[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58600-58603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18523]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2023-N070; FXES11140400000-234-FF04E00000]


Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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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 
September 27, 2023.

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 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:
    <bullet> Email (preferred method): <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#becedbccd3d7cacdec8afbedfed8c9cd90d9d1c8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="572732253a3e2324056312041731202479303821">[email protected]</span></a>. 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.
    <bullet> 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, 
404-679-7097 (telephone) or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e883899a8d86b785899a84879f8da88e9f9bc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83e8e2f1e6eddceee2f1efecf4e6c3e5f4f0ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a> (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 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 ESA's 
definition of ``take'' 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) 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.

[[Page 58601]]



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 Permit application
       number              Applicant             Species              Location            Activity                Type of take            Permit action
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PER4098933-0........  Robert Stinson;      Gray bat (Myotis     Alabama, Georgia,    Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula or           New.
                       Knoxville, TN.       grisescens),         Kentucky,            absence surveys,    maternity roost caves,
                                            Indiana bat          Mississippi, North   studies to          capture with mist nets or
                                            (Myotis sodalis),    Carolina, South      document habitat    harp traps, handle,
                                            northern long-       Carolina,            use, population     identify, band, radio tag,
                                            eared bat (Myotis    Tennessee, and       monitoring, and     and release.
                                            septentrionalis),    Virginia.            studies to
                                            tricolored bat                            evaluate
                                            (Perimyotis                               potential impacts
                                            subflavus), and                           of white-nose
                                            Virginia big-eared                        syndrome and
                                            bat (Corynorhinus                         other threats.
                                            townsendii
                                            virginianus).
PER3404461-0........  Megan Wallrichs;     Florida bonneted     Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula or           New.
                       Knoxville, TN.       bat (Eumops          Colorado,            absence surveys,    maternity roost caves,
                                            floridanus), gray    Connecticut,         studies to          capture with mist nets or
                                            bat (Myotis          Delaware, Florida,   document habitat    harp traps, handle,
                                            grisescens),         Georgia, Illinois,   use, population     identify, band, radio tag,
                                            Indiana bat          Indiana, Iowa,       monitoring, and     swab, and release.
                                            (Myotis sodalis),    Kansas, Kentucky,    studies to
                                            northern long-       Louisiana, Maine,    evaluate
                                            eared bat (Myotis    Maryland,            potential impacts
                                            septentrionalis),    Massachusetts,       of white-nose
                                            and tricolored bat   Michigan,            syndrome and
                                            (Perimyotis          Minnesota,           other threats.
                                            subflavus).          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.
ES81430B-2..........  Heather Wallace;     Tricolored bat       Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula, capture     Amendment.
                       Raleigh, NC.         (Perimyotis          Georgia, Kentucky,   absence surveys,    with mist nets or harp
                                            subflavus).          Louisiana,           population          traps, handle, identify,
                                                                 Mississippi, North   monitoring,         band, radio tag, and release.
                                                                 Carolina, South      genetic analyses,
                                                                 Carolina, and        and studies to
                                                                 Tennessee.           evaluate
                                                                                      potential impacts
                                                                                      of white-nose
                                                                                      syndrome and
                                                                                      other threats.
ES102292-14.........  Jeremy Jackson;      Gray bat (Myotis     Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula or           Renewal and
                       Richmond, KY.        grisescens),         Connecticut,         absence surveys,    maternity roost caves,         amendment.
                                            Indiana bat          Delaware, Florida,   studies to          capture with mist nets or
                                            (Myotis sodalis),    Georgia, Illinois,   document habitat    harp traps, handle,
                                            northern long-       Indiana, Iowa,       use, and            identify, collect hair
                                            eared bat (Myotis    Kansas, Kentucky,    population          samples, band, radio tag,
                                            septentrionalis),    Louisiana, Maine,    monitoring.         and release.
                                            tricolored bat       Massachusetts,
                                            (Perimyotis          Michigan,
                                            subflavus), and      Minnesota,
                                            Virginia big-eared   Mississippi,
                                            bat (Corynorhinus    Missouri, Montana,
                                            townsendii           Nebraska, New
                                            virginianus).        Hampshire, New
                                                                 Jersey, New York,
                                                                 North Carolina,
                                                                 North Dakota,
                                                                 Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                                                 Pennsylvania,
                                                                 Rhode Island,
                                                                 South Carolina,
                                                                 South Dakota,
                                                                 Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                 Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                 West Virginia,
                                                                 Wisconsin, and
                                                                 Wyoming.
PER3535456-0........  Mirabeau Dudley;     Red-cockaded         Alabama............  Population          Capture, band, construct and   New.
                       Pittsview, AL.       woodpecker                                management and      monitor artificial nest
                                            (Picoides                                 monitoring.         cavities and restrictors,
                                            borealis).                                                    translocate, recapture, and
                                                                                                          release.

[[Page 58602]]

 
PER3726625-0........  Kelly Stewart; La    Green sea turtle     U.S. Virgin Islands  Nest monitoring     Capture; handle; measure;      New.
                       Jolla, CA.           (Chelonia mydas),                         and protection,     collect tissue and blood;
                                            hawksbill sea                             and habitat use,    flipper, satellite, and PIT
                                            turtle                                    demographic, and    tag; salvage dead hatchlings
                                            (Eretmochelys                             genetic studies.    and nonviable eggs; and
                                            imbricata),                                                   examine and relocate nests.
                                            leatherback sea
                                            turtle
                                            (Dermochelys
                                            coriacea), and
                                            loggerhead sea
                                            turtle (Caretta
                                            caretta).
ES57873C-1..........  Arkansas Natural     Yellowcheek darter   Arkansas...........  Presence/probable   Capture, identify, and         Renewal.
                       Heritage             (Etheostoma                               absence surveys.    release.
                       Commission; Little   moorei).
                       Rock, AR.
ES62778B-3..........  Chanston Osborne;    Tricolored bat       Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable   Capture with mist nets and     Amendment.
                       Aberdeen, NC.        (Perimyotis          Colorado,            absence surveys.    harp traps, handle,
                                            subflavus).          Connecticut,                             identify, band, radio tag,
                                                                 Delaware, District                       and release.
                                                                 of Columbia,
                                                                 Florida, 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.
ES022468-6..........  Endangered Species   Red-cockaded         North Carolina.....  Population          Capture, band, construct, and  Renewal.
                       Branch, Department   woodpecker                                management and      monitor artificial nest
                       of Defense; Ft.      (Picoides                                 monitoring..        cavities and restrictors,
                       Bragg, NC.           borealis).                                                    and translocate.
ES02167C-1..........  James Gore;          Tricolored bat       Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula and          Renewal and
                       Columbia, SC.        (Perimyotis          Colorado,            absence surveys,    maternity roost caves,         amendment.
                                            subflavus).          Connecticut,         population          capture with mist nets or
                                                                 Delaware, District   monitoring, and     harp traps, handle,
                                                                 of Columbia,         stable isotope      identify, band, radio tag,
                                                                 Florida, Georgia,    analyses..          and collect hair samples..
                                                                 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,
                                                                 Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                 West Virginia,
                                                                 Wisconsin, and
                                                                 Wyoming.
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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.

[[Page 58603]]

Next Steps

    If we decide to issue a permit to an applicant 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.).

Lourdes Mena,
Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, 
Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2023-18523 Filed 8-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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