[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36959-36961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16306]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2018-N045; FXES11130200000-189-FF02ENEH00]


U.S. Endangered Species; 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, invite the public to 
comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct 
activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. 
With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(ESA), prohibits certain activities that may impact endangered species 
unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The ESA also requires 
that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
August 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: Request documents by phone or email: 
Susan Jacobsen, 505-248-6641, [email protected].
    Comment submission: Submit comments by U.S. mail to Susan Jacobsen, 
Classification and Recovery Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Please specify the permit you are 
interested in by number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Classification 
and Restoration Division, 505-248-6641.

Background

    With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities that constitute 
take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows 
such activity. The ESA's definition of ``take'' includes hunting, 
shooting, harming, wounding, or killing but also such activities as 
pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting.
    The ESA and our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) title 50, part 17, provide for issuing such permits 
and require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for 
activities involving endangered species.
    A recovery permit we issue under the ESA, section 10(a)(1)(A), 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or 
enhance the species' propagation or survival. These activities often 
include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. 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.

Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment

    Documents and other information submitted with these applications 
are available for review by any party who submits a request as 
specified in ADDRESSES. Releasing documents is subject to the Privacy 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) 
requirements.
    Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the 
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in 
the wild. 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. Please refer to the application 
number when submitting comments.

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         Application No.               Applicant              Species               Location            Activity          Type of take     Permit action
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TE-72370C.......................  Gonzales, Kelly;    Aplomado Falcon (Falco   Alabama, Arizona,   Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Houston, Texas.     femoralis                Arkansas,           surveys, Nest
                                                       septentrionalis),        Florida, Georgia,   monitoring.
                                                       Interior Least Tern      Kentucky,
                                                       (Sterna antillarum),     Louisiana,
                                                       Gulf Coast jaguarundi    Mississippi, New
                                                       (Herpailurus             Mexico, North
                                                       yagouaroundi             Carolina,
                                                       cacomitli), Ocelot       Oklahoma, South
                                                       (Leopardus pardalis),    Carolina,
                                                       Piping Plover            Tennessee, Texas.
                                                       (Charadrius melodus),
                                                       Red Knot (Calidris
                                                       canutus rufa).

[[Page 36960]]

