1644 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 7 / Friday, January 10, 1997 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR and serpentine hills in northwestern both male and female plants in a viable districts of Puerto Rico. Proctor (1991) population are limiting factors for the Fish and Wildlife Service reported only 4 individuals of Cordia species. In a large number of the bellonis from CaõÂn Alto Ward in the localities where the species is found, the 50 CFR Part 17 Maricao Commonwealth Forest. shrub occurs as isolated individuals. RIN 1018±AD48 Breckon and Kolterman (1993) reported Because of forest destruction, less than 87 individuals at 17 localities in three half of the individuals previously Endangered and Threatened Wildlife areas in Maricao. Half of the localities known remain in these three forests. and Plants; Determination of consist of isolated individuals. Previous Federal Action Endangered Status for the Plant Cordia The species was reported for the first Bellonis time in Susu a in 1992, where a small Cordia bellonis was designated a population of 5 individuals was found candidate species in the Federal AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, (Breckon and Kolterman 1993). Cordia Register notice of review for plant taxa Interior. bellonis was also unknown from the RõÂo dated September 30, 1993 (58 FR ACTION: Final rule. Abajo Commonwealth Forest until it 51144). The species was recommended was found in 1994 (Federal Highway for listing by Proctor (1991) in a Status SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service Administration and Puerto Rico Report prepared for the species. In (Service) determines Cordia bellonis (no Highway and Transportation Authority further studies conducted for the common name) to be endangered 1994). Approximately 118 individuals species, Breckon and Kolterman (1993) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act were found in 12 localities. Ninety-five also recommended the species for (Act) of 1973, as amended. This species (82 percent) of these individuals were listing. Cordia bellonis is considered to is a shrub endemic to the island of removed for possible future be a critical plant by the Natural Puerto Rico and it is restricted to three reintroduction because of the Heritage Program of the Puerto Rico public forestsÐMaricao, Susua, and Rio construction of the road PR 10 (PR Department of Natural and Abajo. The species is threatened by Highway and Transportation Authority Environmental Resources. A proposed habitat loss, some forest management 1995). rule to list Cordia bellonis as practices, and restricted distribution. Cordia bellonis has been found in endangered was published on This final rule will implement the serpentine soils at Maricao and Susu a at September 28, 1995 (60 FR 50176). Federal protection and recovery road edges, river margins, and on steep The processing of this final rule provisions afforded by the Act for slopes (Breckon and Kolterman 1993). conforms with the Service's final listing Cordia bellonis. In the RõÂo Abajo Forest, the species was priority guidance published in the DATES: Effective February 10, 1997. found either on sunny banks along dirt Federal Register on May 16, 1996 (61 ADDRESSES: The complete file for this roads growing in thickets of vegetation FR 24722). The guidance clarifies the rule is available for inspection, by or in open saddles between limestone order in which the Service will process appointment, during normal business hills (Federal Highway Administration rulemakings following two related hours, at the BoqueroÂn Field Office, U.S. and Puerto Rico Highway and eventsÐ(1) the lifting, on April 26, Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 491, Transportation Authority 1994). 1996, of the moratorium on final listings BoqueroÂn, Puerto Rico 00622. Cordia bellonis is an arching to erect imposed on April 10, 1995 (Public Law shrub of about 1 to 2 meters (3.3 to 6.6 104±6), and (2) the restoration of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. feet) high with very slender twigs with significant funding for listing through Marelisa Rivera at the BoqueroÂn Field short hairs. The leaves are alternate, the passage of the omnibus budget Office address (809/851±7297). oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 6 reconciliation law on April 26, 1996, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: centimeters (0.79 to 2.36 inches) long, following severe funding constraints usually 2.5 to 3 times longer than wide. Background imposed by a number of continuing The corolla is white with 4 subcylindric resolutions between November 1995 Cordia bellonis was described by lobes. The fruit is a pointed drupe, 5 and April 1996. The guidance calls for Urban in 1899 from specimens collected millimeters (0.20 inches) in length giving highest priority to handling