[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 31, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16755-16757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06603]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2021-N018; 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 consideration any 
information that we receive during the public comment period.

DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before April 30, 
2021.

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; see table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION):
     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

[[Page 16756]]

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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PER0003286...........  Elaine Evans, Saint   Rusty patched bumble bee   MN, WI..............  Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend
                        Paul, MN.             (Bombus affinis).                                absence surveys,     release; Pollen
                                                                                               document habitat     sampling, genetic
                                                                                               use, conduct         sampling, fecal
                                                                                               population           sampling.
                                                                                               monitoring,
                                                                                               evaluate impacts,
                                                                                               bio-sample.
PER0003023...........  Samuel Schratz,       Gray bat (Myotis           CT, DE, DC, FL, LA,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New
                        Villa Park, IL.       grisescens), northern      ME, MI, NE, NH, ND,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                              long-eared bat (M.         RI, SC, SD, WI, WY.   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              septentrionalis).                                use, conduct         tag, PIT tag,
                                                                                               population           collect wing
                                                                                               monitoring,          biopsy samples,
                                                                                               evaluate impacts.    release.
PER0003405...........  Crystal Griffin,      Gray bat (Myotis           AL, AR, CT, DE, GA,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New
                        Overland Park, KS.    grisescens), Indiana bat   IL, IN, IA, KS, KY,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                              (M. sodalis), northern     ME, MD, MA, MI, MN,   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.         MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ,   use, conduct         tag, collect hair
                                              septentrionalis), Ozark    NY, NC, ND, OH, OK,   population           and wing biopsy
                                              big-eared bat              PA, RI, SC, SD, TN,   monitoring,          samples, release.
                                              (Corynorhinus towsendii    VT, VA, WV, WI.       evaluate impacts.
                                              ingens), Virginia big-
                                              eared bat (C.t.
                                              virginianus).
PER0003488...........  Brooke Hines,         Gray bat (Myotis           AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew
                        Littlejohn, CO.       grisescens), Indiana bat   FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                              (M. sodalis), northern     KS, KY, ME, MD, MA,   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.         MI, MN, MS, MO, NE,   use, conduct         tag, light ta, PIT
                                              septentrionalis),          NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND,   population           tag, collect hair,
                                              Virginia big-eared bat     OH, OK, PA, RI, SC,   monitoring,          fugal lift tape,
                                              (Corynorhinus towsendii    SD, TN, VT, VA, WV,   evaluate impacts.    swab and wing
                                              virginianus).              WI.                                        biopsy samples,
                                                                                                                    enter hibernacula
                                                                                                                    and maternity
                                                                                                                    roost caves,
                                                                                                                    release, salvage.
PER0003355...........  Josiah Maine, Kansas  Add: Gray bat (Myotis      AR, CT, DC, DE, IA,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend and renew
                        City, MO.             grisescens) to existing    IN, KY, KS, MA, ME,   absence surveys,     hold, mist-net,
                                              permitted species:         MD, MI, MN, MO, NH,   document habitat     band, radio-tag,
                                              Indiana bat (Myotis        NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA,   use, conduct         release.
                                              sodalis) and northern      RI, SD, TN, VA, VT,   population
                                              long-eared bat (M.         WI, WV.               monitoring,
                                              septentrionalis).                                evaluate impacts.
PER0003135...........  Katie Baker,          Gray bat (Myotis           AL, AR, CT, DE, FL,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New
                        Arlington Heights,    grisescens), Indiana bat   GA, IL, IN, IA, KS,   absence surveys,     mist-net, band,
                        IL.                   (M. sodalis), northern     KY, LA, ME, MD, MA,   document habitat     radio-tag, collect
                                              long-eared bat (M.         MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,   use, conduct         hair and wing
                                              septentrionalis), Ozark    NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC,   population           biopsy samples,
                                              big-eared bat              ND, OH, OK, PA, RI,   monitoring,          release, salvage.
                                              (Corynorhinus towsendii    SC, SD, TN, VT, VA,   evaluate impacts.
                                              ingens), Virginia big-     WV, WI, WY.
                                              eared bat (C.t.
                                              virginianus).
PER0003373...........  Stantec Consulting    Gray bat (Myotis           AL, AR, CT, DE, FL,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend and renew
                        Services, Inc.,       grisescens), Indiana bat   GA, IL, IN, IA, KS,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                        Columbus, OH.         (M. sodalis), northern     KY, LA, MD, MA, MI,   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.         MN, MS, MO, MT, NE,   use, conduct         tag, enter
                                              septentrionalis).          NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND,   population           hibernacula or
                                                                         OH, OK, PA, RI, SC,   monitoring,          maternity roost
                                                                         SD, TN, VT, VA, WV,   evaluate impacts.    caves.
                                                                         WI, WY.
PER0003201...........  Braden Hoffman,       Indiana bat (Myotis        AL, AK, CT, FL, GA,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Renew
                        Daniels, WV.          sodalis), gray bat (M.     IA, IL, IN, KY, KS,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                              grisescens), northern      MA, MD, MI, MO, MS,   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.         NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK,   use, conduct         tag, release.
                                              septentrionalis),          PA, TN, VA, VT, WV.   population
                                              Virginia big-eared bat                           monitoring,
                                              (Corynorhinus townsendii                         evaluate impacts.
                                              virginianus).

