[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6815-6816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2954]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2012-N028; FXES11130200000F5-112-FF02ENEH00]


Emergency Exemption; Issuance of Emergency Permit To Salvage 
Houston Toads Affected by a Wildfire in Bastrop County, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of endangered species emergency permit.

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SUMMARY: Between September 4 and October 10, 2011, more than 34,000

[[Page 6816]]

acres burned in Bastrop County, Texas, much of which was habitat for 
the endangered Houston toad. The Houston toad usually emerges and 
becomes active at the end of January or in early February. Without 
authorized personnel to salvage individuals, the ongoing Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) clean-up may be delayed or Houston 
toads may be needlessly harmed or killed. We, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service have authorized researchers employed by FEMA, under an 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit, to survey for, collect, and 
relocate Houston toads that may be affected by the FEMA clean-up.

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, Endangered 
Species Division, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103; (505) 248-6920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) clean-up in Bastrop County, Texas, after the September 4 through 
October 10, 2011, fire may be delayed or the endangered Houston toad 
(Bufo houstonensis) may be needlessly harmed or killed without 
authorized personnel to salvage individuals. Because the Houston toad 
usually emerges and becomes active at the end of January or in early 
February, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have authorized Jacob 
T. Jackson and James H. Bell (TE-64710A), under an Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) permit, to immediately aid Houston toads that may be affected 
by the FEMA clean-up. Efforts to salvage adults, juveniles, tadpoles, 
or egg masses are currently taking place and will continue on an 
ongoing basis until the FEMA clean-up is completed.
    Salvage of Houston toads may include the following activities: 
collect as adults, juveniles, tadpoles, or eggs from areas or under 
conditions that will likely result in their dessication or destruction; 
transport to the Welsh property in Bastrop County, Texas, and release 
into exclosures or the headstarting facility until they can be returned 
to the wild; or transported to the Houston toad captive breeding or 
captive assurance colony at the Houston Zoo.

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

    Dated: February 2, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2954 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
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