[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36956-36959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16315]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2018-N085; FXES11130300000-189-FF03E00000]


Endangered and Threatened 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 August 30, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: You may, 
within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice (see DATES) 
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., 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, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. 
West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.

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

[[Page 36957]]

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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         Application No.               Applicant              Species               Location            Activity          Type of take     Permit action
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TE81001C........................  Katharine Zlonis,   Rusty patched bumble     MN................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Cass Lake, MN.      bee (Bombus affinis).                        absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                                                                                    document habitat
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE81122C........................  Three Rivers Park   Rusty patched bumble     MN................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   District,           bee (Bombus affinis).                        absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                   Plymouth, MN.                                                    document habitat
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE86137B........................  The Nature          Dakota skipper           MN, ND, SD........  Monitoring,         Add new             Amend.
                                   Conservancy,        (Hesperia dacotae).                          habitat             activities--
                                   Minneapolis, MN.                                                 management.         propagate and
                                                                                                                        reintroduce--to
                                                                                                                        existing
                                                                                                                        authorized
                                                                                                                        activities:
                                                                                                                        prescribed burns.
TE81137C........................  Luther College,     Rusty patched bumble     IA................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Decorah, IA.        bee (Bombus affinis).                        absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                                                                                    document habitat
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE84882C........................  U.S. Forest         Rusty patched bumble     MN................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Service, Deer       bee (Bombus affinis).                        absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                   River, MN.                                                       document habitat
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE85294C........................  Amy Wolf, Green     Rusty patched bumble     WI................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Bay, WI.            bee (Bombus affinis).                        absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                                                                                    document habitat
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE86600C........................  National Park       Piping plover            WI................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Service Ashland,    (Charadrius melodus).                        absence surveys,    mist-net, band,
                                   WI, and Bad River                                                document habitat    collect feather
                                   Band of Lake                                                     use, conduct        and blood samples
                                   Superior Tribe of                                                population          propagate,
                                   Chippewa, Odanah,                                                monitoring,         temporary hold,
                                   WI.                                                              evaluate impacts.   release.
TE98032A........................  James Gardner,      Indiana bat (Myotis      Add new location--  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    Amend.
                                   Jefferson City,     sodalis), gray bat (M.   WV--to existing     absence surveys,    mist-net, radio-
                                   MO.                 grisescens), northern    authorized          document habitat    tag, release.
                                                       long-eared bat (M.       locations: AR,      use, conduct
                                                       septentrionalis),        IL, IN, IA, KS,     population
                                                       Ozark big-eared bat      KY, MO, OK, TN.     monitoring,
                                                       (Corynorhinus                                evaluate impacts.
                                                       townsendii ingens).
TE64073B........................  Ecological and GIS  Dakota skipper           IA, MN, ND, SD....  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    Renew.
                                   Services,           (Hesperia dacotae),                          absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                   Indianola, IA.      Poweshiek skipperling                        document habitat
                                                       (Oarisma poweshiek).                         use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.

[[Page 36958]]

