[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64235-64236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25140]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2013-N222; FXES11130200000F5-145-FF02ENEH00]


Emergency Exemption; Issuance of Emergency Permit To Survey for 
and Relocate Jemez Mountain Salamanders Within the Santa Fe National 
Forest, 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 Jemez Mountain salamander 
(Plethodon neomexicanus) as endangered throughout its range in New 
Mexico published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2013. The 
final rule becomes effective on October 10, 2013. Without having 
personnel authorized to survey for and minimize impacts through moving 
individuals out of harm's way, the New Mexico Gas Company's ongoing 
pipeline repairs may be delayed to prevent individual Jemez Mountain 
salamanders being needlessly harmed or killed. We, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service have, under an Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit, 
authorized qualified researchers to survey for and move Jemez Mountain 
salamanders out of harm's way during pipeline repairs. These pipeline 
repairs are considered essential to human and environmental health.

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 New Mexico Gas Company has identified 
eight dented and corroded segments of natural gas pipeline within the 
occupied

[[Page 64236]]

range of the Jemez Mountain salamander that are in critical condition 
and require immediate repair. This approximately 17.5-mile-long portion 
of pipeline lies between the village of Cuba, New Mexico, and the 
western boundary of the Valles Cauldera National Preserve within the 
Santa Fe National Forest. Emergency repairs are necessary to ensure 
that natural gas pressure may be restored to levels necessary to supply 
northern New Mexico with adequate fuel for home heating before any cold 
weather in early November. These emergency repairs to the pipeline have 
been analyzed and authorized under an emergency consultation between 
the Cuba Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest and the Service's 
New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (Consultation  
02ENNM00-2013-FE-0110). We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) have, under an Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) permit, authorized the following researchers to survey for and 
move Jemez Mountain salamanders out of harm's way during pipeline 
repairs:

Permit TE-819477

    Applicant: Parametrix, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    We approved the applicant's request for an amendment to a current 
permit for research and recovery purposes to survey for, locate, 
capture, temporarily hold, sample for disease, measure, relocate, 
salvage any dead, moribund, or parts (e.g., severed tails) and release 
of any Jemez Mountains salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus) that is 
directly in harm's way or has been harmed resulting from emergency 
repairs by New Mexico Gas Company to a natural gas pipeline located in 
the Jemez Mountains, in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval Counties, 
New Mexico.

Permit TE-045236

    Applicant: SWCA, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    We approved the applicant's request for an amendment to a current 
permit for research and recovery purposes to survey for, locate, 
capture, temporarily hold, sample for disease, measure, relocate, 
salvage any dead, moribund, or parts (e.g., severed tails) and release 
of any Jemez Mountains salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus) that is 
directly in harm's way or has been harmed resulting from emergency 
repairs by New Mexico Gas Company to a natural gas pipeline located in 
the Jemez Mountains, in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval Counties, 
New Mexico.

Permit TE-071287

    Applicant: Bruce Christman, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    We approved the applicant's request for an amendment and renewal of 
an expired permit for research and recovery purposes to survey for, 
locate, capture, temporarily hold, sample for disease, measure, 
relocate, salvage any dead, moribund, or parts (e.g., severed tails) 
and release of any Jemez Mountains salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus) 
that is directly in harm's way or has been harmed resulting from 
emergency repairs by New Mexico Gas Company to a natural gas pipeline 
located in the Jemez Mountains, in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval 
Counties, New Mexico.
    These emergency permits are issued for the sole purpose of 
facilitating the New Mexico Gas Company pipeline repairs. Any further 
authorization for surveys or research of the Jemez Mountains salamander 
will be processed separately.

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

    Dated: October 21, 2013.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25140 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
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