[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 70204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27471]



[[Page 70204]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2019-N165; FXES11130100000-201-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 and survival of endangered 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 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 January 21, 
2020.

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 and application number (e.g., Dana 
Ross TE-08964A-2):
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Marilet Zablan, 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, Regional 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 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 (CFR) 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,                                                            Permit
     Application No.            state             Species          Location        Take activity       action
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TE-050644-6.............  Washington         Columbia Basin    Washington......  Harass by         Amend.
                           Department of      pygmy rabbit                        survey,
                           Fish and           (Brachylagus                        monitor,
                           Wildlife,          idahoensis).                        capture,
                           Ephrata, WA.                                           handle, mark,
                                                                                  tag, collect
                                                                                  biological
                                                                                  samples,
                                                                                  translocate,
                                                                                  captive
                                                                                  propagation,
                                                                                  veterinary
                                                                                  care,
                                                                                  vaccination,
                                                                                  release, and
                                                                                  salvage.
TE-49208B-1.............  Tammy Summers,     Hawksbill sea     Commonwealth of   Monitor and       Renew.
                           Rainbow            turtle            the Northern      excavate nests,
                           Connection         (Eretmochelys     Marianas          deploy nest
                           Research,          imbricata).       Islands.          temperature
                           Saipan, MP.                                            loggers,
                                                                                  handle,
                                                                                  measure, weigh,
                                                                                  tag, attach
                                                                                  transmitters,
                                                                                  collect
                                                                                  biological
                                                                                  samples,
                                                                                  salvage,
                                                                                  photograph, and
                                                                                  videograph.
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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 a permit to 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 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Rolland White,
Assistant Regional Director--Ecological Services, Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-27471 Filed 12-19-19; 8:45 am]
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