[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8231-8234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02309]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-ES-2024-N001; FXES11130500000-245-FF05E00000]


Endangered 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 species under the Endangered 
Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing the requested 
permits, we will take into consideration any information that we 
receive during the public comment period.

[[Page 8232]]


DATES: We must receive any written comments on or before March 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following methods to request documents or 
submit comments. Requests and comments should specify the applicant's 
name and application number (e.g., PER0001234):
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Abby Goldstein, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Dr. Hadley, MA 01035.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Goldstein, 413-253-8212 (phone), 
or [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 the public to comment on applications for permits under section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 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 under the ESA.

Background

    With some exceptions, the ESA 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 such 
activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting, 
in addition to hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing.
    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or 
threatened 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

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the 
public to comment on the following applications.

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    Application No.           Applicant              Species                  Location              Activity          Type of take       Permit action
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PER6201238.............  West Virginia       Candy darter             West Virginia..........  Presence/probable   Capture, collect.  New.
                          Cooperative Fish    (Etheostoma osburni),                             absence survey,
                          and Wildlife        diamond darter,                                   monitoring,
                          Research Unit,      (Crystallaria                                     electrofishing,
                          Morgantown, WV;     cincotta).                                        capture for
                          Stuart A. Welsh.                                                      propagation,
                                                                                                release.
PER5256019.............  Anneka Lamb,        Indiana bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,       Capture, band,      Capture, collect.  New.
                          Brewster, MA.       sodalis), northern       Colorado, Connecticut,   telemetry,
                                              long-eared bat (Myotis   Delaware, Florida,       nonintrusive
                                              septentrionalis), gray   Georgia, Illinois,       measurements,
                                              bat (Myotis              Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,   release.
                                              grisescens), Ozark big-  Kentucky, Louisiana,
                                              eared bat                Maine, Maryland,
                                              (Corynorhinus            Massachusetts,
                                              (=Plecotus) townsendii   Michigan, Minnesota,
                                              ingens), tricolored      Mississippi, Missouri,
                                              bat (Perimyotis          Montana, Nebraska, New
                                              subflavus).              Hampshire, New Jersey,
                                                                       New Mexico, New York,
                                                                       North Carolina, North
                                                                       Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                       Oklahoma,
                                                                       Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                       Island, South
                                                                       Carolina, South
                                                                       Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                       Texas, Vermont,
                                                                       Virginia, West
                                                                       Virginia, Wisconsin,
                                                                       Wyoming.
PER5389953.............  Jason R Holmes,     Indiana bat (Myotis      Connecticut, Delaware,   Capture,            Capture, collect.  New.
                          Arcata, CA.         sodalis), northern       Illinois, Indiana,       telemetry,
                                              long-eared bat (Myotis   Kentucky, Maine,         nonintrusive
                                              septentrionalis).        Maryland,                measurements,
                                                                       Massachusetts,           release.
                                                                       Minnesota, New
                                                                       Hampshire, New Jersey,
                                                                       New York, North
                                                                       Carolina, Ohio,
                                                                       Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                       Island, South
                                                                       Carolina, Tennessee,
                                                                       Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                       West Virginia,
                                                                       Wisconsin.
20359D-2...............  University of       Roseate tern (Sterna     New York...............  Add for roseate     Capture, collect.  Amend.
                          Rhode Island,       dougallii dougallii).   Add: Massachusetts,       tern: Capture,
                          Kingston, RI;      Add: Rufa red knot        Rhode Island.            band, collect
                          Peter Paton.        (Calidris canutus                                 feather, collect
                                              rufa).                                            eggshell,.
                                                                                               telemetry
                                                                                                attachment
                                                                                                research.
                                                                                               Add for rufa red
                                                                                                knot: Capture,
                                                                                                band, collect
                                                                                                blood, telemetry,
                                                                                                release.
PER6130772.............  Virginia            Candy darter             Virginia...............  Electrofishing,     Capture..........  New.
                          Department of       (Etheostoma osburni).                             capture for
                          Wildlife                                                              propagation,
                          Resources,                                                            holding more than
                          Blacksburg, VA;                                                       45 days, release.
                          Michael Pinder.

