2016-31700. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit Applications  

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    AGENCY:

    Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

    ACTION:

    Notice of availability; 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 enhance the survival of endangered or threatened species. Federal law prohibits certain activities with endangered species unless a permit is obtained.

    DATES:

    We must receive any written comments on or before January 30, 2017.

    ADDRESSES:

    Send written comments by U.S. mail to the Regional Director, Attn: Carlita Payne, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458; or by electronic mail to permitsR3ES@fws.gov.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Carlita Payne, (612) 713-5343.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened species unless the activities are specifically 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 permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with U.S. endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes, enhancement of propagation or survival, or interstate commerce (the latter only in the event that it facilitates scientific purposes or enhancement of propagation or survival). Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 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.

    Applications Available for Review and Comment

    We invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies and the public to comment on the following applications. Please refer to the permit number when you submit comments. Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with the applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

    Permit Applications

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

    Application No.ApplicantSpeciesLocationActivityType of takePermit action
    TE38793AKenneth MierzwaHine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana)Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, WisconsinSurvey and monitor, habitat assessmentCapture and release, exuviae collection, adult countsRenew.
    TE11170CAshleigh CableIndiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (M. grisescens), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis)IllinoisConduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, evaluate impactsCapture, handle, radio-tag, harp trap, releaseNew.
    TE01311CShawn McKinleyIndiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (M. grisescens), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), Virginia big-eared bat (Plecotus townsendii virginianus)RangewideConduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, evaluate impactsCapture, handle, mist-net, harp trap, radio-tag, band, releaseNew.
    TE13571CJennifer MooreEastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)MichiganSurvey and monitoring, habitat assessment, population connectivity assessmentCapture, handle, pit-tag, tissue collection, releaseNew.
    TE14588CDane SmithIndiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (M. grisescens), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis)MissouriConduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, evaluate impactsCapture, handle, mist-net, radio-tag, band, tissue collection, releaseNew.
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    TE15664CApril McKayIndiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (M. grisescens), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis)RangewideConduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, evaluate impactsCapture, handle, mist-net, harp trap, radio-tag, band, releaseNew.
    TE106217The Toledo Zoological SocietyMitchell's satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii)OhioPropagation and transportCapture, handle, hold, releaseAmend, renew.
    TE85231BKalamazoo Nature CenterMitchell's satyr butterfly (N.m. mitchellii)MichiganPropagation and transportCapture, handle, temporarily hold, releaseAmend.
    TE02373AEnvironmental Solutions and InnovationsIndiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (M. grisescens), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), Virginia big-eared bat (Plecotus townsendii virginianus), Ozark big-eared bat (P.t.ingens), American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus), Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis), Mitchell's satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii), St. Francis' satyr butterfly (N.m. francisci), rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Guyandotte River crayfish (Cambarus veteranus), Big Sandy crayfish (C. callainus), 12 fish species, 57 freshwater mussel speciesRangewideConduct presence/absence surveys, habitat assessment, DNA sampling, relocation, transportCapture, handle, temporarily hold, releaseAmend, renew.
    TE194099Michael Hoggarth30 freshwater mussel speciesIndiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, West VirginiaConduct presence/absence surveys, relocations, transportCapture, handle, relocate, releaseRenew.
    TE14549CLarissa Herrera10 freshwater mussel speciesIllinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, WisconsinConduct presence/absence surveysCapture, handle, releaseNew.
    TE181256Lewis Environmental Consulting, LLC62 freshwater mussel speciesAlabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West VirginiaConduct presence/absence surveys, transport, propagationCapture, handle, hold, transport, releaseAmend, renew.

    National Environmental Policy Act

    The proposed activities in the requested permits qualify as categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act, as provided by Department of the Interior implementing regulations in part 46 of title 43 of the CFR (43 CFR 46.205, 46.210, and 46.215).

    Public Availability of Comments

    We seek public review and comments on these permit applications. Please refer to the permit number when you submit comments. Comments and materials we receive in response to this notice are available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address listed above 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.).

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    Dated: December 23, 2016.

    Lori H. Nordstrom,

    Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.

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    [FR Doc. 2016-31700 Filed 12-29-16; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Document Information

Published:
12/30/2016
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of availability; request for comments.
Document Number:
2016-31700
Dates:
We must receive any written comments on or before January 30, 2017.
Pages:
96473-96474 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
FWS-R3-ES-2016-N229, FXES11130300000-178-FF03E00000
PDF File:
2016-31700.pdf