[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3654-3655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1675]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC 50


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Withdrawal of 
Proposed Rule to List Santa Cruz Rain Beetle (Pleocoma conjungens 
conjungens) as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) withdraws the 
proposal list the Santa Cruz rain beetle (Pleocoma conjungens 
conjungens) as an endangered species, pursuant to the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Additional information provided 
to the Service since the publication of the proposed rule indicates the 
Santa Cruz rain beetle is more widespread than previously known, and 
the species' range may extend beyond the Zayante sand hills ecosystem 
into surrounding coast redwood forests. The Service has considered the 
additional information and determined that listing of the Santa Cruz 
rain beetle is not warranted at this time. However, continued urban 
development and sand mining throughout significant portions of the 
species' range, if not accompanied by appropriate conservation 
measures, may necessitate its listing in the foreseeable future.

ADDRESSES: The complete file for this rule is available for inspection, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Ventura Field Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, 
Ventura, California 93003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Benz, Assistant Field Supervisor, 
Ventura Field Office, (see ADDRESSES section, telephone 805/644-1766).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 10, 1994, the Service published a proposal to list three 
species of insects from the Santa Cruz Mountains in California as 
endangered

[[Page 3655]]

species (59 FR 24112). The Santa Cruz rain beetle was included in this 
proposal. During the comment period on the proposal, additional 
information was received regarding the Santa Cruz rain beetle 
indicating the populations were more widespread throughout the Zayante 
sand hills ecosystem than previously known, and that specimens also 
were collected in adjacent coast redwood forest (Hazeltine 1993; J. 
Hoekstra, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pers. obs. 1994). 
Furthermore, the Service learned of currently undescribed specimens 
collected from both north and south of the Zayante sand hills region 
that may be Pleocoma conjungens conjungens or, at least, closely 
related subspecies (F. Hovore, pers. comm. 1994). This new information 
and evidence from a historic specimen collected in an area dominated by 
coastal redwood forest, known as Waddell Creek, suggest that the range 
of the beetle may extend beyond the Zayante sand hills ecosystem.
    The Service has considered the new information and determined 
listing the Santa Cruz rain beetle is not warranted at this time. 
Information now in the possession of the Service indicates the species 
is more abundant or widespread than previously believed. The Service 
removes this species from candidate status. If further research 
establishes the full extent of the beetle's range and assesses its 
status therein; and if urban development, sand mining, and other 
activities continue to alter its habitat throughout all or significant 
portion of its range; or if other factors threaten the continued 
existence of this species, the Santa Cruz rain beetle may be 
reevaluated for possible inclusion as a candidate species. A final rule 
listing the other two insect species included in the proposal, the 
Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) and the Zayante band-
winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis), is published in the 
Federal Register concurrently with this notice of withdrawal of the 
Santa Cruz rain beetle.

References Cited

Hazeltine, W. 1993. Report on the flights and distribution of the 
scarab beetle Pleocoma conjungens in the Santa Cruz County 
California area during 1993. Unpublished report, Oroville, 
California.

Author

    The primary authors of this notice are Carl Benz and Jonathan 
Hoekstra, Ventura Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 6, 1997.
John G. Rogers,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-1675 Filed 1-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P