[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76222-76225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24494]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2023-N085; FXES11140400000-245-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 
December 6, 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#4a3a2f3827233e39187e0f190a2c3d39642d253c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d5d485f4044595e7f19687e6d4b5a5e034a425b">[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#610a0013040f3e0c00130d0e1604210716124f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aac1cbd8cfc4f5c7cbd8c6c5ddcfeaccddd984cdc5dc">[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.

[[Page 76223]]

    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.

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 Permit application
        No.               Applicant                Species                  Location              Activity          Type of take        Permit action
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ES37492B-2.........  Anthony Grow;        Mammals: Gray bat         Alabama, Arkansas,       Presence/probable   Mammals: enter      Renewal and
                      Memphis, TN.         (Myotis grisescens),      Connecticut, Delaware,   absence surveys.    hibernacula or      amendment.
                                           Indiana bat (Myotis       District of Columbia,                        maternity roost
                                           sodalis), northern long-  Florida, Georgia,                            caves, capture
                                           eared bat (Myotis         Illinois, Indiana,                           with mist nets or
                                           septentrionalis), Ozark   Iowa, Kansas,                                harp traps,
                                           big-eared bat             Kentucky, Louisiana,                         handle, identify,
                                           (Corynorhinus             Maine, Maryland,                             band, radio tag,
                                           townsendii ingens), and   Massachusetts,                               and release;
                                           tricolored bat            Michigan, Minnesota,                         Crustaceans:
                                           (Perimyotis subflavus);   Mississippi, Missouri,                       capture, handle,
                                           Crustaceans: Nashville    Montana, Nebraska, New                       identify, and
                                           crayfish (Orconectes      Hampshire, New Jersey,                       release.
                                           shoupi).                  New York, North
                                                                     Carolina, North
                                                                     Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                     Oklahoma,
                                                                     Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                     Island, South
                                                                     Carolina, South
                                                                     Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                     Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                     West Virginia,
                                                                     Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
ES68773B-1.........  Olivia Munzer;       Indiana bat (Myotis       Alabama, Arkansas,       Presence/probable   Capture with mist   Renewal and
                      Raleigh, NC.         sodalis), northern long-  Connecticut, Delaware,   absence surveys.    nets or harp        amendment.
                                           eared bat (Myotis         District of Columbia,                        traps, handle,
                                           septentrionalis), and     Florida, Georgia,                            identify, band,
                                           tricolored bat            Illinois, Indiana,                           radio tag, swab,
                                           (Perimyotis subflavus).   Iowa, Kansas,                                and release.
                                                                     Kentucky, Louisiana,
                                                                     Maine, Maryland,
                                                                     Massachusetts,
                                                                     Michigan, Minnesota,
                                                                     Mississippi, Missouri,
                                                                     Montana, New
                                                                     Hampshire, New Jersey,
                                                                     New York, North
                                                                     Carolina, North
                                                                     Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                     Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                     Island, South
                                                                     Carolina, South
                                                                     Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                     Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                     West Virginia,
                                                                     Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
ES55292B-3.........  University of        Cape Sable seaside        Florida................  Demographic         Capture, handle,    Amendment.
                      Florida;             sparrow (Ammodramus                                monitoring.         identify, band,
                      Gainesville, FL.     maritimus mirabilis).                                                  collect feathers,
                                                                                                                  deploy data
                                                                                                                  loggers in nests,
                                                                                                                  and release.
ES027344-4.........  Chattahoochee-       Red-cockaded woodpecker   Georgia................  Population          Monitor nest        Renewal.
                      Oconee National      (Picoides borealis).                               monitoring.         cavities and
                      Forests; Eatonton,                                                                          construct and
                      GA.                                                                                         monitor
                                                                                                                  artificial nest
                                                                                                                  cavities and
                                                                                                                  restrictors.
ES84861C-1.........  Power South Energy   Choctaw bean (Obovaria    Alabama................  Presence/probable   Capture, handle,    Renewal.
                      Cooperative;         choctawensis), fuzzy                               absence surveys.    identify,
                      Andalusia, AL.       pigtoe (Pleurobema                                                     release, and
                                           strodeanum), narrow                                                    salvage relic
                                           pigtoe (Fusconaia                                                      shells.
                                           escambia), southern
                                           kidneyshell
                                           (Ptychobranchus
                                           jonesi), and southern
                                           sandshell (Hamiota
                                           australis).

