[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50959-50960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25758]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan 
for Pleodendron macranthum and Eugenia haematocarpa for Review and 
Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for 
public review of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for 
Pleodendron macranthum and Eugenia haematocarpa. Both species are known 
only from Puerto Rico Pleodendron macranthum occurs in the Caribbean 
National Forest and the Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forest. Eugenia 
haematocarpa occurs in the Caribbean National Forest and on private 
property adjacent to the Carite Commonwealth Forest. These two species, 
restricted in distribution and low in population numbers, are extremely 
vulnerable to habitat destruction or modification, impacts by plant 
collectors, forest management practices and hurricanes. The Service 
solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before November 28, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Boqueron Field Office, P.O. 
Box 491, Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622 (Telephone 787/851-7297). 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. Kenneth Foote at the address and 
telephone shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal 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 criteria for 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 (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 1988, requires 
that public notice and opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider 
all information presented during a public comment period prior to 
approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The Service and other

[[Page 50960]]

Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    This Technical/Agency draft is for Pleodendron macranthum and 
Eugenia haematocarpa two tree species endemic to Puerto Rico. 
Pleodendron macranthum (Chupacallos) has fewer than 50 individuals in 
five localities of the Subtropical Wet and the Subtropical Lower 
Montane Wet Forests of northern and eastern Puerto Rico (Caribbean 
National and Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forests). Eugenia haematocarpa 
(Uvillo) is known from six localities with fewer than 125 trees in the 
Caribbean National Forest and one population of 15 individuals on 
private land adjacent to the Carite Commonwealth Forest. This species 
is found only in Subtropical Lower Montane Wet Forests of the Sierra de 
Luquillo and Sierra de Cayey. These two species are threatened by 
habitat destruction and modification, plant collection, forest 
management practices and impacts by hurricanes.

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 section is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: September 22, 1997.
James P. Oland,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-25758 Filed 9-26-97; 8:45 am]
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