[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36330-36333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11801]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2023-N043; 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 permits to conduct activities 
intended to recover and enhance 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 
July 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 

[[Page 36331]]

    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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PER1906200.........  Perrine, Ethan;      Bee Creek Cave harvestman      Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm, kill  New.
                      Austin, Texas.       (Texella reddelli), Bone                            surveys,
                                           Cave harvestman (Texella                            excavation,
                                           reyesi), Cokendolpher Cave                          habitat
                                           harvestman (Texella                                 reintroduction,
                                           cokendolpheri), Government                          voucher specimen.
                                           Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver
                                           (Cicurina vespera),
                                           Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                           spider (Tayshaneta microps),
                                           Madla Cave meshweaver
                                           (Cicurina madla), Robber
                                           Baron Cave meshweaver
                                           (Cicurina baronia), Tooth
                                           Cave pseudoscorpion
                                           (Tartarocreagris texana),
                                           Tooth Cave spider
                                           (Tayshaneta myopica), beetle
                                           (Rhadine infernalis), beetle
                                           (Rhadine exilis), Coffin
                                           Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes
                                           texanus), Comal Springs
                                           riffle beetle (Heterelmis
                                           comalensis), Helotes mold
                                           beetle (Batrisodes venyivi),
                                           Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle
                                           (Texamaurops reddelli),
                                           Tooth Cave ground beetle
                                           (Rhadine persephone), Austin
                                           blind salamander (Eurycea
                                           waterlooensis), Barton
                                           Springs salamander (Eurycea
                                           sosorum), Texas blind
                                           salamander (Eurycea
                                           rathbuni), diminutive
                                           amphipod (Gammarus
                                           hyalleloides), Peck's cave
                                           amphipod (Stygobromus
                                           pecki), Pecos amphipod
                                           (Gammarus pecos).
PER1906334.........  HDR Engineering,     Golden-cheeked warbler         Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Inc.; Austin,        (Setophaga chrysoparia).                            surveys, habitat
                      Texas.                                                                   assessment.
PER1906336.........  Ammerman, Loren;     Mexican long-nosed bat         Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,       Renew/Amend.
                      San Angelo, Texas.   (Leptonycteris nivalis).                            surveys, capture,   capture.
                                                                                               handle, tag, bio-
                                                                                               sample.
PER1906337.........  Keller, David;       Southwestern willow            New Mexico.........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,       Renew.
                      White Rock, New      flycatcher (Empidonax                               surveys, capture,   capture.
                      Mexico.              traillii extimus), Jemez                            handle.
                                           Mountains salamander
                                           (Plethodon neomexicanus).
PER1906338.........  Randklev, Charles;   Texas hornshell (Popenaias     New Mexico, Texas..  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,       Renew.
                      Dallas, Texas.       popeii).                                            surveys, capture,   capture.
                                                                                               handle.
PER2325256.........  Geluso, Keith;       Mexican long-nosed bat         Arizona, New Mexico  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,       Renew/Amend.
                      Kearney, Nebraska.   (Leptonycteris nivalis), New                        surveys, capture,   capture.
                                           Mexico meadow jumping mouse                         handle.
                                           (Zapus hudsonius luteus).

[[Page 36332]]