 
TE90420C........................  Jennifer Bonta,     Indiana bat (Myotis      AL, AR, CT, DE,     Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Melrose, MA.        sodalis), northern       GA, IL, IN, IA,     absence surveys,    mist-net, harp
                                                       long-eared bat (M.       KS, KY, LA, ME,     document habitat    trap, release.
                                                       septentrionalis).        MD, MA, MI, MN,     use, conduct
                                                                                MS, MO, MT, NE,     population
                                                                                NH, NJ, NY, NC,     monitoring,
                                                                                ND, OH, OK, PA,     evaluate impacts.
                                                                                RI, SC, SD, TN,
                                                                                VT, VA, WV, WI,
                                                                                WY.
TE64077B........................  Scott Krych,        Dakota skipper           MN, MT, ND, SD....  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    Renew.
                                   Minneapolis, MN.    (Hesperia dacotae),                          absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                                       Poweshiek skipperling                        document habitat
                                                       (Oarisma poweshiek).                         use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE90423C........................  Shaughn Barnett,    Clubshell (Pleurobema    IL, IN, OH........  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Austin, TX.         clava), fanshell                             absence surveys,    hold, release.
                                                       (Cyprogenia stegaria),                       document habitat
                                                       fat pocketbook                               use, conduct
                                                       (Potamilus capax),                           population
                                                       Higgins eye                                  monitoring,
                                                       (pearlymussel)                               evaluate impacts.
                                                       (Lampsilis higginsii),
                                                       pink mucket
                                                       (pearlymussel) (L.
                                                       abrupta), northern
                                                       riffleshell
                                                       (Epioblasma torulosa
                                                       rangiana), purple
                                                       cat's paw pearlymussel
                                                       (E. obliquata
                                                       obliquata), white
                                                       catspaw (pearlymussel)
                                                       (E. o. perobliqua),
                                                       snuffbox mussel (E.
                                                       triquetra), orangefoot
                                                       pimpleback
                                                       (pearlymussel)
                                                       (Plethobasus
                                                       cooperianus),
                                                       sheepnose mussel (P.
                                                       cyphyus), rayed bean
                                                       (Villosa fabalis),
                                                       scaleshell mussel
                                                       (Leptodea leptodon),
                                                       spectaclecase (mussel)
                                                       (Cumberlandia
                                                       monodonta).
TE64239B........................  Nathanael Light,    Add Ozark big-eared bat  AL, AR, CT, DE,     Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    Amend.
                                   Ozark, MO.          (Corynorhinus            D.C., FL, GA, IL,   absence surveys,    mist-net, harp
                                                       towsendii ingens) to     IN, IA, KS, KY,     document habitat    trap, band, radio-
                                                       existing permitted       LA, ME, MD, MA,     use, conduct        tag, release.
                                                       species: Indiana bat     MI, MN, MS, MO,     population
                                                       (Myotis sodalis), gray   MT, NE, NH, NJ,     monitoring,
                                                       bat (M. grisescens),     NY, NC, ND, OH,     evaluate impacts.
                                                       northern long-eared      OK, PA, RI, SC,
                                                       bat (M.                  SD, TN, VT, VA,
                                                       septentrionalis).        WV, WI, WY.
TE90426C........................  Natalie             Hungerford's crawling    MI................  Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                   Dingledine,         water beetle (Brychius                       absence surveys,    hold, relocate,
                                   Haslett, MI.        hungerfordi).                                document habitat    release.
                                                                                                    use, conduct
                                                                                                    population
                                                                                                    monitoring,
                                                                                                    evaluate impacts.
TE130900........................  EnviroScience,      Add Texas hornshell      Add new locations-- Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    Amend.
                                   Inc., Stow, OH.     (Popenaias popeii) and   NC, TX, VA--to      absence surveys,    temporary hold,
                                                       Yellow lance (Elliptio   existing            document habitat    release, relocate.
                                                       lanceolata) to           authorized          use, conduct
                                                       existing permitted       locations: AR,      population
                                                       species: 70 freshwater   FL, GA, IL, IN,     monitoring,
                                                       mussel species,          IA, KY, MI, MN,     evaluate impacts.
                                                       shortnose sturgeon       MO, OH, TN, WI.
                                                       (Acipenser
                                                       brevirostrum), blue
                                                       shiner (Cyprinella
                                                       caerulea), Cherokee
                                                       darter (Etheostoma
                                                       scotti), Etowah darter
                                                       (E. etowahae), amber
                                                       darter (Percina
                                                       antesella), goldline
                                                       darter (P.
                                                       aurolineata),
                                                       Conasauga logperch (P.
                                                       jenkinsi), snail
                                                       darter (P. tanasi).
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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

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


[[Page 36959]]


    Dated: June 15, 2018.
Lori H. Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-16315 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P