[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)] [Notices] [Pages 35187-35192] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2024-09347] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-ES-2024-N026; FXES11140400000-245-FF04E00000] Endangered Species; 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 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 written data or comments on the applications by May 31, 2024. ADDRESSES: Reviewing Documents: Submit requests for copies of applications and other information submitted with the applications to Karen Marlowe (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). All requests and comments should specify the applicant's name and application number (e.g., Mary Smith, ESPER0001234). Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by one of the following methods:Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please include your name and return address in your email message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that we have received your email message, contact us directly at the telephone number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, Ecological Services, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345 (Attn: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator, via telephone at 404-679-7097 or via email at [email protected]. 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 review and comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies on applications we have received for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered and threatened species under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and our regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17. Documents and other information submitted with the applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Background With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that authorizes such take. The definition of ``take'' in the ESA includes hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing, and also such activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting. A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes the permittee to take endangered or threatened species while engaging in activities that are conducted for scientific purposes that promote recovery of species or for enhancement of propagation or survival of species. These activities often include the capture and collection of species, which would result in prohibited take if a permit were not issued. 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. Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment 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. Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in the wild. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Permit application No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES117405-5.................... Tennessee Valley Tricolored bat Alabama, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal and Authority; (Perimyotis Arkansas, absence surveys. or maternity amendment Knoxville, TN. subflavus). Georgia, roost caves, Kentucky, capture with Mississippi, mist nets or North Carolina, harp traps, Tennessee, and handle, Virginia. identify, collect hair samples, band, radio tag, light tag, wing punch, and release. [[Page 35188]] ES79580A-4.................... Jason Butler; Tricolored bat Kentucky, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula Renewal and Midway, KY. (Perimyotis Tennessee, absence surveys. or maternity amendment subflavus). Virginia, and roost caves, West Virginia. capture, handle, identify, band, radio tag, and release. ES75560C-1.................... Jeffrey Hawkins; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Scientific Bats: Enter Renewal and Richmond, KY. grisescens), Indiana Arkansas, research and hibernacula or amendment bat (Myotis sodalis), Connecticut, population maternity roost northern long-eared Delaware, monitoring. caves, capture, bat (Myotis Florida, handle, septentrionalis), Georgia, identify, Ozark big-eared bat Illinois, collect hair (Corynorhinus Indiana, Iowa, samples, band, townsendii ingens), Kansas, radio tag, light tricolored bat Kentucky, tag, swab, and (Perimyotis Louisiana, wing punch; subflavus), Virginia Maine, Maryland, fishes and big-eared bat Massachusetts, mussels: (Corynorhinus Michigan, capture, townsendii Minnesota, identify, and virginianus), Mississippi, release. blackside dace Missouri, (Phoxinus Montana, cumberlandensis), Nebraska, New Kentucky arrow darter Hampshire, New (Etheostoma Jersey, New spilotum), and 40 York, North species of freshwater Carolina, North mussels. Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ES171493-5.................... Memphis Zoo; Dusky gopher frog Louisiana, Captive Dusky gopher Renewal and Memphis, TN. (Rana sevosa) and Mississippi, propagation and frog: capture by amendment Louisiana pinesnake Tennessee, and release, hand and with (Pituophis ruthveni). Texas. monitoring of dip nets, PIT reintroduced tag, VIA tag, populations, and collect eggs, scientific collect toe research. clips, swab, preserve deceased specimens, transport, release, monitor, and humanely euthanize captive-bred individuals; Louisiana pinesnake: capture, handle, PIT tag, collect semen, collect blood and shed skins, conduct in-situ gastric washing, swab, and remove up to five males from the wild. [[Page 35189]] ES75551C-1.................... Phillip Arant; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Capture, handle, Renewal Fairmont, WV. grisescens), Indiana Arkansas, absence surveys. identify, band, bat (Myotis sodalis), Connecticut, radio tag, and and northern long- Delaware, release. eared bat (Myotis District of septentrionalis). Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ES100626-10................... Selby Atlantic pigtoe Alabama, Presence probable Capture, handle Renewal and Environmental, (Fusconaia masoni), Arkansas, absence surveys. identify, amendment Inc; Decatur, AL. birdwing pearlymussel Florida, release, and (Lemiox rimosus), Georgia, salvage relic black warrior Illinois, shells. waterdog (Necturus Indiana, Iowa, alabamensis), Canoe Kansas, Creek clubshell Kentucky, (Pleurobema Louisiana, athearni), longsolid Michigan, (Fusconaia Minnesota, subrotunda), oyster Mississippi, mussel (Epioblasma Missouri, capsaeformis), purple Nebraska, New bankclimber Mexico, New (Elliptoideus York, North sloatianus), round Carolina, Ohio, hickorynut (Obovaria Oklahoma, subrotunda), Pennsylvania, sheepnose South Dakota, (Plethobasus Tennessee, cyphyus), snuffbox Texas, Virginia, (Epioblasma West Virginia, triquetra), Suwannee and Wisconsin. moccasinshell (Medionidus walkeri), tan riffleshell (Epioblasma florentina walkeri [=E. walker]), and yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata). PER0018443-1.................. U.S. Army Cylindrical lioplax Alabama.......... Presence/probable Capture, handle, Amendment Engineer (Lioplax absence surveys identify, and Research and cyclostomaformis), and scientific release. Development Lacy elimia (Elimia studies. Center; crenatella), painted Vicksburg, MS. rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata), rough hornsnail (Pleurocera foremani), and tulotoma snail (Tulotoma magnifica). PER0039682-0.................. Carl Dick; Gray bat (Myotis North Carolina... Parasitic micro Capture, handle, New Bowling Green, grisescens), Indiana fungi study. identify, band, KY. bat (Myotis sodalis), and release. northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus towsendii virginianus). [[Page 35190]] PER8279969-0.................. Drew Powell; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Enter hibernacula New Louisville, KY. grisescens), Indiana Arkansas, absence surveys. or maternity bat (Myotis sodalis), Colorado, caves, capture, northern long-eared Connecticut, handle, bat (Myotis Delaware, identify, band, septentrionalis), and District of radio tag, tricolored bat Columbia, collect hair, (Perimyotis Florida, swab, fungal subflavus). Georgia, lift tape, and Illinois, release. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. PER8275393-0.................. Scott Slankard; Gray bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Capture, handle, New Lawrenceburg, KY. grisescens), Indiana Arkansas, absence surveys. identify, band, bat (Myotis sodalis), Connecticut, radio tag, and northern long-eared Delaware, release. bat (Myotis District of septentrionalis), Columbia, Ozark big-eared bat Florida, (Corynorhinus Georgia, townsendii ingens), Illinois, tricolored bat Indiana, Iowa, (Perimyotis Kansas, subflavus), Virginia Kentucky, big-eared bat Louisiana, (Corynorhinus Maine, Maryland, townsendii Massachusetts, virginianus). Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. ES102418-3.................... Florida Army Red-cockaded Camp Blanding Presence/probable Red-cockaded Renewal and National Guard; woodpecker (Picoides Joint Training absence surveys woodpecker: amendment Starke, FL. borealis) and eastern Center, Starke, and population monitor nest indigo snake FL. management. cavities, (Drymarchon corais capture, band, couperi). release, and install artificial nest cavities; eastern indigo snake: scope burrows, capture, handle, and release. ES50300D-1.................... Edward Wilson; Gray bat (Myotis Kentucky, Ohio, Presence/probable Capture, handle, Amendment Lexington, KY. grisescens), Indiana and Tennessee. absence surveys. identify, band, bat (Myotis sodalis), radio tag, and northern long-eared release. bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). ES009638-13................... Appalachian Tricolored bat Alabama, Georgia, Presence/probable Enter Amendment Technical (Perimyotis Indiana, absence surveys. hibernacula, Services, Inc.; subflavus). Kentucky, capture, handle, Wise, VA. Mississippi, identify, band, North Carolina, radio tag, and Ohio, release. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. [[Page 35191]] ES82659D-1.................... Sarah Messer; Indiana bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Capture, handle, Amendment Huntington, WV. sodalis), gray bat Arkansas, absence surveys. identify, band, (Myotis grisescens), Colorado, radio tag, and northern long-eared Connecticut, release. bat (Myotis Delaware, septentrionalis), and Florida, tricolored bat Georgia, (Perimyotis Illinois, subflavus). Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. CS5916357-0................... Peter Hazelton, Carolina heelsplitter South Carolina... Presence/probable Capture, handle, New University of (Lasmigona decorata). absence surveys identify, Georgia; Athens, and population release, and GA. demographic and salvage relic habitat data shells. collection. PER9340831-0.................. Jeffrey Garner; Anthony's riversnail Alabama, Florida, Presence/probable Capture, handle, New Florence, AL. (Athearnia anthonyi), Georgia, absence surveys, identify, armored marstonia Mississippi, quantification release, and (Marstonia pachyta), North Carolina, of community salvage relic cylindrical lioplax Tennessee, and composition and shells. (Lioplax Virginia. density, and cyclostomatiformis), nonlethal flat pebblesnail collection of (Lepyrium DNA samples. showalteri), interrupted rocksnail (Leptoxis foremani), lacy elimia (Elimia crenatella), painted rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata), plicate rocksnail (Leptoxis plicata), rough hornsnail (Pleurocera foremani), round rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla), royal marstonia (Marstonia ogmorhaphe), slender campeloma (Campeloma decampi), tulotoma (Tulotoma magnifica), and 73 species of freshwater mussels. ES676379-8.................... NOAA/National Green sea turtle Alabama, Florida, Population PIT tag and Renewal and Marine Fisheries (Chelonia mydas), Georgia, monitoring. flipper tag; amendment Service; hawksbill sea turtle Louisiana, collect biopsy, Pascagoula, MS. (Eretmochelys Mississippi, blood, and scute imbricata), Kemp's North Carolina, samples. ridley sea turtle South Carolina, (Lepidochelys and Texas. kempii), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). ES41910B-4.................... Scott Rush, Indiana bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Bats: capture, Renewal and Mississippi sodalis), gray bat Louisiana, absence surveys handle, amendment State (Myotis grisescens), Mississippi, and scientific identify, band, University; northern long-eared Ohio, and research. collect hair Starkville, MS. bat (Myotis Tennessee. samples, and septentrionalis), and release; Gopher gopher tortoise tortoise: scope (Gopherus polyphemus). burrows, capture, handle, mark, attach transmitters, and attach GPS data loggers. [[Page 35192]] PER9604902-0.................. Kaitlyn Torrey; Indiana bat (Myotis Alabama, Presence/probable Capture, handle, New Woodstock, GA. sodalis), gray bat Arkansas, absence surveys. identify, band, (Myotis grisescens), Colorado, radio tag, and northern long-eared Connecticut, release. bat (Myotis Delaware, septentrionalis), and District of tricolored bat Columbia, (Perimyotis Florida, subflavus). Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. PER9605390-0.................. Amanda Chucky madtom (Noturus Tennessee and Presence/probable Fishes: capture, New Rosenberger; crypticus) and 53 Virginia. absence surveys handle, Cookeville, TN. species of freshwater and scientific identify, swab, mussels. research. fin clip, and release; Mussels: capture, handle, identify, release, and salvage relic shells. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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. 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 After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding permit issuance. If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed above in this notice, we will publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register. You may locate the notice announcing the permit issuance by searching https://www.regulations.gov for the application number listed above in this document. Type in your search exactly as the application number appears above, with spaces and hyphens as necessary. For example, to find information about the potential issuance of Permit No. PER 1234567-0, you would go to https://www.regulations.gov and put ``PER 1234567-0'' in the Search field. 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.). Sean Blomquist, Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2024-09347 Filed 4-30-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P