[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51355-51356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20456]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2014-N154; FXES11130600000-145-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit 
Applications

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 applications to conduct certain activities 
with

[[Page 51356]]

endangered or threatened species. With some exceptions, 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 requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
September 29, 2014.

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-XXXXXX).
     Email: [email protected]. Please refer to the respective 
permit number (e.g., Permit No. TE-XXXXXX) in the subject line of the 
message.
     U.S. Mail: 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-
4212 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union 
Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Konishi, Permit Coordinator, 
Ecological Services, (307) 772-2374 x248 (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 at 50 CFR part 17, 
the Act provides for permits and requires that we invite public comment 
before issuing these permits.
    A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act 
authorizes the permittees 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 applications. Documents and other information 
the applicants have submitted with their applications are 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 TE704930

    Applicants: Michael Thabault and Nicole Alt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Region 6, Ecological Services, Denver, CO.
    The applicants request an amendment to add New Mexico Meadow 
Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) and lesser prairie-chicken 
(Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) to an existing permit to purposefully take 
(display, photograph, harass by survey, capture, handle, weigh, 
measure, mark, obtain biological samples, breed in captivity, 
reintroduce, relocate, remove from the wild, and kill) in conjunction 
with surveys and population monitoring for the purpose of enhancing the 
species' survival. This permit will allow Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) employees, agents of the Service, and Service volunteers to 
lawfully conduct threatened and endangered species activities, in 
conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species' range, as 
outlined in Fish and Wildlife Service employees' and volunteers' 
position descriptions.

Permit Application Number TE40145B

    Applicant: Defenders of Wildlife, 303 S. Broadway, STE 200-190, 
Denver, CO.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) in AZ, CO, KS, MT, ND, 
NE, NM, SD, UT, and WY to determine range, distribution, and abundance 
for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

National Environmental Policy Act

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), we have made an initial determination that the proposed 
activities in these permits 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 these requests 
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.).

Michael G. Thabault,
Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-20456 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
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