised 
designation of critical habitat, the final EA may have overestimated 
the potential economic impacts of the revised critical habitat 
designation.
    The final economic analysis is available at http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.fws.gov/sacramento or upon request 
from the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Application of Section 4(a)(3) of the Act

    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. 
L. 108-136) amended the Act to limit areas eligible for designation as 
critical habitat. Specifically, section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) now provides: ``The Secretary shall not 
designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas 
owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its 
use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management 
plan prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if 
the Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit 
to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for 
designation.'' There are no Department of Defense lands with a 
completed integrated natural resources management plan within this 
final revised critical habitat designation.

Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary must designate 
or revise critical habitat on the basis of the best available 
scientific data after taking into consideration the economic impact, 
national security impact, and any other relevant impact of specifying 
any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude an 
area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits of such 
exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such area as part of the 
critical habitat, unless he determines, based on the best scientific 
data available, that the failure to designate such area as critical 
habitat will result in the extinction of the species. In making that 
determination, the legislative history is clear that the Secretary has 
broad discretion regarding which factor(s) to use and how much weight 
to give to any factor. In the following sections, we address a number 
of general issues that are relevant to the exclusions we have 
considered.
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in considering whether to exclude 
a particular area from the designation, we must identify the benefits 
of including the area in the designation, identify the benefits of 
excluding the area from the designation, and determine whether the 
benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion. Before we may 
exclude an area, we must determine that

[[Page 50430]]

the exclusion would not result in the extinction of the species.
    Portions of Units 5, 6, 12, and 13 are currently protected or 
proposed for protection. Not all areas protected are under conservation 
easements, some are protected through other means such as fee title, 
deed restrictions, etc. (see unit descriptions above for acreages). 
Some easements were established for the protection of the California 
red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) or the California tiger 
salamander (Ambystoma californiense), while others were established for 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly. These areas were considered for 
exclusion, but were not excluded from this final revised designation of 
critical habitat because some of them do not have management plans and 
some only provide management plans for the tiger salamander or the 
California red-legged frog. Those areas with conservation easements 
that specifically provide protection for the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
were not considered for exclusion because the easements are not 
believed to be sufficiently funded to adequately deal with nonnative 
invasive plants, such as the recent invasion of barbed goat grass 
(Aegilops triuncialis). A conservation easement that has been proposed 
for a portion of Unit 12 has not been finalized and has also not been 
excluded in this final rule.

San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (SBMHCP)

    After consideration under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we are not 
excluding lands covered under the SBMHCP. The SBMHCP was originally 
completed in November 1982, and we issued a 30-year section 10(a)(1)(B) 
permit to the permittees on March 4, 1983. The permit (PRT 2-9818) 
expires on March 4, 2013, unless it is renewed (Jones and Stokes 2007, 
pp. 1-2). San Bruno Mountain is located on the northern end of the San 
Francisco Peninsula, south of the San Mateo-San Francisco County line, 
and is bordered to the north by Daly City, to the east by the City of 
Brisbane, to the south by the City of South San Francisco, and to the 
west by the City of Colma. The SBMHCP is comprised of 3,600 ac (1,457 
ha), of which approximately 3,500 ac (1,416 ha) are open space. To 
date, there have been four amendments to the SBMHCP. A notice of 
availability for a draft of amendment five was published in the Federal 
Register on April 15, 2008 (73 FR 20324). The draft of amendment five 
to the SBMHCP includes proposed and ongoing conservation actions 
designed to benefit both the Bay checkerspot butterfly and Callippe 
silverspot butterfly. Conservation actions include: (1) Vegetation 
management (prescribed fire, mowing, and grazing); (2) replanting and 
restoration; (3) monitoring; and (4) approximately $ 4 million in an 
endowment for ongoing habitat management. The Service expects amendment 
five, if approved, would provide substantial protection for all of the 
primary constituent elements (PCEs) for the Bay checkerspot butterfly, 
and that protected lands will receive the special management required 
through funding mechanisms that will be implemented under amendment 
five of the SBMHCP.
    In our August 22, 2007, proposed rule (72 FR 48178), we relied 
largely on the draft provisions of amendment five to the SBMHCP as the 
basis of the proposed exclusion of Unit 1 from critical habitat. As 
stated above, we believed those provisions would significantly 
contribute to the conservation of the essential features for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly. However, the finalization of amendment five will 
not occur prior to the publication of this final rule. Therefore, our 
evaluation of the potential exclusion of Unit 1 is based on the current 
provisions of the SBMHCP, as amended by amendments one through four.
    The Bay checkerspot butterfly is not currently a covered species 
under the SBMHCP. Although all habitat for the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly on San Bruno Mountain is contained within the SBMHCP, there 
is currently inadequate funding to manage the grasslands within the HCP 
in a manner that would conserve the species' larval host and adult 
nectar plants (PCE 2). Without management actions (such as grazing, 
prescribed burns, and exotic species control) that remove the buildup 
of dense stands of grass (thatch), the species' larval host and adult 
nectar plants are outcompeted by nonnative vegetation and the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly is no longer able to persist. Therefore, without 
adequate funding, the current HCP does not provide sufficient 
protection for the Bay checkerspot butterfly or the features essential 
to the conservation of the species.
    Including this area in critical habitat may serve as an educational 
tool for potential habitat restoration efforts and potential re-
introduction of the Bay checkerspot butterfly to Unit 1. Inclusion of 
these non-Federal lands as critical habitat would not necessitate 
additional management and conservation activities that would exceed the 
approved SBMHCP and its implementing agreement; however, amendment 5 to 
the SBMHCP provides funding to carry out the existing management plan. 
As a result, we do not anticipate that any action on these lands would 
destroy or adversely modify these areas. Therefore, we do not expect 
that including Unit 1 in the final designation would lead to any 
changes to actions on the conservation lands to avoid destroying or 
adversely modifying that habitat.
    Based upon the above considerations, the lands covered under the 
SBMHCP in Unit 1have not been excluded in this final revised 
designation of critical habitat.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this 
rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866). OMB 
bases its determination upon the following four criteria:
    (a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or 
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector, 
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
    (b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other Federal 
agencies' actions.
    (c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants, 
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their 
recipients.
    (d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.

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

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency must 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 effects 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 the agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended RFA to require 
Federal agencies to provide a statement of the factual basis for 
certifying that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. In this final rule, we are 
certifying that the critical habitat designation for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly will not have a

[[Page 50431]]

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The following discussion explains our rationale.
    According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), small 
entities include small organizations, such as independent nonprofit 
organizations; small governmental jurisdictions, including school 
boards and city and town governments that serve fewer than 50,000 
residents; as well as small businesses. Small businesses include 
manufacturing and mining concerns with fewer than 500 employees, 
wholesale trade entities with fewer than 100 employees, retail and 
service businesses with less than $5 million in annual sales, general 
and heavy construction businesses with less than $27.5 million in 
annual business, special trade contractors doing less than $11.5 
million in annual business, and agricultural businesses with annual 
sales less than $750,000. To determine if potential economic impacts to 
these small entities are significant, we consider the types of 
activities that might trigger regulatory impacts under this rule, as 
well as the types of project modifications that may result. In general, 
the term ``significant economic impact'' is meant to apply to a typical 
small business firm's business operations.
    To determine if the rule could significantly affect a substantial 
number of small entities, we consider the number of small entities 
affected within particular types of economic activities. We apply the 
``substantial number'' test individually to each industry to determine 
if certification is appropriate. However, the SBREFA does not 
explicitly define ``substantial number'' or ``significant economic 
impact.'' Consequently, to assess whether a ``substantial number'' of 
small entities is affected by this designation, this analysis considers 
the relative number of small entities likely to be impacted in an area. 
In some circumstances, especially with critical habitat designations of 
limited extent, we may aggregate across all industries and consider 
whether the total number of small entities affected is substantial. In 
estimating the number of small entities potentially affected, we also 
consider whether their activities have any Federal involvement.
    Designation of critical habitat only affects activities conducted, 
funded, or permitted by Federal agencies. Some kinds of activities are 
unlikely to have any Federal involvement and so will not be affected by 
critical habitat designation. In areas where the species is present, 
Federal agencies already are required to consult with us under section 
7 of the Act on activities they fund, permit, or implement that may 
affect the Bay checkerspot butterfly (see Section 7 Consultation 
section). Federal agencies also must consult with us if their 
activities may affect critical habitat. Designation of critical 
habitat, therefore, could result in an additional economic impact on 
small entities due to the requirement to reinitiate consultation for 
ongoing Federal activities (see Application of the ``Adverse 
Modification'' Standard section).
    In our economic analysis of this designation, we evaluated the 
potential economic effects on small business entities resulting from 
conservation actions related to the designation of critical habitat for 
the Bay checkerspot butterfly. No entities that are likely to bear 
incremental impacts from the rule are identified as small entities. 
There are only 5 acres in Unit 1 that are privately owned and may be 
affected by critical habitat. By definition, private landowners are not 
small businesses. To the extent that a private landowner does operate a 
business that relies on the potentially affected land, this would be 
considered in this small business analysis. According to the economic 
analysis, no information suggests this is the case. The economic 
analysis therefore did not forecast impacts to small entities 
associated with the designation on private land. Therefore, based on 
the above reasoning and currently available information, we certify 
that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis 
is not required.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.)

