[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70202-70203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29618]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AI46
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of
Comment Period and Announcement of Public Hearings on Designation of
Critical Habitat for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius
preblei)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Reopening of public comment period and announcement of public
hearings.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the
comment period on the Service's proposal to designate critical habitat
for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) (67 FR
47154, July 17, 2002). The comment period will remain open for 60 days.
In addition, the Service will host two public hearings on the proposal
on November 21, 2002, at the Jefferson County Courts and Administrative
Building in Golden, Colorado.
DATES: The public comment period for the proposed rule is reopened for
a period of 60 days, beginning November 21, 2002 and ending January 21,
2003.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments and information to Preble's
Mouse Comments, Colorado Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 755 Parfet Street, Suite
[[Page 70203]]
361, Lakewood, Colorado 80215, or by facsimile to 303-275-2371. You may
hand deliver written comments to our Colorado Ecological Services Field
Office at the address given above. You may send comments by electronic
mail (e-mail) to [email protected]. See the ``Public Comments
Solicited'' section below for file format and other information on
electronic filing. You may review comments and materials received, as
well as supporting documentation used in preparation of this proposed
rule, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's Colorado Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeRoy Carlson, Colorado Field
Supervisor, at the above address or telephone 303-275-2370.
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 resulted in the Preble's meadow jumping mouse being listed
as a threatened species throughout its range on May 13, 1998 (62 FR
26517).
On July 17, 2000, the Service proposed to designate critical
habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act (67 FR 47154). The proposed designation includes
19 habitat units totaling approximately 23,248 hectares (57,446 acres)
found along 1,058.1 kilometers (657.5 miles) of rivers and streams in
Colorado and Wyoming.
Critical habitat identifies specific areas, both occupied and
unoccupied, that are essential to the conservation of a listed species
and that may require special management considerations or protection.
If the proposed rule is made final, section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act will prohibit destruction or adverse modification of critical
habitat by any activity funded, authorized, or carried out by any
Federal agency; and Federal agencies proposing actions affecting areas
designated as critical habitat must consult with us on the effects of
their proposed actions, pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered
Species Act.
Public Comments Solicited
We intend any final action resulting from the proposal to be as
accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we solicit comments
or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies,
the scientific community, industry, or any other interested party
concerning the proposed rule.
If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and materials
concerning the proposal by any one of several methods (see ADDRESSES).
If you would like to submit comments by electronic format, please
submit them in ASCII file format and avoid the use of special
characters and encryption. Please include your name and return e-mail
address in your e-mail message. Please note that the e-mail address
will be closed out at the termination of the public comment period. If
you do not receive confirmation from the system that we have received
your message, contact us directly by calling our Colorado Ecological
Services Field Office at 303-275-2370.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold
their home address, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law.
If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this
request prominently at the beginning of your comments. However, we will
not consider anonymous comments. To the extent consistent with
applicable law, we will make all submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety. Comments and materials
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the address listed under ADDRESSES.
Public Hearings
The Service will host two public hearings on the proposal on
November 21, 2002, at the Jefferson County Courts and Administrative
Building at 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden, Colorado. The
hearings will be held in the First Floor Hearing Room. Information
sessions followed by an opportunity to ask questions regarding the
proposal will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and formal hearings, providing
an opportunity to present comments on the proposal, will begin at 2
p.m. and 7 p.m.
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: October 31, 2002.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29618 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
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