OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 1998

SECRETARY BABBITT TO ANNOUNCE SPECIAL RULE TO HELP RECOVER THE PREBLE'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will host a stakeholder meeting in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, December 4, to announce a proposed special rule to help recover the Preble's meadow jumping mouse.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Preble's meadow jumping mouse as a threatened species in May, 1998. The special rule, known as a 4(d) rule after a section of the Endangered Species Act, is part of an overall conservation and recovery planning process for the species.

"We are using the flexibility built into the Endangered Species Act to forge new partnerships that ensure a bright future for the Preble's jumping mouse and people on the Front Range," Secretary Babbitt said. "The new rule will serve as a template for local conservation planning. It is an excellent example of cooperation in conservation on the Front Range in innovative ways that preserve not only habitat for threatened wildlife species but the values that drew people to live in these spectacular landscapes."

The State of Colorado and the Interior Department signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 1995 to conserve endangered species such as the Preble's meadow jumping mouse and many lcoal communities in both Colorado and Wyoming already are developing conservation plans.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with the States of Colorado and Wyoming and local governments to develop conservation plans that can be put in place to help recovery of the mouse while still allowing some development activities.

The meeting will begin at 9:30am and will be held in the Arapahoe Ballrooms A & B at the Stapleton Plaza Inn, located at 3333 Quebec Street in Denver. Following the meeting, which is open to media, Secretary Babbitt will be available for questions from the media in Arapahoe Ballroom C at about 10:30am.

-DOI-

Directions to the site from Denver: Take I-25 to I-70 east. Take exit 278 (Quebec Street). Proceed � mile along Quebec Street to the Stapleton Plaza Inn (3333 Quebec Street).

  U.S. Department of the Interior