[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 240 (Thursday, December 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74202-74203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30079]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2012-N295; FXES11130600000D2-123-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit 
Application

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to 
comment on the following application to conduct certain activities with 
endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened 
species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also 
requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
January 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more 
information by any of the following methods. Alternatively, you may use 
one of the following methods to request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the 
documents. Please specify the permit you are interested in by number 
(e.g., Permit No. TE-123456).
     Email: [email protected]. Please refer to the respective 
permit number in the subject line of the message.
     U.S. Mail: Kris Olsen, Permit Coordinator, Ecological 
Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486-DFC, Denver, 
CO 80225.
     In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 303-236-4256 
to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union 
Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris Olsen, Permit Coordinator, 
Ecological Services, (303) 236-4256 (phone); [email protected] 
(email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits activities with 
endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such 
activity. Along with our implementing regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17, the Act provides for 
permits, and requires that we invite public comment before issuing this 
permit.
    A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act 
authorizes applicant to conduct activities with U.S. endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes, enhancement of propagation 
or survival, or interstate commerce (the latter only in the event that 
it facilitates scientific purposes or enhancement of propagation or 
survival). Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these 
permits are found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 
CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered 
plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species.

Applications Available for Review and Comment

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public to 
comment on the following application. Please refer to the appropriate 
permit number for the application when submitting comments.
    Documents and other information the applicants have submitted is 
available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 
U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

Permit Application Number: TE-704930

    Applicants: Michael Thabault and Nicole Alt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Region 6. Ecological Services, Denver, Colorado.
    The applicants request renewal of an existing permit to 
purposefully take (display, photograph, harass by survey, capture, 
electrofish, handle, weigh, measure, mark, obtain biological samples, 
breed in captivity, reintroduce, relocate, remove from the wild, kill, 
and, for plant species only, remove and reduce to possess) all 
threatened and endangered species listed in the States of Colorado, 
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and 
Wyoming for recovery or scientific purposes or for the enhancement of 
propagation or for enhancing the species' survival. This permit will 
allow Fish and Wildlife Service employees and volunteers to lawfully 
conduct threatened and endangered species activities, in

[[Page 74203]]

conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species' range, as 
outlined in Fish and Wildlife Service employees' and volunteers' 
position descriptions.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    In compliance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), we have made an 
initial determination that the proposed activities in this permit are 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental 
assessment or environmental impact statement (516 DM 6 Appendix 1, 
1.4C(1)).

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive in response to this request 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

    Dated: December 5, 2012.
Nicole Alt,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-30079 Filed 12-12-12; 8:45 am]
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