[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 182 (Monday, September 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50253-50254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25128]


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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.

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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]
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