[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 50 (Friday, March 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14697-14699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2020-N035; FXES11130300000-201-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. 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

[[Page 14698]]

consideration any information that we receive during the public comment 
period.

DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before April 13, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Submit 
requests for copies of the applications and related documents, as well 
as 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 
application number (e.g., Application No. TEXXXXXX) in the subject line 
of your email message.
     U.S. Mail: Regional Director, Attn: Nathan Rathbun, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. 
West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Rathbun, 612-713-5343 (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: 

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.), prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened 
species unless authorized by a Federal permit. The ESA and our 
implementing regulations in part 17 of title 50 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) provide for the issuance of such permits and require 
that we invite public comment before issuing permits for activities 
involving endangered species.
    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered species 
for scientific purposes that promote recovery or for enhancement of 
propagation or survival of the species. 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

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the 
public to comment on the following applications.

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    Application No.           Applicant              Species              Location              Activity            Type of take         Permit action
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TE54397C..............  Keifer L. Titus,      Add: gray bat         Add: new locations--  Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Amend, renew.
                         Clemson, SC.          (Myotis               AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   absence surveys,      mist-net, band,
                                               grisescens),          FL, GA, IL, IA, KS,   document habitat      radio-tag, release.
                                               Virginia big-eared    KY, LA, MA, ME, MD,   use, conduct
                                               bat (Plecotus         MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,   population
                                               townsendii            NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC,   monitoring,
                                               virginianus) to       ND, OH, OK, PA, RI,   evaluate impacts.
                                               existing permitted    SC, SD, TN, VT, VA,
                                               species: Indiana      WV, WI, WY--to
                                               bat (M. sodalis),     existing authorized
                                               northern long-eared   locations: IN.
                                               bat (M.
                                               septentrionalis).
TE89558A..............  Shannon Romeling,     Gray bat (Myotis      AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Renew.
                         Taos, NM.             grisescens),          FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,   absence surveys,      mist-net, harp
                                               Indiana bat (M.       KS, KY, LA, ME, MD,   document habitat      trap, band, radio-
                                               sodalis), northern    MA, MI, MN, MS, MO,   use, conduct          tag, release.
                                               long-eared bat (M.    NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC,   population
                                               septentrionalis),     ND, OH, OK, PA, RI,   monitoring,
                                               Ozark big-eared bat   SC, SD, TN, TX, VT,   evaluate impacts.
                                               (Corynorhinus         VA, WV, WI, WY.
                                               towsendii ingens),
                                               Virginia big-eared
                                               bat (C.t.
                                               virginianus).
TE06801A..............  Pittsburgh Wildlife   Gray bat (Myotis      Add new locations--   Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Amend.
                         & Environment,        grisescens),          LA, NE, ND, SD--to    absence surveys,      mist-net, harp
                         Inc., McDonald, PA.   Indiana bat (M.       existing authorized   document habitat      trap, band, radio-
                                               sodalis), northern    locations: AL, AR,    use, conduct          tag, enter
                                               long-eared bat (M.    FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,   population            hibernacula or
                                               septentrionalis).     KS, KY, MI, MS, MO,   monitoring,           maternity roost
                                                                     NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK,   evaluate impacts.     caves, release.
                                                                     PA, SC, TN, VA, WV,
                                                                     WI.
TE70020D..............  NextEra Energy Bluff  Indiana bat (Myotis   Jay and Randolph      Conduct scientific    Harass, kill,         New.
                         Point, LLC, Juno      sodalis), northern    Counties, IN.         research on the       salvage.
                         Beach, FL.            long-eared bat (M.                          impacts of wind
                                               septentrionalis).                           turbine rolling-
                                                                                           average cut-in
                                                                                           speed, population
                                                                                           management and
                                                                                           monitoring.
TE13580D..............  Julia Wilson,         Add Gray bat (Myotis  Add new locations--   Conduct presence/     Add new activities--  Amend.
                         Bloomington, IN.      grisescens) to        AL, AR, FL, GA, KS,   absence surveys,      harp trap, enter
                                               existing permitted    KY, MS, NC, OK, TN,   document habitat      hibernacula or
                                               species: Indiana      VA--to existing       use, conduct          maternity roost
                                               bat (M. sodalis),     authorized            population            caves, collect
                                               northern long-eared   locations: CT, DE,    monitoring,           hair, guano, wing
                                               bat (M.               DC, IL, IN, IA, LA,   evaluate impacts;     biopsy, wing swab
                                               septentrionalis).     ME, MD, MA, MI, MN,   conduct scientific    samples--to
                                                                     MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ,   research--assess      existing authorized
                                                                     NY, ND, OH, PA, RI,   seasonal behavior,    activities:
                                                                     SC, SD, VT, WV, WI,   hibernation           Capture, handle,
                                                                     WY.                   locations, evaluate   mist-net, band,
                                                                                           white-nose syndrome   radio-tag, release.
                                                                                           exposure,
                                                                                           population
                                                                                           structure and
                                                                                           movement.

