[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1591-1594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00347]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2023-N098; FXES11130200000-245-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 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 
February 9, 2024.

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,

[[Page 1592]]

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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PER2817285..........  Boone, Aaron; San    Golden-cheeked warbler    New Mexico, Texas..  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Renew/Amend.
                       Antonio, Texas.      (Setophaga                                     surveys, lek
                                            chrysoparia), lesser                           surveys.
                                            prairie-chicken
                                            (Tympanuchus
                                            pallidicinctus), red-
                                            cockaded woodpecker
                                            (Picoides borealis).
PER2182165..........  Ubias, Ryan;         Golden-cheeked warbler    Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  New.
                       Dallas, Texas.       (Setophaga chrysoparia).                       surveys.
PER4919195..........  Veni, George;        Coffin Cave mold beetle   New Mexico, Texas..  Presence/absence     Harass, harm,        New.
                       Carlsbad, New        (Batrisodes texanus),                          surveys.             collect.
                       Mexico.              Comal Springs riffle
                                            beetle (Heterelmis
                                            comalensis), Helotes
                                            mold beetle (Batrisodes
                                            venyivi), no common
                                            name (Rhadine exilis),
                                            no common name (Rhadine
                                            infernalis), Tooth Cave
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine
                                            persephone), Comal
                                            Springs dryopid beetle
                                            (Stygoparnus
                                            comalensis),
                                            Kretschmarr Cave mold
                                            beetle (Texamaurops
                                            reddelli), Texas
                                            hornshell (Popenaias
                                            popeii), diminutive
                                            amphipod (Gammarus
                                            hyalleloides), Peck's
                                            Cave amphipod
                                            (Stygobromus
                                            (=Stygonectes) pecki),
                                            Leon Springs pupfish
                                            (Cyprinodon bovinus),
                                            Comanche Springs
                                            pupfish (Cyprinodon
                                            elegans), fountain
                                            darter (Etheostoma
                                            fonticola), Pecos
                                            gambusia (Gambusia
                                            nobilis), Cokendolpher
                                            Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella
                                            cokendolpheri), Bee
                                            Creek Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reddelli),
                                            Bone Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reyesi), Tooth
                                            Cave pseudoscorpion
                                            (Tartarocreagris
                                            texana), Texas blind
                                            salamander (Eurycea
                                            rathbuni), Barton
                                            Springs salamander
                                            (Eurycea sosorum),
                                            Austin blind salamander
                                            (Eurycea
                                            waterlooensis), Pecos
                                            assiminea snail
                                            (Assiminea pecos),
                                            Noel's amphipod
                                            (Gammarus desperatus),
                                            Koster's springsnail
                                            (Juturnia kosteri),
                                            diamond tryonia
                                            (Pseudotryonia
                                            adamantina), Roswell
                                            springsnail
                                            (Pyrgulopsis
                                            roswellensis), phantom
                                            springsnail
                                            (Pyrgulopsis texana),
                                            phantom tryonia
                                            (Tryonia cheatumi),
                                            Gonzales tryonia
                                            (Tryonia circumstriata
                                            (=stocktonensis)),
                                            Government Canyon Bat
                                            Cave meshweaver
                                            (Cicurina vespera),
                                            Madla Cave meshweaver
                                            (Cicurina madla),
                                            Robber Baron Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina
                                            baronia), Government
                                            Canyon Bat Cave spider
                                            (Tayshaneta microps),
                                            Tooth Cave spider
                                            (Tayshaneta myopica).
PER4843810..........  Gladstone,           Golden-cheeked warbler    Texas..............  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Amend.
                       Nicholas; Austin,    (Setophaga chrysoparia).                       surveys.
                       Texas.
PER5007100..........  University of        Mount Graham red          Arizona............  Capture, handle,     Harass, harm,        Renew/Amend.
                       Arizona. Pasch       squirrel (Tamiasciurus                         tag, monitor, bio-   capture.
                       Lab; Tucson,         fremonti grahamensis).                         sample.
                       Arizona.

