[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)] [Notices] [Pages 48670-48673] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2024-12544] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R3-ES-2024-N031; 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 July 8, 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 [[Page 48671]] 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES73584A................ Illinois Natural Fifteen freshwater Add new State--WI-- Conduct presence/ Add new activities-- Amend. History Survey, mussel species, to existing absence surveys, Tissue sample, PIT Champaign, IL. Neosho madtom authorized States: document habitat tag--to existing (Noturus placidus). IL, IN, MO, KS, OK. use, conduct authorized population activities: monitoring, and Capture, handle, evaluate impacts. relocate under special circumstances. ESPER1224186............ Greg Gaulke, Add new species-- IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Madison, WI. western fanshell MO, OH, WI. absence surveys, tag, relocate (Cyprogenia document habitat under special aberti)--to 15 use, conduct circumstances. existing population authorized monitoring, and freshwater mussel evaluate impacts. species. ES98673B................ Jason Layne, Spring Add new species-- Add new States--CO, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Hill, KS. tricolored bat FL, NM, TX--to absence surveys, radio-tag, band, (Perimyotis existing document habitat release. subflavus)--to authorized States: use, conduct existing AL, AR, CT, DE, population authorized DC, FL, GA, IL, monitoring, and species: Indiana IN, IA, KS, KY, evaluate impacts. bat (Myotis LA, MD, MA, MI, sodalis), gray bat MN, MO, MS, MT, (M. grisescens), NE, NH, NJ, NY, northern long- NC, ND, OK, OH, eared bat (M. PA, RI, SC, SD, septentrionalis), TN, VT, VA, WV, Ozark big-eared WI, WY. bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), and Virginia big-eared bat (C. t. virginianus). ESPER10699328........... Olivia Snobl, Eagle Indiana bat (Myotis IL, IN, IA, MN, MI, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New. River, WI. sodalis), gray bat OH, ND, SD, WI. absence surveys, band, release. (M. grisescens), document habitat northern long- use, conduct eared bat (M. population septentrionalis), monitoring, and tricolored bat evaluate impacts. (Perimyotis subflavus). [[Page 48672]] ES15027A................ Stantec Consulting Add new species-- Add new States--CO, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Services Inc., tricolored bat DC, ME, NM, TX--to absence surveys, radio-tag, band, Independence, IA. (Perimyotis existing document habitat enter hibernacula, subflavus)--to authorized States: use, conduct release. existing AL, AR, CT, DE, population authorized FL, GA, IL, IN, monitoring, and species: Indiana IA, KS, KY, LA, evaluate impacts. bat (Myotis MD, MA, MI, MN, sodalis), gray bat MO, MS, MT, NE, (M. grisescens), NH, NJ, NY, NC, northern long- ND, PA, RI, OK, eared bat (M. OH, SC, SD, TN, septentrionalis). VT, VA, WV, WI, WY. ES49331D................ Shane Brodnick, Add new species-- Add new States--DE, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Renew and Amend. Barboursville, WV. tricolored bat LA, ME, MN, MT, absence surveys, radio-tag, band, (Perimyotis NE, ND, SD, RI, document habitat release. subflavus)--to TX, DC, WI, WY--to use, conduct existing existing population authorized authorized States: monitoring, and species: Indiana AL, AR, CT, FL, evaluate impacts. bat (Myotis GA, IL, IN, IA, sodalis), gray bat KS, KY, MD, MA, (M. grisescens), MI, MS, MO, NH, northern long- NJ, NY, NC, OH, eared bat (M. OK, PA, SC, TN, septentrionalis). VT, VA, WV. ESPER0037865............ Mark Hove, Saint Add new mussel MN, WI............. Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Paul, MN. species--spectacle absence surveys, tag, relocate case (Cumberlandia document habitat under special monodonta), use, conduct circumstances. snuffbox population (Epioblasma monitoring, and triquetra), evaluate impacts. sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus)--to existing authorized species: Higgins' eye pearly mussel (Lampsilis higginsi), winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa). ES02344A................ Mainstream Divers, Add new species-- AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. Inc., Murray, KY. southern pigtoe IL, IN, KS, KY, absence surveys, tag, relocate (Pleurobema LA, MI, MN, NE MO, document habitat under special georgianum), MS, TN, OH, OK, use, conduct circumstances. western fanshell PA, SD, WI, WV. population (Cyprogenia monitoring, and aberti), and evaluate impacts. Ouachita fanshell (Cyprogenia cf. aberti)--to existing 28 authorized species of freshwater mussel. ESPER0002430............ David Ford, Spring, Add new species-- AR, GA, LA, NM, OK, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend. TX. Guadalupe orb TN, TX. absence surveys, tag, relocate (Cyclonaias document habitat under special necki), Texas use, conduct circumstances. pimpleback population (Cyclonaias monitoring, and petrina), false evaluate impacts. spike (Fusconaia mitchelli), Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis bergmanni), Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis braceata), Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii), Texas fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon)--to 23 authorized freshwater mussel species. [[Page 48673]] ES99051B................ Goniela Iskali, Add new species-- AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, Conduct presence/ Capture with mist Amend. Bloomington, IN. tricolored bat GA, IA, IL, IN, absence surveys, nets, handle, (Perimyotis KY, KS, LA, MA, document habitat identify, radio- subflavus)--to MD, ME, MI, MN, use, conduct tag, band, collect existing MO, MS, MT, NC, population non-intrusive authorized ND, NE, NH, NJ, monitoring, and measurements, species: Indiana NY, OH, OK, PA, evaluate impacts. release. bat (Myotis RI, SC, SD, TN, sodalis), gray bat TX, VA, VT, WI, (M. grisescens), WV, WY. northern long- eared bat (M. septentrionalis). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.). Sean Marsan, Acting--Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 2024-12544 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P