[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8098-8101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03725]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2018-N005; FXES11130300000-189-FF03E00000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit
Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to
comment on applications for permits to conduct activities intended to
enhance the propagation or 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 March 26,
2018.
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.
Requesting Copies of Applications or Public Comments: Copies of
applications or public comments concerning any of the applications in
this notice may be obtained by any party who submits a written request
for a copy of such documents to the above-mentioned office within 30
days of the date of publication 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).
Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the
following methods. Please specify applicant name(s) and application
number(s) to which your comments pertain (e.g., TEXXXXXX).
Email: permitsR3ES@fws.gov. Please refer to the respective
permit number (e.g., Application No. TEXXXXXX) in the subject line of
your email message.
U.S. Mail: Regional Director, Attn: Carlita Payne (address
above).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlita Payne, 612-713-5343;
permitsR3ES@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 propagation or survival
of endangered or threatened species. Federal law prohibits certain
activities with endangered species unless a permit is obtained.
Background
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.; ESA), 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.
[[Page 8099]]
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.
Permit 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 propagation or survival of the species in
the wild.
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Application No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action
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TE64079B......... Minnesota Zoological Dakota skipper IA, MI, MN, ND, SD, WI... Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend, renew.
Garden, Apple (Hesperia dacotae), absence surveys, collect eggs,
Valley, MN. Poweshiek conduct population propagate, release.
skipperling monitoring.
(Oarisma poweshiek).
TE85228B......... Eric Schroder, Add Indiana bat Add new locations--AL, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend, renew.
Fairmont, WV. (Myotis sodalis) AR, CT, GA, IL, KY, MD, absence surveys, mist-net, radio-
and Virginia big- MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY, document habitat tag, band, release.
eared bat NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VT, use, conduct
(Corynorhinus WI, WV--to existing population
townsendii authorized locations: monitoring,
virginianus) to Northern IA, northern evaluate impacts.
existing permitted MI, central/southern AL,
species: Northern central/southern AR,
long-eared bat (M. central/southern GA, LA,
septentrionalis). central/southern MS,
central/eastern NC, SC,
northern CT, DE, DC,
southern/eastern MD, MA,
NH, southern NJ, RI,
eastern VT, central/
eastern VA, KS, MT, NE,
ND, SD, IA.
TE73587A......... Missouri Department Ozark hellbender MO....................... Research, conduct Capture, handle, Renew.
of Conservation, (Cryptobranchus presence/absence collect sperm and
Jefferson City, MO. alleganiensis surveys, document eggs, transport,
bishop). habitat use, hold, propagate,
conduct population pit-tag, augment,
monitoring, reintroduce,
evaluate impacts. release.
TE71682A......... Megan Martin, Add northern long- AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, Conduct presence/ Add new activity-- Amend, renew.
Indianapolis, IN. eared bat (Myotis GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, absence surveys, band--to existing
septentrionalis) to MD, MI, MS, MN, MO, NH, document habitat authorized
existing permitted NJ, NY, NC, OK, OH, PA, use, conduct activities:
species: Indiana RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV, population Capture, handle,
bat (M. sodalis), WI. monitoring, mist-net, radio-
gray bat (M. evaluate impacts. tag, release.
grisescens).
TE62286A......... Jason Whittle, Indiana bat (Myotis AL, AR, CT, GA, IL, IN, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Renew.
Richfield, OH. sodalis), northern IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, absence surveys, mist-net, harp
long-eared bat (M. MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, document habitat trap, radio-tag,
septentrionalis). OK, OH, PA, SC, TN, VT, use, conduct band, wing biopsy,
VA, WV. population collect hair,
monitoring, fungal lift tape
evaluate impacts. and swab samples,
release.
TE151107......... Redwing Ecological Indiana bat (Myotis AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IL, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Renew.
Services, Inc., sodalis), gray bat IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, absence surveys, mist-net, harp
Louisville, KY. (M. grisescens), MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, document habitat trap, radio-tag,
northern long-eared OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, use, conduct band, enter
bat (M. VT, VA, WV, WI. population hibernacula,
septentrionalis), monitoring, release.
Ozark big-eared bat evaluate impacts.
(Corynorhinus
towsendii ingens),
Virginia big-eared
bat (C.t.
virginianus).
TE64074B......... TeaLeaf Ecological, Indiana bat (Myotis AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Renew.
