[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 155 (Monday, August 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45748-45749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17522]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2021-N177; FXES11130200000-212-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 submit your written comments by 
September 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: Request documents by phone or email: 
Beth Forbus, 505-248-6681, [email protected].
    Comment submission: Submit comments by email to 
[email protected]. Please specify the permit you are interested in 
by number (e.g., Application No. ESPER1234567).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Forbus, Supervisor, 
Classification and Restoration Division, 505-248-6681. Individuals who 
are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-
800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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.

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     Application No.             Applicant              Species              Location              Activity            Type of take       Permit action
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ESPER001318..............  Wright, Marjorie;     Jemez Mountains       New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass.......  Renew.
                            Los Alamos, New       salamander                                  surveys; capture.
                            Mexico.               (Plethodon
                                                  neomexicanus).
ESPER001337..............  Odysea Aquarium,      Kemp's ridley sea     Arizona.............  Hold, display.......  Harm, harass.......  Renew and Amend.
                            LLC; Scottsdale,      turtle
                            Arizona.              (Lepidochelys
                                                  kempii).
ESPER001137..............  Thompson, Brent;      Jemez Mountains       New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass.......  New.
                            White Rock, New       salamander                                  surveys, capture,
                            Mexico.               (Plethodon                                  biosample.
                                                  neomexicanus).
ESPER001295..............  Reichenbacher,        Arizona cliffrose     New Mexico..........  Survey/monitor, leaf  Harm, harass.......  New.
                            Frank; Scottsdale,    (Purshia                                    collection.
                            Arizona.              subintegra).

[[Page 45749]]

 
ESPER001233..............  West, Sue;            Southwestern willow   New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass.......  New.
                            Albuquerque, New      flycatcher                                  surveys, capture,
                            Mexico.               (Empidonax traillii                         biosample.
                                                  extimus), Jemez
                                                  Mountains
                                                  salamander
                                                  (Plethodon
                                                  neomexicanus).
ESPER001235..............  Davidson, Zoe (BLM);  Knowlton's cactus     New Mexico..........  Survey/monitor, Seed/ Harm, harass.......  New.
                            Santa Fe, NM.         (Pediocactus                                fruit collection.
                                                  knowltonii),
                                                  Kuenzler's hedgehog
                                                  cactus
                                                  (Echinocereus
                                                  fendleri var.
                                                  kuenzleri), Sneed's
                                                  pincushion cactus
                                                  (Coryphantha
                                                  sneedii var.
                                                  sneedii), Holy
                                                  Ghost ipomopsis
                                                  (Ipomopsis sancti-
                                                  spiritus), Mancos
                                                  milk-vetch
                                                  (Astragalus
                                                  humillimus),
                                                  Todsen's pennyroyal
                                                  (Hedeoma todsenii),
                                                  Sacramento prickly
                                                  poppy (Argemone
                                                  pleiacantha ssp.
                                                  pinnatisecta), Lee
                                                  pincushion cactus
                                                  (Coryphantha
                                                  sneedii var. leei),
                                                  Mesa Verde cactus
                                                  (Sclerocactus mesae-
                                                  verdae), Zuni
                                                  Fleabane (Erigeron
                                                  rhizomatus), Pecos
                                                  sunflower
                                                  (Helianthus
                                                  paradoxus),
                                                  Sacramento
                                                  Mountains thistle
                                                  (Cirsium vinaceum),
                                                  gypsum wild-
                                                  buckwheat
                                                  (Eriogonum
                                                  gypsophilum).
ESPER001385..............  New Mexico State      Southwestern willow   New Mexico..........  Presence/absence      Harm, harass.......  Renew and Amend.
                            Land Office; Santa    flycatcher                                  surveys.
                            Fe, New Mexico.       (Empidonax traillii
                                                  extimus).
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Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

Amy Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17522 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
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