# Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Juglans Jamaicensis (West Indian Walnut or Nogal) for Review and Comment > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-25128 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** September 21, 1998 - **Citation:** 63 FR 50253 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Juglans Jamaicensis (West Indian Walnut or Nogal) for Review and Comment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for Junglans jamaicensis (West Indian walnut or nogal). In Puerto Rico this large tree is known from only 14 individuals at one locality near Adjuntas. The species is threatened by land-clearing for agriculture and rural development. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan. DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before November 20, 1998 to receive consideration by the Service. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Boqueron Field Office, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622 (Telephone 787/851-7297). Comments and materials are available on request for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above-mentioned address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan R. Silander at the address and telephone shown above. 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 the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for the [[Page 50254]] downlisting or delisting of 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 comments be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information presented during a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The Service and other Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. This Recovery Plan is for Juglans jamaicensis (West Indian walnut or nogal). Nogal is a large tree which may reach up to 25 meters or 82 feet in height. Twigs, buds, and leaf axes have minute rusty hairs. Leaves are alternate and compound. The fruit, a drupe, is a walnut composed of a blackish husk and one large oily, edible seed. The tree may have once been more widespread in Puerto Rico in the past but much of the forested areas in the central mountain region were cut for the planting of coffee. Today it is known from 14 individuals at only one locality in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. It is also known from the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba. In Puerto Rico it is threatened by land clearing for agriculture and rural development. Public Comments Solicited The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan described. All comments received by the date specified above will be considered for inclusion in the Recovery Plan. Authority The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: September 10, 1998. James P. Oland, Field Supervisor. [FR Doc. 98-25128 Filed 9-18-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-25128. Public record. Not legal advice.