LLC, Chambersburg, sodalis), gray bat GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, absence surveys, mist-net, harp
PA. (M. grisescens), LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, document habitat trap, radio-tag,
northern long-eared MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, use, conduct band, wing biopsy,
bat (M. NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, population collect hair,
septentrionalis), RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, monitoring, fungal lift tape
Virginia big-eared WV, WI, WY. evaluate impacts. and swab samples,
bat (Corynorhinus release.
towsendii
virginianus).
[[Page 8100]]
TE74592A......... Robert Brown, Indiana bat (Myotis Add new locations--DC, Conduct presence/ Add new activities-- Amend, renew.
Cincinnati, OH. sodalis), gray bat FL, LA, ME, MN, MT, NE, absence surveys, collect hair and
(M. grisescens), ND, SD, WY--to existing document habitat guano samples--to
northern long-eared authorized locations: use, conduct existing
bat (M. AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IL, population authorized
septentrionalis), IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, monitoring, activities:
Ozark big-eared bat MI, MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, evaluate impacts. Capture, handle,
(Corynorhinus NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, mist-net, harp
towsendii ingens), TN, VT, VA, WV, WI. trap, radio-tag,
Virginia big-eared band, enter
bat (C.t. hibernacula,
virginianus). release.
TE30970B......... Jeffrey Miller, Indiana bat (Myotis AR, CT, DE, DC, IL, IN, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Renew.
Vancouver, WA. sodalis), gray bat IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, absence surveys, mist-net, harp
(M. grisescens), MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, document habitat trap, radio-tag,
northern long-eared ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, use, conduct release, salvage.
bat (M. TN, VT, VA, WV, WI. population
septentrionalis), monitoring,
Ozark big-eared bat evaluate impacts.
(Corynorhinus
towsendii ingens).
TE21829B......... Larisa Bishop-Boros, Add lesser long- Add new locations--AZ, Conduct presence/ Add new activities-- Amend, renew.
Laramie, WY. nosed bat NM--to existing absence surveys, collect pollen
(Leptonycteris authorized locations: document habitat samples, light-
curasoae AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, use, conduct tag, enter roosts--
yerbabuenae) to GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, population to existing
existing permitted LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, monitoring, authorized
species: Indiana MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, evaluate impacts. activities:
bat (Myotis NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, Capture, handle,
sodalis), gray bat RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, mist-net, harp
(M. grisescens), WV, WI, WY. trap, radio-tag,
northern long-eared wing biopsy,
bat (M. collect hair,
septentrionalis), guano, fungal lift
Ozark big-eared bat tape and swab
(Corynorhinus samples, enter
towsendii ingens), hibernacula,
Virginia big-eared release, salvage.
bat (C.t.
virginianus).
TE70488C......... Scott Bergeson, Fort Indiana bat (Myotis AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, New.
Wayne, IN. sodalis), gray bat IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, absence surveys, mist-net, harp
(M. grisescens), MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, document habitat trap, radio-tag,
northern long-eared NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, use, conduct band, wing biopsy,
bat (M. PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, population collect hair
septentrionalis). VA, WV, WI. monitoring, samples, enter
evaluate impacts. hibernacula and
maternity roost
caves, release,
salvage.
TE35859B......... Charles Mills, Least tern (Sterna IN....................... Conduct population Harass, handle Amend, renew.
Newburgh, IN. antillarum). monitoring, eggs, salvage.
document
reproductive
behavior and
productivity.
TE90090B......... Power Engineers Remove 83 mussel DE, KS, ME, MA, MN, MT, Conduct presence/ Capture, handle, Amend, renew.
Inc., Freeport, species and 41 fish NE, NH, ND, OK, RI, SD, absence surveys, mist-net, release.
Maine. species from WI, WY. document habitat
existing permitted use, conduct
species: Northern population
long-eared bat monitoring,
(Myotis evaluate impacts.
septentrionalis).
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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 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.
Contents of Public Comments
Please make your comments as specific as possible. Please confine
your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and
explain the basis for your comments. Include sufficient information
with your comments to allow us to authenticate any scientific or
commercial data you include.
The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and
likely to
[[Page 8101]]
influence agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by quantitative
information or studies; and (2) Those that include citations to, and
analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations.
Next Steps
If the Service decides to issue permits to any of the applicants
listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal
Register.
Authority
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 10, 2018.
Lori H. Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-03725 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
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