[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50951-50955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21968]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2018-N094; 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 50952]]


DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
November 9, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Application No.           Applicant               Species                Location              Activity            Type of take       Permit action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TE-93531C.............  Stewart, Justin;       Golden-cheeked         Texas................  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  New.
                         Austin, Texas.         Warbler (Setophaga                            surveys.
                                                chrysoparia).
TE-85341C.............  Ward, William A.;      American Burying       Oklahoma.............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Oklahoma City,         Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys, habitat      death.
                         Oklahoma.              americanus).                                  surveys.
TE-85337C.............  Barnes, Bradley W.;    American Burying       Oklahoma.............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Moore, Oklahoma.       Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys, habitat      death.
                                                americanus).                                  surveys.
TE-85444C.............  Chickasaw Nation;      American Burying       Oklahoma, Texas......  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Ada, Oklahoma.         Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys.              death.
                                                americanus).
TE-038055.............  University of New      Rio Grande Silvery     New Mexico, Arizona..  Aquatic sampling/     Capture, injury,      Renew.
                         Mexico, Dr. Turner;    Minnow (Hybognathus                           surveying             death, collect.
                         Albuquerque, New       amarus), Spikedace                            (electrofishing,
                         Mexico.                (Meda fulgida),                               seines, dip-nets,
                                                Loach Minnow                                  block nets, and
                                                (Tiaroga cobitis).                            kick seines, others
                                                                                              methods as
                                                                                              approved), collect
                                                                                              fin-clips.
TE-023159B............  Southwestern           Western Yellow-billed  New Mexico, Texas....  Ground surveys,       Harm, harass,         Renew.
                         Ornithological         Cuckoo (Coccyzus                              presence/absence      injury, death.
                         Research and           americanus), Lesser                           surveys, breeding
                         Adventures (SORA),     Prairie-Chicken                               surveys.
                         Albuquerque, New       (Tympanuchus
                         Mexico.                pallidicinctus),
                                                Mexican Spotted Owl
                                                (Strix occidentalis
                                                lucida), Northern
                                                Aplomado Falcon
                                                (Falco femoralis
                                                septentrionalis),
                                                Southwestern Willow
                                                Flycatcher
                                                (Empidonax traillii
                                                extimus).
TE-082492.............  Hancock, Charles       Southwestern Willow    New Mexico...........  Presence/absence      Capture, collect,     Renew.
                         Dean; Youngsville,     Flycatcher                                    surveys, mist-        harm, harass,
                         New Mexico.            (Empidonax traillii                           netting, nest         injury, death.
                                                extimus), Mexican                             boxes, hand capture.
                                                Spotted Owl (Strix
                                                occidentalis
                                                lucida), Western
                                                Yellow-billed Cuckoo
                                                (Coccyzus
                                                americanus), Jemez
                                                Mountain Salamander
                                                (Plethodon
                                                neomexicanus).
TE-85591C.............  Jarrell, Jared M.;     American Burying       Oklahoma.............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Tulsa, Oklahoma.       Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys.              death.
                                                americanus).
TE-001623.............  American Southwest     Arkansas River Shiner  Arizona, Colorado,     Population            Capture, collect,     Renewal.
                         Ichthyological         (Notropis girardi),    New Mexico, Utah.      monitoring,           injury, death.
                         Researchers (ASIR),    Colorado Pikeminnow                           spawning
                         Dr. Dudley;            (Ptychocheilus                                activities,
                         Albuquerque, New       lucius), Razorback                            downstream
                         Mexico.                Sucker (Xyrauchen                             transport studies,
                                                texanus), Humpback                            surveys,
                                                Chub (Gila cypha),                            collection, fin
                                                Gila Chub (Gila                               clips, salvage,
                                                intermedia), Rio                              seines, dip nets,
                                                Grande Silvery                                electrofishing.
                                                Minnow (Hybognathus
                                                amarus), Spikedace
                                                (Meda fulgida),
                                                Loach Minnow
                                                (Tiaroga cobitis).

[[Page 50953]]