 
PER2182168.........  Hathcock, Charles;   Southwestern willow            New Mexico.........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,       Renew/Amend.
                      Youngville, New      flycatcher (Empidonax                               surveys, capture,   capture.
                      Mexico.              traillii extimus), Jemez                            band, bio-sample.
                                           Mountains salamander
                                           (Plethodon neomexicanus).
PER2325259.........  New Mexico           Southwestern willow            New Mexico.........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                      Department of        flycatcher (Empidonax                               surveys.
                      Transportation       traillii extimus).
                      Environmental
                      Bureau; Santa Fe,
                      New Mexico.
PER1889346.........  Tschirhart, Kara;    Golden-cheeked warbler         Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      San Antonio, Texas.  (Setophaga chrysoparia).                            surveys.
PER1902037.........  Abeyta, Elisa;       Southwestern willow            New Mexico.........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Santa Fe, New        flycatcher (Empidonax                               surveys.
                      Mexico.              traillii extimus), Jemez
                                           Mountains salamander
                                           (Plethodon neomexicanus).
PER2208304.........  Permits West, Inc.;  Lesser prairie chicken         Colorado, Kansas,    Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Amend.
                      Santa Fe, New        (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).  New Mexico,          surveys.
                      Mexico.                                             Oklahoma, Texas.
PER2325252.........  Collins, Valerie;    Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi  Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm, kill  Renew.
                      San Antonio, Texas.  cacomitli), ocelot                                  surveys, collect.
                                           (Leopardus (=Felis)
                                           pardalis), golden-cheeked
                                           warbler (Setophaga
                                           chrysoparia), northern
                                           aplomado falcon (Falco
                                           femoralis septentrionalis),
                                           Houston toad (Bufo
                                           houstonensis), Bee Creek
                                           Cave harvestman (Texella
                                           reddelli), Bone Cave
                                           harvestman (Texella reyesi),
                                           Cokendolpher Cave harvestman
                                           (Texella cokendolpheri),
                                           Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                           meshweaver (Cicurina
                                           vespera), Government Canyon
                                           Bat Cave spider (Tayshaneta
                                           microps), Madla Cave
                                           meshweaver (Cicurina madla),
                                           (Robber Baron Cave
                                           meshweaver (Cicurina
                                           baronia), Tooth Cave
                                           pseudoscorpion
                                           (Tartarocreagris texana),
                                           Tooth Cave spider
                                           (Tayshaneta myopica), beetle
                                           (Rhadine infernalis), beetle
                                           (Rhadine exilis), Coffin
                                           Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes
                                           texanus), Helotes mold
                                           beetle (Batrisodes venyivi),
                                           Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle
                                           (Texamaurops reddelli),
                                           Tooth Cave ground beetle
                                           (Rhadine persephone).
PER2203837.........  Olsson, Inc.;        Lesser prairie chicken         Colorado, Kansas,    Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Oklahoma City,       (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).  New Mexico,          surveys, lek
                      Oklahoma.                                           Oklahoma, Texas.     surveys.
PER2325253.........  Newgord, Gary;       Golden-cheeked warbler         Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                      Austin, Texas.       (Setophaga chrysoparia),                            surveys, habitat
                                           northern aplomado falcon                            assessments.
                                           (Falco femoralis
                                           septentrionalis), red-
                                           cockaded woodpecker
                                           (Picoides borealis), Houston
                                           toad (Bufo houstonensis).
PER2182167.........  Johnson, Kevin;      Lesser prairie chicken         Colorado, Kansas,    Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Oklahoma City,       (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).  New Mexico,          surveys.
                      Oklahoma.                                           Oklahoma, Texas.
PER2325254.........  Renfrow, Jeff;       Texas hornshell (Popenaias     Texas..............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm, kill  New.
                      Terlingua, Texas.    popeii).                                            surveys, collect.
PER2333296.........  Haverland, Matthew;  Lesser prairie chicken         New Mexico, Texas..  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Amend.
                      San Marcos, Texas.   (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).                       surveys.
PER2482682.........  Seiden,              Lesser prairie chicken         Colorado, Kansas,    Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Christopher;         (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).  New Mexico,          surveys.
                      Yukon, Oklahoma.                                    Oklahoma, Texas.
PER2653860.........  Seff, Jared;         Jemez Mountains salamander     New Mexico.........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                      Albuquerque, New     (Plethodon neomexicanus).                           surveys.
                      Mexico.
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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

[[Page 36333]]

organizations or businesses, will be 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. 2023-11801 Filed 6-1-23; 8:45 am]
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