[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8098-8101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03725]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2018-N005; FXES11130300000-189-FF03E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 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 applications for permits to conduct activities intended to 
enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened 
species. Federal law prohibits certain activities with endangered 
species unless a permit is obtained.

DATES: We must receive any written comments on or before March 26, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments by U.S. mail to the Regional Director, 
Attn: Carlita Payne, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological 
Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-
1458; or by electronic mail to [email protected].
    Requesting Copies of Applications or Public Comments: Copies of 
applications or public comments concerning any of the applications in 
this notice may be obtained by any party who submits a written request 
for a copy of such documents to the above-mentioned office within 30 
days of the date of publication of this notice, subject to the 
requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of 
Information Act (5.U.S.C. 552).
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods. Please specify applicant name(s) and application 
number(s) to which your comments pertain (e.g., TEXXXXXX).
     Email: [email protected]. Please refer to the respective 
permit number (e.g., Application No. TEXXXXXX) in the subject line of 
your email message.
     U.S. Mail: Regional Director, Attn: Carlita Payne (address 
above).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlita Payne, 612-713-5343; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 propagation or survival 
of endangered or threatened species. Federal law prohibits certain 
activities with endangered species unless a permit is obtained.

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.; ESA), prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened 
species unless the activities are specifically authorized by a Federal 
permit. The ESA 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.

[[Page 8099]]

    A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee 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) of the ESA 
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.

Permit 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 permit 
number when you submit comments. Documents and other information the 
applicants have submitted with the 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 Applications

    Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the 
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in 
the wild.

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 Application No.         Applicant              Species                 Location                Activity           Type of take         Permit action
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TE64079B.........  Minnesota Zoological  Dakota skipper        IA, MI, MN, ND, SD, WI...  Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend, renew.
                    Garden, Apple         (Hesperia dacotae),                              absence surveys,     collect eggs,
                    Valley, MN.           Poweshiek                                        conduct population   propagate, release.
                                          skipperling                                      monitoring.
                                          (Oarisma poweshiek).
TE85228B.........  Eric Schroder,        Add Indiana bat       Add new locations--AL,     Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend, renew.
                    Fairmont, WV.         (Myotis sodalis)      AR, CT, GA, IL, KY, MD,    absence surveys,     mist-net, radio-
                                          and Virginia big-     MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY,    document habitat     tag, band, release.
                                          eared bat             NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VT,    use, conduct
                                          (Corynorhinus         WI, WV--to existing        population
                                          townsendii            authorized locations:      monitoring,
                                          virginianus) to       Northern IA, northern      evaluate impacts.
                                          existing permitted    MI, central/southern AL,
                                          species: Northern     central/southern AR,
                                          long-eared bat (M.    central/southern GA, LA,
                                          septentrionalis).     central/southern MS,
                                                                central/eastern NC, SC,
                                                                northern CT, DE, DC,
                                                                southern/eastern MD, MA,
                                                                NH, southern NJ, RI,
                                                                eastern VT, central/
                                                                eastern VA, KS, MT, NE,
                                                                ND, SD, IA.
TE73587A.........  Missouri Department   Ozark hellbender      MO.......................  Research, conduct    Capture, handle,     Renew.
                    of Conservation,      (Cryptobranchus                                  presence/absence     collect sperm and
                    Jefferson City, MO.   alleganiensis                                    surveys, document    eggs, transport,
                                          bishop).                                         habitat use,         hold, propagate,
                                                                                           conduct population   pit-tag, augment,
                                                                                           monitoring,          reintroduce,
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.    release.
TE71682A.........  Megan Martin,         Add northern long-    AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL,    Conduct presence/    Add new activity--   Amend, renew.
                    Indianapolis, IN.     eared bat (Myotis     GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA,    absence surveys,     band--to existing
                                          septentrionalis) to   MD, MI, MS, MN, MO, NH,    document habitat     authorized
                                          existing permitted    NJ, NY, NC, OK, OH, PA,    use, conduct         activities:
                                          species: Indiana      RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV,    population           Capture, handle,
                                          bat (M. sodalis),     WI.                        monitoring,          mist-net, radio-
                                          gray bat (M.                                     evaluate impacts.    tag, release.
                                          grisescens).
TE62286A.........  Jason Whittle,        Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, GA, IL, IN,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew.
                    Richfield, OH.        sodalis), northern    IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI,    absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                          long-eared bat (M.    MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC,    document habitat     trap, radio-tag,
                                          septentrionalis).     OK, OH, PA, SC, TN, VT,    use, conduct         band, wing biopsy,
                                                                VA, WV.                    population           collect hair,
                                                                                           monitoring,          fungal lift tape
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.    and swab samples,
                                                                                                                release.
TE151107.........  Redwing Ecological    Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IL,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew.
                    Services, Inc.,       sodalis), gray bat    IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI,    absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                    Louisville, KY.       (M. grisescens),      MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC,    document habitat     trap, radio-tag,
                                          northern long-eared   OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN,    use, conduct         band, enter
                                          bat (M.               VT, VA, WV, WI.            population           hibernacula,
                                          septentrionalis),                                monitoring,          release.
                                          Ozark big-eared bat                              evaluate impacts.
                                          (Corynorhinus
                                          towsendii ingens),
                                          Virginia big-eared
                                          bat (C.t.
                                          virginianus).
TE64074B.........  TeaLeaf Ecological,   Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew.
                    LLC, Chambersburg,    sodalis), gray bat    GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY,    absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                    PA.                   (M. grisescens),      LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN,    document habitat     trap, radio-tag,
                                          northern long-eared   MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ,    use, conduct         band, wing biopsy,
                                          bat (M.               NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA,    population           collect hair,
                                          septentrionalis),     RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA,    monitoring,          fungal lift tape
                                          Virginia big-eared    WV, WI, WY.                evaluate impacts.    and swab samples,
                                          bat (Corynorhinus                                                     release.
                                          towsendii
                                          virginianus).

