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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 7 (Monday, January 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2714-2718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00505]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2024-N068; FXES11130200000-256-FF02ENEH00]

Endangered Wildlife; 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, invite the public to 
comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct 
scientific research to promote conservation or other activities 
intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some 
exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits certain 
activities that may impact endangered species, unless a Federal permit 
allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public 
comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please submit your written comments by 
February 12, 2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    Document availability: Request documents from the contact in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Comment submission: Submit comments by email to 
[email protected]. Please specify the permit application you are 
interested in by number (e.g., Permit Record No. PER1234567).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Tuegel, Supervisor, 
Environmental Review Division, by phone at 505-248-6651, 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:

Background

    With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), prohibits activities that 
constitute take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued 
that allows such activity. The ESA's definition of ``take'' includes 
hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing, and also such 
activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting.

[[Page 2715]]

    The ESA and our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) at title 50, part 17, provide for issuing such 
permits and require that we invite public comment before issuing 
permits for activities involving listed species.
    A recovery permit we issue under the ESA, section 10(a)(1)(A), 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or 
enhance the species' propagation or survival. These activities often 
include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. 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

    Documents and other information submitted with these applications 
are available for review by any party who submits a request as 
specified in ADDRESSES. Our release of documents is subject to Privacy 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) 
requirements.
    Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the 
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in 
the wild. 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. Please refer to the permit record 
number when submitting comments.

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  Permit record No.         Applicant                   Species                    Location            Activity          Type of take     Permit action
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PER1906198...........  Herman, Eric;       Southwestern willow flycatcher     Arizona,            Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew/amend.
                        Chandler, Arizona.  (Empidonax traillii extimus).      California,         surveys, nest
                                                                               Colorado, New       monitoring.
                                                                               Mexico, Nevada,
                                                                               Texas, Utah.
PER0946319...........  Westland            Southwestern willow flycatcher     Arizona, New        Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew/amend.
                        Resources, Inc.;    (Empidonax traillii extimus).      Mexico.             surveys.
                        Tucson, Arizona.
PER2691439...........  Zara                Pink mucket (Lampsilis abrupta),   Arkansas,           Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew/amend.
                        Environmental,      Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis     Louisiana, Texas.   surveys.
                        LLC.; Manchaca,     bergmanni), Texas pimpleback
                        Texas.              (Cyclonaias petrina), false
                                            spike (Fusconaia mitchelli),
                                            Guadalupe orb (Cyclonaias
                                            necki), Texas fatmucket
                                            (Lampsilis bracteata), Balcones
                                            spike (Fusconaia iheringi).
PER9580515...........  Powers, Jarrod;     Winged mapleleaf (Quadrula         Oklahoma..........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Amend.
                        Stillwater,         fragosa), Ouachita rock                                surveys,
                        Oklahoma.           pocketbook (Arcidens wheeleri),                        relocations,
                                            scaleshell mussel (Leptodea                            habitat surveys.
                                            leptodon), Neosho mucket
                                            (Lampsilis rafinesqueana).
PER9356671...........  Bastrop County;     Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis).  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Bastrop, Texas.                                                            surveys, bio-
                                                                                                   sample.
PER11358780..........  Houston Zoo, Inc.;  Kemp's ridley sea turtle           Texas.............  Receive,            Harass, harm,      Renew.
                        Houston, Texas.     (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill                       rehabilitate,       capture.
                                            sea turtle (Eretmochelys                               release,
                                            imbricata), leatherback sea                            transport,
                                            turtle (Dermochelys coriacea),                         educational
                                            Barton Springs salamander                              display, captive
                                            (Eurycea sosorum), Houston toad                        propagation,
                                            (Bufo houstonensis), Big Bend                          headstarting,
                                            gambusia (Gambusia gaigei),                            presence/absence
                                            Comanche Springs pupfish                               surveys.
                                            (Cyprinodon elegans), Leon
                                            Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon
                                            bovinus).

