[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1701]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Finding 
on a Petition to Add Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark Pine) to the List of 
Threatened and Endangered Species.

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of petition finding.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-
day finding for a petition to amend the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants. The Service finds that the petitioners 
have not presented substantial information indicating that listing 
Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) may be warranted.

DATES: The finding announced in this notice was made on January 13, 
1994. Comments and information concerning this petition finding may be 
submitted until further notice.

ADDRESSES: Questions, comments, or information concerning this petition 
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
2617 East Lincolnway, suite A, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. The petition, 
finding, and supporting data are available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Jane P. Roybal (see addresses above) 
(307/772-2374).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) make a finding on whether a petition to 
list, delist, or reclassify a species presents substantial scientific 
or commercial information to demonstrate that the petitioned action may 
be warranted. This finding is to be based on all information available 
to the Service at the time. To the maximum extent practicable, this 
finding is to be made within 90 days of the receipt of the petition, 
and the finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. If 
the finding is positive, the Service also is required to promptly 
commence a review of the status of the involved species.
    The Service has made a 90-day finding on a petition to list Pinus 
albicaulis (whitebark pine). The petition, dated February 5, 1991, was 
submitted by the Great Bear Foundation, Missoula, Montana, and was 
received by the Service on February 11, 1991. The petitioners requested 
that the Service list the whitebark pine as endangered in western 
Montana, northern Idaho, western Wyoming, and northeastern Washington, 
and as either threatened or endangered in the Cascade region of Oregon 
and Washington, and that critical habitat be designated.
    Under the Act, the Service is required to address the status of 
plant species over their entire range (unlike vertebrate species where 
distinct population segments may be listed). Therefore, the Service 
views the petition as a petition to list the whitebark pine throughout 
its range, which extends from central California to western Wyoming, 
north through Oregon, Washington, and Montana to Alberta and British 
Columbia.
    The petitioner submitted information and literature references on 
the status of the whitebark pine, stating that in significant portions 
of the species' range, populations are declining so rapidly that the 
ability of the tree species to regenerate itself is in question. The 
petition identifies three major factors involved in the ``precipitous'' 
decline of the whitebark pine: white pine blister rust (Cronartium 
ribicola), mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), and fire 
suppression. The petition indicates that white pine blister rust, an 
introduced disease, has become established throughout most of the 
whitebark pine's range with ``extensive'' infestation and mortality 
occurring in the moist mountain regions of Montana, northern Idaho, 
Oregon, and the Washington Cascades. The petition also states that 
mountain pine beetle infestations have had devastating effects on 
whitebark pine populations in Montana and Wyoming. The petitioner also 
points out that fire suppression has played a role in the population 
decline by allowing other tree species to invade whitebark pine habitat 
and replace it, as well as facilitating the spread of white pine 
blister rust and mountain pine beetle infestation.
    While recent mountain pine beetle infestations have killed most of 
the mature trees in some areas (Reynolds 1990), infestations appear to 
reach epidemic levels only where specific conditions exist. Whitebark 
pine populations have been severely reduced by white pine blister rust 
in many moist mountain habitats where the climate allows the blister 
rust to complete its life cycle (Kendall and Arno 1990). However, in 
drier portions of the whitebark pine's range, climatic conditions are 
not favorable for infection, and damage due to white pine blister rust 
is negligible (Charles Wellner, retired U.S. Forest Service, in litt., 
1991). Thus, throughout portions of its range, the whitebark pine 
remains common in suitable habitats and/or populations do not appear to 
be declining (Dr. Clinton Williams, U.S. Forest Service, in litt., 
1991; Chester Buchanan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in litt., 1991; 
R.T. Ogilvie, Royal British Columbia Museum, pers. comm., 1992).
    The Service has reviewed the petition, the literature cited in the 
petition, other available literature and information, and has consulted 
with biologists and researchers familiar with the whitebark pine. After 
reviewing the best scientific and commercial information available, the 
Service finds the petition does not present substantial information 
that listing the whitebark pine may be warranted. In making this 
finding, the Service does recognize that white pine blister rust, 
mountain pine beetle infestations, and successional replacement and 
competition by more shade-tolerant conifers do pose a real threat to 
the whitebark pine in portions of its range. Some whitebark pine 
populations have undergone dramatic declines due to one or a 
combination of these factors, and the degree of population decline may 
be severe in local or, in some cases, over broad geographic areas. 
However, in other portions of the species' range, where different 
climatic conditions exist, these same factors are not stand-
threatening, and healthy whitebark pine stands continue to persist.
    Whitebark pine is usually restricted to remote, higher elevation 
areas and generally is not valued as a timber species. Consequently, 
little inventory or monitoring work has been completed in much of its 
range. In many areas, there are little or no quantitative data on its 
distribution, status, or the extent of decline due to the various 
factors mentioned above. However, available data do not indicate the 
species may be threatened or endangered throughout a significant 
portion of its range.
    In regard to the petitioner's request that critical habitat be 
designated for the whitebark pine, the designation of critical habitat 
is not a petitionable action under the Act.

References Cited

Kendall, K.C. and S.F. Arno. 1990. Whitebark pine--An important but 
endangered wildlife resource. Pages 264-273 in Proceedings--
Whitebark pine ecosystems: ecology and management of a high-mountain 
resource. USDA, U.S. Forest Service, Intermtn. Res. Sta., General 
Tech. Report INT-270.
Reynolds, Frances. 1990. Whitebark pine ecosystems; the threats and 
the challenge. In Forestry Research West, USDA, U.S. Forest Service. 
3pp.

Author

    This notice was prepared by Jane P. Roybal (see ADDRESSES above).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

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

    Dated: January 13, 1994.
Richard N. Smith,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1701 Filed 1-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P