Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 1997 / Proposed Rules 65783 Council has opened DFARS Case 97± DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR collector Paul Sintenis in 1886. D033 to revise DFARS Subpart 204.70, Although duplicate specimens are Uniform Procurement Instrument Fish and Wildlife Service maintained at other herbariums, the Identification Numbers, to address original collections were in the various issues associated with the use of 50 CFR Part 17 herbarium at Berlin-Dahlem and were Procurement Instrument Identification RIN 1018±AE48 destroyed by the bombing during World Numbers (PIINs) and Supplemental War II. Procurement Instrument Identification Endangered and Threatened Wildlife The species has also been reported Numbers (SPIINs). and Plants; Proposed Endangered from Barbuda and Guadeloupe, islands Status for Catesbaea Melanocarpa of the Lesser Antilles (Howard 1989, a. Among the revisions under Proctor 1991). While little is known consideration is one to increase the AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, about the plant's status on these islands, length of SPIINs used to identify call or Interior. the Center for Plant Conservation (1992) order numbers under contracts awarded ACTION: Proposed rule. describes it as rare on Antigua. It was by another activity from 4 characters to not rediscovered in St. Croix until 1988 13, or possibly 15, characters. This SUMMARY: The Service proposes to and to date, it has not been relocated in revision is similar to a revision included determine Catesbaea melanocarpa (no the GuaÂnica, Puerto Rico, area. The St. in an earlier proposed rule, DFARS Case common name) to be an endangered Croix population, located near 92±D044, that was published in the species pursuant to the Endangered Christiansted, consists of about 24 Federal Register on August 18, 1994 (59 Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). individual plants (Breckon and FR 42566), and that was withdrawn on Catesbaea melanocarpa is known from Kolterman 1993). In 1995, a small December 28, 1994 (59 FR 66884), in Puerto Rico, St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin population, consisting of one response to public comments addressing Islands, Barbuda, Antigua, and individual, was located in Cabo Rojo, the significant cost impact it would Guadeloupe. In Puerto Rico, it is Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Planning Board have on existing automated systems. currently known from only one location 1995). One specimen, collected in 1974, The notice withdrawing the proposed in Cabo Rojo, and in the U.S. Virgin located in the herbarium in San Juan rule stated that ``. both industry and Islands, it is known from one location apparently originated from the Susu a Government should ensure that these near Christiansted, St. Croix. Both Commonwealth Forest. However, this proposed revisions can be populations are located on privately specimen is sterile and in depauperate accommodated in any future automated owned land subject to intense pressure condition; therefore, its identification systems.'' The DAR Council is for development for residential, tourism cannot be confirmed. interested in hearing from industry and and industrial purposes. This proposal, Catesbaea melanocarpa, of the family Government activities with respect to if made final, would implement the Rubiaceae, belongs to a genus which their ability to accommodate such a Federal protection and recovery consists of ten or more species of spiny change at this time. The Council asks provisions afforded by the Act for C. shrubs. Most are confined to the that respondents specifically address melanocarpa. The Service seeks data Antilles but some may extend into the whether assignment of a unique 13 (or and comments from the public on this Bahamas and the Florida Keys. In possibly 15) character SPIIN for every proposal. Puerto Rico, two species are knownÐC. order (i.e., every call or order would DATES: Comments from all interested melanocarpa and C. parviflora. These have a completely unique SPIIN, and, parties must be received by February 17, two species are differentiated by the size therefore, could be tracked by reference 1998. Public hearing requests must be and color of the fruits, black and larger, to its SPIIN only) would improve the received by January 30, 1998. 