 
TE-79697C.......................  Clark, Barrett;     Coffin Cave mold beetle  Texas.............  Habitat             Capture, harm, and  New.
                                   Kyle, Texas.        (Batrisodes texanus),                        assessments,        harass, injury,
                                                       Helotes mold beetle                          presence/absence    death, removal.
                                                       (Batrisodes venyivi),                        surveys,
                                                       Robber Baron Cave                            biological
                                                       meshweaver (Cicurina                         monitoring,
                                                       baronia), Madla Cave                         biological
                                                       meshweaver (Cicurina                         inventories.
                                                       madla), Bracken Bat
                                                       Cave meshweaver
                                                       (Cicurina venii),
                                                       Government Canyon Bat
                                                       Cave meshweaver
                                                       (Cicurina vespera),
                                                       Government Canyon Bat
                                                       Cave spider
                                                       (Neoleptoneta
                                                       microps), Tooth Cave
                                                       spider (Neoleptoneta
                                                       myopica), Ground
                                                       beetle (Rhadine
                                                       exilis), Ground beetle
                                                       (Rhadine infernalis),
                                                       Tooth Cave ground
                                                       beetle (Rhadine
                                                       persephone), Tooth
                                                       Cave pseudoscorpion
                                                       (Tartarocreagris
                                                       texana), Kretschmarr
                                                       Cave mold beetle
                                                       (Texamaurops
                                                       reddelli),
                                                       Cokendolpher cave
                                                       harvestmen (Texella
                                                       cokendolpheri), Bee
                                                       Creek Cave harvestmen
                                                       (Texella reddilli),
                                                       Bone Cave harvestman
                                                       (Texella reyesi),
                                                       Diminutive amphipod
                                                       (Gammarus
                                                       hyalleloides), Pecos
                                                       amphipod (Gammarus
                                                       pecos), Comal Springs
                                                       riffle beetle
                                                       (Heterelmis
                                                       comalensis), Peck's
                                                       Cave amphipod
                                                       (Stygobromus pecki),
                                                       Comal Springs dryopid
                                                       beetle (Stygoparnus
                                                       comalensis).
TE-79170C.......................  Ogle, Jennifer;     American burying beetle  Arkansas, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Capture, harm,      New.
                                   Fayetteville,       (Nicrophorus             Oklahoma, Texas.    surveys.            harass.
                                   Arkansas.           americanus).
TE-43719A.......................  Desert Botanical    Acuna cactus             Arizona, New        Collection of       Harm..............  Renew.
                                   Garden; Phoenix,    (Echinomastus            Mexico.             tissue.
                                   Arizona.            erectrocentrus var.
                                                       acunensis), Kuenzler
                                                       hedgehog cactus
                                                       (Echinocereus fendleri
                                                       var. kuenzleri).
TE-168185.......................  Cox/McClain         Gray bat (Myotis         Oklahoma..........  Capture, handle,    Capture, harm,      Amend.
                                   Environmental       grisescens), Northern                        tag, and release,   harass.
                                   Consulting;         long-eared bat (Myotis                       presence/absence
                                   Austin, Texas.      septentrionalis),                            surveys, habitat
                                                       Ozark big-eared bat                          assessments,
                                                       (Corynorhinus                                habitat use
                                                       townsendii ingens).                          studies,
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    collection of
                                                                                                    tissue.
TE-148363.......................  Martin, Keith;      American burying beetle  Arkansas, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Capture, harm,      Renew.
                                   Claremore,          (Nicrophorus             Missouri,           surveys,            harass.
                                   Oklahoma.           americanus), Northern    Oklahoma.           abundance
                                                       long-eared bat (Myotis                       inventories,
                                                       septentrionalis),.                           presence/absence
                                                      Gray bat (Myotis                              trapping,
                                                       grisescens), Indiana                         acoustic surveys,
                                                       bat (Myotis sodalist),                       hibernacula
                                                       Ozark big-eared bat                          monitoring,
                                                       (Corynorhinus                                collection of
                                                       townsendii ingens).                          tissue, exit
                                                                                                    surveys, banding,
                                                                                                    construction and
                                                                                                    repair internal
                                                                                                    grill/gate
                                                                                                    systems.
TE-009926-3.....................  Gulf South          Reticulated flatwoods    Arizona, Arkansas,  Presence/absence    Capture, harm,      Amend.
                                   Research            salamander (Ambystoma    California,         surveys, seining.   harass.
                                   Corporation;        bishopi), Chiricahua     Florida, New
                                   Baton Rouge,        leopard frog             Mexico.
                                   Louisiana.          (Lithobates
                                                       chiricahuensis),
                                                       Southwestern willow
                                                       flycatcher (Empidonax
                                                       traillii extimus),
                                                       Sierra Nevada yellow-
                                                       legged frog
                                                       (Lithobates sierrae),
                                                       Yosemite toad
                                                       (Anaxyrus canorus),
                                                       Arroyo toad (Anaxyrus
                                                       californicus), Giant
                                                       garter snake
                                                       (Thamnophis gigas),
                                                       Interior Least Tern
                                                       (Sterna antillarum).
TE-77509C-0.....................  Schuster, Sara;     Golden-cheeked Warbler   Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Saint Louis,        (Setophaga                                   surveys, nest
                                   Missouri.           chrysoparia).                                monitoring.
TE-74409C.......................  Kitchen, Matthew;   Golden-cheeked Warbler   Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   San Antonio,        (Setophaga                                   surveys, habitat
                                   Texas.              chrysoparia).                                surveys.
TE-72898C.......................  Williams, David;    American burying beetle  Arkansas, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Capture, harm and   New.
                                   Fayetteville,       (Nicrophorus             Oklahoma, Texas.    surveys.            harass.
                                   Arkansas.           americanus).
TE-71114C-0.....................  Kainer, Patrick;    Houston toad (Bufo       Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Austin, Texas.      houstonensis).                               surveys.
TE-73319B-0.....................  Thompson, Brent;    Jemez Mountains          New Mexico........  Presence/absence    Capture, harm,      Amend.
                                   Los Alamos, New     salamander (Plethodon                        surveys.            harass.
                                   Mexico.             neomexicanus),
                                                       Southwestern willow
                                                       flycatcher (Empidonax
                                                       traillii extimus).

