2014-06289. Endangered Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications

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 recovery permits to conduct activities with the purpose of enhancing the survival of endangered species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits certain activities with endangered species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing such permits.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by April 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Program Manager for Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4181. Please refer to the permit number for the application when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colleen Henson, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the above address or by telephone [phone]) or fax [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits certain activities with respect to endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. Along with our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17, the Act provides for certain permits, and requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits for endangered species.

A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act authorizes the permittee to conduct activities (including take or interstate commerce) with respect to U.S. endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes or enhancement of propagation or survival. Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act 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, and Federal agencies, and the public to comment on the following applications. Please refer to the appropriate permit number for the application when submitting comments.

Documents and other information submitted with these applications are available for review by request from the Program Manager for Restoration and Endangered Species Classification at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

Permit Number: TE-08913A

Applicant: Greg S. Fitzpatrick, Corvallis, Oregon

The applicant requests an amendment of a recovery permit to take (pursue, capture, and establish new populations) the Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) in conjunction with surveys and establishment of new populations throughout its range in Oregon for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Number: TE-096741

Applicant: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The applicant requests an amendment to an existing recovery permit to take (collect eggshells, monitor nests and nest temperature, locate with taped-playback calls, capture, band, measure, mark, collect blood and feather samples, radio-tag, and release) the Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse laperouse) in conjunction with scientific research in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Number: TE-043638

Applicant: Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

The applicant requests an amendment to an existing recovery permit to take (collect for captive propagation) Hawaiian picture-wing flies Drosophila aglaia, D. hemipeza, D. montgomeryi, D. obatai, D. substenoptera, and D. tarphytrichia, and to remove and reduce to possession Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. Lepidotum (no common name) on Oahu Island, Hawaii, in conjunction with life-history studies for the purpose of enhancing their survival.

Public Availability of Comments

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

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 Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: March 13, 2014.

Jason Holm,

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.