[[Page 2716]]

 
PER13973885..........  SWCA Incorporated;  Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma        Louisiana, New      Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      Renew/amend.
                        Austin, Texas.      yagouaroundi cacomitli), ocelot    Mexico, Oklahoma,   surveys, handle,    capture, kill.
                                            (Leopardus pardalis), golden-      Texas.              voucher specimen.
                                            cheeked warbler (Setophaga
                                            chrysoparia), northern aplomado
                                            falcon (Falco femoralis
                                            septentrionalis), southwestern
                                            willow flycatcher (Empidonax
                                            traillii extimus), whooping
                                            crane (Grus americana), Houston
                                            toad (Bufo houstonensis), Barton
                                            Springs salamander (Eurycea
                                            sosorum), Austin blind
                                            salamander (Eurycea
                                            waterlooensis), Texas blind
                                            salamander (Eurycea rathbuni),
                                            fountain darter (Etheostoma
                                            fonticola), Comal Springs
                                            dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus
                                            comalensis), Comal Springs
                                            riffle beetle (Heterelmis
                                            comalensis), Peck's Cave
                                            amphipod (Stygobromus pecki),
                                            Helotes mold beetle (Batrisodes
                                            venyivi), Coffin Cave mold
                                            beetle (Batrisodes texanus),
                                            Robber Baron Cave meshweaver
                                            (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina madla),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina vespera),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine exilis),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine
                                            infernalis), Tooth Cave ground
                                            beetle (Rhadine persephone),
                                            Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion
                                            (Tartarocreagris texana),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            spider (Tayshaneta microps),
                                            Tooth Cave spider (Tayshaneta
                                            myopica), Kretschmarr Cave mold
                                            beetle (Texamaurops reddelli),
                                            Cokendolpher Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee
                                            Creek Cave harvestman (Texella
                                            reddelli), Bone Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reyesi), lesser prairie-
                                            chicken (Tympanuchus
                                            pallidicinctus), dunes sagebrush
                                            lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus),
                                            Texas hornshell (Popenaias
                                            popeii), Texas pimpleback
                                            (Cyclonaias petrina), Guadalupe
                                            orb (Cyclonaias necki), Texas
                                            fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata),
                                            Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis
                                            bergmanni), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli), Balcones
                                            spike (Fusconaia iheringi).
PER11662207..........  Gargaro, Madison;   Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew.
                        San Antonio,        chrysoparia).                                          surveys.
                        Texas.
PER11837375..........  San Antonio Zoo;    Clear Creek gambusia (Gambusia     Texas.............  Captive             Harass, harm,      Amend.
                        San Antonio,        heterochir).                                           propagation.        capture.
                        Texas.
PER11325945..........  Terrell, Danielle;  Texas pimpleback (Cyclonaias       Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Austin, Texas.      petrina), Texas fatmucket                              surveys,
                                            (Lampsilis bracteata), false                           relocations.
                                            spike (Fusconaia mitchelli).
PER11327677..........  Craig, Cody;        Texas pimpleback (Cyclonaias       Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Austin, Texas.      petrina), Guadalupe orb                                surveys,
                                            (Cyclonaias necki), Texas                              relocations.
                                            fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata),
                                            Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis
                                            bergmanni), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli), Balcones
                                            spike (Fusconaia iheringi).
PER11488706..........  Gudgell, Lee;       Guadalupe orb (Cyclonaias necki),  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Seguin, Texas.      Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis                         surveys.
                                            bergmanni), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli).
PER13531963..........  Gladys Porter Zoo;  Kemp's ridley sea turtle           Texas.............  Receive,            Harass, harm.....  Renew/amend.
                        Brownsville,        (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill                       rehabilitate,
                        Texas.              sea turtle (Eretmochelys                               release,
                                            imbricata), leatherback sea                            educational
                                            turtle (Dermochelys coriacea),                         display, nesting
                                            Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma                            detection,
                                            yagouaroundi cacomitli), ocelot                        retrieval and
                                            (Leopardus pardalis).                                  relocation, bio-
                                                                                                   sample, tag,
                                                                                                   presence/absence
                                                                                                   surveys.
PER12291510..........  Schwalb Stream      Texas pimpleback (Cyclonaias       Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Ecology Lab at      petrina), Guadalupe orb                                surveys.
                        Texas State         (Cyclonaias necki), Texas
                        University; San     fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata),
                        Marcos, Texas.      Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis
                                            bergmanni), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli), Balcones
                                            spike (Fusconaia iheringi).
PER11498907..........  Carreon, Sarah;     Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Helotes, Texas.     chrysoparia).                                          surveys.
PER13993348..........  Fischer, Clay;      Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma        Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew/amend.
                        South Padre         yagouaroundi cacomitli), ocelot                        surveys.
                        Island, Texas.      (Leopardus pardalis), golden-
                                            cheeked warbler (Setophaga
                                            chrysoparia), Houston toad (Bufo
                                            houstonensis), southwestern
                                            willow flycatcher (Empidonax
                                            traillii extimus).

