[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66289-66290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23231]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2016-N165; FXES11130600000-167-FF06E00000]


Receipt of Applications for Endangered Species Permits

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 for a permit to conduct 
activities intended to enhance the survival of endangered species. 
Federal law prohibits certain activities with endangered species unless 
a permit is obtained.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
October 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted with the 
applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of 
the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, by any party who 
submits a written request for a copy of such documents to the following 
office within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. 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 certain activities with 
endangered and threatened species unless authorized by a Federal 
permit. The Act and our implementing regulations in part 17 of title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provide for the issuance of 
such permits and require that we invite public comment before issuing 
permits for activities involving endangered species.
    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 TE047250

    Applicant: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT.
    The applicant requests the renewal of their permit to continue 
surveying and monitoring activities for black-footed ferrets (Mustela 
nigripes) and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in Montana for the 
purpose of enhancing the species' survival. The applicant further 
requests that the pallid sturgeon portion of the permit be assigned a 
new number to separate the aquatic activities from the terrestrial 
activities.

Permit Application Number TE06447C

    Applicant: Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT.
    The applicant requests the renewal and assignment of a new recovery 
permit number for presence/absence surveys of pallid sturgeon 
(Scaphirhynchus albus). Presence/absence surveys for the species are 
currently authorized under recovery permit TE047250. The request for a 
new permit number allows the applicant to

[[Page 66290]]

separate authorized aquatic survey/monitoring activities and reporting 
from the authorized terrestrial activities. Newly assigned permit 
number TE06447C would allow for the continuation of presence/absence 
surveys for pallid sturgeon in Montana for the purpose of enhancing the 
species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE052627

    Applicant: Toledo Zoological Gardens, Toledo, OH.

    The applicant requests a renewal to propagate and rear Wyoming toad 
(Bufo hemiophrys ssp. baxteri) for reintroduction purposes to enhance 
the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE04585C

    Applicant: Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife Department, Harlem, MT.

    The applicant requests the renewal of their permit to continue 
presence/absence surveys for black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in 
Montana for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE056003

    Applicant: Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI.

    The applicant requests a renewal to propagate and rear Wyoming toad 
(Bufo hemiophrys ssp. baxteri) for reintroduction purposes to enhance 
the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE06556C

    Applicant: Bowen Collins and Associates, Draper, UT.

    The applicant requests a recovery permit for presence/absence 
surveys for Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) 
in Utah to enhance the species' survival.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The proposed activities in the requested permits qualify as 
categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
provided by Department of the Interior implementing regulations in part 
46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 
46.210, and 46.215).

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 above in ADDRESSES.
    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. 2016-23231 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P