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PER3115044..........  Transcon             Southwestern willow       Arizona,             Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Renew/Amend.
                       Environmental,       flycatcher (Empidonax     California,          surveys.
                       Inc.; Mesa,          traillii extimus).        Colorado New
                       Arizona.                                       Mexico, Texas,
                                                                      Utah.
PER4948896..........  Kanye, Zakhiah;      Jemez Mountains           New Mexico.........  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  New.
                       Tijeras, New         salamander (Plethodon                          surveys.
                       Mexico.              neomexicanus).
PER5034327..........  New Mexico           Lesser prairie-chicken    New Mexico.........  Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Amend.
                       Department of Game   (Tympanuchus                                   surveys, lek
                       & Fish; Santa Fe,    pallidicinctus).                               surveys.
                       New Mexico.
PER5161122..........  Olsson; Oklahoma     Fat pocketbook            Arkansas...........  Presence/absence     Harass, harm,        Amend.
                       City, Oklahoma.      (Potamilus capax),                             surveys, capture,    capture.
                                            northern long-eared bat                        translocate,
                                            (Myotis                                        handle, tag.
                                            septentrionalis),
                                            Indiana bat (Myotis
                                            sodalis), gray bat
                                            (Myotis grisescens),
                                            Ozark big-eared bat
                                            (Corynorhinus
                                            (=Plecotus) townsendii
                                            ingens).
PER5200853..........  Regan Smith Energy   Lesser prairie-chicken    Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/absence     Harass, harm.......  Renew/Amend.
                       Solutions, Inc.;     (Tympanuchus              Colorado, Florida,   surveys, lek
                       Oklahoma City,       pallidicinctus), red-     Georgia, Kentucky,   surveys.
                       Oklahoma.            cockaded woodpecker       Kansas, Louisiana,
                                            (Picoides borealis).      Mississippi, New
                                                                      Mexico, North
                                                                      Carolina,
                                                                      Oklahoma, South
                                                                      Carolina,
                                                                      Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                      Virginia.
PER5200854..........  Blanton &            Gulf Coast jaguarundi     Colorado, Kansas,    Presence/absence     Harass, harm,        Renew/Amend.
                       Associates, Inc.;    (Puma yagouaroundi        New Mexico,          surveys, lek         capture.
                       Austin, Texas.       cacomitli), ocelot        Oklahoma, Texas.     surveys, capture,
                                            (Leopardus (=Felis)                            anesthetize, bio-
                                            pardalis), Attwater's                          sample, tag,
                                            greater prairie-chicken                        salvage.
                                            (Tympanuchus cupido
                                            attwateri), golden-
                                            cheeked warbler
                                            (Setophaga
                                            chrysoparia), lesser
                                            prairie-chicken
                                            (Tympanuchus
                                            pallidicinctus),
                                            northern aplomado
                                            falcon (Falco femoralis
                                            septentrionalis), red-
                                            cockaded woodpecker
                                            (Picoides borealis),
                                            southwestern willow
                                            flycatcher (Empidonax
                                            traillii extimus),
                                            whooping crane (Grus
                                            americana), Houston
                                            toad (Bufo
                                            houstonensis), Barton
                                            Springs salamander
                                            (Eurycea sosorum),
                                            Austin blind salamander
                                            (Eurycea
                                            waterlooensis), Texas
                                            blind salamander
                                            (Eurycea rathbuni),
                                            Comal Springs riffle
                                            beetle (Heterelmis
                                            comalensis), Comal
                                            Springs dryopid beetle
                                            (Stygoparnus
                                            comalensis), Peck's
                                            Cave amphipod
                                            (Stygobromus
                                            (=Stygonectes) pecki),
                                            diamond tryonia
                                            (Pseudotryonia
                                            adamantina), Gonzales
                                            tryonia (Tryonia
                                            circumstriata
                                            (=stocktonensis)),
                                            phantom tryonia
                                            (Tryonia cheatumi),
                                            phantom springsnail
                                            (Pyrgulopsis texana),
                                            Pecos amphipod
                                            (Gammarus pecos), Pecos
                                            assiminea snail
                                            (Assiminea pecos),
                                            diminutive amphipod
                                            (Gammarus
                                            hyalleloides), no
                                            common name (Rhadine
                                            exilis), no common name
                                            (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 (Tayshaneta
                                            microps), 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).

[[Page 1594]]

 
PER5201354..........  Aransas National     Whooping crane (Grus      Alabama,             Capture, bio-        Harass, harm,        Renew/Amend.
                       Wildlife Refuge;     americana).               California,          sample,              capture.
                       Austwell, Texas.                               District of          propagation,
                                                                      Columbia, Florida,   collect eggs,
                                                                      Louisiana,           transport,
                                                                      Maryland,            salvage,
                                                                      Massachusetts,       educational
                                                                      Minnesota,           display, provide
                                                                      Mississippi,         health care,
                                                                      Nebraska, New        reintroduction,
                                                                      York, North          rehabilitation,
                                                                      Carolina, North      shipment of dead
                                                                      Dakota, Oklahoma,    specimens and
                                                                      Tennessee, Texas,    their parts.
                                                                      Virginia,
                                                                      Wisconsin.
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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 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.).

Jeffrey Fleming,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00347 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
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