5 to 6 millimeters (mm) (.19 to .23 potential benefits of the contemplated ADDRESSES: Comments and materials inches (in)) in diameter, in the former revision. concerning this proposal should be sent and white and smaller 2 to 4 mm (.07 to the Field Supervisor, BoqueroÂn Field to .15 in) in diameter, in the latter b. Other issues under consideration (Breckon and Kolterman 1993, Britton include: Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 491, BoqueroÂn, Puerto Rico and Wilson 1925). Some authors note 1. To ensure compatibility with 00622. Comments and materials that C. melanocarpa may be a synonym automated systems that use contract received will be available for public or variant of C. parviflora (Howard numbers, should there be a uniform inspection, by appointment, during 1989, Proctor 1991) and recommend contract numbering system, or an agreed normal business hours at this office. further review. However, Breckon and upon maximum number of characters, Kolterman (1993) and the Center for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: for basic contract numbers assigned to Ms. Plant Conservation (1992) recommend all contracts subject to the Federal Susan Silander, Botanist, at the its protection due to the extremely small  ADDRESSES Acquisition Regulation or, at least, to Boqueron Field Office (see number of individuals currently known, any such contracts that may have calls section) (787/851±7297, facsimile 787/ the intense pressure for development in or orders issued under them by other 851±7440). these areas, and the potential for an agencies? SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: appreciable loss of the species' genetic 2. Is there a need to use more than diversity. Background Catesbaea melanocarpa is a two digits to designate the fiscal year Catesbaea melanocarpa (no common branching shrub which may reach within PIINs, and possibly SPIINs, to name) was first discovered in the mid- approximately 3 meters (9.8 feet) in avoid potential Year 2000 problems in nineteenth century on the British island height. Spines are borne at every automated systems? of Antigua by the German collector internode and are from 1 to 2 Michele P. Peterson, Hienrich Rudolph Wullschlaegel. It was centimeters (.39 to .78 in) long. Leaves Executive Edtior, Defense Acquisition found in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, are small, from 5 to 25 mm (.19 to 1.0 Regulations Council. in about 1881 by the Danish collector in) long and 2 to 15 mm (.07 to .58 in) [FR Doc. 97±32757 Filed 12±15±97; 8:45 am] Baron H. F. A. von Eggers and in wide, often fascicled (clustered), and the BILLING CODE 5000±04±M GuaÂnica, Puerto Rico, by the German small stipules are deciduous. The 65784 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 1997 / Proposed Rules flowers are white, solitary or paired, and concurrently undertake all of the research. The Territory of the U.S. almost sessile in the axils. The corolla activities included in Tiers 1, 2, and 3'' Virgin Islands has amended an existing is funnelform and from 8 to 10 mm (.31 (61 FR 64480). The Service announced regulation to provide for protection of to .39 in) long. The fruit is globose, 5 to an extension on October 23, 1997, (62 endangered and threatened wildlife and 6 mm (.19 to .23 in) in diameter, and FR 55268) of the guidance for FY 1997. plants. Catesbaea melanocarpa is black with a crustaceous pericarp. The The guidance will remain in effect until considered by the U.S. Virgin Islands to two-celled fruit contains five to seven the FY 1998 appropriations bill for the be endangered (see ``Available seeds in each cell (Proctor 1991). Department of the Interior becomes law Conservation Measures'' for discussion and new final guidance is published in of prohibitions). As with the Previous Federal Action the Federal Register. Commonwealth, the existence of a Catesbaea melanocarpa was section 6 Cooperative Agreement with Summary of Factors Affecting the identified as a category 2 candidate the Service will increase possibilities for Species species in Notices of Review published funding needed research with this plant. in the Federal Register on February 21, Section 4 of the Act and regulations E. Other natural or manmade factors 1990 (55 FR 6184), and September 30, (50 CFR part 424) promulgated to affecting its continued existence. One of 1993 (58 FR 51144). Prior to 1996, a implement the listing provisions of the the most important factors affecting the category 2 species was one that was Act set forth the procedures for adding continued survival of this species is its being considered for possible addition species to the Federal lists. A species limited distribution. Because so few to the Federal List of Endangered and may be determined to be endangered or individuals are known to occur, the risk Threatened Plants, but for which threatened due to one or more of the of extinction is extremely high. conclusive data on biological five factors described in section 4(a)(1). Catastrophic natural events, such as vulnerability and threats were not These factors and their application to hurricanes, may dramatically affect available to support a proposed rule. Catesbaea melanocarpa (Krug and forest species composition and structure Designation of category 2 species was Urban) are as follows: by felling large trees and creating discontinued in the February 28, 1996, A. The present or threatened numerous canopy gaps. Breckon and Notice of Review (61 FR 7956). destruction, modification, or Kolterman (1993) documented the loss Catesbaea melanocarpa was approved curtailment of its habitat or range. of individuals in St. Croix following the as a candidate by the Service on Catesbaea melanocarpa is known only passing of hurricane Hugo in 1989.