[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 63 (Monday, April 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22438-22441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06830]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2024-N020; 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 
May 1, 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, 
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

[[Page 22439]]

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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PER6195945..............  Wildlife World      Kemp's ridley sea        Arizona................  Educational         Harass, harm......  New.
                           Zoo, Inc.;          turtle (Lepidochelys                              display.
                           Litchfield Park,    kempii).
                           Arizona.
PER5348794..............  Vaughn, Caryn;      Ouachita rock            Arkansas, Missouri,      Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                           Norman, Oklahoma.   pocketbook (Arcidens     Oklahoma.                surveys.
                                               wheeleri), scaleshell
                                               mussel (Leptodea
                                               leptodon), winged
                                               mapleleaf (Quadrula
                                               fragosa).
PER5348793..............  Cantu, Eric;        Texas hornshell          Texas..................  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                           Edinburg, Texas.    (Popenaias popeii).                               surveys.
PER5530131..............  Martin, Keith;      Indiana bat (Myotis      Arkansas, Kansas,        Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                           Claremore,          sodalis), gray bat       Missouri, Oklahoma.      surveys.
                           Oklahoma.           (Myotis grisescens),
                                               Ozark big-eared bat
                                               (Corynorhinus
                                               (=Plecotus) townsendii
                                               ingens), northern long-
                                               eared bat (Myotis
                                               septentrionalis).
PER5699079..............  McLean, Jesse;      Golden-cheeked warbler   Texas..................  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                           Dallas, Texas.      (Setophaga                                        surveys.
                                               chrysoparia).
PER6816223..............  Gonzales, Kelly;    Gulf coast jaguarundi    Arizona, New Mexico,     Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew/amend.
                           Houston, Texas.     (Puma yagouaroundi       Texas.                   surveys.
                                               cacomitli), ocelot
                                               (Leopardus (=Felis)
                                               pardalis), northern
                                               aplomado falcon (Falco
                                               femoralis
                                               septentrionalis).
PER7135821..............  Tulsa District      Indiana bat (Myotis      Kansas, Oklahoma.......  Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    Renew.
                           U.S. Army Corps     sodalis), gray bat                                surveys, handle,    harm.
                           of Engineers;       (Myotis grisescens),                              tag, salvage, bio-
                           Tulsa, Oklahoma.    Ozark big-eared bat                               sample, band.
                                               (Corynorhinus
                                               (=Plecotus) townsendii
                                               ingens) Ouachita rock
                                               pocketbook (Arcidens
                                               wheeleri), winged
                                               mapleleaf (Quadrula
                                               fragosa).
PER8668105..............  Center of           Lesser prairie-chicken   New Mexico.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                           Excellence for      (Tympanuchus                                      surveys, lek
                           Hazardous           pallidicinctus).                                  tours.
                           Materials
                           Management;
                           Carlsbad, New
                           Mexico.
PER6353114..............  Solari, Whitney;    Golden-cheeked warbler   Texas..................  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                           Bryan, Texas.       (Setophaga                                        surveys.
                                               chrysoparia).
PER7248560..............  Raven               Red-cockaded woodpecker  Louisiana, Texas.......  Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    Renew/amend.
                           Environmental       (Picoides borealis).                              surveys, nest       harm.
                           Services, Inc.;                                                       monitoring, band,
                           Huntsville, Texas.                                                    sexing,
                                                                                                 translocation,
                                                                                                 artificial cavity
                                                                                                 installation.
PER7365932..............  Kutz, Julie;        Southwestern willow      New Mexico.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                           Albuquerque, New    flycatcher (Empidonax                             surveys.
                           Mexico.             traillii extimus).

[[Page 22440]]

