[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 2024)] [Notices] [Pages 33382-33385] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2024-09114] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R3-ES-2024-N025; FXES11130300000-245-FF03E00000] 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 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 your written comments on or before May 29, 2024. ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Submit requests for copies of the applications and related documents, as well as any comments, by one of the following methods. All requests and comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) (e.g., ESXXXXXX; see table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION):Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please refer to the respective application number (e.g., Application No. ESXXXXXX) in the subject line of your email message. U.S. Mail: Regional Director, Attn: Nathan Rathbun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Rathbun, 612-713-5343 (phone); [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 The ESA prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened species unless authorized by a Federal permit. The ESA and our implementing regulations in part 17 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provide for the issuance of such permits and require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for activities involving endangered species. A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered 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 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Application No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPER9203951............ Michael Thomas, White catspaw MI..................... Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Chesterfield, MI. (Epioblasma absence surveys, relocate. perobliqua), document habitat northern use, conduct riffleshell population (Epioblasma monitoring, and rangiana), evaluate impacts. snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra), round hickorynut (Obovaria subrotunda), rayed bean (Paetulunio fabalis), clubshell (Pleurobema clava). [[Page 33383]] ES26856C-3.............. Sean Langley, Add new species-- AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, GA, Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Amend. Tipton, IN. tricolored bat FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, absence surveys, nets, identify, (Perimyotis KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, document habitat handle, collect subflavus)--to MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, use, conduct non-intrusive existing NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, population measurements, authorized NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, monitoring, and band, radio-tag, species: Indiana RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, evaluate impacts. and release. bat (Myotis VA, VT, WI, WV, WY. sodalis), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), gray bat (M. grisescens). TE81935D................ Aaron Prewitt, Add new species-- AL, AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Cincinnati, OH. round hickorynut KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, absence surveys, release, and (Obovaria MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, document habitat relocate under subrotunda) and PA, TN, VA, WI, WV. use, conduct special longsolid population circumstances. (Fusconaia monitoring, and subrotunda)--to evaluate impacts. existing authorized 25 freshwater mussel species. ES71680A................ Megan Martin, Add new species-- AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, FL, Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Amend. Indianapolis, IN. tricolored bat IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, absence surveys, nets, identify, (Perimyotis LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, document habitat handle, collect subflavus)--to MN, MS, MO, NC, ND, use, conduct non-intrusive existing NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, population measurements, authorized OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, monitoring, and band, radio-tag, species: Indiana SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, evaluate impacts. and release. bat (Myotis WI, WV. sodalis), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), and gray bat (M. grisescens). ES62311A................ Mary Gilmore, West Add new species-- AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Amend. Lake, OH. tricolored bat GA, FL, IA, IL, IN, absence surveys, nets or harp (Perimyotis KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, document habitat traps, identify, subflavus)--to ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, use, conduct handle, collect existing MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, population non-intrusive authorized NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, monitoring, and measurements, species: Indiana PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, evaluate impacts. band, radio-tag, bat (Myotis TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY. collect hair sodalis), northern samples, swab and long-eared bat (M. collect wing septentrionalis), biopsy punches, and gray bat (M. enter hibernacula grisescens). or maternity roost caves, and release. PER9496195.............. Jesse Weinzinger, Higgins eye MN, WI................. Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Green Bay, WI. (Lampsilis absence surveys, release, collect higginsii), document habitat swab samples, and sheepnose use, conduct relocate under (Plethobasus population special cyphyus), snuffbox monitoring, and circumstances. (Epioblasma evaluate impacts. triquetra), spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta), winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa). [[Page 33384]] ES31355B................ Brooke A. Hines, Add new species-- Add CO, LA, NM, and WY Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Renew and Amend. Littleton, CO. tricolored bat to existing authorized absence surveys, nets or harp (Perimyotis locations: AL, AR, CT, document habitat traps, identify, subflavus)--to DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, use, conduct handle, collect existing IA, IN, KS, KY, ME, population non-intrusive authorized MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, monitoring, and measurements, species: Indiana MO, ND, NE, NH, NJ, evaluate impacts. band, mark, radio- bat (Myotis NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, tag, PIT-tag, sodalis), northern RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, enter long-eared bat (M. VT, VA, WI, WV. hibernacula, and septentrionalis), release. gray bat (M. grisescens), and Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus). PER9544313.............. Dunn Ecological 20 mussel species.. AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Services, LLC, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, absence surveys, release, and Winfield, MO. NY, OH, OK, SD, TN, document habitat relocate under WI, WV. use, conduct special population circumstances. monitoring, and evaluate impacts. ES06130D................ Claudio Gratton, Rusty patched WI..................... Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend/renew. Madison, WI. bumble bee (Bombus absence surveys, sample and affinis). document habitat release. use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts. ES43605A................ Dan Cox, Akron, OH. Add new species-- Add CO, DC, LA, and NM Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Amend. tricolored bat to existing authorized absence surveys, nets or harp (Perimyotis locations: AL, AR, CT, document habitat traps, handle, subflavus)--to DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, use, conduct collect non- existing IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, population intrusive authorized MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, monitoring, and measurements, species: Indiana MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, evaluate impacts. release. bat (Myotis NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, sodalis), northern PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, long-eared bat (M. VT, VA, WV, WI, WY. septentrionalis), and gray bat (M. grisescens). ES99056B................ Marion Wells, Add new species-- Add new State--IN--to Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Lebanon, OH. round hickorynut existing authorized absence surveys, release, and (Obovaria States: MO, OH. document habitat relocate under subrotunda), use, conduct special longsolid population circumstances. (Fusconaia monitoring, and subrotunda), evaluate impacts. western fanshell (Cyprogenia aberti), Neosho mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana)--to existing 16 authorized freshwater mussel species. PER9858817.............. Nathan Ring, Saint Northern AL, AR, IL, IN, KY, MI, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Johns, MI. riffleshell MN, MS, MO, NY, OH, absence surveys, release, and (Epioblasma PA, TN, VA, WV, WI. document habitat relocate under rangiana), use, conduct special snuffbox population circumstances. (Epioblasma monitoring, and triquetra), rayed evaluate impacts. bean (Paetulunio fabalis), clubshell (Pleurobema clava). [[Page 33385]] PER9860170.............. Ieva Roznere, Fanshell OH..................... Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Columbus, OH. (Cyprogenia absence surveys, release, stegaria), purple document habitat headstart, and catspaw use, conduct relocate under (Epioblasma population special obliquata), white monitoring, and circumstances. catspaw evaluate impacts. (Epioblasma perobliqua), northern riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana), snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra), longsolid (Fusconaia subrotunda), pink mucket (Lampsilis abrupta), round hickorynut (Obovaria subrotunda), rayed bean (Villosa fabalis), sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus), clubshell (Pleurobema clava), rabbitsfoot (Theliderma cylindrica). PER9968385.............. Clarissa Lawlis, 56 freshwater AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. Baltimore, OH. mussel species. IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, absence surveys, release, and OH, PA, TN, WV, WI. document habitat relocate under use, conduct special population circumstances. monitoring, and evaluate impacts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 any of the applicants 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.). Lori Nordstrom, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Service, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 2024-09114 Filed 4-26-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P