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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 101617-101619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29568]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2024-N058; FXES11140400000-256-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 scientific research to promote 
conservation or other 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 
January 15, 2025.

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's 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): [email protected]. 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, via 
telephone at 404-679-7097 or via email at [email protected]. 
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 
definition of ``take'' in the ESA includes hunting, shooting, harming, 
wounding, or killing, and also such activities as pursuing, harassing, 
trapping, capturing, or collecting.
    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) of the ESA 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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ES68773B-1..............  Olivia Munzer;       Tricolored bat       North Carolina.....  Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula..  Renewal and
                           Raleigh, NC.         (Perimyotis                               absence surveys.                          amendment.
                                                subflavus).
ES48579B-5..............  Ecological           Tricolored bat       Throughout the       Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula,   Renewal and
                           Solutions, Inc.;     (Perimyotis          range of the         absence surveys.     capture with mist    amendment.
                           Roswell, GA.         subflavus).          species.                                  nets or harp
                                                                                                               traps, handle,
                                                                                                               identify, band,
                                                                                                               radio tag, and
                                                                                                               release.

[[Page 101618]]

 
ES059008-10.............  CCR Environmental,   Reptiles: Alligator  Alabama, Florida,    Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     Amendment.
                           Inc.; Atlanta, GA.   snapping turtle      Georgia, Kentucky,   absence surveys.     and release.
                                                (Macrochelys         Louisiana,
                                                temminckii), Pearl   Mississippi, and
                                                River map turtle     Tennessee.
                                                (Graptemys
                                                pearlensis),
                                                Suwannee alligator
                                                snapping turtle
                                                (Macrochelys
                                                suwanniensis);
                                                Fishes: Coal
                                                darter (Percina
                                                brevicauda),
                                                frecklebelly
                                                madtom (Noturus
                                                munitus); Mussels:
                                                Cumberland
                                                moccasinshell
                                                (Medionidus
                                                conradicus),
                                                oblong rocksnail
                                                (Leptoxis
                                                compacta),
                                                Tennessee
                                                clubshell
                                                (Pleurobema
                                                oviforme), and
                                                Tennessee pigtoe
                                                (Pleuronaia
                                                barnesiana).
ES42291D-1..............  Rebecca Johansen,    Duskytail darter     Kentucky,            Genetic analysis     Capture, handle,     Renewal and
                           Austin Peay State    (Etheostoma          Tennessee, and       and genetic          take fin clips,      amendment.
                           University;          percnurum).          Virginia.            monitoring of        and release.
                           Clarksville, TN.                                               populations.
PER0007863-1............  Jana Day;            Longsolid            Kentucky...........  Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     Amendment.
                           Louisville, KY.      (Fusconaia                                absence surveys.     identify, and
                                                subrotunda), round                                             release.
                                                hickorynut
                                                (Obovaria
                                                subrotunda), and
                                                salamander mussel
                                                (Simpsonaias
                                                ambigua).
ES30127D-2..............  National Park        Alabama lampmussel   Kentucky and         Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     Renewal.
                           Service;             (Lampsilis           Tennessee.           absence surveys.     identify, and
                           Asheville, NC.       virescens),                                                    release.
                                                clubshell
                                                (Pleurobema
                                                clava), Cumberland
                                                bean (Villosa
                                                trabalis),
                                                Cumberland elktoe
                                                (Alasmidonta
                                                atropurpurea),
                                                Cumberlandian
                                                combshell
                                                (Epioblasma
                                                brevidens),
                                                dromedary
                                                pearlymussel
                                                (Dromus dromas),
                                                fluted kidneyshell
                                                (Ptychobranchus
                                                subtentus),
                                                littlewing
                                                pearlymussel
                                                (Pegias fabula),
                                                oyster mussel
                                                (Epioblasma
                                                capsaeformis),
                                                pink mucket
                                                (Lampsilis
                                                abrupta),
                                                spectaclecase
                                                (Cumberlandia
                                                monodonta), and
                                                tan riffleshell
                                                (Epioblasma
                                                florentina
                                                walkeri).
PER12698268-0...........  USGS Cooperative     Black-capped petrel  North Carolina.....  Research on at-sea   Capture, handle,     New.
                           Research Unit;       (Pterodroma                               habitat use,         band, satellite
                           Clemson, SC.         hasitata).                                movement patterns,   tag, collect
                                                                                          and migration        blood, and release.
                                                                                          paths.
ES52113D-1..............  Devin Bingham;       Gray bat (Myotis     Throughout the       Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     Renewal and
                           Irmo, SC.            grisescens),         ranges of the        absence surveys.     identify, band,      amendment.
                                                Indiana bat          species.                                  radio tag, and
                                                (Myotis sodalis),                                              release.
                                                northern long-
                                                eared bat (Myotis
                                                septentrionalis),
                                                and tricolored bat
                                                (Perimyotis
                                                subflavus).

[[Page 101619]]

 
PER12889073-0...........  Forrest Collins;     Kemp's ridley sea    Alabama............  Research on effects  Insert temperature   New.
                           Gardendale, AL.      turtle                                    of climate change    and water data
                                                (Lepidochelys                             on sea turtle        loggers within
                                                kempii),                                  population           nests, excavate
                                                loggerhead sea                            dynamics.            hatched nests,
                                                turtle (Caretta                                                handle dead and
                                                caretta), and                                                  alive hatchlings
                                                green sea turtle                                               and eggshells.
                                                (Chelonia mydas).
ES38642A-4..............  Avian Research and   Audubon's crested    Florida............  Scientific research  Capture; weigh;      Renewal.
                           Conservation         caracara                                                       measure; band;
                           Institute,           (Polyborus plancus                                             collect feathers,
                           Gainesville, FL.     audubonii) and                                                 blood, and egg
                                                Everglade snail                                                albumen; attach
                                                kite (Rostrhamus                                               solar-powered
                                                sociabilis                                                     transmitters; and
                                                plumbeus).                                                     release.
PER12962063-0...........  Audubon Zoo; New     Dusky gopher frog    Louisiana and        Disease pathogen     Capture with dip     New.
                           Orleans, LA.         (Rana sevosa).       Mississippi.         research.            nets, swab, and
                                                                                                               collect dead or
                                                                                                               diseased tadpoles.
ES21276D-1..............  Christopher          Gray bat (Myotis     Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula    Renewal and
                           Carpenter;           grisescens),         Georgia, Illinois,   absence surveys.     or maternity roost   amendment.
                           Winchester, KY.      Indiana bat          Indiana, Kentucky,                        caves, capture
                                                (Myotis sodalis),    Maryland,                                 with mist nets and
                                                northern long-       Mississippi,                              harp traps,
                                                eared bat (Myotis    Missouri, North                           handle, identify,
                                                septentrionalis),    Carolina, Ohio,                           band, radio tag,
                                                tricolored bat       Pennsylvania,                             and release.
                                                (Perimyotis          South Carolina,
                                                subflavus), and      Tennessee,
                                                Virginia big-eared   Virginia, and West
                                                bat (Corynorhinus    Virginia.
                                                townsendii
                                                virginianus).
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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

    After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding 
permit issuance. If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed 
above in this notice, we will publish a subsequent notice in the 
Federal Register. You may locate the notice announcing the permit 
issuance by searching https://www.regulations.gov for the application 
number listed above in this document. Type in your search exactly as 
the application number appears above, with spaces and hyphens as 
necessary. For example, to find information about the potential 
issuance of Permit No. PER 1234567-0, you would go to https://www.regulations.gov and put ``PER 1234567-0'' in the Search field.

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.).

Christopher Cooley,
Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Southeast 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-29568 Filed 12-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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