[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 49990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25336]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan 
for Mitracarpus Maxwelliae, Mitracarpus Polycladus, and Eugenia 
Woodburyana 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 Mitracarpus 
maxwelliae, Mitracarpus polycladus, and Eugenia woodburyana. M. 
maxwelliae, a small shrub, and E. woodburyana, a small tree, are 
endemic to southwestern Puerto Rico. M. polycladus, a small shrub, is 
found in southwestern Puerto Rico as well, but is also known from the 
island of Saba, in the Lesser Antilles. These species are threatened by 
road construction, recreational activities, wildfires, and land 
clearing associated with development for agriculture and other 
purposes. 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 24, 1997 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 Field Office, P.O. 
Box 491, 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 Mitracarpus maxwelliae, 
Mitracarpus polycladus, and Eugenia woodburyana (no common names), 
three species that are known from the southwestern portion of Puerto 
Rico. Mitracarpus maxwelliae is a low densely-branching, mound-like 
shrub known only from one locality in the Guanica Commonwealth Forest 
of arid southwestern Puerto Rico. M. polycladus, also a small perennial 
shrub, is known in Puerto Rico from only two locations in the Guanica 
Commonwealth Forest, where it grows in crevices and soil pockets of 
coastal rocks. It is also known from the island of Saba in the Lesser 
Antilles. Eugenia woodburyana, a small evergreen tree reaching 6 feet 
in height, is endemic to Puerto Rico and is known only from the 
municipalities of Lajas, Cabo Rojo, and Guanica in southwestern Puerto 
Rico. It is known from the Guanica Commonwealth Forest and the Cabo 
Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, publicly owned land, as well as 
privately-owned land. These three species are threatened by road 
construction, recreational activities, wildfires, and land clearing 
associated with urban, rural, tourist and agricultural development. 
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 17, 1997.
Susan R. Silander,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-25336 Filed 9-23-97; 8:45 am]
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