2018-21968. U.S. 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, 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 send your written comments by November 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Document availability: Request documents by phone or email: Susan Jacobsen, 505-248-6641, [e-mail].

Comment submission: Submit comments by U.S. mail to Susan Jacobsen, Classification and Recovery Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Please specify the permit you are interested in by number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan Jacobsen, Chief, Classification and Restoration Division, 505-248-6641.

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) 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 the 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
TE-93531C	Stewart, Justin; Austin, Texas	Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia)	Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Harm, harass	New.
TE-85341C	Ward, William A.; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma	Presence/absence surveys, habitat surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-85337C	Barnes, Bradley W.; Moore, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma	Presence/absence surveys, habitat surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-85444C	Chickasaw Nation; Ada, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma, Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-038055	University of New Mexico, Dr. Turner; Albuquerque, New Mexico	Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus), Spikedace (Meda fulgida), Loach Minnow (Tiaroga cobitis)	New Mexico, Arizona	Aquatic sampling/surveying (electrofishing, seines, dip-nets, block nets, and kick seines, others methods as approved), collect fin-clips	Capture, injury, death, collect	Renew.
TE-023159B	Southwestern Ornithological Research and Adventures (SORA), Albuquerque, New Mexico	Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctu s), Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), Northern Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionali s), Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)	New Mexico, Texas	Ground surveys, presence/absence surveys, breeding surveys	Harm, harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-082492	Hancock, Charles Dean; Youngsville, New Mexico	Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimu s), Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Jemez Mountain Salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus)	New Mexico	Presence/absence surveys, mist-netting, nest boxes, hand capture	Capture, collect, harm, harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-85591C	Jarrell, Jared M.; Tulsa, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma	Presence/absence surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-001623	American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers (ASIR), Dr. Dudley; Albuquerque, New Mexico	Arkansas River Shiner (Notropis girardi), Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Humpback Chub (Gila cypha), Gila Chub (Gila intermedia), Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus), Spikedace (Meda fulgida), Loach Minnow (Tiaroga cobitis)	Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah	Population monitoring, spawning activities, downstream transport studies, surveys, collection, fin clips, salvage, seines, dip nets, electrofishing	Capture, collect, injury, death	Renewal.
TE-837751	U.S Bureau of Reclamation; Glendale, Arizona	Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops), Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus), Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis), Pima Pineapple Cactus (Coryphantha scheeri var. robustispina), Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensi s), Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon maculariu s), Gila Topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis), Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), Spikedace (Meda fulgida), Loach Minnow (Tiaroga cobitis), Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus)	Arizona	Surveys, Trapping, Capture, Electrofishing	Collect, harass, injury, death	Amend.
TE-88641C	Perkins, Steve; Farmington, New Mexico	Knowlton's Cactus (Pediocacurs knowltonii), Kuenzler Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri), Lee Pincushion Cactus (Escobaria sneedii var. leei), Mesa Verde Cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae), Sneed Pincushion Cactus (Escobaria sneedii var. sneedii), Zuni Fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatus), Holy Ghost Ipomopsis (Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus), Mancos Milkvetch (Astragalus humillimus), Todsen's Pennyroyal (Hedeoma todsenii), Sacramento Prickly Poppy (Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta), Pecos Sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus), Sacramento Mountains Thistle (Cirsium vinaceum), Gypsum Wild-Buckwheat (Eriogonum gossypinum)	New Mexico	Presense/absence surveys	N/A	New.
TE-819458	National Park Service, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument); Ajo, Arizona	Sonoyta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale)	Arizona	Population surveys, trapping	Trap, injury, death	Amend.
TE-00974A	McLean, Jesse M.; Dallas Texas	Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia)	Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-85338C	McCoy, Chad B.; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma	Presence/absence surveys, habitat surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-041875	University of Arizona, Dr. Koprowski; Tucson, Arizona	Sonoran Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum stebbinsi), Mount Graham Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis)	Arizona	Trap, tissue sample, radio-collar, mark, release, monitor, recapture	Capture, collect, injury, death	Renew.
TE-64710A	Jackson, Jacob T.; Austin, Texas	Houston Toad (Bufo Houstontoadensis)	Texas	Surveys, capture, relocation/salvage	Capture, collect, injury, death	Renew.
TE-90005C	Patterson, Rande; Houston, Texas	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma, Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Capture, injury, death	New.
TE-93537C	Turtle Island Restoration Network; Galveston, Texas	Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)	Texas	Nesting surveys, capture, relocation and release, sample collection	Capture, collect, injury, death	New.
TE-053109	Stefferud, Sally E.; Phoenix, Arizona	Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon maculariu s), Gila Topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis)	Arizona	Surveys, Trapping, Capture, Electrofishing	Collect, harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-79697C	Clark, Barrett R.; Kyle, Texas	Coffin Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes texanus), Helotes mold beetle (B. venyivi), Robber Baron Cave meshweaver (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave meshweaver (C. madla), Bracken Bat Cave meshweaver (C. venii), Government Canyon Bat Cave spider (Neoleptoneta microps), Tooth Cave spider (N. myopica), ground beetle (Rhadine exilis), ground beetle (R. infernalis), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Tartarocregris texana), Cokendolpher Cave harvestman (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee Creek Cave harvestman (T . reddelli), Bone Cave harvestman (T. reyesi), diminutive amphipod (Gammarus hyalleloides), Pecos amphipod (G. pecos), Comal Springs riffle beetle (Heterlmis comalensis), Peck's Cave amphipod (Stygobromus pecki), Comal Springs dryopid beetle (S. comalensis)	Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Harm and harass	New.
TE-833851	City of Austin; Austin, Texas	Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum), Austin blind salamander (E. waterlooensis), Jollyville Plateau salamander (E. tonkawae), San Marcos salamander, (E. nana)	Texas	Surveys, Marking, Tail-clipping	Collect, harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-069320	Groundwater and Environmental Services, Inc.; Lewisville, Texas	Interior least tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola)	Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas	Presence/absence surveys	Harm and Harass	Renew.
TE-00975A	Osage Nation; Pawhuska, Oklahoma	American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)	Oklahoma	Presence/absence surveys	Capture, injury, death	Renew.
TE-800611	SWCA; Austin, Texas	Whooping Crane (Grus americana), Karst Invertebrates, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis), American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni), Texas Hornshell (Popenaias popeii), Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), Interior Least Tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos), Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis)	Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas	Presence/absence surveys, habitat assessments	Capture, collect, injury, death	Amend.
TE-08832A	Utah State University; Logan, Utah	Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus)	New Mexico	Surveys, Trapping, Capture, Electrofishing	Collect, harass, injury, death	Renew.
TE-86070C	Cincinnati Zoo; Cincinnati, Ohio	Todsen's Pennyroyal (Hedeoma todsenii)	New Mexico	Presence/absence surveys	N/A	New.
TE-169770	NMOSE/ISC; Los Lunas, New Mexico	Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus)	New Mexico	Captive propagation, culture, holding and research	Injury, death	Renew.

Public Availability of Comments

All comments and materials we receive in response to these requests will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address listed in ADDRESSES.

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.

Authority

We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: July 19, 2018.

Amy Lueders,

Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.