Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2005 / Notices 48579

there are fewer than 10 non-Federal one location in St. Croix, USVI. Little protection under the Act is no longer respondents. information is available regarding the necessary. As recovery criteria are met, status of the species in Barbuda, the status of the species will be Author Antigua, and Guadalupe. The two reviewed, and it will be considered for The primary author of this proposed currently known locations in Puerto reclassification to threatened status or rule is Timothy Merritt (see ADDRESSES Rico and the USVI are privately-owned, for removal from the Federal List of section). and are subject to development pressure Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Authority for residential and tourism projects. The and (50 CFR part 17). risk of extinction is high because so few The information on the current The authority for this action is the individuals of melanocarpa number of individuals throughout the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. are known to occur in limited areas. species’ range, and the knowledge of 1531 et seq.). Additionally, the species is threatened biology, habitat requirements, and Dated: July 5, 2005. by catastrophic natural events, such as genetic information is limited. However, Cynthia K. Dohner, hurricanes, as well as human induced the Service has developed downlisting Acting Regional Director. fires. Catesbaea melanocarpa was listed and delisting criteria for Catesbaea [FR Doc. 05–16275 Filed 8–17–05; 8:45 am] as endangered under the Endangered melanocarpa. These criteria are intended to provide long-term BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) on March 17, sustainability of the endangered 1999 (64 FR 13116). Catesbaea melanocarpa. Long term DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Restoring an endangered or sustainability requires adequate threatened animal or to the point reproduction for replacement of losses Fish and Wildlife Service where it is again a secure, self- due to natural mortality factors sustaining member of its ecosystem is a (including disease and stochastic Notice of Availability of the Recovery primary goal of our endangered species events), sufficient genetic robustness to Plan for the Endangered Catesbaea program. To help guide the recovery avoid inbreeding depression and allow melanocarpa effort, we prepare recovery plans for adaptation, sufficient habitat for long most listed species. Recovery plans term population maintenance, and AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, describe actions considered necessary elimination or control of threats. Interior. for conservation of the species, establish Downlisting of the species from ACTION: Notice of document availability. criteria for downlisting or delisting endangered to threatened status will be considered when: (1) The habitat known SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife them, and estimate time and cost for Service, announce the availability of the implementing recovery measures. to support the two extant populations ˜ final recovery plan for Catesbaea The Act requires the development of (St. Croix and Penones de Melones) is enhanced and protected through melanocarpa (no common name). This recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the landowner conservation agreements or endangered plant species is a small conservation of a particular species. easements; (2) extant populations are spiny of the family Rubiacea. It is Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to enhanced through the planting of extremely rare and is known from provide public notice and an additional propagated individuals to , St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin opportunity for public review and augment the number of adult Islands, Barbuda, Antigua, and comment during recovery plan individuals to at least 250; (3) at least . The recovery plan includes development. A notice of availability of one population within each of the specific recovery goal/objectives and the technical agency draft recovery plan following previously occupied habitat is criteria to be met to delist Catesbaea for Catesbaea melanocarpa was found and/or established: Gua´nica melanocarpa under the Endangered published in the Federal Register on Commonwealth Forest (PR), Susu´ a Species Act of 1973, as amended. September 27, 2004 (69 FR 57712). A Commonwealth Forest (PR), Barbuda, ADDRESSES: Copies of this recovery plan 60-day comment period was opened Antigua, and Guadalupe; and (4) are available on the Internet at http:// with the notice, closing on November research is conducted on key biological endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ 26, 2004. We received comments from and genetic issues, including effective index.html#plans or by request from the two interested parties and from two propagation techniques, and number of Field Office, U.S. Fish and experts on Catesbaea melanocarpa who individuals within a population and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 491, served as peer reviewers of the recovery number of populations needed for the Boquero´n, Puerto Rico 00622 (telephone plan. On April 19, 2005, we published establishment of self-sustaining 787/851–7297). in the Federal Register a notice of populations and a viable overall FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: reopening the comment period for the population. Marelisa Rivera at the above address agency draft recovery plan to solicit Catesbaea melanocarpa will be (telephone 787/851–7297, ext. 231). comments on revised ‘‘Recovery Goal’’ considered for delisting when: (1) A SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: and ‘‘Recovery Criteria’’ sections (70 FR number of viable populations (to be 20396). A 30-day comment period was determined following the appropriate Background opened with the notice, closing on May studies) are protected by long term Catesbaea melanocarpa belongs to a 19, 2005. We received comments from conservation strategies; (2) viable genus that consists of ten or more two interested parties. Comments and populations (the number of which species of spiny . Catesbaea information submitted were considered should be determined following the melanocarpa is extremely rare and is in the preparation of this final plan and, appropriate studies) are established in known from Puerto Rico, St. Croix in where appropriate, incorporated. previously unoccupied but suitable the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Barbuda, habitat at Sandy Point National Wildlife Antigua, and Guadeloupe. In the U.S. Recovery Plan Refuge (USVI), Cabo Rojo National Caribbean, it is known from only one The objective of this recovery plan is Wildlife Refuge (PR), La Tinaja in Sierra individual in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, to provide a framework for the recovery Bermeja (Laguna Cartagena National and approximately 100 individuals in of Catesbaea melanocarpa so that Wildlife Refuge, PR), and any other

