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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 Start Printed Page 4330 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 February 22, 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): permitsR3ES@fws.gov. 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.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nathan Rathbun, 612–713–5343 (phone); permitsR3ES@fws.gov (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.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY 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 ESPER5565041 Julia Leone, Saint Paul, MN Rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) MN Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, and release New. ES64079B Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN Dakota skipper ( Hesperia dacotae), poweshiek skipperling ( Oarisma poweshiek), rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) MI, MN, ND, SD, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, identify, mark, monitor and survey, captive rearing, propagation, and release Renew and amend. TE06845A Lochmueller Group, Evansville, IN Add new species—tricolored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), and gray bat ( M. grisescens) GA, IL, IN, KY, OH; add: AL, AR, CO, DC, FL, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VI, VT, WI, WY, WV Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release Renew and amend. ESPER5664139 Kevyn Juneau, River Falls, WI Rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, hold, and release New. Start Printed Page 4331 ES08501D Alyssa Roberts, Grand Rapids, MN Rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, hold, and release Renew. ES81122C Three Rivers Park District, Plymouth, MN Rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) MN Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, and release Renew. ES74742C Benjamin Smith, Kearney, MO Add new species—Tricolored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus) and Ozark big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii ingens)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), and gray bat ( M. grisescens) AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release Renew and amend. ES74592A Robert Brown, Liberty Township, OH Add new species—Tricolored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), gray bat ( M. grisescens), Ozark big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), Virginia big-eared bat ( C. t. virginianus) AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, enter hibernacula, radio-tag, and release Renew and amend. ES06452D National Park Service Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield, WI Piping plover ( Charadrius melodus) WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, salvage, release, and erect exclosures Renew. ES38842A Sanders Environmental, Inc., Bellefonte, PA Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), gray bat ( M. grisescens), Ozark big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), Virginia big-eared bat ( C. t. virginianus) Add new states—TX—to existing authorized states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, OK, OH, SC, SD, TN, WI, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, radio-tag, band, and release Amend. Start Printed Page 4332 ES03494B GAI Consultants, Florence, KY Add new species—Tricolored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), gray bat ( M. grisescens), Ozark big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), Virginia big-eared bat ( C. t. virginianus) AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release Renew and amend. ES24566D Nicholas Smeenk, Columbus, OH Eastern massasauga rattlesnake ( Sistrurus catenatus) and copperbelly water snake ( Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) IA, IL, IN, MI, NY, OH, PA, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, temporary hold for processing, handle, collect tissue samples, mark with PIT tags and/or ventral scale clips, and release Renew. ES37065D U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Carlyle Lake Project Office, Carlyle, IL Eastern massasauga rattlesnake ( Sistrurus catenatus) IL Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, temporary hold for processing, handle, and release Renew. ES14549C Larissa Herrera, Belmont, MI Add new species—round hickorynut ( Obovaria subrotunda), to existing authorized species: 11 freshwater mussel species IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, release, and relocate due to stranding. Amend. TE90426C Natalie Dingledine, Haslett, MI Hungerford's crawling water beetle ( Brychius hungerfordi) MI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, conduct health and disease monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, temporarily hold, handle, release, relocate, and salvage Renew. TE60958A Bat Calls Identification, Inc. Kansas City, MO Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), gray bat ( M. grisescens), Ozark big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), Virginia big-eared bat ( C. t. virginianus) AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release Renew. ES30472 Elaine Evans, St. Paul, MN Rusty patched bumble bee ( Bombus affinis) MN, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, identify, mark, bio sample and release Renew and Amend. TE64073B Ecological and GIS Services, Indianola, IA Dakota skipper ( Hesperia dacotae), Poweshiek skipperling ( Oarisma poweshiek) IA, MN, SD Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, release Renew. Start Printed Page 4333 ESPER1462021 Keystone Ecological Services, LLC, Wellsboro, PA Add new species—Gray bat ( Myotis grisescens), tricolored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat ( M. sodalis), northern long-eared bat ( M. septentrionalis), Virginia big-eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) Add new states—AL, AR, CO, GA, IL, IN, KS, MO, MS, NM, OK—to existing authorized states: CT, DC, DE, IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Add new activity—capture with harp traps—to existing authorized activities: capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release Amend. ESPER0002430 David Ford, Spring, TX Add new species—Round hickorynut ( Obovaria subrotunda) and longsolid ( Fusconaia subrotunda), to existing authorized species: 21 freshwater mussel species AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, OK, OH, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts Capture, handle, release, and relocate Amend. 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.).
Start SignatureLori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Service, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2024–01258 Filed 1–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Document Information
- Published:
- 01/23/2024
- Department:
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
- Document Number:
- 2024-01258
- Dates:
- We must receive your written comments on or before February 22, 2024.
- Pages:
- 4329-4333 (5 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- FWS-R3-ES-2023-N004, FXES11130300000-234-FF03E00000
- PDF File:
- 2024-01258.pdf