[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M