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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16254-16255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6656]

[[Page 16254]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2012-N064; FXES11130600000D2-123-FF06E00000]

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery 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 the following applications to conduct certain activities 
with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and 
threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The 
Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these 
permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
April 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more 
information by any of the following methods. Alternatively, you may use 
one of the following methods to request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the 
documents. Please specify the permit you are interested in by number 
(e.g., Permit No. TE-123456).
     Email: [email protected]. Please refer to the respective 
permit number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456) in the subject line of the 
message.
     U.S. Mail: Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, P.O. Box 25486-DFC, Denver, CO 80225.
     In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (303) 236-
4256 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union 
Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris Olsen, Permit Coordinator 
Ecological Services, (303) 236-4256 (phone); [email protected] 
(email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits activities with 
endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such 
activity. Along with our implementing regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17, the Act provides for 
permits, and requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits.
    A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act 
authorizes you to conduct activities with United States 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) 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.

Applications Available for Review and Comment

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public to 
comment on the following applications. Please refer to the appropriate 
permit number (e.g., Permit No. TE-123456) for the application when 
submitting comments.
    Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with 
these 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 Application Number: TE-056851

    Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Plains Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Office, Pierre, South Dakota.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(capture, hold, tag, propagate, and kill) pallid sturgeon 
(Scaphirhynchus albus) in conjunction with surveys and population 
monitoring activities throughout the range of the species in Montana 
for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number: TE-08832A

    Applicant: Phaedra Budy, Utah State University, Logan, Utah.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(capture, survey, and tag) bonytail (Gila elegans), Colorado pikeminnow 
(Ptychocheilus lucius), and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) in 
conjunction with surveys and population monitoring activities 
throughout the range of each species in Utah for the purpose of 
enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number: TE-66793A

    Applicant: Derris R. Jones, Two R Ranch Wildlife Consulting, 
Helper, Utah.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(harass by survey) Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii 
extimus) in conjunction with surveys and population monitoring 
activities in Utah for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number: TE-053925

    Applicant: Pamela Sprenkle, National Park Service, Niobrara 
National Scenic River, Yankton, South Dakota.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(harass by survey) interior least tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos) 
and piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in conjunction with population 
monitoring activities in Nebraska and South Dakota for the purpose of 
enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number: TE-105455

    Applicant: Steve Krentz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri 
River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Bismarck, North Dakota.
    The applicant requests an amendment to an existing permit to 
increase take of 560 hatchery-reared pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus 
albus) at the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery for the purpose of a 
seismic activity study on fish species of the Missouri River. These 
fish are excess to existing augmentation needs.

Permit Application Number: TE-052582

    Applicant: Scott Kamber, TRC Environmental Corp., Laramie, Wyoming.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(harass by survey) the following species, in conjunction with surveys 
and population monitoring activities for the purpose of enhancing the 
species' survival:
    American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) surveys in South 
Dakota.
    Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) surveys in Colorado, New 
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
    Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) surveys in Arizona, 
Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
    Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) surveys in 
Colorado and Utah.
    Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) surveys 
in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

Permit Application Number: TE-051374

    Applicant: Stephen Lenzo, U.S. Forest Service, Nebraska National 
Forests and Grasslands, Chadron, Nebraska.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(harass by

[[Page 16255]]

survey) American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in conjunction 
with population monitoring activities in Nebraska and South Dakota for 
the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number: TE-052005

    Applicant: Edwin Miller, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 
Independence, Kansas.
    The applicant requests renewal of an existing permit to take 
(harass by survey) American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in 
conjunction with population monitoring activities in Nebraska and South 
Dakota for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

National Environmental Policy Act

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), we have made an initial determination that the proposed 
activities in these permits are categorically excluded from the 
requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental 
impact statement (516 DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)).

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive in response to this request 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.
    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.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

    Dated: March 12, 2012.
Michael G. Thabault,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-6656 Filed 3-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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