 
TE-837751.............  U.S Bureau of          Southwestern Willow    Arizona..............  Surveys, Trapping,    Collect, harass,      Amend.
                         Reclamation;           Flycatcher                                    Capture,              injury, death.
                         Glendale, Arizona.     (Empidonax traillii                           Electrofishing.
                                                extimus), Western
                                                Yellow-billed Cuckoo
                                                (Coccyzus
                                                americanus),
                                                Northern Mexican
                                                gartersnake
                                                (Thamnophis eques
                                                megalops), Narrow-
                                                headed gartersnake
                                                (Thamnophis
                                                rufipunctatus),
                                                Chiricahua Leopard
                                                Frog (Lithobates
                                                chiricahuensis),
                                                Pima Pineapple
                                                Cactus (Coryphantha
                                                scheeri var.
                                                robustispina), Yuma
                                                Clapper Rail (Rallus
                                                obsoletus
                                                yumanensis), Desert
                                                Pupfish (Cyprinodon
                                                macularius), Gila
                                                Topminnow
                                                (Poeciliopsis
                                                occidentalis),
                                                Colorado Pikeminnow
                                                (Ptychocheilus
                                                lucius), Spikedace
                                                (Meda fulgida),
                                                Loach Minnow
                                                (Tiaroga cobitis),
                                                Razorback Sucker
                                                (Xyrauchen texanus),
                                                Woundfin
                                                (Plagopterus
                                                argentissimus).
TE-88641C.............  Perkins, Steve;        Knowlton's Cactus      New Mexico...........  Presense/absence      N/A.................  New.
                         Farmington, New        (Pediocacurs                                  surveys.
                         Mexico.                knowltonii),
                                                Kuenzler Hedgehog
                                                Cactus (Echinocereus
                                                fendleri var.
                                                kuenzleri), Lee
                                                Pincushion Cactus
                                                (Escobaria sneedii
                                                var. leei), Mesa
                                                Verde Cactus
                                                (Sclerocactus mesae-
                                                verdae), Sneed
                                                Pincushion Cactus
                                                (Escobaria sneedii
                                                var. sneedii), Zuni
                                                Fleabane (Erigeron
                                                rhizomatus), Holy
                                                Ghost Ipomopsis
                                                (Ipomopsis sancti-
                                                spiritus), Mancos
                                                Milkvetch
                                                (Astragalus
                                                humillimus),
                                                Todsen's Pennyroyal
                                                (Hedeoma todsenii),
                                                Sacramento Prickly
                                                Poppy (Argemone
                                                pleiacantha ssp.
                                                pinnatisecta), Pecos
                                                Sunflower
                                                (Helianthus
                                                paradoxus),
                                                Sacramento Mountains
                                                Thistle (Cirsium
                                                vinaceum), Gypsum
                                                Wild-Buckwheat
                                                (Eriogonum
                                                gossypinum).
TE-819458.............  National Park          Sonoyta Mud Turtle     Arizona..............  Population surveys,   Trap, injury, death.  Amend.
                         Service, Organ Pipe    (Kinosternon                                  trapping.
                         Cactus National        sonoriense
                         Monument); Ajo,        longifemorale).
                         Arizona.
TE-00974A.............  McLean, Jesse M.;      Golden-cheeked         Texas................  Presence/absence      Harass, injury,       Renew.
                         Dallas Texas.          Warbler (Setophaga                            surveys.              death.
                                                chrysoparia).
TE-85338C.............  McCoy, Chad B.;        American Burying       Oklahoma.............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Oklahoma City,         Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys, habitat      death.
                         Oklahoma.              americanus).                                  surveys.
TE-041875.............  University of          Sonoran Tiger          Arizona..............  Trap, tissue sample,  Capture, collect,     Renew.
                         Arizona, Dr.           Salamander                                    radio-collar, mark,   injury, death.
                         Koprowski; Tucson,     (Ambystoma tigrinum                           release, monitor,
                         Arizona.               stebbinsi), Mount                             recapture.
                                                Graham Red Squirrel
                                                (Tamiasciurus
                                                hudsonicus
                                                grahamensis).
TE-64710A.............  Jackson, Jacob T.;     Houston Toad (Bufo     Texas................  Surveys, capture,     Capture, collect,     Renew.
                         Austin, Texas.         Houstontoadensis).                            relocation/salvage.   injury, death.
TE-90005C.............  Patterson, Rande;      American Burying       Oklahoma, Texas......  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      New.
                         Houston, Texas.        Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys.              death.
                                                americanus).
TE-93537C.............  Turtle Island          Kemp's Ridley Sea      Texas................  Nesting surveys,      Capture, collect,     New.
                         Restoration Network;   Turtle (Lepidochelys                          capture, relocation   injury, death.
                         Galveston, Texas.      kempii), Green Sea                            and release, sample
                                                Turtle (Chelonia                              collection.
                                                mydas), Loggerhead
                                                Sea Turtle (Caretta
                                                caretta), Hawksbill
                                                Sea Turtle
                                                (Eretmochelys
                                                imbricata),
                                                Leatherback Sea
                                                Turtle (Dermochelys
                                                coriacea).
TE-053109.............  Stefferud, Sally E.;   Desert Pupfish         Arizona..............  Surveys, Trapping,    Collect, harass,      Renew.
                         Phoenix, Arizona.      (Cyprinodon                                   Capture,              injury, death.
                                                macularius), Gila                             Electrofishing.
                                                Topminnow
                                                (Poeciliopsis
                                                occidentalis).

