[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67489-67491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25793]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2021-N203; FXES11130600000-201-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit 
Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 67490]]


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 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 December 27, 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., Smith, PER0123456 or ES056001):
     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: Robert Krijgsman, Recovery Permits 
Coordinator, Ecological Services, 303-236-4347 (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. Accordingly, we invite local, State, and Federal 
agencies; Tribes; 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.

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  Application No.        Applicant            Species             Location       Take activity    Permit  action
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES056001...........  East Dakota        Topeka        SD..............           Renew.
                      Water             shiner (Notropis                         Capture,
                      Development       topeka).                                 electrofish,
                      District,                                                  handle, and
                      Brookings, SD.                                             release.
ES13024B...........  Bureau of Land     Southwestern  CO..............   Play    Renew.
                      Management,       willow flycatcher                        taped
                      Lakewood, CO.     (Empidonax traillii                      vocalizations.
                                        extimus).
ES85057B...........  George             Topeka        MO, NE, KS, MN,            Renew.
                      Cunningham,       shiner (Notropis       IA, SD            Capture,
                      Omaha, NE.        topeka).                                 electrofish,
                                                                                 handle, and
                                                                                 release.
PER0012679.........  University of      Penland       CO, NM..........   Remove  New.
                      Northern          beardtongue                              and reduce to
                      Colorado,         (Penstemon                               possession
                      Greeley CO.       penlandii).                              from lands
                                        Osterhout                        under Federal
                                        milkvetch                                jurisdiction,
                                        (Astragalus                              collect tissue.
                                        osterhoutii).
                                        North Park
                                        phacelia (Phacelia
                                        formosula).
                                        Clay-loving
                                        wild buckwheat
                                        (Eriogonum
                                        pelinophilum).
ES047808...........  National Park      Southwestern  UT..............   Play    Renew.
                      Service, Moab,    willow flycatcher                        taped
                      UT.               (Empidonax traillii                      vocalizations.
                                        extimus).
ES047288...........  National Park      Topeka        KS, MN..........           Renew.
                      Service,          shiner (Notropis                         Capture,
                      Heartland         topeka).                                 electrofish,
                      Network,                                                   handle, and
                      Republic, MO.                                              release.
ES051828...........  Smithsonian        Black-footed  DC..............           Renew.
                      National Zoo      ferret (Mustela                          Captively
                      and               nigripes).                               propagate,
                      Conservation                                               general
                      Biology                                                    husbandry,
                      Institute,                                                 transport, and
                      Washington, DC.                                            transfer.
ES06447C...........  Montana            Pallid        MT..............           Renew.
                      Department of     sturgeon                                 Capture,
                      Fish, Wildlife,   (Scaphirhynchus                          handle,
                      and Parks.        albus).                                  propagate,
                                                                                 display for
                                                                                 educational
                                                                                 purposes, and
                                                                                 release.
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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

[[Page 67491]]

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.
[FR Doc. 2021-25793 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
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