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###### Department of the Interior

###### Fish and Wildlife Service

          - [FWS-R6-ES-2014-N252; FXES11130600000-156-FF06E00000]

# AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

# ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

# 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. With some exceptions, 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 requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

# DATES:

To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by April 20, 2015.

# 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-XXXXXX).                    
      -  Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov.                          Please refer to the respective permit number (                         e.g.,                          Permit No. TE-XXXXXX) 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 (719) 628-2670 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits Coordinator, Ecological Services, (719) 628-2670 (phone);                         *permitsR6ES@fws.gov*                         (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 at 50 CFR 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 the permittees to conduct activities with U.S. 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. Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with their 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 TE704930

*Applicants:*                     Michael Thabault and Nicole Alt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6, Ecological Services, Denver, CO.                

                    The applicants request an amendment to add New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (                    *Zapus hudsonius luteus*), red knot (                    *Calidris canutus rufa*), Gunnison sage-grouse (                    *Centrocercus minimus*), yellow-billed cuckoo (                    *Coccyzus americanus*), Eskimo curlew (                    *Numenius borealis*), lesser prairie-chicken (                    *Tympanuchus pallidicinctus*), white sturgeon (                    *Acipenser transmontanus*), Gierisch mallow (                    *Sphaeralcea gierischii*), Leedy's roseroot (                    *Rhodiola integrifolia*                     ssp.                     *leeydi*), Higgins eye (pearlymussel) (                    *Lampsilis higginsii*), rabbitsfoot (                    *Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica*), Dakota skipper (                    *Hesperia dacotae*), and Poweshiek skipperling (                    *Oarisma poweshiek*) to an existing permit to purposefully take (display, photograph, harass by survey, capture, handle, weigh, measure, mark, obtain biological samples, breed in captivity, reintroduce, relocate, remove from the wild, and kill) in conjunction with surveys and population monitoring for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival. This permit will allow Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) employees, agents of the Service, and Service volunteers to lawfully conduct threatened and endangered species activities, in conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species' range, as outlined in Fish and Wildlife Service employees' and volunteers' position descriptions.                

## Permit Application Number TE232905

*Applicant:*                     City of Saint Paul, Como Zoo, Saint Paul, MN.                

                    The applicant requests a permit to propagate Wyoming toads (                    *Anaxyrus baxteri*) to preserve genetic diversity and provide individuals for                           ( print page 15248)                        reintroduction into suitable sites identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.                

## Permit Application Number TE207946

*Applicant:*                     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO.                

                    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys for the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (                    *Zapus hudsonius luteus*) in New Mexico to identify and avoid occupied habitat during reclamation activities for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.                

## Permit Application Number TE227446

*Applicant:*                     Clifton Sanitation District, 3217 D Road, Clifton, CO.                

                    The applicant requests the renewal of a permit for educational display and propagation of bonytail (                    *Gila elegans*), Colorado pikeminnow (                    *Ptychocheilus lucius*), humpback chub (                    *Gila cypha*), and razorback sucker (                    *Xyrauchen texanus*) at the Clifton Sanitation District facility 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 these requests 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.*).                

Michael G. Thabault,

Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.

[FR Doc. 2015-06520 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am]

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