[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12924-12925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6314]


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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; Reopening of 
Comment Period on Proposed Special Regulations for the Preble's Meadow 
Jumping Mouse

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening 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 reopened 
as of March 16, 1999 and will remain open for 45 days through April 30, 
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 is reopened for a period of 45 days 
and will close April 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to the 
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 (3 FR 26517) to 
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 that is 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 307/772-2374. 
Depictions of these geographic locations are also available on our 
internet home page (www.r6.fws.gov/preble).
    A news release announcing the extension of the comment period is 
being published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register 
notice.

[[Page 12925]]

    Written statements concerning the proposed special rule should be 
mailed to the Service office identified in the ADDRESSES section above 
on or before April 30, 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: March 10, 1999.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 99-6314 Filed 3-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M