[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5687-5691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01862]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2019-N155; FXES11130200000-190-FF02ENEH00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 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 
March 2, 2020.

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) at 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 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.

[[Page 5688]]



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  Application No.          Applicant              Species               Location              Activity            Type of take          Permit action
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TE-798998..........  Horizon               Golden-cheeked         Oklahoma, Texas.....  Presence/absence      Capture, harm,        Renewal.
                      Environmental         warbler (Setophaga                           surveys, habitat      harass, injury,
                      Services, Inc.;       chrysoparia);                                surveys.              death.
                      Austin, Texas.        interior least tern
                                            (Sterna antillarum
                                            athalassos); Houston
                                            toad (Bufo
                                            houstonensis);
                                            American burying
                                            beetle (Nicrophorus
                                            americanus); ground
                                            beetles, no common
                                            name (Rhadine exilis
                                            and Rhadine
                                            infernalis); Helotes
                                            mold beetle
                                            (Batrisodes
                                            venyivi);
                                            Cokendolpher Cave
                                            harvestman (Texella
                                            cokendolpheri);
                                            Robber Baron Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina
                                            baronia); Madla Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina
                                            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); Tooth Cave
                                            pseudoscorpion
                                            (Tartarocreagris
                                            texana); Bee Creek
                                            Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reddelli);
                                            Kretschman Cave mold
                                            beetle (Texamaurops
                                            reddelli); Tooth
                                            Cave ground beetle
                                            (Rhadine
                                            persephone); Bone
                                            Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reyesi);
                                            Coffin Cave mold
                                            beetle (Batrisodes
                                            texanus).
TE-39186D..........  Malaney, Jason L.;    New Mexico meadow      Arizona, New Mexico.  Collection..........  Capture, collect,     New.
                      Albuquerque, New      jumping mouse (Zapus                                               harm, harass,
                      Mexico.               hudsonius luteus).                                                 injury, death.
TE-071287-2........  Christman, Bruce;     New Mexican ridge-     Arizona, New Mexico.  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      Renewal.
                      Albuquerque, New      nosed rattlesnake                            surveys.              death.
                      Mexico.               (Crotalus willardi
                                            obscurus), Narrow-
                                            headed gartersnake,
                                            Northern Mexican
                                            gartersnake
                                            (Thamnophis eques
                                            megalops),
                                            Chiricahua leopard
                                            frog (Lithobates
                                            chiricahuensis),
                                            Jemez Mountains
                                            salamander
                                            (Plethodon
                                            neomexicanus).
TE-078189-1........  Adkins Consulting     Southwestern Willow    Arizona, Colorado,    Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Inc.; Durango,        flycatcher             New Mexico, Utah.     surveys.
                      Colorado.             (Empidonax traillii
                                            extimus), Mexican
                                            spotted owl (Strix
                                            occidentalis lucida).
TE-36648D..........  Camba, Matthew O.;    Yellow-billed cuckoo   Arizona, California,  Presence/absence      Harass, harm........  New.
                      Mesa, Arizona.        (Coccyzus              Colorado, Nevada,     surveys.
                                            americanus).           New Mexico, Texas,
                                                                   Utah, Wyoming.
TE-30425B..........  Hagyari, David;       American burying       Arizona, Oklahoma,    Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      Renewal.
                      Broken Arrow,         beetle (Nicrophorus    Texas.                surveys.              death.
                      Oklahoma.             americanus).
TE-076050..........  McAlester Army        American burying       Oklahoma............  Presence/absence      Capture, injury,      Renewal.
                      Ammunition Plant;     beetle (Nicrophorus                          surveys.              death.
                      McAlester, Oklahoma.  americanus).
TE-037155..........  Bio-West (Oborny);    Comal Springs riffle   California,           Presence/absence      Capture, harass,      Renewal.
                      Roound Rock, Texas.   beetle (Heterelmis     Colorado, New         surveys, capture,     injury, death.
                                            comalensis), Comal     Mexico, Nevada,       collection.
                                            Springs dryopid        Texas, Utah.
                                            beetle (Stygoparnus
                                            comalensis), Peck's
                                            Cave amphipod
                                            (Stygobromus
                                            (=stygonectes)
                                            pecki), southwestern
                                            willow flycatcher
                                            (Empidonax traillii
                                            extimus), Georgetown
                                            salamander (Eurycea
                                            naufragia), Salado
                                            salamander (Eurycea
                                            chisholmensis), San
                                            Marcos salamander
                                            (Eurycea nana),
                                            Colorado pikeminnow
                                            (Ptychocheilus
                                            lucius), Rio Grande
                                            silvery minnow
                                            (Hybognathus
                                            amarus), sharpnose
                                            shiner (Notropis
                                            oxyrhynchus),
                                            smalleye shiner
                                            (Notropis
                                            buccula),Texas
                                            hornshell (Popenaias
                                            popeii).