    Under SBREFA, this rule is not a major rule. Our detailed 
assessment of the economic effects of this designation is described in 
the economic analysis. Based on the effects identified in the economic 
analysis, we believe that this rule will not have an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more, will not cause a major increase in 
costs or prices for consumers, and will not have significant adverse 
effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with 
foreign-based enterprises. Refer to the final economic analysis for a 
discussion of the effects of this determination (see ADDRESSES for 
information on obtaining a copy of the final economic analysis).

Executive Order 13211 - Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O. 
13211; Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use) on regulations that significantly affect 
energy supply, distribution, and use. E.O. 13211 requires agencies to 
prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. 
OMB has provided guidance for implementing this Executive Order that 
outlines nine outcomes that may constitute ``a significant adverse 
effect'' when compared without the regulatory action under 
consideration. The final economic analysis finds that none of these 
criteria are relevant to this analysis. Thus, based on information in 
the economic analysis, energy-related impacts associated with Bay 
checkerspot butterfly conservation activities within the final critical 
habitat designation are not expected. Therefore, this action is not a 
significant energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is 
required.

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

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 
1501), the Service makes the following findings:
    (a) This rule will not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a 
Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute, or regulation 
that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal 
governments, or the private sector and includes both ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal private sector mandates.'' 
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7). ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose 
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or tribal governments'' with two 
exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal assistance.'' It also 
excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-existing Federal 
program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually to State, 
local, and tribal governments under entitlement authority,'' if the 
provision would ``increase the stringency of conditions of assistance'' 
or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal Government's 
responsibility to provide funding,'' and the State, local, or Tribal 
governments ``lack authority'' to adjust accordingly. At the time of 
enactment, these entitlement programs were:

[[Page 50432]]

Medicaid; AFDC work programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social 
Services Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster 
Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support 
Welfare Services; and Child Support Enforcement. ``Federal private 
sector mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose an 
enforceable duty upon the private sector, except (i) a condition of 
Federal assistance or (ii) a duty arising from participation in a 
voluntary Federal program.''
    The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally 
binding duty on non-Federal government entities or private parties. 
Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must 
ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical 
habitat under section 7. While non-Federal entities that receive 
Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require 
approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action may be 
indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally 
binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the 
extent that non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they 
receive Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid 
program, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would 
critical habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs 
listed above on to State governments.
    (b) Due to current public knowledge of the species' protection, the 
prohibition against take of the species both within and outside of the 
designated areas, the fact that the majority of the areas are already 
designated as critical habitat, and the fact that critical habitat 
provides no incremental restrictions, our economic analysis did not 
forecast any economic impacts to small governments. Therefore, we do 
not anticipate that this rule will significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. As such, a Small Government Agency Plan is not 
required.

Takings

    In accordance with E.O. 12630 (``Government Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property 
Rights''), we have analyzed the potential takings implications of 
designating revised critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly 
in a takings implications assessment. The takings implications 
assessment concludes that this designation of revised critical habitat 
for the Bay checkerspot butterfly does not pose significant takings 
implications.

Federalism

    In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), this final rule does 
not have significant Federalism effects. A Federalism assessment is not 
required. In keeping with Department of the Interior and Department of 
Commerce policy, we requested information from, and coordinated 
development of, this revised critical habitat designation with 
appropriate State resource agencies in California. The designation of 
critical habitat in areas currently occupied by the Bay checkerspot 
butterfly imposes no additional restrictions to those currently in 
place and, therefore, has little incremental impact on State and local 
governments and their activities. The designation may have some benefit 
to these governments in that the areas that contain the physical and 
biological features essential to the conservation of the species are 
more clearly defined, and the PCEs necessary to support the life 
processes of the species are specifically identified. This information 
does not alter where and what federally sponsored activities may occur. 
However, it may assist local governments in long-range planning (rather 
than having them wait for case-by-case section 7 consultations to 
occur).

Civil Justice Reform

    In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), the Office of 
the Solicitor has determined that the rule does not unduly burden the 
judicial system and that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Order. We are designating critical habitat in accordance 
with the provisions of the Act. This final rule uses standard property 
descriptions and identifies the physical and biological features 
essential to the conservation of the species within the designated 
areas to assist the public in understanding the habitat needs of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This rule does not contain any new collections of information that 
require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This rule will not impose recordkeeping or 
reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, 
businesses, or organizations. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and 
a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    It is our position that, outside the jurisdiction of the Circuit 
Court of the United States for the Tenth Circuit, we do not need to 
prepare environmental analyses as defined by NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.) in connection with designating critical habitat under the Act. We 
published a notice outlining our reasons for this determination in the 
Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). This assertion was 
upheld by the Circuit Court of the United States for the Ninth Circuit 
(Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied 
516 U.S. 1042 (1996)).

Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, 
Federal Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), 
we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with 
Tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge 
that Tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal 
public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make 
information available to Tribes. We have determined that there are no 
Tribal lands that meet the definition of critical habitat for the Bay 
checkerspot butterfly.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this rulemaking is 
available upon request from the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

Author(s)

    The primary author of this package is the staff of the Sacramento 
Fish and Wildlife Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

[[Page 50433]]

Regulation Promulgation

0
Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.95(i) by revising the entry for ``Bay Checkerspot 
Butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis)'' to read as follows:


Sec.  17.95  Critical habitat--wildlife.

    (i) Insects.
    (Bay Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis)
    (1) Critical habitat units are depicted for San Mateo and Santa 
Clara Counties, California, on the maps below.
    (2) The primary constituent elements of critical habitat for the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly are the habitat components that provide:
    (i) The presence of annual or perennial grasslands with little to 
no overstory that provide north-south and east-west slopes with a tilt 
of more than 7 degrees for larval host plant survival during periods of 
atypical weather (for example, drought). Common grassland species 
include wild oats (Avena fatua), soft chess (Bromus hordeaceus), 
California oatgrass (Danthonia californica), purple needlegrass 
(Nassella pulchra), and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis); less 
abundant in these grasslands are annual and perennial forbs such as 
filaree (Erodium botrys), true clovers (Trifolium sp.), dwarf plantain 
(Plantago erecta), and turkey mullein (Croton setigerus). These 
species, with the exception of dwarf plantain, are not required by the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly, but merely are provided here as an example 
of species commonly found in California grasslands.
    (ii) The presence of the primary larval host plant, dwarf plantain 
(Plantago erecta), and at least one of the secondary host plants, 
purple owl's-clover (Castilleja densiflora) or exserted paintbrush 
(Castilleja exserta), are required for reproduction, feeding, and 
larval development.
    (iii) The presence of adult nectar sources for feeding. Common 
nectar sources include desertparsley (Lomatium spp.), California 
goldfields (Lasthenia californica), tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa), sea 
muilla (Muilla maritima), scytheleaf onion (Allium falcifolium), false 
babystars (Linanthus androsaceus), and intermediate fiddleneck 
(Amsinckia intermedia).
    (iv) Soils derived from serpentinite ultramafic rock (Montara, 
Climara, Henneke, Hentine, and Obispo soil series) or similar soils 
(Inks, Candlestick, Los Gatos, Fagan, and Barnabe soil series) that 
provide areas with fewer aggressive, nonnative plant species for larval 
host plant and adult nectar plant survival and reproduction.
    (v) The presence of stable holes and cracks in the soil, and 
surface rock outcrops that provide shelter for the larval stage of the 
Bay checkerspot butterfly during summer diapause.
    (3) Critical habitat does not include manmade structures (such as 
buildings, aqueducts, runways, roads, and other paved areas) and the 
land on which they are located existing on the effective date of this 
rule and not containing one or more of the primary constituent 
elements.
    (4) Critical habitat map units. Data layers defining map units were 
created on a base of USGS 7.5' quadrangles using USDA National 
Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) county-wide MrSID compressed 
mosaics of 1 meter resolution and natural color aerial photography from 
summer 2005. Critical habitat units were then mapped using Universal 
Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone 10, North American Datum (NAD) 1983 
coordinates.
    (5) Note: Index map for Bay checkerspot butterfly critical habitat 
units follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-S

[[Page 50434]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26AU08.000

BILLING CODE 4310-55-C

[[Page 50435]]

