[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32886-32887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15505]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Revised Puerto Rican
Parrot (Amazona vittata) Recovery Plan for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
for public review of the technical/agency
[[Page 32887]]
draft revised Puerto Rican parrot recovery plan. As the common name
implies, the Puerto Rican parrot is a bird species endemic to the
commonwealth of Puerto Rico. We solicit review and comment from the
public on this draft plan.
DATES: We must receive comments on the draft recovery plan on or before
a August 17, 1999 to receive consideration by us.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan by
contacting Pablo Torres-Baez, Rio Grande Field Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1600, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745
(telephone 787/887-8769). Send written comments and materials regarding
the plan to the Field Supervisor at the above address. Comments and
materials received are available on request for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pablo Torres-Baez at the above
address and telephone number (extension 226).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help
guide the recovery effort, we are working to prepare recovery plans for
most of the listed species native to the United States. Recovery plans
describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species,
establish criteria for recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting
or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing the
recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) (Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,
requires that a public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during recovery plan development. We will consider
all information presented during a public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal
agencies will also take these comments into account in the course of
implementing approved recovery plans.
Despite intensive research and management efforts for more than 30
years, the survival of the Puerto Rican parrot is still perilous. Based
upon available information concerning the range, biology, and threats
to its continued survival, it is not yet possible to determine if or
when full recovery of the Puerto Rican parrot is possible. This draft
recovery plan outlines a mechanism that provides for the protection,
maintenance, and enhancement of the only known wild population and the
establishment of new wild populations in the future. We officially
listed the Puerto Rican parrot as an endangered species in 1967 (32 FR
4001). The wild population reached an all time low of about 13
individuals in 1973. The same year, anticipating the possibility of
losing the wild population to a catastrophic event, we initiated a
captive breeding program to ensure survival of the species.
Historically, the once abundant and widespread Puerto Rican parrot
suffered from the negative effects of habitat loss, hunting,
deleterious biological interactions, and the impact of hurricanes. We
will use comments and information provided during this review in
preparing the final recovery plan.
Public Comments Solicited
We solicit written comments on the recovery plan described. We will
consider all comments received by the date specified above prior to
approval of the plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: June 14, 1999.
Pablo Torres-Baez,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-15505 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
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