2020-02384. Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit Applications  

  • Start Preamble Start Printed Page 7328

    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 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 by March 9, 2020.

    ADDRESSES:

    Document availability and comment submission: Use one of the following methods to request documents or submit comments. Requests and comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) (e.g., TE123456):

    • Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov.
    • U.S. Mail: Marjorie Nelson, Chief, Division of Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Blvd., Suite 670, Lakewood, CO 80228.
    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits Coordinator, Ecological Services, 303-236-4224 (phone), or permitsR6ES@fws.gov (email). Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 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

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public to comment on the following applications.

    Application No.ApplicantSpeciesLocationTake activityPermit action
    TE00670A-5South Dakota Department Game Fish and Parks, Pierre, SD• Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka)SDCapture, handle, mark, insert PIT tags, clip fins, and releaseRenew.
    TE26376D-0Steven C. Forrest, Truckee, CA• Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)AZ, CO, KS, MT, NM, SD, UT, WYPursue for presence/absence surveys, capture, mark, vaccinate, release, reintroduce, and monitor populationsNew.
    TE06665B-0Utah Division of Wildlife Resources• Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus)UTCapture, handle, measure, reintroduce, insert VIE tags, tissue sample for genetic analysis, and releaseNew.
    TE069300-2Nebraska Game and Parks Commission• Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus)NE, SD, IA, KS, MOCapture, handle, measure, insert PIT tags, tissue sample for genetic analysis, and releaseAmend.
    TE207946-3Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center• New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus)COCapture, handle, measureRenew.
    TE56902B-1Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO• Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus)MT, NDCapture, handle, measure, insert PIT tags, tissue sample for genetic analysis, release, broodstock collection, and translocationRenew.
    TE66335D-0Martin & Nicholson Environmental Consultants, LLC• Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)CO, UTPursue for presence/absence surveysNew.

    Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the administrative record. 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 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 Signature

    Stephen Small,

    Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of the Interior Unified Regions 5 and 7.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2020-02384 Filed 2-6-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Document Information

Published:
02/07/2020
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
Document Number:
2020-02384
Dates:
We must receive your written comments by March 9, 2020.
Pages:
7328-7328 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
FWS-R6-ES-2019-N171, FXES11130600000-201-FF06E00000
PDF File:
2020-02384.pdf