[[Page 5689]]

 
TE-17907C..........  Landhawk Consulting   Ocelot (Leopardus      Alabama, Colorado,    Presence/absence      Harass, harm........  Amendment.
                      LLC; Pharr, Texas.    (=felis) pardalis),    Florida, Georgia,     surveys,
                                            Gulf Coast             Louisiana, Maine,     biomonitoring,
                                            jaguarundi             Masachusetts,         habitat assessment,
                                            (Herpailurus           Michigan,             nest monitoring.
                                            (=felis)               Minnesota, New
                                            yagouaroundi           Mexico, North
                                            cacomitli), piping     Carolina, North
                                            plover (Charadrius     Dakota, Oklahoma,
                                            melodus), red knot     Ohio, South
                                            (Calidris canutus      Carolina, Texas.
                                            rufa), Louisiana
                                            pine snake
                                            (Pituophis
                                            ruthveni), star
                                            cactus (Astrophytum
                                            asterias), Zapata
                                            bladderpod
                                            (Lesquerella
                                            thamnophila), ashy
                                            dogweed (Thymophylla
                                            tephroleuca),
                                            Walker's manioc
                                            (Manihot walkerae),
                                            South Texas ambrosia
                                            (Ambrosia
                                            cheiranthifolia),
                                            Slender rush-pea
                                            (Hoffmannseggia
                                            tenella), Texas
                                            snowbells (Styrax
                                            texanus), black lace
                                            cactus (Echinocereus
                                            reichenbachii var.
                                            albertii), Tobusch
                                            fishhook cactus
                                            (Sclerocactus
                                            brevihamatus ssp.
                                            tobuschii), Houston
                                            toad (Bufo
                                            houstonensis).
TE-232639..........  DESCO Environmental   American burying       Oklahoma, Texas.....  Presence/absence      Capture, harass,      Renewal.
                      Consultants;          beetle (Nicrophorus                          surveys.              harm, injury, death.
                      Magnolia, Texas.      americanus), red-
                                            cockaded woodpecker
                                            (Picoides borealis).
TE-13914B..........  Coons, Justin H.;     American burying       Arkansas, Kansas,     Presence/absence      Capture, harm,        Renewal.
                      Skiatook, Oklahoma.   beetle (Nicrophorus    Missouri, Nebraska,   surveys.              injury, death.
                                            americanus).           Oklahoma.
TE-078347..........  U.S. Fish and         Sonoran pronghorn      Arizona.............  Captive propagation.  Capture, harm,        Renewal.
                      Wildlife Service,     (Antilocapra                                                       harass, injury,
                      Region 2, Cabeza      americana                                                          death.
                      Prienta National      sonoriensis).
                      Wildlife Refuge;
                      Ajo, Arizona.
TE-103314..........  Tanner, Jon Matthew;  Interior least tern    New Mexico,           Presence/absence      Harass..............  Renewal.
                      McGregor, Texas.      (Sterna antillarum     Oklahoma, Texas.      surveys.
                                            athalassos).
TE-818118..........  Henson, Jeremy;       Texas hornshell        Arkansas, Illinois,   Presence/absence      Capture, harm,        Amendment.
                      Georgetown, Texas.    (Popenaias popeii),    Indiana, Iowa,        surveys.              harrass.
                                            clubshell              Kentucky,
                                            (Pleurobema clava),    Louisiana,
                                            fanshell (Cyprogenia   Michigan,
                                            stegaria), fat         Minnesota,
                                            pocketbook             Missouri, New
                                            (Potamilus capax),     Mexico, New York,
                                            Higgins eye            Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                            (Lampsilis             Pennsylvania, South
                                            higginsii), northern   Dakota, Tennessee,
                                            riffleshell            Texas, Virginia,
                                            (Epioblasma torulosa   West Virginia,
                                            rangiana),             Wisconsin.
                                            orangefoot
                                            pimpleback
                                            (Plethobasus
                                            cooperianus), pink
                                            mucket (Lampsilis
                                            abrupta), purple
                                            cat's paw
                                            (Epioblasma
                                            obliquata
                                            obliquata), rayed
                                            bean (Villosa
                                            fabalis), scaleshell
                                            mussel (Leptodea
                                            leptodon), sheepnose
                                            mussel (Plethobasus
                                            cyphyus), snuffbox
                                            mussel (Epioblasma
                                            triquetra),
                                            spectaclecase
                                            (Cumberlandia
                                            monodonta), white
                                            catspaw (Epioblasma
                                            obliquata
                                            perobliqua).
TE57462D...........  Souther, Sara;        Kearney's blue-star    Arizona.............  Breeding system       Harm, death.........  New.
                      Flagstaff, Arizona.   (Amsonia kearneyana).                        assessment,
                                                                                         structured seed
                                                                                         augmentation,
                                                                                         species
                                                                                         introduction.
TE57474D...........  Lassiter, Timonthy;   Golden-cheeked         Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  New.
                      Boerne, Texas.        warbler (Setophaga                           surveys.
                                            chrysoparia).
TE57474D...........  Putnam, Stephanie;    Golden-cheeked         Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  New.
                      Austin, Texas.        warbler (Setophaga                           surveys.
                                            chrysoparia).
TE236730...........  Bonner, Timothy; San  Comal Springs riffle   Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Marcos, Texas.        beetle (Heterelmis                           surveys.
                                            comalensis), Devils
                                            River minnow (Dionda
                                            diaboli), fountain
                                            darter (Etheostoma
                                            fonticola), San
                                            Marcos salamander
                                            (Eurycea nana), San
                                            Marcos gambusia
                                            (Gambusia georgei),
                                            Texas wild-rice
                                            (Zizania texana).

