[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77868-77871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27605]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2022-N069; FXES11130200000-234-FF02ENEH00]


Endangered Wildlife; 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

[[Page 77869]]

endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered 
Species Act (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 
January 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: Request documents from the contact in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Comment submission: Submit comments by email to 
[email protected]. Please specify the permit application you are 
interested in by number (e.g., Permit Record No. PER1234567).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Tuegel, Supervisor, 
Environmental Review Division, by phone at 505-248-6651, or via email 
at [email protected]. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (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, and 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 listed 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. Our release of 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 permit record 
number when submitting comments.

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    Permit Record No.           Applicant             Species              Location             Activity           Type of take         Permit action
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PER0055320...............  George Miksch        Masked bobwhite      Arizona, Oklahoma..  Captive propagation  Harass, harm,        Renew.
                            Sutton Avian         quail (Colinus                                                 capture.
                            Research Center;     virginianus
                            Bartlesville,        ridgwayi).
                            Oklahoma.
PER0055321...............  Boatright, Patrick;  Golden-cheeked       Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Amend.
                            Dripping Springs,    warbler (Setophaga                        surveys, habitat
                            Texas.               chrysoparia).                             assessment.
PER0055322...............  East Foundation;     Ocelot (Leopardus    Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm,        Renew/Amend.
                            San Antonio, Texas.  pardalis).                                surveys, live        capture, collect.
                                                                                           capture, chemical
                                                                                           immobilization,
                                                                                           handling, tagging,
                                                                                           bio-sample
                                                                                           collection.
PER0055325...............  Gladstone,           Coffin Cave mold     Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Amend.
                            Nicholas; Austin,    beetle (Batrisodes                        surveys, habitat
                            Texas.               texanus),                                 assessment.
                                                 Kretschmarr Cave
                                                 mold beetle
                                                 (Texamaurops
                                                 reddelli), Tooth
                                                 Cave ground beetle
                                                 (Rhadine
                                                 persephone), Bee
                                                 Creek Cave
                                                 harvestman
                                                 (Texella
                                                 reddelli), Bone
                                                 Cave harvestman
                                                 (Texella reyesi),
                                                 Tooth Cave
                                                 pseudoscorpion
                                                 (Tartarocreagris
                                                 texana), Tooth
                                                 Cave spider
                                                 (Tayshaneta
                                                 myopica).

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PER0055729...............  Francke,             Barton Springs       Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm, kill,  Renew.
                            Christopher; Cedar   salamander                                surveys, handling,   capture.
                            Park, Texas.         (Eurycea sosorum),                        capture, voucher
                                                 Austin blind                              specimen
                                                 salamander                                collection.
                                                 (Eurycea
                                                 waterlooensis),
                                                 Texas blind
                                                 salamander
                                                 (Eurycea
                                                 rathbuni), Tooth
                                                 Cave spider
                                                 (Tayshaneta
                                                 myopica), Tooth
                                                 Cave
                                                 pseudoscorpion
                                                 (Tartarocreagris
                                                 texana), Bee Creek
                                                 Cave harvestman
                                                 (Texella
                                                 reddelli),
                                                 Kretschmarr Cave
                                                 mold beetle
                                                 (Texamaurops
                                                 reddelli), Tooth
                                                 Cave ground beetle
                                                 (Rhadine
                                                 persephone), Bone
                                                 Cave harvestman
                                                 (Texella reyesi),
                                                 Coffin Cave mold
                                                 beetle (Batrisodes
                                                 texanus), ground
                                                 beetle (Rhadine
                                                 exilis), ground
                                                 beetle (Rhadine
                                                 infernalis),
                                                 Helotes mold
                                                 beetle (Batrisodes
                                                 venyivi),
                                                 Cokendolpher Cave
                                                 harvestman
                                                 (Texella
                                                 cokendolpheri),
                                                 Robber Baron Cave
                                                 meshweaver
                                                 (Cicurina
                                                 baronia), Madla
                                                 Cave meshweaver
                                                 (Cicurina madla),
                                                 Government Canyon
                                                 Bat Cave
                                                 meshweaver
                                                 (Cicurina
                                                 vespera),
                                                 Government Canyon
                                                 Bat Cave spider
                                                 (Neoleptoneta
                                                 microps), Comal
                                                 Springs riffle
                                                 beetle (Heterelmis
                                                 comalensis), Comal
                                                 Springs dryopid
                                                 beetle
                                                 (Stygoparnus
                                                 comalensis),
                                                 Peck's Cave
                                                 amphipod
                                                 (Stygobromus
                                                 pecki).
PER0055763...............  Texas State          Kemp's ridley sea    Texas..............  Document, examine,   Harass, harm,        Renew/Amend.
                            Aquarium; Corpus     turtle                                    and salvage          capture, collect.
                            Christi, Texas.      (Lepidochelys                             stranded sea
                                                 kempii), hawksbill                        turtles, capture/
                                                 sea turtle                                handle, tag,
                                                 (Eretmochelys                             transport,
                                                 imbricata),                               receive,
                                                 leatherback sea                           rehabilitate, and
                                                 turtle                                    release stranded
                                                 (Dermochelys                              sea turtles,
                                                 coriacea).                                tissue/blood
                                                                                           sample collection,
                                                                                           educational
                                                                                           display.
PER0056417...............  Cowan, Casey; San    Golden-cheeked       Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  New.
                            Antonio, Texas.      warbler (Setophaga                        surveys.
                                                 chrysoparia).
PER0070221...............  Caesar Kleberg       Ocelot (Leopardus    Texas..............  Tissue sample        Harass, harm,        Amend.
                            Wildlife Research    pardalis), Gulf                           collection.          capture, collect.
                            Institute;           Coast jaguarundi
                            Kingsville, Texas.   (Puma yagouaroundi
                                                 cacomitli).
PER0065413...............  Travis Audubon       Golden-cheeked       Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Renew.
                            Society, Inc.;       warbler (Setophaga                        surveys, habitat
                            Leander, Texas.      chrysoparia).                             assessment.
PER0070375...............  Clemens, Brad;       Southwestern willow  Arizona............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  New.
                            Sierra Vista,        flycatcher                                surveys.
                            Arizona.             (Empidonax
                                                 traillii extimus).
PER0052843...............  Pernicano, Martina;  Southwestern willow  Arizona,             Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Renew.
                            Golden, Colorado.    flycatcher           California,          surveys.
                                                 (Empidonax           Colorado, Nevada,
                                                 traillii extimus).   New Mexico, Utah.
PER0018550...............  Mowad, Gary;         Ocelot (Leopardus    Arizona, Texas.....  Camera monitoring    Harass, harm.......  New.
                            Scottsdale,          pardalis), Gulf                           using scents/
                            Arizona.             Coast jaguarundi                          attractants.
                                                 (Puma yagouaroundi
                                                 cacomitli).
PER0075733...............  USFWS Buenos Aires   Masked bobwhite      Arizona............  Maintain,            Harass, harm,        Renew.
                            National Wildlife    quail (Colinus                            propagate,           capture.
                            Refuge; Sasabe,      virginianus                               release, monitor,
                            Arizona.             ridgwayi).                                conduct research,
                                                                                           habitat management.
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Public Availability of Comments

    All comments we receive become part of the public record associated 
with this action. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, National Environmental 
Policy Act, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and 
procedures. 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 
ask us to 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

[[Page 77871]]

made available for public disclosure in their entirety.

Authority

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

Amy Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-27605 Filed 12-19-22; 8:45 am]
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