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identified suitable conservation area ACTION: Notice of meetings. management, socioeconomic, and other within the dry forest zone; and (3) the issues as appropriate. numbers of populations, their sizes, SUMMARY: The McInnis Canyons All meeting will be open to the public genetic makeup and distribution needed National Conservation Area (MCNCA) and will include a time set aside for to ensure self-sustainability are Advisory Council will hold its next public comment. Interested persons may determined and achieved. meeting of 2005 on September 7, 2005. make oral statements at the meetings or In an effort to meet the recovery The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. and submit written statements at any criteria, the following recovery actions will be held at the Fruita City Office meeting. Per-person time limits for oral were identified. The Recovery Plan Building, 325 East Aspen Avenue, statements may be set to allow all breaks these actions down further into Fruita, CO. An additional meeting will interested persons an opportunity to specific tasks. be held on December 7, 2005 at the speak. 1. Protect existing populations (St. Mesa County Administration Building; Summary minutes of all Council Croix and Cabo Rojo) from current and 544 Rood Avenue, Grand Junction, CO. meetings will be maintained at the future threats and/or limiting factors DATES: The meeting will be held on Bureau of Land Management Office in through landowner agreements and September 7, 2005. Grand Junction, Colorado. They are other conservation mechanisms. ADDRESSES: For further information or available for public inspection and 2. Determine the distribution and to provide written comments, please reproduction during regular business population status of Catesbaea contact the Bureau of Land Management hours within thirty (30) days following melanocarpa throughout its present and (BLM), 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, the meeting. historic range, including Barbuda, Colorado 81506; (970) 244-3000. Dated: August 5, 2005. Antigua, and Guadalupe. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paul H. Peck, 3. Evaluate techniques and develop a McInnis Canyons National Conservation Manager, McInnis Canyons National plant propagation program for Area was established on October 24, Conservation Area. Catesbaea melanocarpa. 2000 when the Colorado Canyons [FR Doc. 05–16356 Filed 8–17–05; 8:45 am] 4. Enhance existing populations and National Conservation Area was BILLING CODE 4310–JB–M establish new self-sustaining established on October 24, 2000 when populations (number of which should the Colorado Canyons National be determined by viability analysis) Conservation Area and Black Ridge DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR within protected areas by introducing Wilderness Act of 2000 (the Act) was Bureau of Land Management additional individuals developed signed by the President. The Act through propagation. Introduction sites required that the Advisory Council be [NV–055–5853–EU] may include, but are not limited to, the established to provide advice in the Gua´nica Commonwealth Forest, Susu´ a preparation and implementation of the Notice of Realty Action: Competitive Commonwealth Forest, Sandy Point CCNCA Resource Management Plan. Sale of Public Lands in Clark County, National Wildlife Refuge, and Cabo Rojo The name was congressionally changed NV; Termination of Recreation and National Wildlife Refuge. at the end of 2004 from Colorado Public Purposes Classification and 5. Conduct additional scientific Canyons National Conservation Area to Segregation; Withdrawal of the research on Catesbaea melanocarpa. McInnis Canyons National Conservation Formerly Classified Lands by the 6. Facilitate the recovery of Catesbaea Area (MCNCA). Southern Nevada Public Land melanocarpa through public awareness The MCNCA Advisory Council will Management Act and education. meet on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 7. Provide technical assistance to at the Fruita City Office Building, 325 Department of the Interior. Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe for East Aspen Avenue, Fruita, CO. The ACTION: Notice of realty action. the development of conservation agenda topics for this meeting are: measures for the species. (1) Status of pending Advisory SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land 8. Refine recovery criteria. Council nominations. Management (BLM) proposes to sell by Authority (2) Update on Friends of McInnis public auction 86 parcels of Federal Canyons NCA. public land, aggregating approximately The authority for this action is section (3) Update on NCA Implementation 3,197.00 acres, more or less, in the Las 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Plan. Vegas Valley, Nevada. The sale will be Dated: July 11, 2005. (4) Cooperative management of Loma under the authority of the Southern Cynthia K. Dohner, Boat Launch. (Field trip to site Nevada Public Land Management Act of Acting Regional Director. included.) 1998 (112 Stat. 2343), as amended by [FR Doc. 05–16372 Filed 8–17–05; 8:45 am] (5) Public comment period Title IV of the Clark County BILLING CODE 4310–55–P (6) Agenda for next meeting Conservation of Public Land and Beginning September of 2005, the Natural Resources Act of 2002 (116 Stat. MCNCA Advisory Council meetings 1994) (SNPLMA). The SNPLMA sale DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR will be held quarterly on the first will be subject to the applicable Wednesday of every third month. The provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of Bureau of Land Management dates for these meetings are September the Federal Land Policy and 7, 2005; and December 7, 2005. Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 [Docket No. CO–01–134–1220–241A] Meetings for 2006 will be determined at U.S.C. 1713 and 1719), and BLM land McInnis Canyons National the December meeting. Topics of sale and mineral conveyance regulations Conservation Area Advisory Council discussion for future meetings will at 43 CFR parts 2710 and 2720. The sale Meeting include completion of an will be conducted in Las Vegas, Nevada, implementation/business plan, on November 16, 2005, using AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management refinement of a monitoring strategy, competitive bidding procedures under Interior. partnerships, interpretation, adaptive the regulations, at not less than the

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