Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Callicarpa ampla, Ilex sintenisii, Styrax portoricensis, Ternstroemia luquillensis and Ternstroemia subsessilis for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for

Callicarpa ampla, Ilex sintenisii, Styrax portoricensis, Ternstroemia

luquillensis and Ternstroemia subsessilis 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 Callicarpa

ampla, Ilex sintenisii, Styrax portoricensis, Ternstroemia luquillensis

and Ternstroemia subsessilis. These species are restricted to the

Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Deforestation and fragmentation of

habitat may have restricted these species to their present locations.

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 15, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting Ms. Marelisa Rivera, Caribbean Field Office, P.O.

Box 491, Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622. 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, Caribbean Field

Office, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron, P.R. 00622, Tel. 809-851-7297.

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 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 five Puerto Rican endangered

trees, Callicarpa ampla, Ilex sintenisii, Styrax portoricensis,

Ternstroemia luquillensis and Ternstroemia subsessilis, all endemic to

the island of Puerto Rico. These trees are currently restricted to the

Luquillo Mountains. These endangered trees face extinction due to

deforestation for construction of communication facilities, roads, as

well as overcollection, periodic impact of hurricanes, and forest

management practices of Caribbean National Forest. Callicarpa ampla is

an evergreen tree up to 50 feet tall with small white flowers and

purplish ripe fruits. Today, approximately fourteen individuals are

known to exist. Ilex sintenisii is a shrub or small tree 15-20 feet in

height. It grows in the highest peaks of the Caribbean National Forest,

within the dwarf forest vegetation type. Styrax portoricensis is a

tree, 30-40 feet tall, known from a single individual. Ternstroemia

luquillensis is a 60 foot tree endemic to the Luquillo Mountains, where

it is known from less than 40 individuals. Ternstroemia subsessilis is

a shrub or small tree 15-20 feet tall. It is known from less than 40

individuals.

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. 1533(f).

Susan Silander,

Acting Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 94-22899 Filed 9-15-94; 8:45 am]

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