[[Page 5690]]

 
TE40886B...........  Biological            Black-footed ferret    Arizona, Colorado,    Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Resources, LLC;       (Mustela nigripes),    New Mexico, Texas,    surveys.
                      Durango, Colorado.    southwestern willow    Utah.
                                            flycatcher
                                            (Empidonax traillii
                                            extimus), Mexican
                                            spotted owl (Strix
                                            occidentalis
                                            lucida), New Mexico
                                            meadow jumping mouse
                                            (Zapus hudsonius
                                            luteus).
TE37416B...........  Cambrian              Houston toad (Bufo     Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Environmental;        houstonensis), San                           surveys, monitor,
                      Austin, Texas.        Marcos salamander                            capture, handle,
                                            (Eurycea nana),                              measure.
                                            Texas blind
                                            salamander
                                            (Typhlomolge
                                            rathbuni).
TE43754A...........  Turner Endangered     Chiricahua leopard     New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Species Fund;         frog (Rana                                   surveys.
                      Bozeman, Montana.     chiricahuensis),
                                            Chupadera
                                            springsnail
                                            (Pyrgulopsis
                                            chupaderae).
TE57477D...........  WSP[bond]Parsons      Southwestern willow    Arizona, California,  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  New.
                      Brinckerhoff;         flycatcher             Nevada, New Mexico.   surveys.
                      Albuquerque, New      (Empidonax traillii
                      Mexico.               extimus), Mexican
                                            spotted owl (Strix
                                            occidentalis
                                            lucida), Chiricahua
                                            leopard frog (Rana
                                            chiricahuensis),
                                            yellow-billed cuckoo
                                            (Coccyzus
                                            americanus), Jemez
                                            Mountains salamander
                                            (Plethodon
                                            neomexicanus).
TE800900...........  Lower Colorado River  Golden-cheeked         Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm; harass........  Renewal.
                      Authority; Austin,    warbler (Setophaga                           surveys.
                      Texas.                chrysoparia),
                                            interior least tern
                                            (Sterna antillarum
                                            athalassos), Houston
                                            toad (Bufo
                                            houstonensis),
                                            southwestern willow
                                            flycatcher
                                            (Empidonax traillii
                                            extimus), piping
                                            plover (Charadrius
                                            melodius).
TE819491...........  Ecosphere             Southwestern willow    Arizona, Colorado,    Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Environmental;        flycatcher             New Mexico, Texas,    surveys.
                      Durango, Colorado.    (Empidonax traillii    Utah.
                                            extimus), Mexican
                                            spotted owl (Strix
                                            occidentalis
                                            lucida), Chiricahua
                                            leopard frog (Rana
                                            chiricahuensis),
                                            yellow-billed cuckoo
                                            (Coccyzus
                                            americanus), black-
                                            footed ferret
                                            (Mustela nigripes).
TE08394B...........  USFS, Apache-         Southwestern willow    Arizona.............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Renewal.
                      Sitgreaves National   flycatcher                                   surveys.
                      Forest;               (Empidonax traillii
                      Springerville,        extimus), Mexican
                      Arizona.              spotted owl (Strix
                                            occidentalis
                                            lucida), Chiricahua
                                            leopard frog (Rana
                                            chiricahuensis),
                                            Gila chub (Gila
                                            intermedia),
                                            spikedace (Mega
                                            fulgida), loach
                                            minnow (Tiaroga
                                            cobitis), razorback
                                            sucker (Xyrauchen
                                            texanus), Three
                                            Forks springsnail
                                            (Pyrgulopsis
                                            trivialis).
TE942425B..........  Powers, Jarrod;       Neosho mucket          Oklahoma............  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  Amendment.
                      Stillwater,           (Lampsilis                                   surveys.
                      Oklahoma.             rafinesqueana),
                                            Ouachita rock
                                            pocketbook (Arkansia
                                            wheeleri),
                                            scaleshell (Leptodea
                                            leptodon), winged
                                            mapleleaf (Quadrula
                                            fragosa).
TE160521...........  Tetra Tech; Salt      Southwestern willow    Arizona, Colorado,    Presence/absence      Harass..............  Renewal.
                      Lake City, Utah.      flycatcher             Montana, New          surveys.
                                            (Empidonax traillii    Mexico, Wyoming,
                                            extimus).              Utah.
TE44542B...........  Olsson Associates;    Gray bat (Myotis       Illinois, Indiana,    Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  Amendment.
                      Oklahoma City,        griscescens), Neosho   Missouri.             surveys.
                      Oklahoma.             mucket (Lampsilis
                                            rafinesqueana).
TE59346D...........  Johnson, Matthew;     Freshwater mussel spp  Iowa, Maryland,       Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  New.
                      Austin, Texas.                               Michigan,             surveys.
                                                                   Minnesota,
                                                                   Missouri, New York,
                                                                   North Carolina,
                                                                   Pennsylvania,
                                                                   Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                   Wisconsin.
TE103314...........  Tanner, Matthew;      Least tern (Sterna     Oklahoma, New         Presence/absence      Harass..............  Renewal.
                      McGregor, Texas.      antillarum             Mexico, and Texas.    surveys.
                                            athalassos).
TE59554D...........  Stanek, Jenna; Los    Southwestern willow    New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harass..............  New.
                      Alamos, New Mexico.   flycatcher                                   surveys.
                                            (Empidonax traillii
                                            extimus).