[[Page 8233]]

 
60406D-2...............  Atlantic Marine     Kemp's ridley sea        Connecticut, Delaware,   Stranding           Capture, collect,  Renew.
                          Conservation        turtle (Lepidochelys     Massachusetts,           response,           wound.
                          Society,            kempii), leatherback     Maryland, Maine, New     rehabilitation,
                          Westhampton         sea turtle               Hampshire, New Jersey,   telemetry,
                          Beach, NY; Robert   (Dermochelys             New York, Rhode          necropsy, release.
                          DiGiovanni.         coriacea), hawksbill     Island, Virginia.
                                              sea turtle
                                              (Eretmochelys
                                              imbricata), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
60434D-2...............  Sea Turtle          Kemp's ridley sea        New Jersey.............  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          Recovery, West      turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          Orange, NJ;         kempii), hawksbill sea                            rehabilitation,
                          William Deerr.      turtle (Eretmochelys                              nest monitoring,
                                              imbricata),                                       necropsy, release.
                                              leatherback sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), and green
                                              sea turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
60415D-2...............  Massachusetts       Kemp's ridley sea        Massachusetts..........  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          Audubon Wellfleet   turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          Bay, South          kempii), leatherback                              necropsy.
                          Wellfleet, MA;      sea turtle
                          Melissa Lowe.       (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), hawksbill
                                              sea turtle
                                              (Eretmochelys
                                              imbricata), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
60921D-2...............  Zoological Society  Kemp's ridley sea        Pennsylvania...........  Rehabilitation,     Collect..........  Renew.
                          of Pittsburgh,      turtle (Lepidochelys                              necropsy.
                          dba Pittsburgh      kempii), hawksbill sea
                          Zoo & Aquarium,     turtle (Eretmochelys
                          Pittsburgh, PA;     imbricata),
                          Jeremy Goodman.     leatherback sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
60928D-2...............  National Marine     Kemp's ridley sea        Massachusetts..........  Rehabilitation,     Collect..........  Renew.
                          Life Center,        turtle (Lepidochelys                              necropsy.
                          Buzzards Bay, MA;   kempii), hawksbill sea
                          Lisa Becker.        turtle (Eretmochelys
                                              imbricata), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
60418D-2...............  Marine Mammal       Hawksbill sea turtle     New Jersey.............  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          Stranding Center,   (Eretmochelys                                     response,
                          Brigantine, NJ;     imbricata), Kemp's                                necropsy.
                          Sheila Dean.        ridley sea turtle
                                              (Lepidochelys kempii),
                                              leatherback sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas), loggerhead sea
                                              turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta).
69328D-4...............  New England         Kemp's ridley sea        Massachusetts, Maine,    Stranding           Capture, collect,  Renew.
                          Aquarium, Boston,   turtle (Lepidochelys     New Hampshire.           response,           wound.
                          MA; Adam Kennedy.   kempii), leatherback                              rehabilitation,
                                              sea turtle                                        necropsy,
                                              (Dermochelys                                      research, release.
                                              coriacea), hawksbill                             Add: Telemetry,
                                              sea turtle                                        pharmacology
                                              (Eretmochelys                                     research,
                                              imbricata), loggerhead                            biological sample
                                              sea turtle (Caretta                               archival.
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
70312D-2...............  National Aquarium,  Kemp's ridley sea        Maryland...............  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          Baltimore, MD;      turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          Stephanie Allard.   kempii), leatherback                              rehabilitation,
                                              sea turtle                                        necropsy, release.
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), hawksbill
                                              sea turtle
                                              (Eretmochelys
                                              imbricata), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
69329D-1...............  Marine Mammals of   Kemp's ridley sea        Maine..................  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          Maine, Harpswell,   turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          ME; Lynda Doughty.  kempii), leatherback                              necropsy.
                                              sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), hawksbill
                                              sea turtle
                                              (Eretmochelys
                                              imbricata), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).

[[Page 8234]]

 
60419D-1...............  MERR, Inc., Lewes,  Kemp's ridley sea        Delaware...............  Stranding           Capture, collect.  Renew.
                          DE; Suzanne         turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          Thurman.            kempii), hawksbill sea                            necropsy.
                                              turtle (Eretmochelys                             Add: nest
                                              imbricata),                                       monitoring.
                                              leatherback sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
69330D-1...............  Allied Whale,       Kemp's ridley sea        Maine..................  Stranding           Capture..........  Renew.
                          College of the      turtle (Lepidochelys                              response,
                          Atlantic, Bar       kempii), hawksbill sea                            necropsy.
                          Harbor, ME; Sean    turtle (Eretmochelys
                          Todd.               imbricata),
                                              leatherback sea turtle
                                              (Dermochelys
                                              coriacea), loggerhead
                                              sea turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta), green sea
                                              turtle (Chelonia
                                              mydas).
70311D-3...............  Riverhead           Kemp's ridley sea        New York...............  Add: Telemetry....  Wound............  Amend.
                          Foundation for      turtle (Lepidochelys
                          Marine Research     kempii), loggerhead
                          and Preservation,   sea turtle (Caretta
                          dba New York        caretta), green sea
                          Marine Rescue       turtle (Chelonia
                          Center,             mydas).
                          Riverhead, NY;
                          Maxine Montello.
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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 the applicants listed in this 
notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register.

Authority

    Section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Martin Miller,
Manager, Division of Endangered Species, Ecological Services, Northeast 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-02309 Filed 2-5-24; 8:45 am]
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