    (6) Unit 1: San Bruno Mountain, San Mateo County, California. From 
USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle San Francisco South.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 52853, 4170062; 52856, 4170038; 52862, 4170043; 52866, 4170045; 
52889, 4170061; 52915, 4170074; 52940, 4170084; 52970, 4170091; 52991, 
4170102; 53010, 4170112; 53036, 4170134; 53057, 4170130; 53070, 
4170151; 53089, 4170171; 53112, 4170170; 53135, 4170154; 53153, 
4170109; 53184, 4170104; 53203, 4170081; 53207, 4170041; 53201, 
4169958; 53214, 4169958; 53241, 4169938; 53257, 4169970; 53281, 
4169974; 53303, 4169965; 53323, 4169971; 53344, 4169964; 53355, 
4169943; 53374, 4169943; 53402, 4169930; 53404, 4169906; 53428, 
4169900; 53458, 4169913; 53489, 4169909; 53527, 4169898; 53563, 
4169900; 53592, 4169902; 53627, 4169892; 53656, 4169877; 53671, 
4169859; 53713, 4169856; 53710, 4169804; 53665, 4169711; 53618, 
4169606; 53604, 4169575; 53559, 4169488; 53521, 4169481; 53492, 
4169479; 53478, 4169457; 53474, 4169413; 53454, 4169388; 53434, 
4169364; 53387, 4169340; 53357, 4169322; 53336, 4169300; 53317, 
4169269; 53301, 4169264; 53287, 4169242; 53260, 4169178; 53235, 
4169105; 53164, 4169029; 53100, 4169010; 53101, 4168943; 53069, 
4168920; 53013, 4168954; 52936, 4168954; 52882, 4169005; 52824, 
4169051; 52752, 4169071; 52718, 4169074; 52650, 4169066; 52628, 
4169020; 52610, 4168977; 52552, 4168965; 52580, 4169045; 52440, 
4169117; 52362, 4169110; 52352, 4169041; 52235, 4169066; 52242, 
4169257; 52198, 4169347; 52168, 4169354; 52159, 4169382; 52152, 
4169426; 52142, 4169428; 52127, 4169422; 52107, 4169432; 52094, 
4169445; 52088, 4169459; 52083, 4169491; 52068, 4169488; 52054, 
4169493; 52049, 4169483; 52049, 4169465; 52046, 4169432; 52038, 
4169413; 52024, 4169400; 52010, 4169390; 51996, 4169388; 51993, 
4169373; 51990, 4169352; 51989, 4169338; 51977, 4169310; 51954, 
4169295; 51930, 4169292; 51912, 4169296; 51896, 4169310; 51876, 
4169332; 51849, 4169369; 51827, 4169382; 51815, 4169391; 51792, 
4169390; 51759, 4169390; 51747, 4169402; 51752, 4169424; 51760, 
4169437; 51769, 4169458; 51771, 4169481; 51797, 4169559; 51721, 
4169595; 51695, 4169469; 51667, 4169464; 51647, 4169469; 51623, 
4169501; 51589, 4169527; 51592, 4169674; 51570, 4169677; 51550, 
4169674; 51508, 4169668; 51477, 4169671; 51435, 4169674; 51423, 
4169719; 51419, 4169736; 51408, 4169731; 51394, 4169713; 51379, 
4169697; 51354, 4169691; 51341, 4169690; 51337, 4169681; 51315, 
4169681; 51303, 4169689; 51279, 4169713; 51229, 4169810; 51184, 
4169770; 51171, 4169745; 51155, 4169731; 51135, 4169723; 51129, 
4169719; 51129, 4169710; 51129, 4169690; 51127, 4169669; 51118, 
4169651; 51104, 4169629; 51086, 4169609; 51061, 4169598; 51035, 
4169591; 50999, 4169589; 50967, 4169591; 50935, 4169599; 50913, 
4169616; 50896, 4169638; 50882, 4169668; 50844, 4169623; 50831, 
4169611; 50810, 4169588; 50792, 4169588; 50777, 4169590; 50760, 
4169600; 50748, 4169602; 50738, 4169589; 50731, 4169574; 50731, 
4169561; 50736, 4169542; 50740, 4169517; 50741, 4169495; 50736, 
4169475; 50729, 4169463; 50723, 4169447; 50722, 4169430; 50718, 
4169415; 50710, 4169399; 50701, 4169385; 50690, 4169374; 50679, 
4169365; 50674, 4169349; 50664, 4169330; 50655, 4169312; 50635, 
4169299; 50623, 4169292; 50613, 4169284; 50613, 4169268; 50597, 
4169255; 50583, 4169239; 50580, 4169215; 50583, 4169191; 50613, 
4169153; 50665, 4169090; 50650, 4169068; 50617, 4169048; 50572, 
4169043; 50542, 4169042; 50519, 4169048; 50498, 4169052; 50483, 
4169061; 50461, 4169073; 50444, 4169085; 50387, 4169124; 50362, 
4169151; 50346, 4169178; 50322, 4169174; 50297, 4169175; 50279, 
4169181; 50235, 4169183; 50203, 4169194; 50169, 4169217; 50139, 
4169238; 50122, 4169250; 50104, 4169267; 50081, 4169290; 50073, 
4169317; 50068, 4169345; 50069, 4169377; 50070, 4169388; 50068, 
4169402; 50068, 4169418; 50076, 4169438; 50087, 4169455; 50087, 
4169464; 50068, 4169486; 50054, 4169509; 50044, 4169534; 50035, 
4169557; 50033, 4169584; 50034, 4169608; 50040, 4169631; 50045, 
4169650; 50050, 4169664; 50055, 4169673; 50059, 4169686; 50068, 
4169712; 50078, 4169734; 50090, 4169776; 50096, 4169811; 50117, 
4169844; 50136, 4169877; 50152, 4169904; 50180, 4169920; 50235, 
4169925; 50279, 4169932; 50323, 4169940; 50364, 4169954; 50399, 
4169970; 50412, 4169998; 50435, 4170034; 50460, 4170069; 50490, 
4170103; 50485, 4170138; 50482, 4170165; 50479, 4170188; 50491, 
4170214; 50483, 4170257; 50495, 4170295; 50515, 4170330; 50547, 
4170370; 50580, 4170407; 50613, 4170479; 50624, 4170446; 50640, 
4170421; 50667, 4170395; 50706, 4170376; 50730, 4170351; 50756, 
4170336; 50784, 4170314; 50799, 4170279; 50794, 4170250; 50767, 
4170227; 50774, 4170205; 50811, 4170182; 50851, 4170185; 50881, 
4170201; 50892, 4170233; 50944, 4170243; 50957, 4170277; 50980, 
4170307; 51017, 4170327; 51050, 4170349; 51063, 4170366; 51069, 
4170404; 51069, 4170462; 51093, 4170507; 51112, 4170535; 51128, 
4170569; 51159, 4170601; 51180, 4170643; 51195, 4170685; 51203, 
4170750; 51268, 4170754; 51274, 4170805; 51322, 4170818; 51364, 
4170820; 51385, 4170786; 51354, 4170744; 51345, 4170699; 51303, 
4170619; 51206, 4170481; 51188, 4170457; 51133, 4170443; 51104, 
4170432; 51101, 4170397; 51113, 4170364; 51119, 4170341; 51150, 
4170331; 51167, 4170314; 51187, 4170309; 51214, 4170298; 51227, 
4170315; 51243, 4170321; 51262, 4170291; 51287, 4170284; 51316, 
4170276; 51343, 4170291; 51382, 4170291; 51427, 4170277; 51455, 
4170354; 51495, 4170371; 51506, 4170328; 51536, 4170284; 51569, 
4170288; 51589, 4170279; 51614, 4170278; 51628, 4170264; 51622, 
4170249; 51626, 4170230; 51629, 4170215; 51643, 4170211; 51657, 
4170201; 51673, 4170196; 51689, 4170185; 51711, 4170180; 51736, 
4170180; 51767, 4170176; 51793, 4170180; 51823, 4170182; 51845, 
4170150; 51843, 4170122; 51871, 4170112; 51874, 4170144; 51879, 
4170178; 51893, 4170205; 51914, 4170246; 51916, 4170287; 51943, 
4170335; 51944, 4170395; 51956, 4170442; 51967, 4170500; 51964, 
4170535; 51947, 4170559; 51929, 4170584; 51937, 4170647; 51943, 
4170683; 51944, 4170710; 51919, 4170764; 51916, 4170789; 51925, 
4170815; 51944, 4170850; 51955, 4170879; 51974, 4170905; 51980, 
4170939; 51981, 4170982; 51997, 4170985; 52017, 4170989; 52040, 
4170986; 52056, 4170972; 52076, 4170953; 52091, 4170957; 52113, 
4170977; 52150, 4170992; 52173, 4170975; 52186, 4170953; 52150, 
4170924; 52147, 4170872; 52166, 4170834; 52169, 4170799; 52160, 
4170686; 52125, 4170673; 52125, 4170651; 52160, 4170651; 52157, 
4170619; 52131, 4170600; 52141, 4170564; 52173, 4170564; 52176, 
4170503; 52128, 4170295; 52125, 4170263; 52134, 4170222; 52153,

[[Page 50436]]

