Endangered and threatened species: Preble's meadow jumping mouse,

[Federal Register: January 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 19)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 4607-4608]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29ja99-31]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF30

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Special Regulations for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that the comment period on the Service's proposal to establish special regulations for the conservation of the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) (63 FR 66777, December 3, 1998) is extended through March 5, 1999. The Service notes that revisions of Mouse Protection Areas and Potential Mouse Protection Areas referenced in the December 3, 1998, proposed rule are available for review.

DATES: The public comment period, which was originally to close on February 1, 1999, is extended for an additional 31 days and now closes on March 5, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to Colorado Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. Comments and materials received will be available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Colorado Field Office, 755 Parfet Street, Suite 361, Lakewood, Colorado.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeRoy W. Carlson, Colorado Field Supervisor, telephone 303/275-2370, facsimile 303/275-2371 (see ADDRESSES section).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Preble's meadow jumping mouse, a small rodent in the family Zapodidae, is known to occur only in eastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. It lives primarily in heavily vegetated riparian habitats and immediately adjacent upland habitats. Habitat loss and degradation caused by agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial development have resulted in concern over its continued existence.

On May 13, 1998, the Service published a final rule (63 FR 26517) to

[[Page 4608]]

list the Preble's meadow jumping mouse as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973 (16 U.S.C. sections 1531 to 1544) without critical habitat. At the time the Preble's was listed, a special rule for the conservation of the Preble's was not promulgated and therefore virtually all of the restrictions of the Act became applicable to the species. On December 3, 1998, the Service proposed a special rule under 4(d) of the Act to establish standards for the conservation of the Preble's for 18 months.

Some revisions have been made to the geographic locations of Mouse Protection Areas and Potential Mouse Protection Areas described in the December 3, 1998, proposed rule. These revisions, based on the best scientific information currently available, are maintained by the Service at addresses provided below. These geographic locations can be viewed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Field Office, 755 Parfet Street, Suite 361, Lakewood, Colorado, telephone 303/275- 2370 or at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Field Office, 4000 Morrie Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001, telephone 307/722-2374. Depictions of these geographic locations are also available on our internet home page (www.r6.fws.gov/preble).

Legal notice and news releases announcing the extension of the comment period are being published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register notice.

Written statements concerning the proposed special rule should be mailed to the Service office identified in the ADDRESSES section above on or before March 5, 1999.

Author

The author of this notice is Peter Plage, Colorado Field Office (see ADDRESSES above), telephone 303/275-2370.

Authority

Authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: January 22, 1999. Terry T. Terrell, Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 99-1994Filed1-28-99; 8:45 am]

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