2020-09080. 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 of 1973, as amended. 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 May 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Document availability and comment submission: Submit requests for copies of the applications 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 TE-08964A-2):

• Email: [e-mail].
• U.S. Mail: Marilet Zablan, 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:

Colleen Henson, Regional Recovery Permit Coordinator, Ecological Services, [phone] (phone); [e-mail] (email). Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

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, 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
TE-826600	Dr. Melissa Price, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI	Lanai tree snail (Partulina semicarinata) Lanai tree snail (Partulina variabilis) Newcomb's tree snail (Newcombia cumingi) Oahu tree snail (Achatinella spp.)	Hawaii	Harass by survey, capture, handle, measure, mark, attach transmitters (Oahu tree snails only), biosample, release, captive propagate, and salvage	Renew
TE-72088A	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI	Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)	Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and Pacific Remote Islands Areas	Harass by survey; monitor; capture; handle; excavate nests, collect eggs; captive-rear hatchlings; biosample; identify; tag; deploy data loggers in nests; attach biotelemetry devices and satellite transmitters; release; research, including reproduction, food, and growth rates; and salvage	Amend
TE-19045C	Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Honolulu, HI	Anthricinan yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus anthracinus) Lanai tree snail (Partulina semicarinata) Lanai tree snail (Partulina variabilis) Newcomb's tree snail (Newcombia cumingi) Oahu tree snail (Achatinella spp.) Orangeblack Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion xanthomelas)	Hawaii	Harass by capture, collect, handle, biosample, captive propagate, release, mark, monitor, and salvage	Amend
TE-48278D	Archipelago Research and Conservation, Kalaheo, HI	Band-rumped storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro) Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis)	Hawaii	Harass by survey, monitor nests, capture, handle, band, biosample and scent research (band-rumped storm-petrel only), release, install artificial burrows and social attraction array, and salvage	Amend

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 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.).

Rolland White,

Assistant Regional Director-Ecological Services, Pacific Region.