4170202; 52176, 4170190; 52214, 4170190; 52243, 4170206; 52266, 
4170196; 52266, 4170129; 52236, 4170086; 52202, 4170051; 52145, 
4169994; 52165, 4169960; 52221, 4169933; 52269, 4169930; 52319, 
4169895; 52385, 4169894; 52425, 4169868; 52461, 4169881; 52449, 
4170010; 52462, 4170073; 52488, 4170158; 52518, 4170166; 52539, 
4170168; 52560, 4170160; 52575, 4170162; 52596, 4170173; 52616, 
4170174; 52651, 4170154; 52683, 4170159; 52723, 4170154; 52754, 
4170155; 52782, 4170155; 52805, 4170147; 52831, 4170134; 52847, 
4170094; returning to 52853, 4170062.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 1 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (7) Unit 2: Pulgas Ridge, San Mateo County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangle San Mateo.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 558502, 4151442; 558422, 4151451; 558339, 4151484; 558223, 
4151555; 558094, 4151656; 557957, 4151788; 557745, 4152013; 557545, 
4152228; 557398, 4152392; 557274, 4152523; 557191, 4152632; 557123, 
4152751; 557076, 4152838; 557061, 4152902; 557012, 4153060; 557027, 
4153077; 557027, 4153130; 556994, 4153145; 556961, 4153171; 556939, 
4153182; 556936, 4153216; 556913, 4153220; 556880, 4153242; 556868, 
4153273; 556867, 4153329; 557060, 4153350; 557277, 4153095; 557358, 
4153009; 557407, 4152900; 557494, 4152681; 557576, 4152631; 557851, 
4152470; 558104, 4152134; 558210, 4152004; 558320, 4151850; 558268, 
4151803; 558302, 4151758; 558363, 4151800; 558474, 4151666; 558625, 
4151470; 558602, 4151463; 558557, 4151448; returning to 558502, 
4151442.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 2 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (8) Unit 3: Edgewood Park, San Mateo County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangle Woodside.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 564162, 4146806; 564197, 4146796; 564234, 4146748; 564270, 
4146731; 564196, 4146657; 564182, 4146642; 564169, 4146630; 564154, 
4146615; 564142, 4146585; 564128, 4146601; 564108, 4146585; 564097, 
4146565; 564092, 4146540; 564078, 4146514; 564061, 4146457; 564032, 
4146525; 564003, 4146549; 563949, 4146575; 563903, 4146582; 563868, 
4146576; 563834, 4146542; 563809, 4146492; 563808, 4146448; 563842, 
4146394; 563811, 4146384; 563774, 4146364; 563747, 4146377; 563726, 
4146394; 563702, 4146416; 563668, 4146413; 563684, 4146384; 563656, 
4146377; 563626, 4146409; 563555, 4146423; 563533, 4146403; 563533, 
4146374; 563520, 4146338; 563543, 4146316; 563596, 4146356; 563604, 
4146338; 563576, 4146297; 563520, 4146284; 563450, 4146312; 563396, 
4146314; 563360, 4146293; 563338, 4146263; 563340, 4146229; 563365, 
4146198; 563424, 4146176; 563464, 4146140; 563488, 4146094; 563459, 
4146043; 563420, 4146003; 563361, 4145965; 563305, 4145945; 563215, 
4145902; 563106, 4145980; 563077, 4145966; 563050, 4145976; 563014, 
4145948; 562923, 4146053; 562820, 4146153; 562674, 4146184; 562550, 
4146190; 562503, 4146146; 562432, 4146134; 562367, 4146141; 562337, 
4146177; 562290, 4146269; 562106, 4146315; 562126, 4146380; 562087, 
4146395; 562148, 4146523; 562121, 4146554; 562162, 4146602; 562260, 
4146697; 562284, 4146723; 562369, 4146818; 562418, 4146870; 562467, 
4146918; 562548, 4147005; 562667, 4147115; 562724, 4147186; 562744, 
4147200; 562771, 4147206; 562796, 4147214; 562816, 4147212; 562849, 
4147216; 562862, 4147203; 562874, 4147191; 562858, 4147160; 562876, 
4147148; 562907, 4147149; 562915, 4147187; 562936, 4147221; 562955, 
4147207; 562963, 4147174; 563001, 4147137; 563034, 4147121; 563052, 
4147122; 563063, 4147135; 563063, 4147160; 563070, 4147174; 563098, 
4147180; 563141, 4147173; 563179, 4147179; 563199, 4147187; 563196, 
4147227; 563164, 4147243; 563156, 4147274; 563140, 4147290; 563124, 
4147308; 563103, 4147329; 563087, 4147356; 563093, 4147379; 563113, 
4147405; 563138, 4147424; 563196, 4147403; 563228, 4147396; 563247, 
4147392; 563256, 4147354; 563275, 4147334; 563304, 4147313; 563304, 
4147357; 563312, 4147395; 563324, 4147437; 563329, 4147458; 563336, 
4147478; 563334, 4147508; 563354, 4147530; 563371, 4147543; 563411, 
4147539; 563440, 4147526; 563465, 4147513; 563468, 4147488; 563457, 
4147462; 563446, 4147441; 563436, 4147420; 563429, 4147405; 563422, 
4147390; 563415, 4147377; 563414, 4147360; 563406, 4147327; 563408, 
4147272; 563443, 4147244; 563457, 4147229; 563480, 4147222; 563502, 
4147229; 563517, 4147251; 563534, 4147276; 563553, 4147283; 563569, 
4147282; 563595, 4147274; 563623, 4147264; 563646, 4147239; 563645, 
4147181; 563608, 4147135; 563604, 4147096; 563609, 4147060; 563647, 
4147048; 563675, 4147047; 563668, 4147013; 563671, 4146982; 563673, 
4146964; 563675, 4146954; 563669, 4146934; 563697, 4146903; 563739, 
4146896; 563788, 4146903; 563825, 4146934; 563853, 4146979; 563862, 
4146993; 563882, 4147004; 563902, 4147007; 563915, 4147002; 563912, 
4146981; 563900, 4146963; 563883, 4146944; 563881, 4146913; 563889, 
4146885; 563888, 4146855; 563858, 4146857; 563817, 4146861; 563749, 
4146833; 563727, 4146798; 563744, 4146751; 563776, 4146699; 563799, 
4146661; 563863, 4146689; 563971, 4146735; 563979, 4146753; 563997, 
4146758; 564017, 4146756; 564030, 4146769; 564048, 4146778; 564080, 
4146775; 564099, 4146784; 564131, 4146803; returning to 564162, 
4146806.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 3 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (9) Unit 4: Jasper Ridge, San Mateo County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangle Palo Alto.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 569513, 4139881; 569524, 4139862; 569550, 4139849; 569569, 
4139829; 569580, 4139812; 569578, 4139791; 569578, 4139780; 569605, 
4139771; 569631, 4139770; 569696, 4139789; 569703, 4139764; 569676, 
4139743; 569686, 4139716; 569736, 4139668; 569782, 4139670; 569815, 
4139659; 569839, 4139671; 569869, 4139687; 569893, 4139716; 569915, 
4139714; 569954, 4139692; 569993, 4139680; 570014, 4139658; 570027, 
4139642; 570046, 4139627; 569983, 4139608; 568859, 4139177; 568865, 
4139205; 568889, 4139237; 568921, 4139265; 568951, 4139280; 568962, 
4139308; 568947, 4139319; 568908, 4139319; 568882, 4139319; 568882, 
4139327; 568885, 4139340; 568885, 4139353; 568876, 4139355; 568869, 
4139342; 568848, 4139319; 568831, 4139278; 568816, 4139261; 568797, 
4139250; 568775, 4139252; 568758, 4139261; 568747, 4139261; 568736, 
4139274; 568745, 4139299; 568749, 4139323; 568728, 4139344; 568702, 
4139342; 568674, 4139342; 568666, 4139342; 568664, 4139362; 568676, 
4139387; 568698, 4139407; 568743, 4139411; 568771, 4139411; 568805, 
4139411; 568816, 4139441; 568846, 4139490; 568852, 4139520; 568852, 
4139527; 568844, 4139531; 568833, 4139507; 568788, 4139495; 568771, 
4139495; 568749, 4139505; 568741, 4139527; 568730, 4139548; 568724, 
4139548; 568713, 4139531; 568694, 4139518; 568685, 4139503; 568674, 
4139501; 568657, 4139501; 568642, 4139495; 568627, 4139484; 568603, 
4139473; 568597, 4139499; 568603, 4139512; 568520, 4139578; 568505, 
4139565; 568475, 4139565; 568470, 4139574; 568479, 4139595; 568485, 
4139621; 568481, 4139625; 568462, 4139617; 568425, 4139604; 568400, 
4139604; 568389, 4139623; 568389, 4139641; 568391, 4139668; 568404, 
4139688; 568410, 4139705; 568410, 4139722; 568412, 4139741; 568417, 
4139746; 568408, 4139752; 568389, 4139737; 568361, 4139718; 568325, 
4139694; 568314, 4139694; 568307, 4139703; 568322, 4139737; 568335, 
4139765; 568348, 4139791; 568335, 4139793; 568315, 4139789; 568305, 
4139799; 568296, 4139814; 568270, 4139808; 568246, 4139783; 568225, 
4139748; 568210, 4139748; 568210, 4139778; 568221, 4139803; 568247, 
4139836; 568261, 4139857; 568252, 4139870; 568210, 4139863; 568165, 
4139858; 568142, 4139865; 568145, 4139890; 568159, 4139919; 568152, 
4139934; 568108, 4139937; 568099, 4139966; 568083, 4139989; 568070, 
