[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32886-32887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15505]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Revised Puerto Rican 
Parrot (Amazona vittata) Recovery Plan for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability 
for public review of the technical/agency

[[Page 32887]]

draft revised Puerto Rican parrot recovery plan. As the common name 
implies, the Puerto Rican parrot is a bird species endemic to the 
commonwealth of Puerto Rico. We solicit review and comment from the 
public on this draft plan.

DATES: We must receive comments on the draft recovery plan on or before 
a August 17, 1999 to receive consideration by us.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan by 
contacting Pablo Torres-Baez, Rio Grande Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1600, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745 
(telephone 787/887-8769). Send written comments and materials regarding 
the plan to the Field Supervisor at the above address. 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. Pablo Torres-Baez at the above 
address and telephone number (extension 226).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, we are 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 recognizing 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, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (Act), 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 a public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during recovery plan development. We will consider 
all information presented during a public comment period prior to 
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal 
agencies will also take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    Despite intensive research and management efforts for more than 30 
years, the survival of the Puerto Rican parrot is still perilous. Based 
upon available information concerning the range, biology, and threats 
to its continued survival, it is not yet possible to determine if or 
when full recovery of the Puerto Rican parrot is possible. This draft 
recovery plan outlines a mechanism that provides for the protection, 
maintenance, and enhancement of the only known wild population and the 
establishment of new wild populations in the future. We officially 
listed the Puerto Rican parrot as an endangered species in 1967 (32 FR 
4001). The wild population reached an all time low of about 13 
individuals in 1973. The same year, anticipating the possibility of 
losing the wild population to a catastrophic event, we initiated a 
captive breeding program to ensure survival of the species. 
Historically, the once abundant and widespread Puerto Rican parrot 
suffered from the negative effects of habitat loss, hunting, 
deleterious biological interactions, and the impact of hurricanes. We 
will use comments and information provided during this review in 
preparing the final recovery plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the recovery plan described. We will 
consider all comments received by the date specified above 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. 1533(f).

    Dated: June 14, 1999.
Pablo Torres-Baez,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-15505 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
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