[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 21374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08241]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2015-N189; 60120-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of a draft recovery plan for the Preble's meadow jumping 
mouse. This species is federally listed as threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The Service solicits 
review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before June 10, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available by 
request from the Colorado Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
PO Box 25486-DFC, Denver, CO 80225; telephone 303-236-4773. Submit 
comments on the draft recovery plan to the Field Supervisor at this 
same address. An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan is 
available at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, at the above 
address, or telephone 303-236-4773.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares recovery plans for the 
federally listed species native to the United States where a plan will 
promote the conservation of the species. Recovery plans describe site-
specific actions necessary for the conservation of the species; 
establish objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result 
in a determination that the species no longer needs the protection of 
the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the needed recovery measures.
    The ESA requires recovery plans for listed species unless such a 
plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. 
Section 4(f) of the ESA, as amended in 1988, requires that public 
notice and opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information 
received during a public comment period when preparing each new or 
revised recovery plan for approval. The Service and other Federal 
agencies also will take these comments into consideration in the course 
of implementing approved recovery plans. It is our policy to request 
peer review of recovery plans. We will summarize and respond to the 
issues raised by the public and peer reviewers in an appendix to the 
approved recovery plan.
    The Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), found 
in foothills riparian habitat from southeastern Wyoming to south 
central Colorado, was listed as a threatened subspecies under the ESA, 
effective June 12, 1998 (May 13, 1998; 63 FR 26517). At the time of 
listing, the subspecies was threatened by habitat alteration, 
degradation, loss, and fragmentation resulting from urban development, 
flood control, water development, agriculture, and other human land 
uses. No range-wide population estimates exist for the subspecies. 
Numerous surveys conducted in the last decade lead us to believe that 
there are adequate numbers and distributions of Preble's meadow jumping 
mouse populations present today to allow recovery of the subspecies; 
however, many of these populations face continued threats to their 
persistence.
    The recovery strategy is based upon the assumption that if specific 
criteria are met for certain existing populations, the Preble's mouse 
can be recovered. These criteria require that populations are 
maintained in designated habitats distributed throughout the existing 
range, the populations and habitats are secure from decline due to 
existing threats listed above, the populations are self-sustaining and 
persistent, a long-term management plan and cooperative agreement is 
completed, and there is effective public involvement.

Request for Public Comments

    The Service solicits public comments on the draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be considered 
prior to approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding 
the plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES 
section). Comments and materials received will be available, by 
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at the 
above address.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: February 25, 2016.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2016-08241 Filed 4-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P