2023-25177. Endangered 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 and survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing 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 December 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Document availability and comment submission: Submit a request for a copy of the application and related documents and submit any comments by one of the following methods. All requests and comments should specify the applicant name and application number ( e.g., Dana Ross, ES001705):

• Email: [e-mail].

• U.S. Mail: Marilet Zablan, Regional Program Manager, Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232–4181.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Colson, Regional Recovery Permit Coordinator, Ecological Services, (503) 231–6283 (telephone); [e-mail] (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 the public to comment on applications for permits under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The requested permits would allow the applicants to conduct activities intended to promote recovery of species that are listed as endangered under the ESA.

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 such activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting, in addition to hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing.

A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or for enhancement of propagation or survival of the species. These activities often include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 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

Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in the wild. 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.

Application number	Applicant, city, state	Species	Location	Take activity	Permit action
ES003483	U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Honolulu, HI	Yayaguak or Mariana swiftlet ( Aerodramus bartschi)	Hawaii	Harass by capture, handle, hold, and release; band and attach radio transmitters; biosample; survey, play recorded vocalizations; conduct social attraction; use cameras to monitor nesting sites, map caves, and utilize weather loggers; and collect biological material (feathers, eggshells, guano)	Amend.
ES014497	Haleakala National Park, Kula, HI	Bidens camplyotheca ssp. pentamera (ko“oko“olau), B. camplyotheca ssp. waihoiensis (ko“oko“olau), B. micrantha ssp. kalealaha (ko“oko“olau), Calamagrostis expansa (Maui reedgrass), Clermontia lindseyana (“ōhā wai), C. oblongifolia ssp. mauiensis (“ōhā wai), C. peleana ssp. singuliflora (“ōhā wai), C. samuelli ssp. samuelii (“ōhā wai), Ctenitis squamigera (pauoa), Cyanea asplenifolia (hāhā), C. copelandii ssp. haleakalaensis (hāhā), C. duvalliorum (hāhā), C. glabra (hāhā), C. grimesiana ssp. grimesiana (hāhā), C. hamatiflora ssp. hamatiflora (hāhā), C. horrida (nui hāhā), C. kunthiana (hāhā), C. maritae (hāhā), Cyclosorus boydiae (kupkupu makalii or Boyds maiden fern), Cyrtandra ferripilosa (haiwale), Diplazium molokaiense (no common name (NCN)), Gardenia remyi (nanu), Geranium arboreum (nohoanu or Hawaiian red flowered geranium), G. hanaense (nohoanu), G. multiflorum (nohoanu), Huperzia mannii, (wāwae“iole), H. stemmermanniae (NCN), Ischaemum byrone (Hilo ischaemum), Joinvillea ascendes ssp. ascendens (“ohe), Melicope balloui (alani), M. ovalis (alani), Microlepia strigosa var. mauiensis (Maui fern), Nothocestrum latifolium (“aiea), Ochrosia haleakalae (holei), Phyllostegia bracteata (NCN), P. brevidens spp. ambigua (NCN), P. haliakalae (NCN), Plantago princeps var. laxiflora (ale), Platanthera holochila (NCN), Ranunculus hawaiiensis (makou), R. mauiensis (makou), Sanicula sandwicensis (NCN), Schiedea diffusa ssp. diffusa (NCN), S. haleakalensis (NCN), S. hookeri (NCN), Solanum incompletum (pōpolo kū mai), Wikstroemia villosa (“ākia)	Hawaii	Remove/reduce to possession by survey, monitor; collect seeds, fruits, cuttings, inflorescences, leaves, and herbarium specimens; propagate and outplant; and salvage	Renew.
Hawaiian goose or nene ( Branta sandvicensis), Hawaiian petrel or 'ua ua' ( Pterodroma sandwichensis), crested honeycreeper or 'akohekohe ( Palmeria dolei), Maui parrotbill or kiwikiu ( Pseudonestor xanthophrys)	Hawaii	Harass by survey and monitor; capture, hold, measure, weigh, band, release, and recapture; predator control; conduct playback calls and “pishing” (verbal calling); and salvage	Renew
PER4532489	Wildlife Services—Oregon, Portland, OR	Gray wolf ( Canis lupus)	Oregon	Harm and harass by implementing depredation and conflict abatement activities; monitoring by capture, immobilization, and collaring; and salvage	New.

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. 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 the 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.).

Marilet A. Zablan,

Regional Program Manager for Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, Pacific Region.