[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 79 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 22744-22748] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-08570] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-ES-2020-N054; FXES11130200000-201-FF02ENEH00] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 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, 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 of 1973, as amended (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 26, 2020. ADDRESSES: Document availability: Request documents by phone or email: Susan Jacobsen, 505-248-6641, susan_jacobsen@fws.gov. Comment submission: Submit comments by email to fw2_te_permits@fws.gov. Please specify the permit you are interested in by number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Classification [[Page 22745]] and Restoration Division, 505-248-6641. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing but 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 endangered 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. Releasing 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 application number when submitting comments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Application No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TE802211............. Texas State Coffin Cave mold Texas................ Presence/absence Capture, harm, Renew. University; Austin, beetle (Batrisodes surveys, habitat harass, injury, Texas. texanus), Helotes surveys, increase death. mold beetle in speciments (Batrisodes venyivi), requested. Robber Baron Cave meshweaver (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla), Bracken Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina venii), Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina vespera), Government Canyon Bat Cave spider (Neoleptoneta microps), Tooth Cave spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), Ground beetle (Rhadine exilis), Ground beetle (Rhadine infernalis), Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Cokendolpher cave harvestman (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee Creek Cave harvestman (Texella reddilli), Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), Diminutive amphipod (Gammarus hyalleloides), Pecos amphipod (Gammarus pecos), Comal Springs riffle beetle (Heterelmis comalensis), Peck's Cave amphipod (Stygobromus pecki), Comal Springs dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis). TE63904D............. Lewis, Chancey D.; Houston toad (Bufo Louisiana, Texas..... Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Cameron, Texas. houstonensis), red- surveys. cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). TE51928B............. Moczygema, Kevin Golden-cheeked warbler Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. John; San Antonio, (Setophaga surveys. Texas. chrysoparia). TE195248............. Morrison, Michael L.; Golden-cheeked warbler Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. College Station, (Setophaga surveys. Texas. chrysoparia). TE155413............. Itzkowitz, Murray; Leon Spring pupfish Texas................ Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew. Bethlehem, (Cyprinodon bovinus). surveys; collection. capture, injury, Pennsylvania. death. TE67302D............. Edwards, Christine Texas trailing phlox Texas................ Presence/absence removal............. New. E.; St. Louis, (Phlox nivalis spp. surveys, sample Missouri. texensis). leaf/stem tissue for genetic analysis. TE63202B............. Chambers, Carol L.; New Mexico meadow Arizona, Colorado, Presence/absence Capture, injury, Renew. Flagstaff, Arizona. jumping mouse (Zapus New Mexico. surveys, PIT death. hudsonius luteus). tagging. [[Page 22746]] TE68530D............. Dewitt, Thomas J.; Georgetown salamander Texas................ Presence/absence Capture, harm, New. Austin, Texas. (Eurycea naufragia), surveys. harass. Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae), Salado salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis), San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana), Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum), Austin blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis). TE819541............. BRIC, LLC.; Interior least tern Arizona, New Mexico.. Presence/absence Harass, harm........ Renew. Albuquerque, New (Sterna antillarum surveys. Mexico. athalassos), Black- footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), Northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis). TE50643B............. Weaver, Vaugh D.; American burying Arkansas, Kansas, Presence/absence Capture, harass, Renew. Wichita, Kansas. beetle (Nicrophorus Oklahoma. surveys. harm, injury, death. americanus), Neosho mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana), Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka (=tristis)). TE060125............. Salt River Project; Southwestern willow Arizona.............. Presence/absence Capture, harm, Renew. Phoenix, Arizona. flycatcher (Empidonax surveys. harass. traillii extimus), Yuma clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis), Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis). TE07059A............. Marsh and Associates, Spikedace (Mega Arizona.............. Captive propagation. Capture, harm, Renew. LLC.; Tempe, Arizona. fulgida), loach harass, injury, minnow (Tiaroga death. cobitis), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis), desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius). TE004439............. Albuquerque BioPark; Interior least tern New Mexico........... Research, education, Harass, harm, Renew. Albuquerque, New (Sterna antillarum propagation. injury, death. Mexico. athalassos), Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus), Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Gila trout (Oncorhynchus gilae), Soccoro isopod (Thermosphaeroma thermophilum), Socorro springnsail (Pyrgulopsis neomexicana), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). TE65027D............. McBride Biotracking, Gierisch mallow Arizona.............. Seed collection..... Harm................ New. LLC.; Flagstaff, (Sphaeralcea Arizona. gierischii). TE57462D............. U.S. Army Corps of Interior least tern Arizona, Colorado, Presence/absence Harm, harass, Renew. Engineers-ABQ (Sterna antillarum New Mexico. surveys. injury, death. District; athalassos), Albuquerque, New southwestern willow Mexico. flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus). TE67183D............. Gido, Keith B.; Spikedace (Mega Arizona, New Mexico.. Presence/absence Harm, harass, New. Manhattan, Kansas. fulgida), loach surveys. injury, death. minnow (Tiaroga cobitis). TE69973D............. Whitney, James E.; Razorback sucker Colorado, New Mexico, Presence/absence Harm, harass, New. Pittsburg, Kansas. (Xyrauchen texanus), Utah. surveys, injury, death. Colorado pikeminnow electroshocking. (Ptychocheilus lucius). TE091551............. U.S. Fish and Mexican gray wolf Arizona, New Mexico.. Presence/absence Harm, harass, Renew. Wildlife Service, (Canus lupis baileyi). surveys, injury, death. Mexican Wolf management, Recovery Program, capture, transport, Albuquerque, New handling. Mexico. TE168185............. Cox McLain Golden-cheeked warbler New Mexico, Oklahoma, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Environmental (Setophaga Texas. surveys. Consultants; Austin, chrysoparia), Texas. interior least tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos), Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis), Atwatter's prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri), gray bat (Myotis griscescens), red- cockaded woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis), Ozark big- eared bat (Corynorhinus (=plecotus) townsendii ingens), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis). [[Page 22747]] TE144755............. Reagan Smith Energy Interior least tern Arkansas, Colorado, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Amend. Solutions; Oklahoma (Sterna antillarum Kansas, Louisiana, surveys. City, Oklahoma. athalassos). Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas. TE65030D............. The Peregrine Fund; Northern aplomado Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Boise, Idaho. falcon (Falco surveys. femoralis septentrionalis). TE094365............. National Cave and Coffin Cave mold Texas, New Mexico.... Presence/absence Harm, harass, New. Karst Research beetle (Batrisodes surveys, capture. injury, death. Institute; Carlsbad, texanus), Helotes New Mexico. mold beetle (Batrisodes venyivi), Robber Baron Cave meshweaver (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla), Bracken Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina venii), Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina vespera), Government Canyon Bat Cave spider (Neoleptoneta microps), Tooth Cave spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), Ground beetle (Rhadine exilis), Ground beetle (Rhadine infernalis), Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Cokendolpher cave harvestman (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee Creek Cave harvestman (Texella reddilli), Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), Diminutive amphipod (Gammarus hyalleloides), Pecos amphipod (Gammarus pecos), Comal Springs riffle beetle (Heterelmis comalensis), Peck's Cave amphipod (Stygobromus pecki), Comal Springs dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis), Georgetown salamander (Eurycea naufragia), Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae), Salado salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis), San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana), Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum), Austin blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis), Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii), Leon Spring pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus), Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis), fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola). TE815490............. New Mexico Department Black-footed ferret New Mexico........... Presence/absence Harm; harass........ Renew. of Game and Fish; (Mustela nigripes). surveys. Santa Fe, New Mexico. TE08832A............. Utah State Rio Grande silvery New Mexico........... Presence/absence Harm, harass, Renew. University; Logan, minnow (Hybognathus surveys, capture. injury, death. Utah. amarus). TE69747D............. Sea Life US, LLC; San Green sea turtle Texas................ Public aquarium..... Harm, harass........ New. Antonio, Texas. (Chelonia mydas). TE69979D............. Mata, Barbi; Houston, Houston toad (Bufo Alabama, Georgia, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Texas. houstonensis), Barton Louisiana, surveys; monitoring. Springs salamander Mississippi, Texas. (Eurycea sosorum), Austin blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis), Texas blind salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni). TE226653............. The Arboretum Peebles Navajo cactus Arizona.............. Collection, Harm................ Amend. Flagstaff; Flagstaff (Pediocactus propagation. Arizona. peeblesianus var. peeblesianus). TE35147A............. Newstead, David; Piping plover Texas................ Capture, band, Harm, harass........ Amend. Corpus Christi, (Charadris melodus). presence/absence Texas. surveys. TE63522B............. Laney, Everett; American burying Oklahoma............. Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Muskogee, Oklahoma. beetle (Nicrophorus surveys. americanus). [[Page 22748]] TE71777D............. Lisignoli, Jenny; Yuma clapper rail Arizona, New Mexico, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Albuquerque, New (Rallus longirostris California. surveys. Mexico. yumanensis), interior least tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis). TE71795D............. Pittenger, Dan S.; Southwestern willow Arizona, New Mexico, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Three Rivers, flycatcher (Empidonax Utah, Nevada. surveys. California. traillii extimus). TE24625A............. Weber, Sarah; San Golden-cheeked warbler Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Antonio, Texas. (Setophaga surveys. chrysoparia). TE60013D............. Owen, Bryce; Wylie, American burying Kansas, Oklahoma, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Texas. beetle (Nicrophorus Texas. surveys. americanus). TE37418B............. Brown and Gay American burying Oklahoma, Texas...... Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Engineers; Frisco, beetle (Nicrophorus surveys. Texas. americanus), Golden- cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), red cockaded woodpecker. TE776123............. Texas A&M, Galveston, Kemp's ridley sea Texas................ Nest relocation, Harm, harass........ Renew. Texas. turtle (Lepidochelys rehabilitation. kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). TE74321D............. Weaver, Sara; San Houston toad (Bufo Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ New. Marcos, Texas. houstonensis). surveys. TE22254B............. Hanington, Michelle.. Southwestern willow Arizona, New Mexico, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. flycatcher (Empidonax Utah, Colorado. surveys. traillii extimus). TE835139............. Hawks Aloft, Inc.; Southwestern willow Arizona, New Mexico, Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Albuquerque, NM. flycatcher (Empidonax Colorado. surveys. traillii extimus). TE78959A............. Weber, Sarah......... Golden-cheeked warbler Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. (Setophaga surveys. chrysoparia). TE30430B............. University of Rio Grande silvery New Mexico, Texas.... Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Houston, Clear Lake, minnow (Hybognathus surveys. Texas. amarus), Comanche Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon elegans), Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis), Leon Springs pupfish (Cyprindodon bovinus), Big Bend gambusia (Gambusia gaigei), Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli), Texas wild- rice (Zizania texana). TE146407............. Belaire Golden-cheeked warbler Texas................ Presence/absence Harm, harass........ Renew. Environmental, Inc.; (Setophaga surveys. Rockport, Texas. chrysoparia). TE829995............. Dallas Zoo; Dallas, Houston toad (Bufo Texas................ Captive breeding, Harm, harass........ Renew. Texas. houstonensis), Barton rehabilitation. springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni). TE28891A............. Tristan, Timothy; Kemp's ridley sea Texas................ Captive breeding, Harm, harass........ Renew. Corpus Christi, turtle (Lepidochelys rehabilitation. Texas. kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Amy Lueders, Regional Director, Southwest Region. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2020-08570 Filed 4-22-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P