Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassifying the Fender's Blue Butterfly From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) from endangered to threatened (downlist) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Fender's blue butterfly is endemic to the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The proposed downlisting is based on our evaluation of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so in the foreseeable future. We also propose a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the species.