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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-ES-2023-N085; FXES11140400000-245-FF04E00000]
 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 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: *Email (preferred method): permitsR4ES@fws.gov.*
                         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, 404-679-7097 (telephone) or 
                        *karen_marlowe@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 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.
                    ( print 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. Permit
                             application No.
Applicant
Species
Location
Activity
Type of take
Permit actionES37492B-2
Anthony Grow; Memphis, TN
Mammals: Gray bat (
                            *Myotis grisescens*), Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *Myotis septentrionalis*), Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*), and tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*); Crustaceans: Nashville crayfish (
                            *Orconectes shoupi*)
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of 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
Presence/probable absence surveys
Mammals: enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, and release; Crustaceans: capture, handle, identify, and release
Renewal and amendment.ES68773B-1
Olivia Munzer; Raleigh, NC
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *Myotis septentrionalis*), and tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 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
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, swab, and release
Renewal and amendment.ES55292B-3
University of Florida; Gainesville, FL
Cape Sable seaside sparrow (
                            *Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis*)
Florida
Demographic monitoring
Capture, handle, identify, band, collect feathers, deploy data loggers in nests, and release
Amendment.ES027344-4
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests; Eatonton, GA
Red-cockaded woodpecker (
                            *Picoides borealis*)
Georgia
Population monitoring
Monitor nest cavities and construct and monitor artificial nest cavities and restrictors
Renewal.ES84861C-1
Power South Energy Cooperative; Andalusia, AL
Choctaw bean (
                            *Obovaria choctawensis*), fuzzy pigtoe (
                            *Pleurobema strodeanum*), narrow pigtoe (
                            *Fusconaia escambia*), southern kidneyshell (
                            *Ptychobranchus jonesi*), and southern sandshell (
                            *Hamiota australis*)
Alabama
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture, handle, identify, release, and salvage relic shells
Renewal.( print page 76224)ES65968A-2
Richard Dickey; Niskayuna, NY
Alabama pearlshell (
                            *Margaritifera marrianae*), Chipola slabshell (
                            *Elliptio chipolaensis*), Choctaw 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*)
Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
Presence/probable absence surveys and population monitoring
Capture, handle, identify, mark, tag, release, and salvage relic shells
Renewal.ES25612A-3
Stephen Samoray; Nashville, TN
Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)
Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas
Presence/probable absence surveys, studies to document habitat use, population monitoring, and to evaluate potential impacts of white-nose syndrome or other threats
Enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, collect hair samples, swab, and release
Amendment.ES56515D-2
Leslie Meade; Richmond, KY
Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)
Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas
Presence/probable absence surveys, studies to document habitat use, population monitoring, and to evaluate potential impacts of white-nose syndrome or other threats
Enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, collect hair samples, wing punch, swab, and release
Amendment.ES94849B-3
Copperhead Environmental Consulting, Inc.; Paint Lick, KY
Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)
Colorado, District of Columbia, and New Mexico
Presence/probable absence surveys, studies to document habitat use, population monitoring, and to evaluate potential impacts of white-nose syndrome or other threats
Enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, collect hair samples, wing punch, swab, and release
Amendment.ES78383C-1
Joel Casto; Crawfordville, FL
Red-cockaded woodpecker (
                            *Picoides borealis*)
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia
Population management and monitoring
Capture, band, monitor nest cavities, construct and monitor artificial nest cavities and restrictors, release, and translocate
Renewal.ES67197D-2
Tyler Black; Chapel Hill, NC
Dwarf wedgemussel (
                            *Alasmidonta heterodon*)
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture, handle, identify, tag, release, and salvage relic shells
Amendment.
 
 
 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