[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 183 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 49337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24037]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan
for Calyptranthes Thomasiana for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces availability for
public review of a technical/agency draft recovery plan for
Calyptranthes thomasiana. (no common name). Calyptranthes thomasiana is
an evergreen shrub or small tree that may reach 9 meters in height. The
species is currently known from three locations: The Island of Vieques
in Puerto Rico, the island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virgin
Gorda, British Virgin Islands. The species is extremely rare and may be
affected by management practices within the known areas as well as by
the expansion of facilities in Vieques. The Service solicits review and
comments from the public on this draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before November 18, 1996 to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting Ms. Susan Silander, Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622.
Comments and materials received are available upon request for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Susan Silander, Boqueron Field Office, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron,
Puerto Rico 00622, Telephone: 809/851-7297.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened species or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is
a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered
species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is
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 them, and estimate
time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) 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 public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service and
other Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
This Technical/Agency Draft is for Calyptranthes thomasiana, an
evergreen shrub or small tree that may reach 9 meters in height and 13
centimeters in diameter. Leaves are opposite obovate to oblong, 2 to 4
centimeters long, coriaceous and with gland dots. Flowers and fruit
have not been described. This tree was described in 1855 from specimens
collected in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Although collected from
this island, it has not been reported from there in recent years. It is
currently known from 10 to 12 individuals on the island of Vieques in
Puerto Rico, about 100 mature individuals within the Virgin Islands
National Park on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and from the island of
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. While found within a conservation
zone on U.S. Navy property in Vieques, the species would be effected if
facilities were to be expanded. Within the Virgin Islands National Park
on St. John, the species may be affected by park management practices
and the presence of feral pigs and donkeys. This plan will describe
measures necessary to recover the species, including studies of its
reproductive biology and propagation.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered 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. 1531.
Dated: September 12, 1996.
Susan R. Silander,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-24037 Filed 9-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