by Paul Sintenis at ``Monte Alegrillo'' in (Proctor 1991). The white axillary emergency situations (Tier 1) and the municipality of Maricao, Puerto flowers are unisexual and the plants are second highest priority (Tier 2) to Rico (Urban 1899). The name of ``Monte either male or female (dioecious) resolving the listing status of the Alegrillo'' has disappeared from use, but (Breckon and Kolterman 1993). outstanding proposed listings. This final according to Proctor (1991), N.L. Britton The species is threatened by habitat rule falls under Tier 2. At this time, referred to ``Monte Alegrillo'' as the destruction and modification, forest there are no pending Tier 1 actions. In peak at the extreme head of the Rio management practices, and restricted the development of this final rule, the Maricao, with an elevation of 900 distribution. Eighty-two percent of the Service has conducted an internal meters. This type location was individuals known from the RõÂo Abajo review of all available information. developed for the installation of Commonwealth Forest were removed Based on this review, the Service has telecommunication towers. Paul from the forest for the construction of a determined that there is no new Sintenis collected Cordia bellonis in the highway. Breckon and Kolterman (1994) information that would substantively area known as Indiera FrõÂa. The species reported that 14 individuals from affect this listing decision and that was also collected by Britton and Brown Maricao appeared to have been additional public comment is not in 1915 from Monte Cerrote near eliminated due to clearing along the warranted. Adjuntas (Proctor 1991). Britton and roadside of the forest. In 1995, twenty Wilson (1925) described the species as additional individuals were apparently Summary of Comments and Varronia bellonis and identified its destroyed by the clearing which Recommendations distribution as mountain-sides in the occurred for the reconstruction of Road In the September 28, 1995, proposed vicinity of Maricao. Liogier and 362 in the Camp Santana area. rule and associated notifications, all Martorell (1982) stated that the species Restricted distribution coupled with the interested parties were requested to distribution was the mountain slopes requirement for adequate numbers of submit factual reports or information Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 7 / Friday, January 10, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 1645 that might contribute to the individuals. Thirty-four of these from naturally occurring events such as development of a final rule. Appropriate individuals have been eliminated due to fire and local management practices. As agencies of the Commonwealth of clearing along the roadside and the a dioecious plant, Cordia bellonis Puerto Rico, Federal agencies, scientific reconstruction of Road 362. Half of the requires outcrossing to successfully organizations, and interested parties localities consist of isolated individuals. reproduce. Being dioecious creates a were requested to comment. Newspaper The dioecious condition of the species limiting factor affecting the continued notices inviting general public comment is a factor limiting reproduction by existence of this rare plant since most were published in ``The San Juan Star'' these individuals. Because the majority remaining individuals are widely on October 14, 1995, and in ``El Nuevo of these individuals occur along both separated from each other and, DõÂa'' on October 16, 1995. Two sides of two public roads, maintenance therefore, unlikely to reproduce. comment letters were received and are of road sides, as well as fires and The Service has carefully assessed the discussed as follows. Dr. G.J. Breckon vandalism, may result in the loss of best scientific and commercial and Dr. D.A. Kolterman, both from the these individuals. In Susu a, a small information available regarding the past, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez population of only 5 individuals was present, and future threats faced by this Campus, supported the proposal to list found in 1992. The species was species in determining to make this rule Cordia bellonis as an endangered previously unknown from this area. final. Based on this evaluation, the species. The U.S. Department of the This small population may be affected preferred action is to list Cordia bellonis Army, Jacksonville District Corps of by forest management practices. Cordia as endangered. The rarity of this plant Engineers, Antilles Office, provided bellonis was also unknown from the RõÂo makes the species vulnerable to the loss comments, but did not indicate support Abajo forest until it was found in 1994. of any individual. Only 81 individuals or objection to listing the species. Approximately 118 individuals were of Cordia bellonis are known to occur in Comments supplying supplemental data found