[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15247-15248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06520]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2014-N252; FXES11130600000-156-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 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 
April 20, 2015.

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 (719) 628-
2670 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union 
Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits 
Coordinator, Ecological Services, (719) 628-2670 (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 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), red knot (Calidris canutus 
rufa), Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), yellow-billed 
cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis), lesser 
prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), white sturgeon (Acipenser 
transmontanus), Gierisch mallow (Sphaeralcea gierischii), Leedy's 
roseroot (Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. leeydi), Higgins eye 
(pearlymussel) (Lampsilis higginsii), rabbitsfoot (Quadrula cylindrica 
cylindrica), Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae), and Poweshiek 
skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) 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 TE232905

Applicant: City of Saint Paul, Como Zoo, Saint Paul, MN.

    The applicant requests a permit to propagate Wyoming toads 
(Anaxyrus baxteri) to preserve genetic diversity and provide 
individuals for

[[Page 15248]]

reintroduction into suitable sites identified by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE207946

Applicant: Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO.

    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) in New 
Mexico to identify and avoid occupied habitat during reclamation 
activities for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE227446

Applicant: Clifton Sanitation District, 3217 D Road, Clifton, CO.

    The applicant requests the renewal of a permit for educational 
display and propagation of bonytail (Gila elegans), Colorado pikeminnow 
(Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), and razorback 
sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) at the Clifton Sanitation District facility 
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. 2015-06520 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P