[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]
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