[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4607-4608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1994]
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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.
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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. 99-1994 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
