94-21579. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Three Insects From the Santa Cruz Mountains of California

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21579]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC50

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Three Insects From the 
Santa Cruz Mountains of California

agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

action: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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summary: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
the comment period on the proposed determination of endangered status 
for the Mount Hermon june beetle (Polyphylla barbata), Zayante band-
winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis), and Santa Cruz rain 
beetle (Pleocoma conjungens conjungens) is reopened. These insects are 
found in ponderosa pine sand parkland habitat in Santa Cruz County, 
California. All interested parties are invited to submit comments on 
this proposal.

dates: The comment period, which originally closed on August 1, 1994, 
is reopened on September 1, 1994; the Service will accept written 
comments until October 31, 1994.

addresses: Written comments and materials should be sent to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 
100, Ventura, California 93003, (fax [phone]). Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection during 
normal business hours, by appointment, at the above address.

for further information contact: Carl Benz at the Ventura Field Office 
(see ADDRESSES section), telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Mount Hermon june beetle (Polyphylla barbata) is a small scarab 
beetle with a black head, and dark blackish-brown front wings with 
stripes and scattered long hair. The Zayante band-winged grasshopper 
(Trimerotropis infantilis) is a small grasshopper with a pale gray to 
light-brown body and dark crossbands on the forewing. The hind tibiae 
are blue-gray and the eye is banded. The Santa Cruz rain beetle 
(Pleocoma conjungens conjungens) is a large beetle, shining reddish-
brown to blackish in color. The ventral surface of the body is clothed 
with long hair. The three species are found in ponderosa pine sand 
parkland habitat, a patchily distributed habitat restricted to inland 
marine sand deposits, and endemic to Santa Cruz County, California. 
Recent human activities in the Santa Cruz Mountains have resulted in 
the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of over 50 percent of this 
habitat. These three insects are threatened by urban development, sand 
mining, recreational uses, agricultural activities, and change in the 
natural frequency of fires.
    On May 10, 1994, the Service published a proposed rule in the 
Federal Register (59 FR 24112) to list the Mount Hermon june beetle, 
Zayante band-winged grasshopper, and Santa Cruz rain beetle as 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. As 
provided under section 4(b)(5)(e) of the Act, a public hearing was held 
on July 18, 1994 at the Santa Cruz County Government Center, Santa 
Cruz, California following a request from Dr. William Hazeltine, 
Oroville, California.
    The comment period on the original proposal closed on August 1, 
1994. Following a request from Mr. Doug Aikins and Ms. Erin Morton, 
Ware & Freidenrich, Palo Alto, California, the Service will reopen the 
public comment period until October 31, 1994 to allow submission of 
additional information and comments which will aid the Service in 
making a final determination. Written comments may now be submitted 
until October 31, 1994, to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Jonathan Hoekstra, Ventura 
Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

(Notice for Mount Hermon June Beetle, Zayante Band-winged 
Grasshopper, Santa Cruz Rain Beetle--Reopening of Comment Period)

    Dated: August 26, 1994.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-21579 Filed 8-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M