[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10930-10932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03644]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2022-N075; FXES11130300000-223-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 of 1973. 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 March 24, 
2023.

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., ESXXXXXX; see table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION):
     Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please 
refer to the respective application number (e.g., Application No. 
ESXXXXXX) in the subject line of your email message.

[[Page 10931]]

     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 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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
invite review and comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and 
Federal agencies on applications we have received for permits to 
conduct certain activities with endangered and threatened species under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and our regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17. Documents and other 
information submitted with the applications are available for review, 
subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act and the Freedom of 
Information Act.

Background

    The ESA 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

    The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing these 
permits. Accordingly, 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. Proposed 
activities in the following permit requests are for the recovery and 
enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in the wild.

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    Application No.           Applicant               Species              Location              Activity            Type of take        Permit  action
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TE 19208C.............  Ashley Reed,           Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, GA, IL,   Conduct presence/     Capture with mist-    Renew.
                         Bloomington, IN.       sodalis), gray bat    IN, IA, KS, KY, MA,   absence surveys,      nets and harp
                                                (M. grisescens),      MD, ME, MI, MN, MO,   document habitat      traps, handle,
                                                and Northern long-    MS, MT, NC, ND, NE,   use, conduct          identify, radio-
                                                eared bat (M.         NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK,   population            tag, band, collect
                                                septentrionalis).     PA, RI, SC, SD, TN,   monitoring, and       nonintrusive
                                                                      VA, VT, WI, and WV.   evaluate impacts.     measurements, and
                                                                                                                  release.
TE 207526.............  U.S. Geological        Pallid sturgeon       IA, IL, KS, MO, NE,   Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Renew and amend.
                         Survey, Columbia, MO.  (Scaphirhynchus       and SD.               absence surveys,      hold, transport,
                                                albus).                                     document habitat      tag, sample,
                                                                                            use, conduct          culture, collect
                                                                                            population            nonintrusive
                                                                                            monitoring, and       measurements, and
                                                                                            evaluate impacts.     release.
TE 151109.............  Ohio Department of     American burying      OH and NE...........  Conduct presence/     Capture with pitfall  Renew and amend.
                         Natural Resources,     beetle (Nicrophorus                         absence surveys,      traps, handle,
                         Columbus, OH.          americanus).                                document habitat      collect
                                                                                            use, conduct          nonintrusive
                                                                                            population            measurements,
                                                                                            monitoring, and       transport, hold,
                                                                                            evaluate impacts.     salvage, captively
                                                                                                                  propagate, augment
                                                                                                                  wild populations,
                                                                                                                  and release.
TE37601C..............  University of          Rusty patched bumble  MN..................  Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Amend.
                         Minnesota, St. Paul,   bee (Bombus                                 absence surveys,      hold, collect
                         MN.                    affinus).                                   document habitat      nonintrusive
                                                                                            use, conduct          measurements, and
                                                                                            population            release.
                                                                                            monitoring, and
                                                                                            evaluate impacts.
TE 212440.............  Bat Conservation and   Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, FL, GA,   Conduct presence/     Capture with mist-    Renew and amend.
                         Management, Inc.,      sodalis), gray bat    IL, IN, IA, KY, MA,   absence surveys,      nets, handle,
                         Carlisle, PA.          (M. grisescens),      MD, ME, MI, MO, MS,   document habitat      identify, radio-
                                                and Northern long-    NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH,   use, conduct          tag, band, collect
                                                eared bat (M.         OK, PA, RI, SC, TN,   population            nonintrusive
                                                septentrionalis).     VA, VT, WI, and WV.   monitoring, and       measurements, and
                                                                                            evaluate impacts.     release.

[[Page 10932]]

 
TE 11135C.............  Herpetological         Animals: Eastern      IL, IN, MI, OH, and   Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Renew and amend.
                         Resource and           massasauga            WI.                   absence surveys,      hold, mark, collect
                         Management, LLC,       rattlesnake                                 document habitat      nonintrusive
                         Grass Lake, MI.        (Sistrurus                                  use, conduct          measurements, and
                                                catenatus) and                              population            release.
                                                Copperbelly water                           monitoring, and
                                                snake (Nerodia                              evaluate impacts.
                                                erythrogaster
                                                neglecta) Plants:
                                                Pitcher's thistle
                                                (Cirsium pitcheri),
                                                Dwarf lake iris
                                                (Iris lacustris),
                                                eastern prairie
                                                fringed orchid
                                                (Platanthera
                                                leucophaea).
ES69825D..............  Michigan State         Add new species--     MI..................  Conduct presence/     Capture, handle,      Amend.
                         University, Hickory    Mitchell's satyr                            absence surveys,      collect eggs,
                         Corners, MI.           butterfly                                   document habitat      headstart, hold,
                                                (Neonympha                                  use, conduct          release.
                                                mitchellii                                  population
                                                mitchellii)--to                             monitoring, and
                                                existing authorized                         evaluate impacts.
                                                species: Poweshiek
                                                skipperling
                                                (Oarisma poweshiek).
ES21829B..............  Laura Bishop-Boros,    Add new species--     Add new locations-    Conduct presence/     Capture with mist-    Renew and amend.
                         Williamsburg, VA.      Mexican long-nosed    HI, LA, IL, NM, MT,   absence surveys,      nets, handle,
                                                bat (Leptonycteris    TX-to existing        document habitat      identify, radio-
                                                nivalis) and          authorized States:    use, conduct          tag, band, collect
                                                Hawaiian hoary bat    AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   population            nonintrusive
                                                (Lasiurus cinereus    FL, GA, IN, IA, KS,   monitoring, and       measurements,
                                                semotus)--to          KY, MA, MD, ME, MI,   evaluate impacts.     collect bio-
                                                existing authorized   MO, MS, NE, NC, ND,                         samples, enter
                                                species: Indiana      NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK,                         hibernacula, and
                                                bat (Myotis           PA, RI, SC, SD, TN,                         release.
                                                sodalis), gray bat    VA, VT, WI, WV, and
                                                (M. grisescens),      WY.
                                                and Northern long-
                                                eared bat (M.
                                                septentrionalis).
ES90090B..............  Power Engineers Inc.,  Northern long-eared   DE, KS, ME, MA, MN,   Conduct presence/     Capture with mist-    Renew.
                         Richmond, VA.          bat (Myotis           MT, NE, NH, ND, SD,   absence surveys,      nets, handle,
                                                septentrionalis).     RI, OK, WI, and WY.   document habitat      identify, collect
                                                                                            use, conduct          nonintrusive
                                                                                            population            measurements, and
                                                                                            monitoring, and       release.
                                                                                            evaluate impacts.
ESPER0107276..........  Sarah Stankavich,      Indiana bat (Myotis   AL, AR, CT, DE, DC,   Conduct presence/     Capture with mist-    New.
                         Columbus, OH.          sodalis), gray bat    FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,   absence surveys,      nets, handle,
                                                (M. grisescens) and   KS, KY, LA, MA, ME,   document habitat      identify, radio-
                                                Northern long-eared   MD, MI, MI, MS, MO,   use, conduct          tag, band, collect
                                                bat (M.               MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY,   population            nonintrusive
                                                septentrionalis).     NC, ND, OH, OK, PA,   monitoring, and       measurements,
                                                                      RI, SC, SD, TN, VT,   evaluate impacts.     collect bio-
                                                                      VA, WI, WV, and WY.                         samples, enter
                                                                                                                  hibernacula, and
                                                                                                                  release.
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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, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2023-03644 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
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