[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22896]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for
a Petition to List the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle as Endangered
and Designate Critical Habitat
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-day
finding for a petition to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle
(Cicindela limbata albissima) and designate critical habitat under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended. The Service finds that the
petition presents substantial information indicating that the requested
action may be warranted.
DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on September 8,
1994. To be considered in the 12-month finding for this petition,
information and comments should be submitted to the Service by November
14, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be
sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lincoln
Plaza, Suite 404, 145 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. The
petition finding, supporting data, and comments are available for
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John L. England (See ADDRESSES section), telephone: (801/524-5001).
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 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 the finding is made. To the maximum extent practicable,
this finding is to be made within 90 days of the date the petition was
received, and a notice regarding the finding is to be published
promptly in the Federal Register. If the finding is that substantial
information was presented, the Service also is required to promptly
commence a review of the status of the species involved if one has not
already been initiated by the Service. The Service initiated a status
review for the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela limbata
albissima) when it categorized the species as a category 2 candidate
species in the 1984 Invertebrate Notice of Review (49 FR 21664). This
notice meets the requirement that a notice be published for a 90-day
finding made earlier for the petition discussed below.
A petition, dated April 19, 1994, was submitted by Mr. Ken A. Rait
on behalf of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance located in Salt Lake
City, Utah, and was received by the Service on April 21, 1994. A letter
acknowledging receipt of the petition was mailed to the petitioner on
May 6, 1994. The petitioner requested the Service to list the Coral
Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle as endangered and to designate critical
habitat. The petition was based on a recent report of the Coral Pink
Sand Dunes tiger beetle's biology, population status, and threats
(Knisley and Hill 1994).
The only known population of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle
is at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Kane County in extreme southern
Utah. Measurements of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle population
has demonstrated an adult population of 2,000 to 2,400 individuals in
early May. The adult population generally decreases during the summer
with a minor increase beginning in late August. Overwintering adult
populations may be, typically, as large as 300 individuals. The adult
Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle population experienced a severe
population decline in late summer 1993 with a 1993-1994 overwintering
adult population of less than 100 individuals (Knisley and Hill 1994).
Listing Factors
The following are the five listing criteria as set forth in section
4(a)(1) of the Act and regulations (50 CFR Part 424) promulgated to
implement the listing provisions of the Act and their applicability to
the current status of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle.
A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range. Off-road vehicle activity is
destroying and degrading the species' habitat, especially the
interdunal swales of the larval population.
B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes. Recreational off-road vehicle activity is causing
direct mortality of individuals of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger
beetle, especially adults. The species has been heavily collected since
its discovery and publication of the species description.
C. Disease or predation. There is no known threat.
D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms. The Coral Pink
Sand Dunes tiger beetle is not, currently, directly protected by any
regulatory mechanism.
E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued
existence. The reason(s) for the 1993 population collapse is not fully
known, but weather conditions reducing or retarding pupation and
emergence of adults are thought to have contributed to this population
collapse.
The Service has reviewed the petition, the literature cited in the
petition, and other literature and information available in the
Service's files. The distribution and population of the Coral Pink Sand
Dunes tiger beetle is among the most restricted and smallest of any
animal species. The species and its habitat are being adversely
impacted by ongoing recreational off-road vehicle use. The species is
vulnerable to exploitation by specimen collectors. Given the species
extreme endemism and small population, the species existence is
vulnerable to any localized stochastic event threatening its
population.
On the basis of the best scientific and commercial information
available, the Service finds the petition presents substantial
information that listing this species may be warranted.
The Service's 90-day finding contains more detailed information
regarding the above decisions. A copy may be obtained from the
Service's Salt Lake City Office (see ADDRESSES above).
Reference Cited
Kinsley, C.B. and J.M. Hill. 1994. Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger
beetle, Cicindela limbata albissima current status and biology.
Unpublished Status Report on file with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and Bureau of Land management. Salt Lake City, Utah. 36 pp.
Author
The primary author of this document is John L. England (see
ADDRESSES section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. et seq.)
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Dated: September 8, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-22896 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
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