[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78853-78854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Proposed Endangered Species Habitat Bank for the Preble's Meadow 
Jumping Mouse, Douglas County, CO

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is proposing to sign an agreement with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (Service) which designates 25 acres of property 
owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as a habitat 
conservation bank for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus 
hudsonius preblei). The bank will be used to compensate for impacts to 
the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse as a result of highway improvements. 
The FHWA, the Service, and CDOT are considering entering an agreement, 
which outlines the banking procedures. Interested parties are invited 
to review and provide comment on the proposed agreement to the address 
listed below.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 24, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edrie Vinson, Environmental Program 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, 
Lakewood, CO 80228. Telephone (303) 969-6730, ext. 378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from Government 
Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. 
Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's Home page 
at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's Web 
site at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

[[Page 78854]]

Availability of Document

    Individuals interested in reviewing a copy of the Plan are asked to 
contact the Colorado Division of the Federal Highway Administration by 
telephone at (303) 969-6730, or by submitting a written request for a 
copy of the document to the Environmental Program Manager at the 
address listed above in section FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Background

    One of the FHWA's strategic goals is to protect and enhance the 
natural environment and communities affected by highway transportation. 
The FHWA and DCOT are bound under Federal environmental regulations to 
evaluate, consider, and mitigate significant environmental impacts of 
its projects.
    The Service has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, 
restoration, enhancement, and management of native fish, wildlife, 
plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustaining populations 
of those species pursuant to the provisions of various Federal laws 
including the Endangered Species Act.
    The CDOT's mission is to provide the best multi-modal 
transportation system for Colorado that most effectively moves people, 
goods, and information, while at the same time adhering to CDOT's 
values, which include working in partnership with all, using resources 
wisely, and making decisions that are compatible with Colorado's 
quality of life, including environmental and economic goals.
    The Colorado Division of the FHWA provides financial assistance to 
the State of Colorado through the Federal-aid highway program to create 
the best transportation system in the world for the American people 
through proactive leadership, innovation, and excellence in service.
    Establishment of the East Plum Creek Conservation Bank Agreement 
represents an excellent opportunity to support and enhance the ongoing 
habitat conservation planning efforts in the regions by conserving 
highly valuable resources at the site. Within its boundaries, the East 
Plum Creek Conservation Bank will provide for the permanent protection 
of the preble's meadow jumping mouse (PMJM) through the preservation, 
restoration, and enhancement of off-site lands that possess comparable 
or greater habitat values.
    The property supports aquatic, riparian, upland and wetland habitat 
for the PMJM. Native vegetation communities occur on the site such as 
willow shrub lands and herbaceous wet meadows.
    The Service has determined that the East Plum Creek Conservation 
Bank lands, as the have been and are being improved and restored 
through the conservation actions described in Exhibit F (Habitat 
Management Plan) of the Agreement, are suitable to mitigate for impacts 
to habitat for PMJM within the Service area.
    The parties desire to establish a Conservation Bank in order to 
provide for the permanent conservation of the property, the use of the 
land as mitigation and the use of Conservation Bank credits by CDOT to 
offset unavoidable temporary and permanent impacts associated with its 
projects in need of such mitigation.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: December 18, 2002.
William C. Jones,
Division Administrator, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 02-32464 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
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