[[Page 2717]]

 
PER11639611..........  Macedo, Danielle;   Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Austin, Texas.      chrysoparia).                                          surveys.
PER12084642..........  Laine, Robin; San   Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew.
                        Antonio, Texas.     chrysoparia).                                          surveys.
PER12079456..........  HDR Engineering     Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Amend.
                        Inc.; Austin,       chrysoparia), Houston toad (Bufo                       surveys.
                        Texas.              houstonensis).
PER0029468...........  Jenkerson,          Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis     Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      Amend.
                        Jeffrey; San        bergmanni), Texas fatmucket                            surveys,            capture.
                        Marcos, Texas.      (Lampsilis bracteata), Guadalupe                       relocations.
                                            orb (Cyclonaias necki), Texas
                                            pimpleback (Cyclonaias petrina),
                                            Balcones spike (Fusconaia
                                            iheringi), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli).
PER13185642..........  Stantec Texas;      Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis     Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      Amend.
                        Austin, Texas.      bergmanni), Texas fatmucket                            surveys, salvage,   capture.
                                            (Lampsilis bracteata), Guadalupe                       relocations.
                                            orb (Cyclonaias necki), Texas
                                            pimpleback (Cyclonaias petrina),
                                            Balcones spike (Fusconaia
                                            iheringi), false spike
                                            (Fusconaia mitchelli).
PER12929504..........  Lower Colorado      Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Renew.
                        River Authority     chrysoparia), Houston toad (Bufo                       surveys.
                        Transmission        houstonensis), northern aplomado
                        Services            falcon (Falco femoralis
                        Corporation;        septentrionalis), southwestern
                        Austin, Texas.      willow flycatcher (Empidonax
                                            traillii extimus).
PER13146293..........  Lazo, Walker; San   Helotes mold beetle (Batrisodes    Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      Amend.
                        Antonio, Texas.     venyivi), Coffin Cave mold                             surveys, voucher    kill.
                                            beetle (Batrisodes texanus),                           specimen
                                            Robber Baron Cave meshweaver                           collection.
                                            (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina madla),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina vespera),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine exilis),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine
                                            infernalis), Tooth Cave ground
                                            beetle (Rhadine persephone),
                                            Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion
                                            (Tartarocreagris texana),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            spider (Tayshaneta microps),
                                            Tooth Cave spider (Tayshaneta
                                            myopica), Kretschmarr Cave mold
                                            beetle (Texamaurops reddelli),
                                            Cokendolpher Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee
                                            Creek Cave harvestman (Texella
                                            reddelli), Bone Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reyesi).
PER13361397..........  Aragon, Felicia;    Southwestern willow flycatcher     New Mexico........  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Santa Fe, New       (Empidonax traillii extimus).                          surveys.
                        Mexico.
PER13544765..........  Lutterschmidt,      Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis).  Texas.............  Handle, bio-        Harass, harm,      New.
                        William;                                                                   sample, e-DNA       capture.
                        Huntsville, Texas.                                                         analysis.
PER0055324...........  Bio-West, Inc.;     Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis     Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Amend.
                        Round Rock, Texas.  bergmanni), Texas fatmucket                            surveys.
                                            (Lampsilis bracteata), Guadalupe
                                            orb (Cyclonaias necki), Texas
                                            pimpleback (Cyclonaias petrina),
                                            false spike (Fusconaia
                                            mitchelli).
PER13547800..........  Brown and Gay       Lesser prairie-chicken             Colorado, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  Amend.
                        Engineers, Inc.;    (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus),      New Mexico,         surveys.
                        Frisco, Texas.      dunes sagebrush lizard             Oklahoma, Texas.
                                            (Sceloporus arenicolus).
PER13743117..........  City of Austin--    Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga  Texas.............  Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      Renew/amend.
                        Balcones            chrysoparia), Barton Springs                           surveys, nest       capture, kill.
                        Canyonlands         salamander (Eurycea sosorum),                          monitoring, bio-
                        Preserve; Austin,   Helotes mold beetle (Batrisodes                        sample, banding,
                        Texas.              venyivi), Coffin Cave mold                             nest collection,
                                            beetle (Batrisodes texanus),                           voucher species.
                                            Robber Baron Cave meshweaver
                                            (Cicurina baronia), Madla Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina madla),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            meshweaver (Cicurina vespera),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine exilis),
                                            ground beetle (Rhadine
                                            infernalis), Tooth Cave ground
                                            beetle (Rhadine persephone),
                                            Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion
                                            (Tartarocreagris texana),
                                            Government Canyon Bat Cave
                                            spider (Tayshaneta microps),
                                            Tooth Cave spider (Tayshaneta
                                            myopica), Kretschmarr Cave mold
                                            beetle (Texamaurops reddelli),
                                            Cokendolpher Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella cokendolpheri), Bee
                                            Creek Cave harvestman (Texella
                                            reddelli), Bone Cave harvestman
                                            (Texella reyesi).
PER12056733..........  Borchardt, Grahme;  Lesser prairie-chicken             Colorado, Kansas,   Presence/absence    Harass, harm.....  New.
                        Benbrook, Texas.    (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus).      New Mexico,         surveys.
                                                                               Oklahoma, Texas.