4140011; 568066, 4140038; 568090, 4140032; 568131, 4139998; 568168, 
4139984; 568203, 4139975; 568250, 4139976; 568279, 4139979; 568289, 
4139967; 568294, 4139945; 568303, 4139922; 568324, 4139914; 568345, 
4139906; 568371, 4139896; 568407, 4139913; 568461, 4139913; 568495, 
4139923; 568526, 4139951; 568571, 4140000; 568574, 4140034; 568543, 
4140051; 568497, 4140049; 568467, 4140066; 568430, 4140076; 568397, 
4140063; 568353, 4140055; 568300, 4140059; 568250, 4140072; 568225, 
4140087; 568205, 4140107; 568200, 4140141; 568207, 4140177; 568200, 
4140183; 568163, 4140157; 568082, 4140161; 568023, 4140180; 568005, 
4140193; 567998, 4140211; 568015, 4140225; 568027, 4140241; 568028, 
4140259; 568006, 4140269; 567984, 4140271; 567967, 4140280; 567962, 
4140301; 567948, 4140320; 567930, 4140339; 567915, 4140373; 567904, 
4140392; 567938, 4140398; 567980, 4140405; 568008, 4140418; 568001, 
4140442; 567988, 4140457; 568031, 4140467; 568098, 4140470; 568123, 
4140484; 568166, 4140471; 568183, 4140472; 568180, 4140494; 568172, 
4140517; 568147, 4140543; 568153, 4140554; 568184, 4140561; 568209, 
4140577; 568249, 4140579; 568285, 4140585; 568318, 4140597; 568356, 
4140608; 568383, 4140600; 568423, 4140577; 568471, 4140580; 568488, 
4140590; 568483, 4140612; 568507, 4140625; 568551, 4140623; 568572, 
4140632; 568606, 4140653; 568658, 4140676; 568681, 4140691; 568705, 
4140693; 568723, 4140687; 568741, 4140684; 568762, 4140673; 568807, 
4140653; 568830, 4140634; 568862, 4140607; 568873, 4140591; 568894, 
4140584; 568891, 4140566; 568881, 4140556; 568856, 4140536; 568838, 
4140520; 568834, 4140499; 568812, 4140474; 568803, 4140445; 568791, 
4140422; 568786, 4140395; 568739, 4140382; 568733, 4140366; 568719, 
4140353; 568682, 4140355; 568648, 4140350; 568651, 4140331; 568668, 
4140312; 568672, 4140286; 568653, 4140278; 568668, 4140256; 568713, 
4140235; 568736, 4140273; 568769, 4140284; 568805, 4140303; 568827, 
4140297; 568848, 4140312; 568872, 4140321; 568918, 4140335; 568964, 
4140327; 569000, 4140248; 569024, 4140226; 569058, 4140256; 569097, 
4140267; 569129, 4140244; 569166, 4140211; 569186, 4140185; 569202, 
4140165; 569217, 4140136; 569219, 4140119; 569228, 4140106; 569240, 
4140094; 569260, 4140088; 569282, 4140073; 569286, 4140045; 569284, 
4140017; 569286, 4139986; 569279, 4139961; 569254, 4139955; 569242, 
4139943; 569217, 4139920; 569211, 4139900; 569246, 4139893; 569275, 
4139877; 569305, 4139877; 569342, 4139883; 569367, 4139919; 569404, 
4139945; 569434, 4139949; 569455, 4139945; 569485, 4139917; returning 
to 569513, 4139881.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 4 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (10) Unit 5: Metcalf, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 611242, 4121203; 611273, 4121300; 611382, 4121353; 611488, 
4121320; 611607, 4121360; 611707, 4121423; 611776, 4121486; 611856, 
4121482; 611945, 4121496; 612084, 4121502; 612190, 4121555; 612315, 
4121543; 612448, 4121585; 612577, 4121572; 612974, 4121532; 613302, 
4121410; 613507, 4121310; 613672, 4121337; 613907, 4121337; 614056, 
4121410; 614393, 4121110; 614418, 4121079; 614479, 4121095; 614513, 
4121108; 614547, 4121103; 614579, 4121103; 614616, 4121102; 614628, 
4121071; 614610, 4121032; 614633, 4121024; 614691, 4121025; 614737, 
4121019; 614760, 4120988; 614750, 4120961; 614713, 4120939; 614711, 
4120903; 614703, 4120876; 614718, 4120863; 614731, 4120832; 614743, 
4120810; 614774, 4120852; 614784, 4120819; 614904, 4120878; 614919, 
4120849; 614913, 4120812; 614919, 4120775; 614897, 4120730; 614874, 
4120715; 614886, 4120686; 614891, 4120659; 614921, 4120671; 614969, 
4120678; 614999, 4120664; 614999, 4120625; 614974, 4120593; 614980, 
4120547; 614950, 4120517; 614942, 4120488; 614970, 4120470; 614986, 
4120424; 614996, 4120339; 615037, 4120410; 615163, 4120270; 615782, 
4119656; 615873, 4119555; 616548, 4118936; 616751, 4118743; 617140, 
4118453; 617774, 4118066; 617873, 4118037; 617986, 4118057; 618040, 
4118015; 617983, 4117993; 617934, 4117940; 617896, 4117916; 617930, 
4117901; 617984, 4117896; 618000, 4117874; 618032, 4117863; 618054, 
4117849; 618052, 4117820; 618027, 4117810; 618025, 4117766; 618067, 
4117760; 618067, 4117728; 618144, 4117713; 618222, 4117720; 618262, 
4117696; 618278, 4117655; 618256, 4117633; 618279, 4117591; 618286, 
4117527; 618323, 4117503; 618317, 4117455; 618359, 4117439; 618413, 
4117435; 618427, 4117461; 618457, 4117471; 618489, 4117476; 618489, 
4117501; 618516, 4117516; 618545, 4117506; 618559, 4117469; 618589, 
4117466; 618618, 4117430; 618642, 4117442; 618642, 4117477; 618684, 
4117503; 618711, 4117527; 618730, 4117550; 618760, 4117564; 618797, 
4117553; 618818, 4117545; 618836, 4117511; 618852, 4117500; 618877, 
4117494; 618874, 4117457; 618894, 4117445; 618932, 4117427; 618932, 
4117442; 618957, 4117445; 618976, 4117432; 618976, 4117393; 619062, 
4117364; 619092, 4117373; 619113, 4117369; 619111, 4117323; 619145, 
4117283; 619062, 4117188; 619058, 4117150; 619037, 4117123; 618984, 
4117044; 619147, 4117114; 619236, 4117123; 619294, 4117077; 619329, 
4117080; 619357, 4117092; 619387, 4117074; 619392, 4117037; 619382, 
4117011; 619414, 4117004; 619446, 4116993; 619441, 4116938; 619469, 
4116920; 619483, 4116876; 619460, 4116840; 619496, 4116812; 619525, 
4116780; 619536, 4116746; 619553, 4116743; 619592, 4116766; 619630, 
4116739; 619626, 4116701; 619641, 4116687; 619677, 4116701; 619706, 
4116681; 619753, 4116690; 619769, 4116667; 619745, 4116648; 619789, 
4116592; 619775, 4116566; 619685, 4116547; 619768, 4116513; 619764, 
4116489; 619720, 4116399; 619758, 4116390; 619725, 4116298; 619792, 
4116295; 619827, 4116268; 619843, 4116231; 619832, 4116189; 619956, 
4116200; 620026, 4116196; 620027, 4116146; 620037, 4116090; 619981, 
4115976; 620018, 4115910; 619981, 4115866; 619891, 4115850; 619903, 
4115813; 619978, 4115796; 619996, 4115766; 620072, 4115793; 620111, 
4115763; 620096, 4115712; 620116, 4115680; 620199, 4115750; 620314, 
4115703; 620320, 4115653; 620356, 4115633; 620401, 4115659; 620444, 
4115506; 620503, 4115495; 620571, 4115549; 620617, 4115454; 620788, 
4115324; 620903, 4115266; 620995, 4115260; 621058, 4115374; 621097, 
4115435; 621107, 4115413; 621122, 4115390; 621149, 4115374; 621156, 
4115344; 621200, 4115254; 621608, 4115039; 621668, 4115004; 621715, 
4114977; 621744, 4114932; 621789, 4114879; 621788, 4114836; 621788, 
4114810; 621768, 4114773; 621773, 4114740; 621772, 4114662; 621773, 
4114638; 621766, 4114618; 621782, 4114597; 621842, 4114600; 621857, 
4114586; 621875, 4114583; 621881, 4114552; 621827, 4114518; 621800, 
4114474; 621727, 4114441; 621038, 4114280; 620937, 4114292; 620831, 
4114261; 620046, 4114525; 619795, 4114578; 619736, 4114633; 619738, 
4114702; 619674, 4114732; 619453, 4114356; 619351, 4114262; 619197, 
4114240; 619041, 4114293; 618895, 4114410; 618599, 4114424; 618361, 
4114506; 618185, 4114530; 617740, 4115026; 617095, 4115754; 616662, 
4116332; 616403, 4116568; 616244, 4116697; 616203, 4116810; 616126, 
4117005; 615933, 4117032; 615789, 4117099; 615722, 4117186; 615933, 
4117280; 616097, 4117217; 616167, 4117292; 616030, 4117460; 615914, 
4117446; 615683, 4117614; 615229, 4117907; 615099, 4117854; 615457, 
4117510; 615390, 4117438; 615003, 4117751; 614469, 4118133; 613965, 
4118481; 613890, 4118524; 613954, 4118666; 613790, 4118831; 613636, 
4118894; 613636, 4119149; 613557, 4119283; 613403, 4119531; 613254, 
4119651; 613077, 4119606; 612893, 4119620; 612832, 4119665; 612853, 
4119708; 612847, 4119729; 612784, 4119705; 612770, 4119740; 612715, 
4119760; 612640, 4119824; 612618, 4119872; 612583, 4119977; 612062, 
4120400; 611707, 4120758; 611686, 4120748; 611631, 4120824; 611294, 
4121127; returning to 611242, 4121203.
    (ii) Note: Unit 5 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-S

