[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 233 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78145-78146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26605]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2020-N138; FXES11130600000-201-FF06E00000]


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.

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

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 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 by January 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Use one of the 
following methods to request documents or submit comments. Requests and 
comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) 
(e.g., TE123456):
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Marjorie Nelson, Chief, Division of Ecological 
Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Blvd., Suite 670, 
Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits 
Coordinator, Ecological Services, 303-236-4224 (phone), or 
[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 or threatened under the ESA.

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

    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.

[[Page 78146]]

Accordingly, we invite local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and 
the public to submit written data, view, 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Application  number      Applicant           Species        Location     Take activity        Permit action
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TE067482-2..........  Colorado                      NE          Pursue for        Renew.
                       Department of      Southwestern                   presence/
                       Transportation,    willow                         absence
                       Durango, CO.       flycatcher                     surveys, nest
                                          (Empidonax                     monitoring,
                                          traillii                       habitat
                                          extimus).                      management.
TE059369-3..........  Colorado Natural    New       CO          Pursue, capture,  Renew.
                       Heritage           Mexico meadow                  handle,
                       Program, Fort      jumping mouse                  measure, and
                       Collins, CO.       (Zapus hudsonius               release for
                                          luteus).                       presence/
                                                                         absence surveys.
TE81397D-0..........  University of                 CO          Remove and        New.
                       Northern           Eriogonum                      reduce to
                       Colorado,          pelinophilum                   possession;
                       Greeley, CO.       (Clay-loving                   seed, fruit
                                          wild buckwheat).               collection for
                                                                 genetic
                                          Astragalus                     studies;
                                          osterhoutii                    voucher sample
                                          (Osterhout                     collection.
                                          milkvetch)..
                                         
                                          Penstemon
                                          penlandii
                                          (Pendland
                                          beardtongue)..
TE085324-3..........  Wyoming Natural               WY          Remove and        Amend.
                       Diversity          Penstemon                      reduce to
                       Database,          haydenii                       possession;
                       Laramie, WY.       (Blowout                       seed, fruit
                                          penstemon).                    collection for
                                                                         genetic
                                                                         studies;
                                                                         voucher sample
                                                                         collection;
                                                                         propagation and
                                                                         seed bank
                                                                         research;
                                                                         habitat
                                                                         restoration and
                                                                         enhancement
                                                                         prior to
                                                                         reintroduction
                                                                         activities.
TE053961-2..........  Omaha's Henry       Salt      NE, WY      Hold in           Amend.
                       Doorly Zoo and     Creek tiger                    captivity for
                       Aquarium, Omaha,   beetle                         captive
                       NE.                (Cicindeoa                     breeding and
                                          nevadica                       propagation;
                                          lincolniana).                  pursue,
                                          Wyoming                capture,
                                          toad (Anaxyrus                 handle,
                                          baxteri)..                     measure, and
                                                                         release for
                                                                         presence/
                                                                         absence
                                                                         surveys;
                                                                         reintroduction
                                                                         activities.
TE35101D-0..........  Schmueser Gordon              CO          Pursue for        New.
                       Meyer, Inc.        Southwestern                   presence/
                       (SGM), Glenwood    willow                         absence
                       Springs, CO.       flycatcher                     surveys, nest
                                          (Empidonax                     monitoring,
                                          traillii                       habitat
                                          extimus).                      management.
PER0001907..........  Vosburgh,           Black-    MT          Presence/absence  New.
                       Timothy,           footed ferret                  surveys,
                       Anaconda, MT.      (Mustela                       capture,
                                          nigripes).                     handle, chip
                                                                         implant,
                                                                         tattoo,
                                                                         measure,
                                                                         vaccinate, and
                                                                         release for
                                                                         reintroduction
                                                                         activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the administrative 
record. 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 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.).

Stephen Small,
Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department 
of the Interior Unified Regions 5 and 7.
[FR Doc. 2020-26605 Filed 12-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P