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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R3-ES-2023-N069; FXES11130300000-234-FF03E00000]
 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 or threatened species under the ESA. 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 on or before September 27, 2023.
 ADDRESSES: *Document availability and comment submission:*
                         Submit requests for copies of the applications and related documents, as well as any comments, by one of the following methods. All requests and comments should specify the applicant name(s) and application number(s) (
                        *e.g.,*
                         ESXXXXXX; see table in 
                        **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**
                        ): *Email (preferred method): permitsR3ES@fws.gov.*
                         Please refer to the respective application number (
                        *e.g.,*
                         Application No. ESXXXXXX) in the subject line of your email message.
                    *U.S. Mail:*
                         Regional Director, Attn: Nathan Rathbun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Rathbun, 612-713-5343 (phone); 
                        *permitsR3ES@fws.gov*
                         (email). 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 and the Freedom of Information Act. Background The ESA 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 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. Application No.
Applicant
Species
Location
Activity
Type of take
Permit
                             actionES98298A
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus, OH
Add new species—round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*), pink mucket (
                            *Lampsilis abrupta*), and longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*)—to existing authorized 10 freshwater mussel species
OH
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release
Amend.ES206781
EcoAnalysts, Inc., O'Fallon, MO
Add new species—round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*) and longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*)—to existing authorized 60 freshwater mussel species
AR, CO, CT, DE, IA, IN, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate under special circumstances
Amend.ES48835A
Applied Science & Technology, Inc., Brighton, MI
Add new species—round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*) and longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*)—to existing authorized eight freshwater mussel species
MI, OH
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate under special circumstances
Amend.ES53616C
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
IL
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, sample, salvage, and release
Renew and amend.PER3213383
Heidi McMullin, Poplar Bluff, MO
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *Myotis septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *Myotis grisescens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus*), and Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*)
AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets or harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
New.ESPER0011986
Lindsey Jakovljavic, Kirtland, OH
Add new species—round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*) and longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*)—to existing authorized 20 freshwater mussel species
OK, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, AL, AR, KY, MS, TN, NJ, NY, PA, WV, KS
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate under special circumstances
Amend.( print page 58599)PER3542792
Burke Engineering, Rosemont, IL
Sheepnose mussel (
                            *Plethobasus cyphyus*)
IL
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate under special circumstances
New.ESPER1224186
Greg Gaulke, Madison, WI
Add new species—sheepnose (
                            *Plethobasus cyphyus*), clubshell, (
                            *Pleurobema clava*), fanshell (
                            *Cyprogenia stegaria*), northern riffleshell (
                            *Epioblasma rangiana*), purple cat's paw pearlymussel (
                            *Epioblasma obliquata*), rayed bean (
                            *Villosa fabalis*), white cat's paw (
                            *Epioblasma perobliqua*), round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*), pyramid pigtoe (
                            *Pleurobema rubrum*), longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*)—to six existing authorized freshwater mussel species
IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate under special circumstances
Amend.ES81968B
Curtis Hart, Hudson, MI.
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus*), and Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *C. townsendii ingens*)
OK, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, CT, DE, DC, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV, KS, MT, NE, ND, SD, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Add New Activities—Collect wing punches and tissue samples—to existing authorized activities: Capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Amend.ES70488C
Scott Bergeson, Fort Wayne, IN
Add new species—tri-colored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *Myotis septentrionalis*), and gray bat (
                            *Myotis**grisescens*)
AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WI, WV
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist-nets and harp traps, handle, identify, radio-tag, band, enter hibernacula, collect nonintrusive measurements, and release
Amend.ES62048D
Carly Kalina, Des Moines, IA
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis**sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *Myotis**septentrionalis*), and gray bat (
                            *Myotis grisescens*)
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WI, WV, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist-nets, handle, identify, radio-tag, band, enter hibernacula, collect nonintrusive measurements, collect tissue/fecal samples, and release
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. Moreover, 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.*). Lori Nordstrom, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.


[FR Doc. 2023-18481 Filed 8-25-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P