[[Page 36961]]

 
TE-72371C.......................  Boone, Aaron; San   Golden-cheeked Warbler   Oklahoma, Texas...  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Antonio, Texas.     (Setophaga                                   surveys, nest
                                                       chrysoparia), Black-                         monitoring,
                                                       capped Vireo (Vireo                          habitat
                                                       atricapilla).                                suitability
                                                                                                    surveys.
TE-60111B.......................  Robb, Natalie;      Razorback sucker         Arizona,            Presence/absence    Capture, harm and   Amend.
                                   Mesa, Arizona.      (Xyrauchen texanus),     California,         surveys,            harass.
                                                       Bonytail chub (Gila      Nevada.             electrofishing,
                                                       elegans), Colorado                           minnow traps,
                                                       pikeminnow                                   hoop nets,
                                                       (Ptychocheilus                               seines, dip nets,
                                                       lucius), Humpback chub                       snorkeling,
                                                       (Gila cypha),                                angling and/or
                                                       Spikedace (Meda                              trammel or gill
                                                       fulgida).                                    nets.
TE-72895C.......................  Schatte, Joshua;    American burying beetle  Arkansas, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Capture, harm, and  New.
                                   Guthrie, Oklahoma.  (Nicrophorus             Oklahoma, Texas.    surveys.            harass.
                                                       americanus).
TE-69480C.......................  Haverland,          Golden-cheeked Warbler   Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Matthew; San        (Setophaga                                   surveys,
                                   Marcos, Texas.      chrysoparia).                                territory
                                                                                                    mapping, nest
                                                                                                    monitoring.
TE-17880C.......................  Garrett, Timothy;   American burying beetle  Oklahoma..........  Presence/absence    Capture, harm, and  Amend.
                                   Houston, Texas.     (Nicrophorus                                 surveys.            harass.
                                                       americanus).
TE-71101C-0.....................  Ramirez, Abbey;     American burying beetle  Oklahoma..........  Presence/absence    Capture, harm, and  New.
                                   Tahlequah,          (Nicrophorus                                 surveys.            harass.
                                   Oklahoma.           americanus).
TE-71110C.......................  Durish, Nevin;      Golden-cheeked Warbler   Oklahoma, Texas...  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Austin, Texas.      (Setophaga                                   surveys.
                                                       chrysoparia), Black-
                                                       capped Vireo (Vireo
                                                       atricapilla), Houston
                                                       toad (Bufo
                                                       houstonensis).
TE40886B........................  Zahratka,           Southwestern Willow      Arizona, Colorado,  Presence/absence    Harm and harass...  Amend.
                                   Jennifer;           Flycatcher (Empidonax    New Mexico,         surveys.
                                   Durango, Colorado.  traillii extimus),       Texas, Utah.
                                                       Black-footed ferret
                                                       (Mustela nigripes).
TE82893C........................  Pina, Anna; El      Roswell springsnail      New Mexico, Texas.  Sampling,           Harm and harass...  New.
                                   Paso, Texas.        (Pyrgulopsis                                 collection.
                                                       roswellensis),
                                                       Koster's springsnail
                                                       (Juturnia kosteri),
                                                       Pecos asseiminea snail
                                                       (Assiminea pecos),
                                                       Noel's amphipod
                                                       (Gammarus desperatus).
TE30430B........................  University of       Leon Springs pupfish     Texas.............  Sampling,           Harm and harass...  Amend.
                                   Houston--Clear      (Cyprinodon bovinus),                        collecting.
                                   Lake; Houston, TX.  Comanche Springs
                                                       pupfish (Cyprinodon
                                                       elegans), Big Bend
                                                       gambusia (Gambusia
                                                       gaigei), Pecos
                                                       gambusia (Gambusia
                                                       nobilis), Smalleye
                                                       shiner (Notropis
                                                       buccula), Sharpnose
                                                       shiner (Notropis
                                                       oxyrhynchus).
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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 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 ESA 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: March 30, 2018.
Amy L. Lueders.
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16306 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P