[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54284-54285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21659]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2014-N172; FXES11130200000F5-145-FF02ENEH00]


Emergency Exemption; Issuance of Emergency Permits to Survey for 
New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Within Arizona, Colorado, and New 
Mexico

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of endangered species emergency permits.

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SUMMARY: The final rule to list the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse as 
endangered throughout its range in New Mexico published in the Federal 
Register on June 10, 2014. Without authorized personnel to survey for 
this species, valuable information on population numbers for this 
elusive species would be lost for the 2014 field season. Under an 
Endangered Species Act permit, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
have authorized qualified researchers to survey for New Mexico meadow 
jumping mouse during its survey season of July and August 2014.

ADDRESSES: Documents and other information concerning the permit are 
available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act 
and Freedom of Information Act. Documents will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment only, during normal business hours at the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Ave. SW., Room 6034, 
Albuquerque, NM 87103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Division of 
Classification and Restoration, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103; 
(505) 248-6920.

[[Page 54285]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule to list the New Mexico meadow 
jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonicus luteus) as endangered throughout its 
range in New Mexico published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2014 
(79 FR 33119). Without authorized personnel to survey for this species, 
valuable information on population numbers for this elusive species 
would be lost for the 2014 field season. Under permits pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we have 
authorized qualified researchers to survey for New Mexico meadow 
jumping mouse during its survey season of July and August 2014.
    Since 2005, there have been 29 documented remaining populations (2 
in Colorado, 15 in New Mexico, and 12 in Arizona) spread across eight 
geographic management areas. Nearly all of these populations are 
isolated and widely separated, and all have patches of suitable habitat 
that are too small to support resilient populations of the mouse. Since 
2005, four of the eight geographic management areas have two or more 
locations known to be occupied by the jumping mouse, but all are too 
small to support resilient populations. The remaining four areas have 
only one location known to be occupied since 2005, and each population 
is too small to be resilient. Due to the small population size 
estimates, surveys are needed to determine actual numbers.
    The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse is a small mammal that 
hibernates about 8 or 9 months out of the year--longer than most 
mammals--and is only active 3 or 4 months during the summer. Within 
this short time frame, it must breed, birth, raise young, and store up 
sufficient fat reserves to survive the next year's hibernation period. 
In addition, the species only lives up to 1 years and has one litter 
annually, with seven or fewer young. As a result, if resources are not 
available in a single season, populations are greatly stressed.
    The species' historical distribution likely included riparian 
wetlands along streams in the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountains, 
from southern Colorado to central New Mexico, including the Jemez and 
Sacramento Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley from Espanola to Bosque 
del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and into parts of the White 
Mountains in eastern Arizona.

Permit TE-40088B

Applicant: Jennifer Frey, Radium Springs, New Mexico.

    We approved the applicant's request for a new permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys of New Mexico 
meadow jumping mouse within New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.

Permit TE-40886B

Applicant: Jennifer Zahratka, Durango, Colorado.

    We approved the applicant's request for a new permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys of New Mexico 
meadow jumping mouse within Colorado and New Mexico.

Permit TE-676811

Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    We approved the applicant's request for an amendment to a current 
permit for research and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence 
surveys of New Mexico meadow jumping mouse within Arizona, Colorado, 
and New Mexico.
    These emergency permits are issued for the sole purpose of 
facilitating presence/absence surveys for the 2014 survey season. Any 
further authorization for surveys or research of the New Mexico meadow 
jumping mouse will be processed separately.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: August 21, 2014.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21659 Filed 9-10-14; 8:45 am]
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