[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13050-13051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05232]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2025-N034; FXES11130600000-267-FF06E00000]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received 
applications for permits to conduct scientific research to promote 
conservation or other activities intended to enhance the propagation or 
survival of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered 
Species Act. 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 written data or comments on the applications by 
April 17, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Use one of the 
following methods to request documents or submit comments. Requests and 
comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) 
(e.g., Smith, PER0123456 or Jones, ES-056001):
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. Mail: Tom McDowell, Division Manager, Ecological 
Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486 DFC, Denver, 
CO 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Krijgsman, Recovery Permits 
Coordinator, Ecological Services, 303-236-4347 (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 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

    With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits take of listed species 
unless a Federal permit is issued that authorizes such take. The ESA's 
definition of ``take'' includes hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, 
or killing, and also such activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, 
capturing, or collecting.
    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to take endangered or threatened species while 
engaging in activities that are conducted for scientific purposes that 
promote recovery of species or for enhancement of propagation or 
survival of species. These activities often include the capture and 
collection of species, which would result in prohibited take if a 
permit were not issued. 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.

[[Page 13051]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Permit No.                Applicant               Species                  Location                  Activity               Permit action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES59243C...................  Revive & Restore,       Black-footed  Laboratories in CA, NY,     Genetics research in   Renewal.
                              Sausalito, CA.         ferret (Mustela        TX, and IA.                 lab settings using
                                                     nigripes).                                         cell lines; store
                                                                                                        and transfer genetic
                                                                                                        material; cell
                                                                                                        culturing; and use
                                                                                                        of interspecies
                                                                                                        somatic cell nuclear
                                                                                                        transfer technique
                                                                                                        with surrogate
                                                                                                        domestic ferrets.
ES26376D...................  Steve Forrest,          Black-footed  MT, SD, and KS............  Capture, handle,       Renewal.
                              Truckee, CA.           ferret (Mustela                                    mark, vaccinate,
                                                     nigripes).                                         release,
                                                                                                        reintroduce, and
                                                                                                        monitor populations.
PER0012679.................  University of           Knowlton's    CO, NM, and UT............  Remove and reduce to   Renew and amend.
                              Northern Colorado,     cactus (Pediocactus                                possession from
                              Greeley, CO.           knowltonii).                                       lands under Federal
                                                     San Rafael                                 jurisdiction.
                                                     cactus (Pediocactus
                                                     despainii).
                                                     Wright
                                                     fishhook cactus
                                                     (Sclerocactus
                                                     wrightiae).
ES66330D...................  Martin & Nicholson      Southwestern  CO and UT.................  Survey and play taped  Renew and amend.
                              Environmental          willow flycatcher                                  vocalizations.
                              Consultants, LLC.      (Empidonax traillii
                                                     extimus).
PER22707976................  Donald Gilbert,         Southwestern  AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, TX,     Survey and play taped  New.
                              Loveland, OH.          willow flycatcher      UT, MT, and WY.             vocalizations.
                                                     (Empidonax traillii
                                                     extimus.
PER17870208................  Watershed Institute,    Neosho        KS........................  Survey, document       New.
                              Inc., Belton, MO.      Mucket (Lampsilis                                  habitat use, conduct
                                                     rafinesqueana).                                    population
                                                                                                        monitoring, capture,
                                                                                                        handle, release, and
                                                                                                        relocate under
                                                                                                        special
                                                                                                        circumstances.
ES79842A...................  Jeremy White, Omaha,    Northern      NE and IA.................  Capture, handle,       Renew.
                              NE.                    long-eared bat                                     band, tag, collect
                                                     (Myotis                                            tissue samples, and
                                                     septentrionalis).                                  conduct radio
                                                     Indiana bat                                telemetry for
                                                     (Myotis sodalis).                                  research studies and
                                                     Gray bat                                   population
                                                     (Myotis grisescens).                               monitoring.
ES232905...................  Como Park Zoo and       Wyoming toad  MN and WY.................  Survey, capture,       Renew.
                              Conservatory, Saint    (Anaxyrus baxteri).                                handle, transport,
                              Paul, MN.                                                                 captively rear and
                                                                                                        breed, tag, swab,
                                                                                                        release, research,
                                                                                                        and conduct habitat
                                                                                                        restoration.
ES67251D...................  Kelly Haun, Durango,    Southwestern  CO........................  Survey and play taped  Renew.
                              CO.                    willow flycatcher                                  vocalizations.
                                                     (Empidonax traillii
                                                     extimus).
ES42721B...................  City of Fort Collins,   Black-footed  CO........................  Survey, capture,       Renew.
                              Natural Area           ferret (Mustela                                    anesthetize,
                              Department, Fort       nigripes).                                         vaccinate, mark,
                              Collins, CO.                                                              tag, collect
                                                                                                        biological samples,
                                                                                                        research, and
                                                                                                        monitor populations.
PER19682189................  Melissa Giuffre,        Southwestern  UT........................  Survey and play taped  New.
                              Kanab, UT.             willow flycatcher                                  vocalizations.
                                                     (Empidonax traillii
                                                     extimus).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 ask us in your comment 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.

Next Steps

    If we decide to issue a permit to an applicant 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.).

Marjorie Nelson,
Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2026-05232 Filed 3-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P