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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R3-ES-2023-N004; 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 Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these 
                        ( print page 4330)
                        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 February 22, 2024.
 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
                             actionESPER5565041
Julia Leone, Saint Paul, MN
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
MN
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, and release
New.ES64079B
Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN
Dakota skipper (
                            *Hesperia dacotae*), poweshiek skipperling (
                            *Oarisma poweshiek*), rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
MI, MN, ND, SD, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, identify, mark, monitor and survey, captive rearing, propagation, and release
Renew and amend.TE06845A
Lochmueller Group, Evansville, IN
Add new species—tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), and gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*)
GA, IL, IN, KY, OH; add: AL, AR, CO, DC, FL, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VI, VT, WI, WY, WV
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Renew and amend.ESPER5664139
Kevyn Juneau, River Falls, WI
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, hold, and release
New.( print page 4331)ES08501D
Alyssa Roberts, Grand Rapids, MN
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, hold, and release
Renew.ES81122C
Three Rivers Park District, Plymouth, MN
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
MN
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, and release
Renew.ES74742C
Benjamin Smith, Kearney, MO
Add new species—Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*) and Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), and gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*)
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Renew and amend.ES74592A
Robert Brown, Liberty Township, OH
Add new species—Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*), Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *C. t. virginianus*)
AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, enter hibernacula, radio-tag, and release
Renew and amend.ES06452D
National Park Service Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield, WI
Piping plover (
                            *Charadrius melodus*)
WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, salvage, release, and erect exclosures
Renew.ES38842A
Sanders Environmental, Inc., Bellefonte, PA
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*), Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *C. t. virginianus*)
Add new states—TX—to existing authorized states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, OK, OH, SC, SD, TN, WI, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, radio-tag, band, and release
Amend.( print page 4332)ES03494B
GAI Consultants, Florence, KY
Add new species—Tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*), Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *C. t. virginianus*)
AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets and harp traps, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Renew and amend.ES24566D
Nicholas Smeenk, Columbus, OH
Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (
                            *Sistrurus catenatus*) and copperbelly water snake (
                            *Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta*)
IA, IL, IN, MI, NY, OH, PA, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, temporary hold for processing, handle, collect tissue samples, mark with PIT tags and/or ventral scale clips, and release
Renew.ES37065D
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Carlyle Lake Project Office, Carlyle, IL
Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (
                            *Sistrurus catenatus*)
IL
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, temporary hold for processing, handle, and release
Renew.ES14549C
Larissa Herrera, Belmont, MI
Add new species—round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*), to existing authorized species: 11 freshwater mussel species
IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate due to stranding.
Amend.TE90426C
Natalie Dingledine, Haslett, MI
Hungerford's crawling water beetle (
                            *Brychius hungerfordi*)
MI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, conduct health and disease monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, temporarily hold, handle, release, relocate, and salvage
Renew.TE60958A
Bat Calls Identification, Inc. Kansas City, MO
Indiana bat (
                            *Myotis sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), gray bat (
                            *M. grisescens*), Ozark big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii ingens*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *C. t. virginianus*)
AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Renew.ES30472
Elaine Evans, St. Paul, MN
Rusty patched bumble bee (
                            *Bombus affinis*)
MN, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, identify, mark, bio sample and release
Renew and Amend.TE64073B
Ecological and GIS Services, Indianola, IA
Dakota skipper (
                            *Hesperia dacotae*), Poweshiek skipperling (
                            *Oarisma poweshiek*)
IA, MN, SD
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release
Renew.( print page 4333)ESPER1462021
Keystone Ecological Services, LLC, Wellsboro, PA
Add new species—Gray bat (
                            *Myotis grisescens*), tricolored bat (
                            *Perimyotis subflavus*)—to existing authorized species: Indiana bat (
                            *M. sodalis*), northern long-eared bat (
                            *M. septentrionalis*), Virginia big-eared bat (
                            *Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus*)
Add new states—AL, AR, CO, GA, IL, IN, KS, MO, MS, NM, OK—to existing authorized states: CT, DC, DE, IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Add new activity—capture with harp traps—to existing authorized activities: capture with mist nets, identify, handle, collect non-intrusive measurements, band, radio-tag, and release
Amend.ESPER0002430
David Ford, Spring, TX
Add new species—Round hickorynut (
                            *Obovaria subrotunda*) and longsolid (
                            *Fusconaia subrotunda*), to existing authorized species: 21 freshwater mussel species
AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, OK, OH, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI
Conduct presence/absence surveys, document habitat use, conduct population monitoring, and evaluate impacts
Capture, handle, release, and relocate
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 Service, Midwest Region.


[FR Doc. 2024-01258 Filed 1-22-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P