[[Page 16757]]

 
PER0002967...........  Donald Solick, Fort   Gray bat (Myotis           AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New
                        Collins, CO.          grisescens), Indiana bat   FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,   absence surveys,     mist-net, harp
                                              (M. sodalis), northern     KS, KY, LA, ME, MD,   document habitat     trap, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.         MA, MI, MN, MS, MO,   use, conduct         tag, release.
                                              septentrionalis).          MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY,   population
                                                                         NC, ND, OH, OK, PA,   monitoring,
                                                                         RI, SC, SD, TN, VT,   evaluate impacts.
                                                                         VA, WV, WI, WY.
TE64080B.............  Michigan Natural      Add: Eastern Massasauga    MI..................  Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     Amend and renew
                        Features Inventory,   Rattlesnake (Sistrurus                           absence surveys,     hold, pit-tag,
                        Lansing, MI.          catenatus) and Rusty                             document habitat     blood sample,
                                              patched bumble bee                               use, conduct         release.
                                              (Bombus affinus) to                              population
                                              existing permitted                               monitoring,
                                              species: Indiana bat                             evaluate impacts.
                                              (Myotis sodalis),
                                              northern long-eared bat
                                              (M. septentrionalis),
                                              copperbelly water snake
                                              (Nerodia erythrogaster
                                              neglecta), American
                                              burying beetle
                                              (Nicrophorus
                                              americanus), Hine's
                                              emerald dragonfly
                                              (Somatochlora hineana),
                                              Karner blue butterfly
                                              (Somatochlora hineana),
                                              Mitchell's satyr
                                              (Neonympha mitchellii
                                              mitchellii), poweshiek
                                              skipperling (Oarisma
                                              poweshiek), white cat's
                                              paw (Epioblasma
                                              obliquata perobliqua),
                                              northern riffleshell
                                              (Epioblasma torulosa
                                              rangiana), snuffbox
                                              (Epioblasma triquetra),
                                              clubshell (Pleurobema
                                              clava), rayed bean
                                              (Villosa fabalis),
                                              American Hart's-tongue
                                              fern (Asplenium
                                              scolopendrium var.
                                              americum), pitcher's
                                              thistle (Cirsium
                                              pitcher), lakeside daisy
                                              (Hymenoxys herbacea),
                                              dwarf lake iris (Iris
                                              lacustris), small
                                              whorled pogonia (Isotria
                                              medeoloides), Michigan
                                              monkey flower (Mimulus
                                              michiganensis), eastern
                                              prairie fringed orchid
                                              (Platanthera
                                              leucophaea), Houghton's
                                              goldenrod (Solidago
                                              houghtonii).
PER0003114...........  Timothy Brust,        Eastern massasauga         IA, IN, MI, MN, NY,   Conduct presence/    Capture, handle,     New
                        Greenup, KY.          rattlesnake (Sistrurus     OH, PA, WI.           absence surveys,     release.
                                              catenatus).                                      document habitat
                                                                                               use, conduct
                                                                                               population
                                                                                               monitoring,
                                                                                               evaluate impacts.
PER0003423...........  The Ohio State        Clubshell (Pleurobema      OH..................  Conduct presence/    Long-term hold.....  New
                        University,           clava), rayed bean                               absence surveys,
                        Columbus, OH.         (Villosa fabalis),                               document habitat
                                              rabbitsfoot (Quadrula                            use, conduct
                                              cylindrica cylindrica).                          population
                                                                                               monitoring,
                                                                                               evaluate impacts.
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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. 2021-06603 Filed 3-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P