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26AU08.005

BILLING CODE 4310-55-C

[[Page 50446]]

    (11) Unit 6: Tulare Hill, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 610971, 4120478; 611134, 4120435; 611200, 4120245; 611116, 
4120132; 611181, 4119977; 611212, 4119824; 611280, 4119743; 611293, 
4119653; 611241, 4119512; 610967, 4119335; 610786, 4119391; 610392, 
4119622; 610302, 4119674; 610057, 4119813; 610117, 4119846; 609929, 
4120074; 609799, 4120229; 609915, 4120374; 609819, 4120430; 610113, 
4120749; 610310, 4120833; 610459, 4120769; 610531, 4120847; 610797, 
4120659; 610776, 4120464; 610843, 4120449; returning to 610971, 
4120478.
    (ii) Note: Unit 6 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.
    (12) Unit 7: Santa Teresa Hills, Santa Clara County, California. 
From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, 
Santa Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 608447, 4119332; 608474, 4119309; 608576, 4119335; 608615, 
4119330; 608689, 4119306; 608706, 4119356; 608749, 4119377; 608758, 
4119360; 608746, 4119302; 608760, 4119230; 608722, 4119159; 608656, 
4119124; 608669, 4119080; 608762, 4119101; 608846, 4119140; 608892, 
4119222; 609000, 4119082; 609117, 4119040; 609190, 4119077; 609244, 
4119107; 609509, 4119359; 609534, 4119358; 609548, 4119366; 609549, 
4119393; 609568, 4119444; 609582, 4119466; 609606, 4119520; 609628, 
4119547; 609656, 4119568; 610016, 4119783; 610228, 4119650; 610177, 
4119543; 610143, 4119434; 610086, 4119368; 610019, 4119278; 609929, 
4119219; 609928, 4119116; 609956, 4119070; 610001, 4119067; 610048, 
4119044; 610138, 4119037; 610165, 4119006; 610240, 4118997; 610306, 
4118956; 610325, 4118923; 610343, 4118915; 610381, 4118905; 610405, 
4118877; 610414, 4118822; 610436, 4118812; 610464, 4118833; 610521, 
4118824; 610564, 4118822; 610592, 4118815; 610612, 4118795; 610617, 
4118776; 610617, 4118756; 610624, 4118735; 610650, 4118729; 610669, 
4118717; 610700, 4118710; 610723, 4118718; 610757, 4118723; 610773, 
4118706; 610780, 4118658; 610790, 4118646; 610787, 4118598; 610775, 
4118570; 610773, 4118536; 610771, 4118519; 610782, 4118517; 610822, 
4118530; 610842, 4118528; 610864, 4118520; 610880, 4118508; 610899, 
4118501; 610915, 4118487; 610914, 4118461; 610906, 4118446; 610889, 
4118430; 610886, 4118417; 610902, 4118393; 610900, 4118367; 610896, 
4118340; 610912, 4118330; 610934, 4118310; 610940, 4118282; 610932, 
4118260; 610935, 4118251; 610949, 4118231; 610955, 4118207; 610957, 
4118181; 610964, 4118176; 610991, 4118168; 610989, 4118152; 610992, 
4118113; 611000, 4118109; 611019, 4118109; 611041, 4118121; 611066, 
4118127; 611096, 4118122; 611114, 4118125; 611160, 4118145; 611185, 
4118147; 611220, 4118143; 611254, 4118124; 611259, 4118093; 611250, 
4118046; 611250, 4118012; 611247, 4117972; 611255, 4117966; 611276, 
4117974; 611292, 4117975; 611331, 4117963; 611374, 4117922; 611421, 
4117919; 611446, 4117915; 611462, 4117908; 611475, 4117891; 611511, 
4117839; 611533, 4117814; 611554, 4117805; 611567, 4117772; 611556, 
4117741; 611560, 4117712; 611562, 4117677; 611517, 4117611; 611572, 
4117536; 611578, 4117500; 611570, 4117478; 611547, 4117451; 611503, 
4117429; 611458, 4117422; 611405, 4117439; 611323, 4117480; 611291, 
4117518; 611268, 4117566; 611230, 4117618; 611169, 4117625; 611100, 
4117637; 611072, 4117668; 611021, 4117766; 610962, 4117743; 610985, 
4117678; 611007, 4117611; 610957, 4117563; 610836, 4117565; 610800, 
4117537; 610773, 4117534; 610752, 4117518; 610733, 4117438; 610716, 
4117404; 610610, 4117272; 610572, 4117243; 610501, 4117238; 610412, 
4117262; 610370, 4117294; 610350, 4117341; 610281, 4117354; 610220, 
4117381; 610179, 4117413; 610146, 4117441; 610127, 4117492; 610058, 
4117531; 609819, 4117309; 609692, 4117372; 609593, 4117353; 609526, 
4117409; 609460, 4117386; 609405, 4117409; 609091, 4117456; 608872, 
4117364; 608840, 4117297; 608733, 4117262; 608502, 4117237; 608524, 
4117204; 608603, 4117138; 608723, 4117081; 608830, 4117067; 608934, 
4117066; 609071, 4117093; 609181, 4117210; 609225, 4117208; 609240, 
4117159; 609163, 4117083; 609228, 4117009; 609303, 4116981; 609325, 
4117003; 609303, 4117052; 609302, 4117087; 609324, 4117084; 609349, 
4117043; 609401, 4117059; 609409, 4117162; 609430, 4117203; 609458, 
4117190; 609471, 4117150; 609435, 4117016; 609506, 4116986; 609350, 
4116852; 609333, 4116880; 609256, 4116873; 609228, 4116889; 609205, 
4116873; 609163, 4116848; 609131, 4116849; 609102, 4116863; 609061, 
4116836; 609011, 4116841; 608843, 4116838; 608804, 4116864; 608758, 
4116878; 608714, 4116867; 608672, 4116827; 608625, 4116899; 608542, 
4116933; 608489, 4117019; 608426, 4117079; 608382, 4117115; 608343, 
4117134; 608305, 4117136; 608259, 4117127; 608216, 4117129; 608210, 
4117170; 608197, 4117192; 608138, 4117197; 608062, 4117234; 608020, 
4117241; 607997, 4117227; 607959, 4117228; 607963, 4117262; 607941, 
4117301; 607896, 4117334; 607909, 4117377; 608067, 4117348; 608170, 
4117343; 608289, 4117332; 608298, 4117392; 608239, 4117418; 608166, 
4117436; 608066, 4117450; 608012, 4117453; 607942, 4117507; 607907, 
4117572; 607938, 4117605; 607924, 4117642; 607848, 4117626; 607678, 
4117759; 607397, 4117766; 607129, 4117689; 606990, 4117599; 606767, 
4117931; 606643, 4118119; 606701, 4118302; 606742, 4118358; 606828, 
4118289; 606858, 4118323; 606693, 4118461; 606644, 4118391; 606609, 
4118328; 606542, 4118254; 606425, 4118183; 606179, 4118078; 605438, 
4118128; 605263, 4118203; 605074, 4118293; 604975, 4118365; 605178, 
4118600; 604548, 4118947; 604625, 4119145; 604788, 4119569; 604936, 
4119955; 604817, 4119974; 604817, 4120089; 604555, 4120119; 604414, 
4120139; 604283, 4120149; 604549, 4120858; 604561, 4120889; 604564, 
4120912; 604561, 4120952; 604572, 4120972; 604606, 4120977; 604622, 
4120963; 604624, 4120946; 604628, 4120920; 604645, 4120904; 604680, 
4120899; 604729, 4120910; 604729, 4120867; 604787, 4120831; 604810, 
4120814; 604844, 4120783; 604890, 4120765; 604924, 4120799; 604948, 
4120835; 604970, 4120831; 604986, 4120786; 605003, 4120742; 605064, 
4120714; 605093, 4120722; 605132, 4120760; 605163, 4120770; 605185, 
4120744; 605219, 4120689; 605272, 4120656; 605329, 4120668; 605395, 
4120706; 605405, 4120671; 605424, 4120642; 605452, 4120646; 605473, 
4120657; 605509, 4120656; 605548, 4120664; 605588, 4120656; 605614, 
4120682; 605643, 4120689; 605647, 4120649; 605679, 4120645; 605711, 
4120633; 605746, 4120610; 605728, 4120571; 605712, 4120545; 605685, 
4120526; 605653, 4120525; 605613, 4120522; 605608, 4120506; 605619, 
4120496; 605645, 4120487; 605709, 4120480; 605729, 4120443; 605749, 
4120426; 605775, 4120431; 605792, 4120456; 605809, 4120473; 605836, 
4120498; 605864, 4120508; 605879, 4120512; 605904, 4120506; 605928, 
4120490; 605945, 4120465; 605949, 4120449; 605945, 4120432; 605953, 
4120401; 605971, 4120390; 606001, 4120399; 606040, 4120411; 606076,

[[Page 50447]]

