[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 130 (Monday, July 10, 2023)] [Notices] [Pages 43622-43626] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2023-14509] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-ES-2023-N058; FXES11140400000-234-FF04E00000] Endangered Species; 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 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 [[Page 43623]] 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 August 9, 2023. ADDRESSES: Reviewing Documents: Submit requests for copies of applications and other information submitted with the applications to Karen Marlowe (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). All requests and comments should specify the applicant name and application number (e.g., Mary Smith, ESPER0001234). Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by one of the following methods:Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please include your name and return address in your email message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that we have received your email message, contact us directly at the telephone number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, Ecological Services, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345 (Attn: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator, 404-679-7097 (telephone) 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 of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Permit application No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES35594A-5.......... Alabama Power Canoe Creek clubshell Alabama............ Presence/probable Capture, handle, Renewal and Company; (Pleurobema athearni), absence surveys identify, tag, amendment. Birmingham, AL. Coosa moccasinshell and population release, and (Medionidus parvulus), monitoring. collect relic ovate clubshell shells. (Pleurobema perovatum), southern acornshell (Epioblasma othcaloogensis), triangular kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus greenii), and upland combshell (Epioblasma metastriata). ES237549-3.......... Cory Holliday; Gray bat (Myotis Tennessee.......... Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal. Gainesboro, TN. grisescens), Indiana absence surveys, or maternity bat (Myotis sodalis), studies to roosts, capture and northern long-eared document habitat with mist nets or bat (Myotis use, population harp traps, septentrionalis). monitoring, and handle, identify, white-nose band, radio tag, syndrome light tag, swab, surveillance. collect hair samples, wing punch, and release. ES80381A-3.......... Department of Gray bat (Myotis Kentucky and Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal and Defense (Army); grisescens), Indiana Tennessee. absence surveys, or maternity amendment. Fort Campbell, KY. bat (Myotis sodalis), studies to roosts, capture northern long-eared bat document habitat with mist nets, (Myotis use, and handle, identify, septentrionalis), and population band, radio tag, tricolored bat monitoring. and release. (Perimyotis subflavus). PER2789344-0........ Glenn M. Rohrbach; Nashville crayfish Tennessee.......... Presence/probable Capture, handle, New. Nashville, TN. (Orconectes shoupi). absence surveys. identify, and release. [[Page 43624]] ES14105A-3.......... Breedlove, Dennis, Red-cockaded woodpecker Alabama, Arkansas, Population Capture, handle, Renewal. and Associates, (Picoides borealis). Florida, Georgia, monitoring and band, and monitor Inc.; Winter Park, Louisiana, management. nest and FL. Mississippi, North artificial nest Carolina, and cavities. South Carolina. ES37490B-2.......... Melissa Littrell; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Capture with mist Renewal. Lexington, KY. grisescens), Indiana Georgia, Illinois, absence surveys nets or harp bat (Myotis sodalis), Indiana, Kentucky, and white-nose traps, handle, northern long-eared bat Mississippi, syndrome identify, band, (Myotis Missouri, North surveillance. radio tag, swab, septentrionalis), and Carolina, Ohio, collect hair Virginia big-eared bat South Carolina, samples, wing (Corynorhinus Tennessee, punch, and release. townsendii virginianus). Virginia, and West Virginia. ES088889-4.......... The Nature Florida scrub-jay Florida............ Population Florida scrub-jay: Renewal. Conservancy; (Aphelocoma monitoring and bait with unsalted Kissimmee, FL. coerulescens) and red- management. peanuts, trap, cockaded woodpecker handle, band, and (Picoides borealis). release; red- cockaded woodpecker: capture, handle, band, construct and monitor artificial nest cavities and restrictors, release, and translocate. ES27608B-2.......... McGehee Engineering Gray bat (Myotis Alabama............ Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal. Corporation; grisescens), Indiana absence surveys or maternity roost Jasper, AL. bat (Myotis sodalis), and population caves, capture and northern long-eared monitoring. with mist nets or bat (Myotis harp traps, septentrionalis). handle, identify, band, radio tag, and release. ES48579B-5.......... Ecological Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal. Solutions, Inc.; grisescens), Indiana Connecticut, absence surveys, or maternity roost Roswell, GA. bat (Myotis sodalis), Delaware, District studies to caves, capture and northern long-eared of Columbia, document habitat with mist nets or bat (Myotis Georgia, Illinois, use, population harp traps, septentrionalis). Indiana, Iowa, monitoring, and handle, identify, Kansas, Kentucky, white-nose collect hair Louisiana, Maine, syndrome samples, band, Maryland, surveillance. radio tag, light Massachusetts, tag, swab, wing Michigan, punch, and release. 