[[Page 5691]]

 
TE053085...........  Bureau of             Southwestern willow    Arizona.............  Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  Renewal.
                      Reclamation,          flycatcher                                   surveys.
                      Boulder City,         (Empidonax traillii
                      Nevada.               extimus), bonytail
                                            chub (Gila elegans),
                                            razorback sucker
                                            (Xyrauchen texanus).
TE819451...........  Travis County         Golden-cheeked         Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  Renewal.
                      Transportation and    warbler (Setophaga                           surveys.
                      Natural Resources.    chrysoparia), Karst
                                            spp.
TE822908...........  Caesar Kleburg        Ocelot (Lepardus       Texas...............  Collect blood, semen  Harm/harass.........  Renewal.
                      Wildlife Research     (=Felis) pardalis),                          samples, and fecal
                      Institute;            jaguarundi                                   materials.
                      Kingsville, Texas.    (Herpailurus
                                            yogauroundi).
TE59909D...........  Bell, Leslie;         Karst spp............  Texas...............  Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  New.
                      Austin, Texas.                                                     surveys.
TE060125...........  Salt River Project    Southwestern willow    Arizona.............  Presence/absence      Harm/harass.........  Renewal.
                      Agricultural          flycatcher                                   surveys.
                      Improvement and       (Empidonax traillii
                      Power District;       extimus).
                      Phoenix, Arizona.
TE63216D...........  Porter, James Mark;   Sneed pincushion       New Mexico, Texas...  Seed collection.....  Harm................  New.
                      Claremont,            cactus (Coryphantha
                      California.           [Escobaria] sneedii).
TE63430D...........  Hamilton, Gregor;     spikedace (Meda        New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass........  New.
                      Albuquerque, New      fulgida), loach                              surveys, collect
                      Mexico.               minnow (Tiaroga                              scale clips.
                                            cobitis).
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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: January 27, 2020.
Amy L. Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01862 Filed 1-30-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P