[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57500-57502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24963]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2018-N115; FXES11130300000-189-FF03E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit 
Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 57501]]


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. 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 December 17, 
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 of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The requested permits will 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 
such 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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        Application No.               Applicant              Species               Location            Activity          Type of take      Permit action
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TE99650C.......................  Dale Dunford II,    Clubshell (Pleurobema    IN, KY, MI, NY,     Conduct presence/   Capture, handle,    New.
                                  Rome, OH.           clava), fanshell         OH, PA, WV.         absence surveys,    temporary hold,
                                                      (Cyprogenia stegaria),                       document habitat    tag, release,
                                                      pink mucket (pearly-                         use, conduct        relocate.
                                                      mussel) (Lampsilis                           population
                                                      abrupta), northern                           monitoring,
                                                      riffleshell                                  evaluate impacts.
                                                      (Epioblasma torulosa
                                                      rangiana), purple
                                                      cat's paw pearlymussel
                                                      (E. obliquata
                                                      obliquata), snuffbox
                                                      mussel (E. triquetra),
                                                      rabbitsfoot (Quadrula
                                                      cylindrica
                                                      cylindrica), sheepnose
                                                      mussel (Plethobasus
                                                      cyphyus), rayed bean
                                                      (Villosa fabalis).
TE01835D.......................  Mariah Scott,       Snuffbox mussel          MI................  Study growth rate   Collect dead        New.
                                  Chicago, IL.        (Epioblasma triquetra).                      ontogenetic         shells, hold,
                                                                                                   changes, male and   biosample.
                                                                                                   female morphology.
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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. Moreover, 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.

[[Page 57502]]

Authority

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

    Dated: August 30, 2018.
Lori H. Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-24963 Filed 11-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P