4120422; 606105, 4120433; 606133, 4120448; 606158, 4120474; 606200, 
4120494; 606241, 4120516; 606272, 4120540; 606310, 4120548; 606353, 
4120567; 606378, 4120587; 606394, 4120604; 606407, 4120596; 606422, 
4120586; 606474, 4120580; 606521, 4120577; 606553, 4120566; 606589, 
4120544; 606625, 4120524; 606653, 4120496; 606653, 4120520; 606626, 
4120579; 606625, 4120607; 606650, 4120613; 606703, 4120612; 606736, 
4120611; 606751, 4120586; 606748, 4120556; 606762, 4120552; 606804, 
4120566; 606861, 4120594; 606917, 4120615; 606968, 4120624; 607030, 
4120627; 607084, 4120614; 607139, 4120594; 607197, 4120614; 607194, 
4120598; 607195, 4120569; 607195, 4120549; 607188, 4120521; 607174, 
4120507; 607179, 4120472; 607191, 4120455; 607214, 4120443; 607247, 
4120427; 607277, 4120408; 607280, 4120373; 607298, 4120340; 607305, 
4120307; 607332, 4120290; 607364, 4120276; 607395, 4120272; 607414, 
4120266; 607434, 4120261; 607453, 4120267; 607461, 4120254; 607462, 
4120237; 607458, 4120220; 607449, 4120201; 607437, 4120184; 607421, 
4120162; 607397, 4120136; 607370, 4120088; 607327, 4120023; 607297, 
4119983; 607182, 4119926; 607113, 4119874; 607064, 4119832; 607020, 
4119802; 606938, 4119784; 606848, 4119768; 606800, 4119732; 606822, 
4119719; 606891, 4119713; 606982, 4119681; 607021, 4119632; 607033, 
4119550; 607049, 4119507; 607064, 4119439; 607068, 4119404; 607099, 
4119389; 607118, 4119342; 607152, 4119323; 607181, 4119286; 607199, 
4119244; 607188, 4119204; 607145, 4119123; 607167, 4119087; 607256, 
4119070; 607355, 4119123; 607619, 4119104; 607673, 4119099; 607702, 
4119117; 607733, 4119120; 607774, 4119125; 607775, 4119165; 607814, 
4119200; 607861, 4119222; 607909, 4119212; 607985, 4119188; 608024, 
4119217; 607998, 4119236; 608004, 4119270; 608048, 4119275; 608100, 
4119228; 608157, 4119228; 608207, 4119263; 608269, 4119268; 608314, 
4119280; 608363, 4119287; 608409, 4119297; 608425, 4119321; returning 
to 608447, 4119332.
    (ii) Note: Unit 7 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.
    (13) Unit 8: Calero Reservoir, Santa Clara County, California. From 
USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 605493, 4116867; 605661, 4116896; 605718, 4116853; 605799, 
4116844; 605856, 4116923; 605938, 4116906; 606045, 4116752; 606122, 
4116520; 606156, 4116383; 606165, 4116288; 606051, 4116182; 606069, 
4116127; 606132, 4116039; 606177, 4116025; 606230, 4116083; 606269, 
4115997; 606336, 4116015; 606337, 4115938; 606300, 4115931; 606262, 
4115861; 606326, 4115838; 606387, 4115849; 606433, 4115829; 606519, 
4115734; 606574, 4115740; 606867, 4115901; 606937, 4115907; 606994, 
4115890; 607043, 4115856; 607081, 4115818; 607068, 4115755; 607090, 
4115693; 607144, 4115664; 607241, 4115643; 607290, 4115588; 607342, 
4115554; 607159, 4115391; 607119, 4115368; 607073, 4115389; 607047, 
4115495; 606903, 4115584; 606837, 4115586; 606861, 4115560; 606919, 
4115549; 606944, 4115530; 606950, 4115482; 606978, 4115469; 606996, 
4115393; 606975, 4115370; 606902, 4115402; 606901, 4115371; 606921, 
4115339; 606904, 4115306; 606880, 4115337; 606861, 4115296; 606876, 
4115251; 606935, 4115241; 606958, 4115263; 606986, 4115195; 607026, 
4115199; 607027, 4115255; 607060, 4115266; 607082, 4115207; 607089, 
4115149; 607179, 4115149; 607266, 4115115; 607415, 4115156; 607464, 
4115136; 607555, 4115164; 607716, 4115136; 607712, 4115003; 607657, 
4114850; 607604, 4114753; 607518, 4114686; 607611, 4114702; 607791, 
4114919; 607826, 4114984; 607808, 4115366; 607972, 4115293; 608186, 
4115186; 608470, 4115055; 608850, 4114830; 608992, 4114854; 609129, 
4114812; 609117, 4115020; 608880, 4115233; 608512, 4115397; 608059, 
4115492; 608029, 4115644; 607959, 4115592; 607880, 4115595; 607966, 
4115726; 608052, 4115817; 608155, 4115878; 608258, 4115908; 608358, 
4115910; 608437, 4115938; 608556, 4115906; 608545, 4115971; 608608, 
4115990; 608682, 4115957; 608750, 4115901; 608776, 4115906; 608815, 
4115934; 608892, 4115927; 608946, 4115873; 608948, 4115826; 608906, 
4115731; 608967, 4115710; 609032, 4115647; 609481, 4115100; 609477, 
4115025; 609577, 4114951; 609821, 4114856; 609866, 4114711; 609880, 
4114582; 610030, 4114486; 610081, 4114398; 610120, 4114330; 610159, 
4114322; 610155, 4114287; 610124, 4114240; 610287, 4114038; 610327, 
4113965; 610319, 4113865; 610257, 4113742; 610202, 4113705; 610079, 
4113729; 609993, 4113754; 609891, 4113813; 609798, 4113845; 609735, 
4113885; 609737, 4113963; 609663, 4114035; 609563, 4114088; 609524, 
4114248; 609455, 4114356; 609212, 4114403; 609004, 4114676; 608945, 
4114439; 608774, 4114422; 608635, 4114302; 608547, 4114164; 608453, 
4113729; 608135, 4113470; 608079, 4113433; 608043, 4113356; 608038, 
4113230; 608012, 4113254; 607980, 4113238; 607947, 4113270; 607907, 
4113243; 607855, 4113282; 607814, 4113362; 607802, 4113545; 607694, 
4113606; 607526, 4113700; 607691, 4113754; 607691, 4114069; 607465, 
4114176; 607326, 4114660; 606930, 4114755; 606709, 4114597; 606401, 
4114641; 606250, 4114805; 605916, 4114924; 605715, 4115195; 605293, 
4115604; 605224, 4115604; 605180, 4115755; 605224, 4115869; 605035, 
4116101; 605042, 4116215; 605067, 4116309; 605123, 4116366; 605229, 
4116454; 605338, 4116598; 605387, 4116705; returning to 605493, 
4116867.
    (ii) Note: Unit 8 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.
    (14) Unit 9: Kalana Hills, Santa Clara County, California. From 
USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Subunit 9A: Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 
coordinates (E,N): 612463, 4115364; 612548, 4115283; 612611, 4115228; 
612581, 4115190; 612560, 4115157; 612725, 4114962; 612697, 4114924; 
612640, 4114916; 612512, 4114806; 612469, 4114770; 612456, 4114706; 
612331, 4114635; 612276, 4114621; 612159, 4114668; 612036, 4114796; 
611975, 4114842; 611928, 4114901; 611857, 4114927; 611811, 4114924; 
611806, 4115198; 611735, 4115382; 611703, 4115487; 611772, 4115526; 
611741, 4115600; 611742, returning to 4115605; 612028, 4115820; 
returning to 612463, 4115364.
    (ii) Subunit 9B: Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 
1983 coordinates (E,N): 613292, 4114458; 613477, 4114328; 613645, 
4114236; 613859, 4114112; 613800, 4114081; 613704, 4114080; 613628, 
4114115; 613571, 4114099; 613525, 4114035; 613464, 4114059; 613430, 
4114072; 613389, 4114098; 613269, 4114176; 613135, 4114270; 613043, 
4114292; 612952, 4114245; 612882, 4114296; 612769, 4114341; 612771, 
4114386; 612807, 4114455; 612779, 4114504; 612761, 4114557; 612827, 
4114609; 612910, 4114621; 613020, 4114550; 613029, 4114509; 612967, 
4114492; 612953, 4114422; 612990, 4114368; 613090, 4114360; 613112, 
4114463; 613178, 4114499; returning to 613292, 4114458;
    (iii) Note: Unit 9 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.

[[Page 50448]]