[[Page 2718]]

 
PER5502059...........  Fenolio, Dante;     Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus  Arkansas,           Presence/absence    Harass, harm,      New.
                        San Antonio,        townsendii ingens), gray bat       Oklahoma, Texas.    surveys, bio-       capture, kill.
                        Texas.              (Myotis grisescens), northern                          sample, voucher
                                            long-eared bat (Myotis                                 specimen,
                                            septentrionalis), Indiana bat                          transport.
                                            (Myotis sodalis), Hell Creek
                                            Cave crayfish (Cambarus
                                            zophonastes), Benton County Cave
                                            crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum),
                                            Barton Springs salamander
                                            (Eurycea sosorum), Austin blind
                                            salamander (Eurycea
                                            waterlooensis), Peck's Cave
                                            amphipod (Stygobromus pecki),
                                            Comal Springs riffle beetle
                                            (Heterelmis comalensis), Comal
                                            Springs dryopid beetle
                                            (Stygoparnus comalensis), Texas
                                            blind salamander (Eurycea
                                            rathbuni), Mexican blind catfish
                                            (Prietella phreatophila), Clear
                                            Creek gambusia (Gambusia
                                            heterochir).
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Public Availability of Comments

    All comments we receive become part of the public record associated 
with this action. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, National Environmental 
Policy Act, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and 
procedures. 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 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.

Authority

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

Amy Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-00505 Filed 1-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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