[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]
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