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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ES54578B-3.......... Mary Frazer; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal and Raleigh, NC. grisescens), Indiana Connecticut, absence surveys, or maternity roost amendment. bat (Myotis sodalis), Delaware, District studies to caves, capture northern long-eared bat of Columbia, document habitat with mist nets or (Myotis Florida, Georgia, use, population harp traps, septentrionalis), Illinois, Indiana, monitoring, and handle, identify, tricolored bat Iowa, Kansas, white-nose collect hair (Perimyotis subflavus), Kentucky, syndrome samples, band, and Virginia big-eared Louisiana, Maine, surveillance. radio tag, light bat (Corynorhinus Maryland, tag, wing punch, townsendii virginianus). Massachusetts, and release. 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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [[Page 43625]] ES119937-5.......... Susan Loeb; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal and Clemson, SC. grisescens), Indiana Georgia, Kentucky, absence surveys, or maternity roost amendment. bat (Myotis sodalis), Missouri, North studies to caves, capture northern long-eared bat Carolina, Ohio, document habitat with mist nets or (Myotis South Carolina, use, population harp traps, septentrionalis), and Tennessee, monitoring, and handle, identify, tricolored bat Virginia, and West white-nose band, radio tag, (Perimyotis subflavus). Virginia. syndrome collect hair surveillance. samples, light tag, wing punch, and release. ES37663B-2.......... Rebecca Ijames; Gray bat (Myotis Indiana, Kentucky, Presence/probable Capture with mist Renewal. Central City, KY. grisescens), Indiana Missouri, Ohio, absence surveys, nets, handle, bat (Myotis sodalis), and Tennessee. studies to identify, band, and northern long-eared document habitat radio-tag, and bat (Myotis use, and release. septentrionalis). population monitoring. PER3128179-0........ Justin Hoffman, Northern long-eared bat Kisatchie National Presence/probable Capture with mist New. McNeese State (Myotis Forest, Louisiana. absence surveys. nets and hand-held University; Lake septentrionalis) and mesh nets, handle, Charles, LA. tricolored bat identify, and (Perimyotis subflavus). release. ES64393C-2.......... Vanasse Hangen Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Capture with mist Renewal. Brustlin, Inc.; grisescens), Indiana Connecticut, absence surveys. nets, handle, Raleigh, NC. bat (Myotis sodalis), Delaware, District identify, band, northern long-eared bat of Columbia, radio tag, and (Myotis Georgia, Illinois, release. septentrionalis), and Indiana, Iowa, Virginia big-eared bat Kansas, Kentucky, (Corynorhinus Louisiana, Maine, townsendii virginianus). Maryland, Massachusetts, 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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ES88778B-3.......... John Lamb; Decherd, Tricolored bat Tennessee.......... Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Amendment. TN. (Perimyotis subflavus). absence surveys, or maternity roost studies to caves, capture document habitat with mist nets or use, population harp traps, monitoring, and handle, identify, white-nose band, collect hair syndrome samples, radio surveillance. tag, and release. ES81353B-2.......... Stephanie Penk; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Capture with mist Amendment. Sylva, NC. grisescens), Indiana Colorado, absence surveys, nets and harp bat (Myotis sodalis), Connecticut, habitat use and traps, handle, northern long-eared bat Delaware, District assessment identify, band, (Myotis of Columbia, research, radio tag, and septentrionalis), and Florida, Georgia, population release. tricolored bat Illinois, Indiana, dynamics (Perimyotis subflavus). Iowa, Kansas, evaluations, and Kentucky, migration research. Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New 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, and Wyoming. [[Page 43626]] PER3315996-0........ Dominique DiLandro; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Enter roosts New. Holly Springs, NC. grisescens), northern Colorado, absence surveys, (bridges, long-eared bat (Myotis Connecticut, habitat use and culverts, and septentrionalis), and Delaware, District roost selection abandoned tricolored bat of Columbia, research, and buildings), (Perimyotis subflavus). Florida, Georgia, population capture via mist Illinois, Indiana, dynamics studies. nets and harp Iowa, Kansas, traps, handle, Kentucky, identify, band, Louisiana, Maine, radio tag, collect Maryland, swabs and hair Massachusetts, samples, and Michigan, release. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New 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, and Wyoming. ES94704A-4.......... Dorothy Brown; Mammals: Carolina Alabama, Arkansas, Presence/probable Carolina northern Renewal and Arden, NC. northern flying Colorado, absence surveys, flying squirrel: amendment. squirrel (Glaucomys Connecticut, white-nose capture, handle, sabrinus coloratus), Delaware, District syndrome research, ear-tag, pit-tag, gray bat (Myotis of Columbia, studies to radio-tag, collect grisescens), Indiana Florida, Georgia, document habitat fur and tissue bat (Myotis sodalis), Illinois, Indiana, use, population samples, and northern long-eared bat Iowa, Kansas, monitoring, and conduct den (Myotis Kentucky, genetic sampling. surveys; Bats: septentrionalis), Louisiana, Maine, enter hibernacula tricolored bat Maryland, or maternity roost (Perimyotis subflavus), Massachusetts, caves, capture and Virginia big-eared Michigan, with mist nets or bat (Corynorhinus Minnesota, harp traps, townsendii Mississippi, handle, identify, virginianus); Reptile: Missouri, collect hair Bog turtle (Clemmys Nebraska, New samples, band, pit- muhlenbergii). Hampshire, New tag, radio-tag, Jersey, New light-tag, wing- Mexico, New York, punch, swab for North Carolina, white-nose North Dakota, syndrome testing, Ohio, Oklahoma, and release; Bog Pennsylvania, turtle: capture, Rhode Island, mark, pit-tag, and South Carolina, radio-tag. South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.). John Tirpak, Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2023-14509 Filed 7-7-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P