[[Page 8100]]

 
TE74592A.........  Robert Brown,         Indiana bat (Myotis   Add new locations--DC,     Conduct presence/    Add new activities-- Amend, renew.
                    Cincinnati, OH.       sodalis), gray bat    FL, LA, ME, MN, MT, NE,    absence surveys,     collect hair and
                                          (M. grisescens),      ND, SD, WY--to existing    document habitat     guano samples--to
                                          northern long-eared   authorized locations:      use, conduct         existing
                                          bat (M.               AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IL,    population           authorized
                                          septentrionalis),     IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA,    monitoring,          activities:
                                          Ozark big-eared bat   MI, MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY,    evaluate impacts.    Capture, handle,
                                          (Corynorhinus         NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC,                         mist-net, harp
                                          towsendii ingens),    TN, VT, VA, WV, WI.                             trap, radio-tag,
                                          Virginia big-eared                                                    band, enter
                                          bat (C.t.                                                             hibernacula,
                                          virginianus).                                                         release.
TE30970B.........  Jeffrey Miller,       Indiana bat (Myotis   AR, CT, DE, DC, IL, IN,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew.
                    Vancouver, WA.        sodalis), gray bat    IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA,    absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                          (M. grisescens),      MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY,    document habitat     trap, radio-tag,
                                          northern long-eared   ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD,    use, conduct         release, salvage.
                                          bat (M.               TN, VT, VA, WV, WI.        population
                                          septentrionalis),                                monitoring,
                                          Ozark big-eared bat                              evaluate impacts.
                                          (Corynorhinus
                                          towsendii ingens).
TE21829B.........  Larisa Bishop-Boros,  Add lesser long-      Add new locations--AZ,     Conduct presence/    Add new activities-- Amend, renew.
                    Laramie, WY.          nosed bat             NM--to existing            absence surveys,     collect pollen
                                          (Leptonycteris        authorized locations:      document habitat     samples, light-
                                          curasoae              AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL,    use, conduct         tag, enter roosts--
                                          yerbabuenae) to       GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY,    population           to existing
                                          existing permitted    LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN,    monitoring,          authorized
                                          species: Indiana      MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ,    evaluate impacts.    activities:
                                          bat (Myotis           NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA,                         Capture, handle,
                                          sodalis), gray bat    RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA,                         mist-net, harp
                                          (M. grisescens),      WV, WI, WY.                                     trap, radio-tag,
                                          northern long-eared                                                   wing biopsy,
                                          bat (M.                                                               collect hair,
                                          septentrionalis),                                                     guano, fungal lift
                                          Ozark big-eared bat                                                   tape and swab
                                          (Corynorhinus                                                         samples, enter
                                          towsendii ingens),                                                    hibernacula,
                                          Virginia big-eared                                                    release, salvage.
                                          bat (C.t.
                                          virginianus).
TE70488C.........  Scott Bergeson, Fort  Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New.
                    Wayne, IN.            sodalis), gray bat    IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD,    absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                          (M. grisescens),      MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE,    document habitat     trap, radio-tag,
                                          northern long-eared   NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK,    use, conduct         band, wing biopsy,
                                          bat (M.               PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT,    population           collect hair
                                          septentrionalis).     VA, WV, WI.                monitoring,          samples, enter
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.    hibernacula and
                                                                                                                maternity roost
                                                                                                                caves, release,
                                                                                                                salvage.
TE35859B.........  Charles Mills,        Least tern (Sterna    IN.......................  Conduct population   Harass, handle       Amend, renew.
                    Newburgh, IN.         antillarum).                                     monitoring,          eggs, salvage.
                                                                                           document
                                                                                           reproductive
                                                                                           behavior and
                                                                                           productivity.
TE90090B.........  Power Engineers       Remove 83 mussel      DE, KS, ME, MA, MN, MT,    Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend, renew.
                    Inc., Freeport,       species and 41 fish   NE, NH, ND, OK, RI, SD,    absence surveys,     mist-net, release.
                    Maine.                species from          WI, WY.                    document habitat
                                          existing permitted                               use, conduct
                                          species: Northern                                population
                                          long-eared bat                                   monitoring,
                                          (Myotis                                          evaluate impacts.
                                          septentrionalis).
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Public Availability of Comments

    We seek public review and comments on these permit applications. 
Please refer to the permit number when you submit comments. Comments 
and materials we receive in response to this notice are available for 
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
address listed 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.

Contents of Public Comments

    Please make your comments as specific as possible. Please confine 
your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and 
explain the basis for your comments. Include sufficient information 
with your comments to allow us to authenticate any scientific or 
commercial data you include.
    The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and 
likely to

[[Page 8101]]

influence agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by quantitative 
information or studies; and (2) Those that include citations to, and 
analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations.

Next Steps

    If the Service decides to issue permits to any of the applicants 
listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register.

Authority

    Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 10, 2018.
Lori H. Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-03725 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P