 
PER7032540..............  Blankenship, Ryan;  Gray bat (Myotis         Alabama, Arkansas,       Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    New.
                           Duncanville,        grisescens), Ozark big-  Colorado, Connecticut,   surveys, handle,    harm.
                           Texas.              eared bat                Delaware, District of    tag, salvage, bio-
                                               (Corynorhinus            Columbia, Florida,       sample, band.
                                               (=Plecotus) townsendii   Georgia, Illinois,
                                               ingens), northern long-  Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
                                               eared bat (Myotis        Kentucky, Louisiana,
                                               septentrionalis),        Maine, Maryland,
                                               Indiana bat (Myotis      Massachusetts,
                                               sodalis), lesser         Michigan, Minnesota,
                                               prairie-chicken          Mississippi, Missouri,
                                               (Tympanuchus             Montana, Nebraska, New
                                               pallidicinctus),         Hampshire, New Jersey,
                                               fountain darter          New Mexico, New York,
                                               (Etheostoma              North Carolina, North
                                               fonticola), Neosho       Dakota, Ohio,
                                               mucket (Lampsilis        Oklahoma,
                                               rafinesqueana),          Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                               Ouachita rock            Island, South
                                               pocketbook (Arcidens     Carolina, South
                                               wheeleri), scaleshell    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                               mussel (Leptodea         Texas, Virginia, West
                                               leptodon), winged        Virginia, Vermont,
                                               mapleleaf (Quadrula      Wisconsin, Wyoming.
                                               fragosa).
PER8778179..............  Baer Engineering    Golden-cheeked warbler   Texas..................  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Amend.
                           and Environmental   (Setophaga                                        surveys.
                           Consulting, Inc.;   chrysoparia).
                           Austin, Texas.
PER9199896..............  Bey, Trinity;       Golden-cheeked warbler   Texas..................  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Renew.
                           Boerne, Texas.      (Setophaga                                        surveys.
                                               chrysoparia).
PER8778158..............  Blackland           Golden-cheeked warbler   Louisiana, Texas.......  Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  New.
                           Environmental,      (Setophaga                                        surveys.
                           LLC.; Garden        chrysoparia), red-
                           Ridge, Texas.       cockaded woodpecker
                                               (Picoides borealis),
                                               Houston toad (Bufo
                                               houstonensis).
PER8668106..............  Hall, Ellen; Fort   Gray bat (Myotis         Alabama, Arkansas,       Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    New.
                           Worth, Texas.       grisescens), Ozark big-  Connecticut, Delaware,   surveys, handle,    harm.
                                               eared bat                District of Columbia,    tag, salvage, bio-
                                               (Corynorhinus            Florida, Georgia,        sample, band.
                                               (=Plecotus) townsendii   Illinois, Indiana,
                                               ingens), northern long-  Iowa, Kansas,
                                               eared bat (Myotis        Kentucky, Louisiana,
                                               septentrionalis),        Maine, Maryland,
                                               Indiana bat (Myotis      Massachusetts,
                                               sodalis).                Michigan, Minnesota,
                                                                        Mississippi, Missouri,
                                                                        Montana, Nebraska, New
                                                                        Hampshire, New Jersey,
                                                                        New York, North
                                                                        Carolina, North
                                                                        Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                        Oklahoma,
                                                                        Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                        Island, South
                                                                        Carolina, South
                                                                        Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                        Texas, Vermont,
                                                                        Virginia, West
                                                                        Virginia, Wisconsin,
                                                                        Wyoming.
PER9200393..............  SeaWorld of Texas;  Kemp's ridley sea        Texas..................  Rehabilitate,       Capture, harass,    Renew.
                           San Antonio,        turtle (Lepidochelys                              educational         harm.
                           Texas.              kempii), hawksbill sea                            display.
                                               turtle (Eretmochelys
                                               imbricata).
PER8748209..............  University of       Big Bend gambusia        Texas..................  Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    New.
                           Texas Austin;       (Gambusia gaigei).                                surveys, trap,      harm.
                           Austin, Texas.                                                        anesthetize.
PER9229906..............  Gluesenkamp,        Barton Springs           Texas..................  Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    New.
                           Andrew;             salamander (Eurycea                               surveys, collect,   harm, kill.
                           Driftwood, Texas.   sosorum), Austin blind                            voucher specimen.
                                               salamander (Eurycea
                                               waterlooensis), Peck's
                                               Cave amphipod
                                               (Stygobromus
                                               (=Stygonectes) pecki),
                                               Comal Springs riffle
                                               beetle (Heterelmis
                                               comalensis), Comal
                                               Springs dryopid beetle
                                               (Stygoparnus
                                               comalensis), Texas
                                               blind salamander
                                               (Eurycea rathbuni),
                                               Mexican blindcat
                                               (Prietella
                                               phreatophila).
PER9229948..............  Bureau of           Southwestern willow      Arizona, California....  Presence/absence    Capture, harass,    Amend.
                           Reclamation--Boul   flycatcher (Empidonax                             surveys, band,      harm.
                           der City; Boulder   traillii extimus),                                tag.
                           City, Nevada.       Yuma Ridgway's rail
                                               (Rallus obsoletus
                                               yumanensis).
PER9229950..............  Burns, Jodie;       Red-cockaded woodpecker  Alabama, Arkansas,       Presence/absence    Harass, harm......  Amend.
                           Bentonville,        (Picoides borealis).     Florida, Georgia,        surveys.
                           Arkansas.                                    Louisiana,
                                                                        Mississippi, North
                                                                        Carolina, South
                                                                        Carolina, Oklahoma,
                                                                        Texas, Virginia.
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[[Page 22441]]

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.).

Amy Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-06830 Filed 3-29-24; 8:45 am]
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