Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for Sidalcea oregana var. calva (Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the plant Sidalcea oregana var. calva (Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A total of approximately 2,484 hectares (6,135 acres) in Chelan County, Washington, is designated as critical habitat. Critical habitat identifies specific areas that have the physical and biological features that are essential to the conservation of a listed species, and that may require special management considerations or protection. The primary constituent elements for Sidalcea oregana var. calva are those habitat components that are essential for its primary biological needs such as reproduction and dispersal. Critical habitat for Sidalcea oregana var. calva includes those areas possessing one or more of the primary constituent elements. Located on Federal, State, and private lands, this critical habitat designation provides additional protection under section 7 of the Act with regard to activities that require Federal agency action. Section 7 of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider economic and other impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. We solicited data and comments from the public on all aspects of the proposed rule and economic analysis.