[[Page 50954]]

 
TE-79697C.............  Clark, Barrett R.;     Coffin Cave mold       Texas................  Presence/absence      Harm and harass.....  New.
                         Kyle, Texas.           beetle (Batrisodes                            surveys.
                                                texanus), Helotes
                                                mold beetle (B.
                                                venyivi), Robber
                                                Baron Cave
                                                meshweaver (Cicurina
                                                baronia), Madla Cave
                                                meshweaver (C.
                                                madla), Bracken Bat
                                                Cave meshweaver (C.
                                                venii), Government
                                                Canyon Bat Cave
                                                spider (Neoleptoneta
                                                microps), Tooth Cave
                                                spider (N. myopica),
                                                ground beetle
                                                (Rhadine exilis),
                                                ground beetle (R.
                                                infernalis),
                                                Kretschmarr Cave
                                                mold beetle
                                                (Tartarocregris
                                                texana),
                                                Cokendolpher Cave
                                                harvestman (Texella
                                                cokendolpheri), Bee
                                                Creek Cave
                                                harvestman (T.
                                                reddelli), Bone Cave
                                                harvestman (T.
                                                reyesi), diminutive
                                                amphipod (Gammarus
                                                hyalleloides), Pecos
                                                amphipod (G. pecos),
                                                Comal Springs riffle
                                                beetle (Heterlmis
                                                comalensis), Peck's
                                                Cave amphipod
                                                (Stygobromus pecki),
                                                Comal Springs
                                                dryopid beetle (S.
                                                comalensis).
TE-833851.............  City of Austin;        Barton Springs         Texas................  Surveys, Marking,     Collect, harass,      Renew.
                         Austin, Texas.         salamander (Eurycea                           Tail-clipping.        injury, death.
                                                sosorum), Austin
                                                blind salamander (E.
                                                waterlooensis),
                                                Jollyville Plateau
                                                salamander (E.
                                                tonkawae), San
                                                Marcos salamander,
                                                (E. nana).
TE-069320.............  Groundwater and        Interior least tern    Arkansas, Kansas,      Presence/absence      Harm and Harass.....  Renew.
                         Environmental          (Sterna antillarum     Louisiana, Oklahoma,   surveys.
                         Services, Inc.;        athalassos), piping    South Dakota, Texas.
                         Lewisville, Texas.     plover (Charadrius
                                                melodus), red-
                                                cockaded woodpecker
                                                (Picoides borealis),
                                                American Burying
                                                Beetle (Nicrophorus
                                                americanus),
                                                fountain darter
                                                (Etheostoma
                                                fonticola).
TE-00975A.............  Osage Nation;          American Burying       Oklahoma.............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      Renew.
                         Pawhuska, Oklahoma.    Beetle (Nicrophorus                           surveys.              death.
                                                americanus).
TE-800611.............  SWCA; Austin, Texas..  Whooping Crane (Grus   Arkansas, Kansas,      Presence/absence      Capture, collect,     Amend.
                                                americana), Karst      Massachusetts,         surveys, habitat      injury, death.
                                                Invertebrates, Red-    Michigan, Missouri,    assessments.
                                                Cockaded Woodpecker    Nebraska, Ohio,
                                                (Leuconotopicus        Oklahoma, Rhode
                                                borealis), American    Island, South
                                                Burying Beetle         Dakota, Texas.
                                                (Nicrophorus
                                                americanus),
                                                Louisiana Pine Snake
                                                (Pituophis
                                                ruthveni), Texas
                                                Hornshell (Popenaias
                                                popeii), Golden-
                                                cheeked Warbler
                                                (Setophaga
                                                chrysoparia),
                                                Interior Least Tern
                                                (Sterna antillarum
                                                athalassos), Houston
                                                Toad (Bufo
                                                houstonensis).
TE-08832A.............  Utah State             Rio Grande Silvery     New Mexico...........  Surveys, Trapping,    Collect, harass,      Renew.
                         University; Logan,     Minnow (Hybognathus                           Capture,              injury, death.
                         Utah.                  amarus).                                      Electrofishing.
TE-86070C.............  Cincinnati Zoo;        Todsen's Pennyroyal    New Mexico...........  Presence/absence      N/A.................  New.
                         Cincinnati, Ohio.      (Hedeoma todsenii).                           surveys.
TE-169770.............  NMOSE/ISC; Los Lunas,  Rio Grande Silvery     New Mexico...........  Captive propagation,  Injury, death.......  Renew.
                         New Mexico.            Minnow (Hybognathus                           culture, holding
                                                amarus).                                      and research.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.).


[[Page 50955]]


    Dated: July 19, 2018.
Amy Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21968 Filed 10-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P