[[Page 76224]]

 
ES65968A-2.........  Richard Dickey;      Alabama pearlshell        Alabama, Florida, and    Presence/probable   Capture, handle,    Renewal.
                      Niskayuna, NY.       (Margaritifera            Georgia.                 absence surveys     identify, mark,
                                           marrianae), Chipola                                and population      tag, release, and
                                           slabshell (Elliptio                                monitoring.         salvage relic
                                           chipolaensis), Choctaw                                                 shells.
                                           bean (Obovaria
                                           choctawensis), fat
                                           threeridge (Amblema
                                           neislerii), fuzzy
                                           pigtoe (Pleurobema
                                           strodeanum), Gulf
                                           moccasinshell
                                           (Medionidus
                                           penicillatus), narrow
                                           pigtoe (Fusconaia
                                           escambia), Ochlockonee
                                           moccasinshell
                                           (Medionidus
                                           simpsonianus), oval
                                           pigtoe (Pleurobema
                                           pyriforme), purple
                                           bankclimber
                                           (Elliptoideus
                                           sloatianus), round
                                           ebonyshell (Fusconaia
                                           rotulata), shinyrayed
                                           pocketbook (Hamiota
                                           subangulata), southern
                                           kidneyshell
                                           (Ptychobranchus
                                           jonesi), southern
                                           sandshell (Hamiota
                                           australis), Suwannee
                                           moccasinshell
                                           (Medionidus walkeri),
                                           and tapered pigtoe
                                           (Fusconaia burkei).
ES25612A-3.........  Stephen Samoray;     Tricolored bat            Colorado, New Mexico,    Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula   Amendment.
                      Nashville, TN.       (Perimyotis subflavus).   and Texas.               absence surveys,    or maternity
                                                                                              studies to          roost caves,
                                                                                              document habitat    capture with mist
                                                                                              use, population     nets or harp
                                                                                              monitoring, and     traps, handle,
                                                                                              to evaluate         identify, band,
                                                                                              potential impacts   radio tag,
                                                                                              of white-nose       collect hair
                                                                                              syndrome or other   samples, swab,
                                                                                              threats.            and release.
ES56515D-2.........  Leslie Meade;        Tricolored bat            Colorado, District of    Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula   Amendment.
                      Richmond, KY.        (Perimyotis subflavus).   Columbia, Florida, New   absence surveys,    or maternity
                                                                     Mexico, and Texas.       studies to          roost caves,
                                                                                              document habitat    capture with mist
                                                                                              use, population     nets or harp
                                                                                              monitoring, and     traps, handle,
                                                                                              to evaluate         identify, band,
                                                                                              potential impacts   radio tag,
                                                                                              of white-nose       collect hair
                                                                                              syndrome or other   samples, wing
                                                                                              threats.            punch, swab, and
                                                                                                                  release.
ES94849B-3.........  Copperhead           Tricolored bat            Colorado, District of    Presence/probable   Enter hibernacula   Amendment.
                      Environmental        (Perimyotis subflavus).   Columbia, and New        absence surveys,    or maternity
                      Consulting, Inc.;                              Mexico.                  studies to          roost caves,
                      Paint Lick, KY.                                                         document habitat    capture with mist
                                                                                              use, population     nets or harp
                                                                                              monitoring, and     traps, handle,
                                                                                              to evaluate         identify, band,
                                                                                              potential impacts   radio tag,
                                                                                              of white-nose       collect hair
                                                                                              syndrome or other   samples, wing
                                                                                              threats.            punch, swab, and
                                                                                                                  release.
ES78383C-1.........  Joel Casto;          Red-cockaded woodpecker   Alabama, Arkansas,       Population          Capture, band,      Renewal.
                      Crawfordville, FL.   (Picoides borealis).      Florida, Georgia,        management and      monitor nest
                                                                     Louisiana,               monitoring.         cavities,
                                                                     Mississippi, North                           construct and
                                                                     Carolina, Oklahoma,                          monitor
                                                                     South Carolina, Texas,                       artificial nest
                                                                     and Virginia.                                cavities and
                                                                                                                  restrictors,
                                                                                                                  release, and
                                                                                                                  translocate.
ES67197D-2.........  Tyler Black; Chapel  Dwarf wedgemussel         Connecticut,             Presence/probable   Capture, handle,    Amendment.
                      Hill, NC.            (Alasmidonta heterodon).  Massachusetts, New       absence surveys.    identify, tag,
                                                                     Hampshire, New York,                         release, and
                                                                     and Vermont.                                 salvage relic
                                                                                                                  shells.
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[[Page 76225]]

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

    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.).

Nicole Rankin,
Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, 
Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2023-24494 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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