[[Page 14699]]

 
TE72093B..............  Rebecca               Add Dwarf             AL, AR, IL, IN, KY,   Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Amend.
                         Winterringer,         wedgemussel           MI, MO, OH, OK, TN.   absence surveys,      temporary hold,
                         Euclid, OH.           (Alasmidonta                                document habitat      release.
                                               heterodon), James                           use, conduct
                                               spinymussel                                 population
                                               (Pleurobema                                 monitoring,
                                               collina),                                   evaluate impacts.
                                               Appalachian
                                               monkeyface
                                               (Quadrula sparsa),
                                               birdwing
                                               pearlymussel
                                               (Lexiox rimosus),
                                               cracking
                                               pearlymussel
                                               (Hemistena lata),
                                               Cumberland bean
                                               (Villosa trabalis),
                                               Cumberland
                                               monkeyface
                                               (Quadrula
                                               intemedia),
                                               Dromedary
                                               pearlymussel
                                               (Dromus dromas),
                                               finerayed pigtoe
                                               (Fusconaia
                                               cuneolus), fluted
                                               kidneyshell
                                               (Ptychobranchus
                                               subtentum), green
                                               blossom (Epioblasma
                                               torulosa
                                               gubernaculum),
                                               littewing
                                               pearlymussel
                                               (Pegias fabula),
                                               oyster mussel
                                               (Epioblasma
                                               capsaeformis),
                                               purple bean
                                               (Villosa
                                               perpurpurea), rough
                                               pigtoe (Pleurobema
                                               plenum), shiny
                                               pigtoe (Fusconaia
                                               cor), slabside
                                               pearlymussel
                                               (Lexingtonia
                                               dolabelloides), tan
                                               riffleshell
                                               (Epioblasma
                                               florentina walker),
                                               and yellow lance
                                               (Ellipto
                                               lanceolata), to
                                               existing permitted
                                               species: 17
                                               freshwater mussel
                                               species.
TE02373A..............  Environmental         Rusty patched bumble  AL, AR, CT, DE,       Conduct presence/     Add new rusty         Amend.
                         Solutions &           bee (Bombus           D.C., GA, IL, IN,     absence surveys,      patched bumble bee
                         Innovations, Inc.,    affinis), eastern     IA, KS, KY, LA, ME,   document habitat      activities--non-
                         Cincinnati, OH.       massasauga            MD, MA, MI, MN, MS,   use, conduct          lethal external
                                               rattlesnake           MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ,   population            mite, tarsal
                                               (Sistruus             NY, NC, ND, OH, OK,   monitoring,           clipping, serum
                                               catenatus), and       PA, RI, SC, SD, TN,   evaluate impacts.     sample, and pollen
                                               multiple plant,       VT, VA, WV, WI, WY.                         load collection,
                                               insect, crustacean,                                               mark, tag, gel
                                               mussel, bat species.                                              sampling, hold
                                                                                                                 males for sperm
                                                                                                                 collection--to
                                                                                                                 existing authorized
                                                                                                                 activities:
                                                                                                                 Capture, release,
                                                                                                                 salvage.
TE53616C..............  Illinois Natural      Rusty patched bumble  IL..................  Conduct presence/     Add new activities--  Amend.
                         History Survey,       bee (Bombus                                 absence surveys,      DNA, fecal, pollen
                         Champaign, IL.        affinis).                                   document habitat      sampling--to
                                                                                           use, conduct          existing authorized
                                                                                           population            activities:
                                                                                           monitoring,           Capture, handle,
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.     release.
TE70019D..............  Little Traverse Bay   Hungerford's          MI..................  Conduct presence/     Collect, transport,   New.
                         Bands of Odawa        crawling water                              absence surveys,      relocate, release.
                         Indians, Harbor       beetle (Brychius                            document habitat
                         Springs, MI.          hungerfordi).                               use, conduct
                                                                                           population
                                                                                           monitoring,
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.
TE69825D..............  Michigan State        Poweshiek             MI..................  Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      New.
                         University, Hickory   skipperling                                 absence surveys,      long-term hold,
                         Corners, MI.          (Oarisma poweshiek).                        document habitat      captive rear,
                                                                                           use, captive          release.
                                                                                           rearing, conduct
                                                                                           population
                                                                                           monitoring,
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.
TE70018D..............  St. Louis River       Piping plover         WI..................  Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      New.
                         Alliance, Duluth,     (Charadrius                                 absence surveys,      band, temporary
                         MN.                   melodus).                                   document habitat      hold, captive rear
                                                                                           use, conduct          abandoned eggs and
                                                                                           population            chicks, erect
                                                                                           monitoring,           active nest
                                                                                           evaluate impacts.     enclosure, release,
                                                                                                                 salvage.
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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.

    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.).

Lori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-05110 Filed 3-12-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P