    (15) Unit 10: Hale, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Unit 10: Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 
coordinates (E,N): 617448, 4111989; 617422, 4111978; 617343, 4111978; 
617295, 4111947; 617252, 4111862; 617269, 4111828; 617405, 4111774; 
617445, 4111797; 617501, 4111797; 617512, 4111746; 617589, 4111729; 
617733, 4111766; 618083, 4111853; 618116, 4111766; 618023, 4111705; 
617936, 4111647; 617899, 4111684; 617764, 4111596; 617933, 4111368; 
617964, 4111303; 617953, 4111188; 617891, 4111138; 617937, 4111083; 
617919, 4111040; 617865, 4111014; 617798, 4111069; 617586, 4110876; 
617618, 4110838; 617504, 4110738; 617459, 4110704; 617380, 4110673; 
617197, 4110835; 617009, 4111119; 616981, 4111133; 616936, 4111110; 
616925, 4111147; 616908, 4111187; 616885, 4111204; 616843, 4111232; 
616817, 4111274; 616809, 4111303; 616781, 4111297; 616758, 4111257; 
616724, 4111221; 616713, 4111159; 616744, 4111088; 616724, 4111060; 
616730, 4111037; 616789, 4110983; 616702, 4110933; 616668, 4110952; 
616620, 4110952; 616611, 4110901; 616436, 4111062; 616394, 4111037; 
616410, 4110989; 616472, 4110988; 616532, 4110930; 616523, 4110872; 
616555, 4110831; 616077, 4110537; 616073, 4110327; 615914, 4110402; 
615846, 4110431; 615912, 4110524; 615761, 4110576; 615745, 4110646; 
615715, 4110728; 615645, 4110790; 615684, 4110906; 615779, 4110867; 
615779, 4110825; 615918, 4110725; 616038, 4110856; 615936, 4110930; 
615947, 4111077; 615894, 4111105; 615830, 4111216; 615902, 4111306; 
615866, 4111429; 615933, 4111449; 616044, 4111449; 616147, 4111428; 
616225, 4111410; 616275, 4111430; 616313, 4111483; 616368, 4111489; 
616399, 4111520; 616394, 4111579; 616380, 4111625; 616430, 4111650; 
616484, 4111622; 616498, 4111585; 616555, 4111562; 616671, 4111591; 
616659, 4111653; 616685, 4111715; 616741, 4111780; 616846, 4111829; 
616677, 4112120; 616760, 4112261; 616792, 4112343; 617011, 4112356; 
617160, 4112394; 617286, 4112306; 617433, 4112045; returning to 617448, 
4111989 .
    (ii) Note: Unit 10 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.
    (16) Unit 11: Bear Ranch, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangle Gilroy.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 628304, 4108774; 628402, 4108819; 628507, 4108797; 628590, 
4108729; 628635, 4108675; 628659, 4108564; 628747, 4108397; 628931, 
4108012; 629104, 4107674; 629171, 4107133; 629022, 4107043; 628875, 
4107022; 628732, 4107075; 628575, 4107128; 628449, 4107072; 628322, 
4107074; 628234, 4107094; 628173, 4107173; 628166, 4107286; 628210, 
4107426; 628327, 4107650; 628375, 4107703; 628458, 4107736; 628368, 
4107898; 628263, 4108172; 628208, 4108414; returning to 628304, 
4108774.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 11 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (17) Unit 12: San Martin, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mt. Madonna and Gilroy.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 622150, 4104262; 622178, 4104216; 622192, 4104170; 622217, 
4104195; 622241, 4104226; 622274, 4104226; 622296, 4104208; 622309, 
4104171; 622302, 4104120; 622340, 4104110; 622347, 4104088; 622336, 
4104047; 622334, 4103984; 622320, 4103948; 622317, 4103898; 622330, 
4103845; 622404, 4103809; 622421, 4103769; 622421, 4103689; 622441, 
4103649; 622487, 4103631; 622538, 4103599; 622557, 4103529; 622591, 
4103461; 622575, 4103406; 622538, 4103358; 622441, 4103346; 622399, 
4103363; 622352, 4103322; 622274, 4103300; 622206, 4103304; 622098, 
4103341; 622020, 4103370; 621920, 4103382; 621843, 4103390; 621812, 
4103362; 621779, 4103365; 621739, 4103372; 621700, 4103404; 621682, 
4103449; 621705, 4103496; 621667, 4103560; 621569, 4103489; 621509, 
4103489; 621463, 4103477; 621464, 4103459; 621411, 4103467; 621348, 
4103472; 621288, 4103477; 621223, 4103476; 621183, 4103476; 621127, 
4103476; 621079, 4103490; 621030, 4103508; 620988, 4103525; 620973, 
4103571; 620996, 4103623; 621025, 4103666; 621055, 4103695; 621076, 
4103707; 621079, 4103733; 621087, 4103764; 621112, 4103805; 621046, 
4103796; 621009, 4103805; 620979, 4103791; 620922, 4103774; 620887, 
4103775; 620871, 4103811; 620845, 4103873; 620806, 4103922; 620751, 
4103944; 620702, 4103984; 620679, 4103961; 620627, 4103961; 620593, 
4103979; 620591, 4104020; 620568, 4104053; 620542, 4104032; 620509, 
4104030; 620482, 4104039; 620450, 4104073; 620393, 4104116; 620330, 
4104174; 620283, 4104200; 620255, 4104240; 620230, 4104262; 620197, 
4104288; 620191, 4104325; 620193, 4104362; 620203, 4104399; 620176, 
4104412; 620126, 4104472; 620132, 4104499; 620211, 4104578; 620245, 
4104578; 620329, 4104574; 620440, 4104541; 620510, 4104492; 620543, 
4104480; 620529, 4104405; 620612, 4104386; 620646, 4104431; 620657, 
4104489; 620672, 4104509; 620728, 4104541; 620794, 4104556; 620852, 
4104539; 620909, 4104525; 620931, 4104568; 620942, 4104598; 620946, 
4104627; 620968, 4104627; 620988, 4104586; 621013, 4104556; 621034, 
4104566; 621046, 4104621; 621098, 4104634; 621083, 4104537; 621176, 
4104528; 621262, 4104540; 621334, 4104549; 621398, 4104575; 621488, 
4104622; 621559, 4104617; 621598, 4104563; 621688, 4104533; 621739, 
4104536; 621811, 4104464; 621836, 4104417; 621908, 4104391; 621951, 
4104417; 622007, 4104440; 622132, 4104423; 622160, 4104403; 622153, 
4104371; 622118, 4104356; 622033, 4104350; 622004, 4104340; 621974, 
4104326; 621951, 4104304; 621969, 4104286; 621996, 4104293; 622032, 
4104294; 622060, 4104274; 622115, 4104272; returning to 622150, 
4104262.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 12 for Bay checkerspot butterfly follows:
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    (18) Unit 13: Kirby, Santa Clara County, California. From USGS 
1:24,000 scale quadrangles San Jose East, Lick Observatory, Santa 
Teresa Hills, and Morgan Hill.
    (i) Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10, NAD 1983 coordinates 
(E,N): 614073, 4122412; 613927, 4122313; 613818, 4122194; 613722, 
4121982; 613609, 4121926; 613463, 4121895; 613322, 4121923; 613199, 
4122005; 613063, 4121982; 612938, 4122012; 612845, 4121942; 612809, 
4121823; 612723, 4121727; 612574, 4121711; 612435, 4121734; 612295, 
4121716; 612154, 4121723; 612079, 4121699; 612017, 4121720; 611996, 
4121655; 611902, 4121653; 611790, 4121695; 611662, 4121642; 611579, 
4121554; 611512, 4121447; 611422, 4121445; 611365, 4121419; 611310, 
4121420; 611247, 4121377; 610975, 4121590; 610770, 4121774; 610611, 
4121899; 610472, 4122085; 610310, 4122006; 610106, 4122145; 610077, 
4122227; 610126, 4122316; 610217, 4122395; 610179, 4122447; 610133, 
4122430; 610089, 4122512; 610125, 4122559; 610156, 4122607; 610157, 
4122653; 610128, 4122660; 610058, 4122641; 610016, 4122607; 609977, 
4122674; 610091, 4122763; 610187, 4122847; 610220, 4122921; 610249, 
4122977; 610374, 4123102; 610254, 4123181; 610015, 4123335; 609613, 
4123583; 609641, 4123630; 609399, 4123790; 609324, 4123843; 609182, 
4124041; 608934, 4123924; 608736, 4124027; 608538, 4124145; 608423, 
4124256; 608167, 4124471; 608065, 4124633; 608059, 4124666; 607803, 
4124871; 607677, 4124973; 607615, 4125109; 607637, 4125224; 607756, 
4125351; 607593, 4125474; 607351, 4125490; 607272, 4125663; 607018, 
4125820; 606980, 4125845; 606948, 4125876; 606896, 4125972; 606890, 
4125996; 606845, 4125998; 606796, 4126045; 606753, 4126055; 606663, 
4126127; 606595, 4126178; 606463, 4126353; 606314, 4126287; 606282, 
4126331; 606153, 4126428; 605939, 4126505; 605841, 4126533; 605785, 
4126693; 605832, 4126844; 605701, 4126851; 605621, 4127118; 605715, 
4127161; 605847, 4127159; 605992, 4127130; 606076, 4127058; 606215, 
4127099; 606422, 4127010; 606465, 4126897; 606699, 4126796; 606886, 
4126695; 607019, 4126736; 607190, 4126796; 607356, 4126935; 607437, 
4127065; 607306, 4127251; 607149, 4127421; 607062, 4127440; 606910, 
4127537; 606714, 4127727; 606521, 4127943; 606345, 4128015; 606227, 
4128006; 606179, 4127924; 606131, 4127779; 606097, 4127827; 606067, 
4127868; 605982, 4127883; 605953, 4128027; 605857, 4127996; 605761, 
4128001; 605703, 4128063; 605662, 4128160; 605702, 4128211; 605770, 
4128251; 605842, 4128289; 605912, 4128287; 605946, 4128220; 605992, 
4128138; 606059, 4128152; 606148, 4128174; 606210, 4128152; 606324, 
4128056; 606410, 4128049; 606321, 4128171; 606343, 4128210; 606614, 
4128290; 606611, 4128519; 606706, 4128535; 606802, 4128525; 607015, 
4128424; 607079, 4128412; 607069, 4128316; 607125, 4128227; 607190, 
4128215; 607202, 4128263; 607252, 4128252; 606865, 4127849; 607067, 
4127789; 607267, 4127710; 607475, 4127729; 607713, 4127722; 607817, 
4127626; 607733, 4127426; 607803, 4127314; 607825, 4127248; 607762, 
4127173; 607740, 4127113; 607808, 4127063; 607894, 4127046; 608043, 
4127019; 608116, 4126921; 608123, 4126707; 608000, 4126634; 607880, 
4126543; 607769, 4126507; 607654, 4126497; 607668, 4126413; 607779, 
4126408; 607805, 4126324; 608058, 4126129; 608255, 4125992; 608610, 
4125722; 608893, 4125417; 609482, 4125417; 609838, 4125398; 610196, 
4125396; 610302, 4125557; 610370, 4125506; 610487, 4125492; 610584, 
4125439; 610692, 4125442; 610769, 4125405; 610827, 4125316; 610877, 
4125249; 610937, 4125251; 610947, 4125345; 610759, 4125562; 610815, 
4125701; 610858, 4125797; 610945, 4125841; 611101, 4125858; 611199, 
4125833; 611308, 4125853; 611356, 4125884; 611424, 4125805; 611461, 
4125744; 611542, 4125723; 611602, 4125671; 611673, 4125610; 611808, 
4125456; 611970, 4125331; 612147, 4125249; 612322, 4125103; 612539, 
4124931; 612515, 4124823; 612590, 4124756; 612648, 4124664; 612753, 
4124575; 612773, 4124506; 612879, 4124335; 612972, 4124219; 613073, 
4124178; 613129, 4124085; 613251, 4123917; 613206, 4123339; 613193, 
4122893; 613280, 4122832; 613351, 4122715; 613426, 4122657; 613489, 
4122657; 613563, 4122662; 613669, 4122607; 613741, 4122596; 614073, 
4122412.
    (ii) Note: Unit 13 for Bay checkerspot butterfly is depicted on the 
map in paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.


    Dated: August 13, 2008
David Verhey
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
[FR Doc. E8-19195 Filed 8-25-08; 8:45 am]
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