[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24443]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan 
for Cordia Bellonis 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 Cordia 
bellonis. Cordia bellonis is a shrub species endemic to the island of 
Puerto Rico. It is currently restricted to three public forests: 
Maricao, Susua, and Rio Abajo. Cordia bellonis has been found in 
serpentine soils at Maricao and Susua at road edges, river margins, and 
on steep slopes. In the Rio Abajo Forest, the species was found either 
on sunny banks along dirt roads growing in thickets of vegetation or in 
open saddles between limestone hills. The species is threatened by 
habitat loss, some forest management practices and restricted 
distribution. 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 10, 1998 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: Ms. Marelisa Rivera 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 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    This Technical/Agency draft is for Cordia bellonis, a shrub species 
endemic to Puerto Rico. Cordia bellonis has approximately 64 
individuals (less than 30% of the original population) in three 
localities of the Subtropical Wet, Subtropical Moist, and Subtropical 
Lower Montane Forests of northern and central Puerto Rico (Maricao, 
Susa, and Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forests). The species is threatened by 
habitat loss, some forest management practices and restricted 
distribution.

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: August 17, 1998.
James P. Oland,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-24443 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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