[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31413-31415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13341]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2015-N083; FXES11130200000-156-FF02ENEH00]


Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications; request for public comment.

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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. The Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and 
threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. Both 
the Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require that we 
invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or 
before July 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Division of Classification and 
Restoration, by U.S. mail at Division of Classification and Recovery, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103; 
or by telephone at 505-248-6920. Please refer to the respective permit 
number for each application when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Division of 
Classification and Restoration, by U.S. mail at P.O. Box 1306, 
Albuquerque, NM 87103; or by telephone at 505-248-6920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits 
activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal 
permit allows such activities. Along with our implementing regulations 
in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 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 applicants to conduct activities with U.S. endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes, enhancement of survival or 
propagation, or interstate commerce. Our regulations regarding 
implementation of section 10(a)(1)(A) 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, Tribal, and Federal agencies and the public 
to comment on the following applications. Please refer to the 
appropriate permit number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456) when requesting 
application documents and when submitting comments.
    Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with 
these 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 TE-174552

    Applicant: Animas Biological Studies, Durango, Colorado.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys, nest monitoring, 
and banding of southwestern willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii 
extimus) within Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

Permit TE-71618A

    Applicant: Museum of Southwestern Biology--University of New Mexico 
Herbarium, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to collect seeds and voucher specimens of the 
following federally listed plants within New Mexico:

 Argemone pinnatisecta (Sacramento prickly poppy)
 Astragalus humillimus (Mancos milk-vetch)
 Cirsium vinaceum (Sacramento Mountains thistle)
 Coryphantha sneedii var. leei (Lee's pincushion cactus)
 Coryphantha sneedii var. sneedii (Sneed's pincushion cactus)
 Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzieri (Kuenzler's hedgehog 
cactus)
 Erigeron rhizomatus (Zuni fleabane)
 Eriogonum gypsophilum (gypsum wild buckwheat)
 Hedeoma todsenii (Todsen's pennyroyal)
 Helianthus paradoxus (Pecos sunflower)
 Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus (Holy Ghost ipomopsis)
 Pediocactus knowltonii (Knowlton's cactus)
 Sclerocactus mesae-verdae (Mesa Verde cactus)

Permit TE-63202B

    Applicant: Carol Chambers, Flagstaff, Arizona.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct presence/absence surveys of New Mexico meadow jumping mouse 
(Zapus hudsonius luteus) within Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Permit TE-27791B

    Applicant: National Park Service--Montezuma and Tuzigoot National 
Monuments, Camp Verde, Arizona.
    Applicant requests an amendment to a current permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/

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absence surveys for southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii 
extimus) within Arizona.

Permit TE-830213

    Applicant: EcoPlan Associates, Inc., Mesa, Arizona.
    Applicant requests an amendment to a current permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys for 
southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) within 
California and Nevada.

Permit TE-63522B

    Applicant: Laney Environmental Consulting, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct presence/absence surveys of American burying beetle 
(Nicrophorus americanus) within Oklahoma.

Permit TE-170625

    Applicant: Daniel Howard, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys of American 
burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) within Arkansas, Kansas, 
Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Permit TE-63523B

    Applicant: Medina Consulting Company, Inc., San Antonio, Texas.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct presence/absence surveys of golden-cheeked warbler 
(Dendroica chrysoparia) within Texas.

Permit TE-00975A

    Applicant: Osage Nation--Department of Natural Resources, Pawhuska, 
Oklahoma.
    Applicant requests an amendment to a current permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys of Neosho 
madtom (Lampsilis rafinesqueana) within Oklahoma.

Permit TE-37484A

    Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service--Balcones Canyonlands 
National Wildlife Refuge, Marble Falls, Texas.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys, banding, and 
nest monitoring of golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and 
black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) within Texas.

Permit TE-236730

    Applicant: Timothy Bonner, San Marcos, Texas.
    Applicant requests an amendment to a current permit for research 
and recovery purposes to collect 2,000 fountain darters (Etheostoma 
fonticola) from the wild in Texas, as well as using 350 captive-bred 
and 120 wild-caught fish for a predation study at Texas State 
University.

Permit TE-023643

    Applicant: U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Hood, Texas.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys for golden-
cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and black-capped vireo (Vireo 
atricapilla) within Texas.

Permit TE-011464

    Applicant: Caryn Vaughn, Norman, Oklahoma.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys for Ouachita 
pocketbook (Arcidens =Arkansia wheeleri), scaleshell (Leptodea 
leptodon), and winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) mussels within 
Oklahoma.

Permit TE-146537

    Applicant: New Mexico State Land Office, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys for southwestern 
willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and Rio Grande silvery 
minnow (Hybognathus amarus) within New Mexico.

Permit TE-64616B

    Applicant: National Park Service--Valles Caldera National Preserve, 
Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct presence/absence surveys of Jemez Mountain salamander 
(Plethodon neomexicanus) within New Mexico.

Permit TE-64622B

    Applicant: Kathy Granillo, Socorro, New Mexico.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct presence/absence surveys of southwestern willow flycatcher 
(Empidonax traillii extimus) within New Mexico.

Permit TE-38748A

    Applicant: Carlotta Copper Company, Fort Collins, Colorado.
    Applicant requests a renewal to a current permit for research and 
recovery purposes to conduct seed collection and cactus propagation, 
and to construct receiving areas and transplantation for Arizona 
hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus) within 
Arizona.

Permit TE-64624B

    Applicant: Cassidy Johnson, Houston, Texas.
    Applicant requests a new permit for research and recovery purposes 
to conduct the following activities for Houston toad (Bufo 
houstonensis) within Texas: Presence/absence surveys, transportation 
and storage of frozen samples, transportation of live species for 
education and outreach, and possession of one retired male toad for 
education and outreach purposes.

Permit TE-206016

    Applicant: Andrew Middick, Edmond, Oklahoma.
    Applicant requests an amendment to a current permit for research 
and recovery purposes to conduct presence/absence surveys of American 
burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) within Ohio.

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 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 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.)


[[Page 31415]]


    Dated: May 14, 2015.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13341 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P