[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25030-25032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11761]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2018-N079; FXES11130600000-189-FF01E00000]


Endangered Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received 
applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the 
propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We invite the public and 
local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these 
applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take 
into consideration any information that we receive during the public 
comment period.

DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before July 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Submit 
requests for copies of the applications and related documents and 
submit any comments by one of the following methods. All requests and 
comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) 
(e.g., TE-XXXXXX):
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Program Manager, Restoration and Endangered 
Species Classification, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 
97232-4181.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colleen Henson, Recovery Permit 
Coordinator, Ecological Services, (503) 231-6131 (phone); 
[email protected] (email). Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
invite the public to comment on applications for permits under section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). The requested permits would allow the applicants to 
conduct activities intended to promote recovery of species that are 
listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA.

Background

    With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities that constitute 
take

[[Page 25031]]

of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such 
activity. The ESA's definition of ``take'' includes such activities as 
pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting in addition to 
hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing.
    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or for 
enhancement of propagation or survival of the species. These activities 
often include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. Our 
regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are 
found in the Code of Federal Regulations 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

    Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the 
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in 
the wild. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits. Accordingly, we invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies and the public to submit written data, views, or arguments 
with respect to these applications. The comments and recommendations 
that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are 
those supported by quantitative information or studies.

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                             Applicant, city,
     Application No.               state                  Species               Location           Activity            Type of take       Permit action
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TE-163899-2..............  Papahanaumo-kuakea    Laysan duck (Anas          HI               Animals: Survey/      Animals: Capture,     Amend.
                            Marine National       laysanensis), Short-                        monitor, band,        handle, release,
                            Monument, Honolulu,   tailed albatross                            measure, vaccinate,   biosample.
                            HI.                   (Phoebastria albatrus),                     biosample, social    Plants: Remove and
                                                  Pritchardia lanigera                        attraction, and/or    reduce to
                                                  (lo`ulu), Sesbania                          salvage.              possession.
                                                  tomentosa (ohai),                          Plants: Collect
                                                  Solanum nelsonii                            seeds, fruits,
                                                  (popolo).                                   cuttings, and
                                                                                              plants; maintain
                                                                                              and monitor;
                                                                                              propagate,
                                                                                              outplant, direct
                                                                                              seed, transplant,
                                                                                              and/or salvage.
TE-014497-6..............  Haleakala National    Add the following          HI               Survey, monitor, and  Playback calls and    Amend.
                            Park, Makawao, HI.    species: Crested                            salvage.              disturbance.
                                                  honeycreeper or
                                                  akohekohe (Palmeria
                                                  dolei), Maui parrotbill
                                                  or kiwikiu (Pseudonestor
                                                  xanthophrys), `I`iwi
                                                  (Drepanis coccinea).
TE-42195A-2..............  Naval Facilities      Mariana common moorhen     GU, MP           Birds: Survey,        Birds: Playback       Amend.
                            Engineering Command   (Gallinula chloropus                        monitor, and          calls and
                            Marianas, Apra        guami), Micronesian                         salvage.              disturbance.
                            Heights, GU.          megapode (Megapodius                       Sea Turtles: Survey   Sea turtles:
                                                  laperouse), Nightingale                     and monitor,          Capture, handle,
                                                  reed warbler                                biosample, tag,       release, survey,
                                                  (Acrocephalus luscinia),                    genetic analysis,     monitor, tag, and
                                                  Green sea turtle                            capture, handle,      biosample.
                                                  (Chelonia mydas),                           release, collect     Plants: Remove and
                                                  Hawksbill sea turtle                        morphometric data,    reduce to
                                                  (Eretmochelys                               and salvage.          possession.
                                                  imbricata), Eugenia                        Plants: Collect
                                                  bryanii (No Common Name                     seeds and
                                                  (NCN)), Hedyotis                            seedlings,
                                                  megalantha (Paudedo),                       propagate,
                                                  Heritiera longipetiolata                    cultivate,
                                                  (Ufa-halomtano),                            outplant, and
                                                  Phyllanthus saffordii                       salvage.
                                                  (NCN), Psychotria
                                                  malaspinae (Aplokating-
                                                  palaoan), Serianthes
                                                  nelsonii (Hayun Iagu
                                                  (=(Guam), Tronkon guafi
                                                  (Rota)), Solanum
                                                  guamense (Berenghenas
                                                  halomtanu), Tinospora
                                                  homosepala (NCN).
TE-45531B-1..............  Hawaii Division of    Akekee (Loxops             HI               Collect eggs,         Capture, handle,      Renew.
                            Forestry and          caeruleirostris),                           nestlings,            release, captive
                            Wildlife, Honolulu,   Akikiki (Oreomystis                         subadults, and/or     propagation.
                            HI.                   bairdi), Maui parrotbill                    adults for captive
                                                  or kiwikiu (Pseudonestor                    breeding and
                                                  xanthophrys), Palila or                     population
                                                  honeycreeper (Loxioides                     management
                                                  bailleui), Small Kauai                      activities.
                                                  thrush or puaiohi
                                                  (Myadestes palmeri).
TE-82868C-0..............  University of Guam,   Rota blue damselfly        MP               Capture, handle,      Capture, handle,      New.
                            Marine Laboratory,    (Ischnura luta).                            photograph,           release, and
                            Mangilao, GU.                                                     release, biosample,   biosample.
                                                                                              collect eDNA
                                                                                              samples, and
                                                                                              genetic analysis.
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Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the administrative 
record associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their 
entirety.

Next Steps

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

Authority

    We publish this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered 
Species Act of

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1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Rolland G. White,
Assistant Regional Director--Ecological Services, Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-11761 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P