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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-ES-2021-N177; FXES11130200000-212-FF02ENEH00]
 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, invite the public to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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 September 15, 2021.
 ADDRESSES: *Document availability:*
                         Request documents by phone or email: Beth Forbus, 505-248-6681, 
                        *beth_forbus@fws.gov.* *Comment submission:*
                         Submit comments by email to 
                        *fw2_te_permits@fws.gov.*
                         Please specify the permit you are interested in by number (
                        *e.g.,*
                         Application No. ESPER1234567).
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Forbus, Supervisor, Classification and Restoration Division, 505-248-6681. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (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 but also such activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting. 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 endangered 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**
                    . Releasing 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 application number when submitting comments. Application No.
Applicant
Species
Location
Activity
Type of take
Permit
                             actionESPER001318
Wright, Marjorie; Los Alamos, New Mexico
Jemez Mountains salamander (
                            *Plethodon neomexicanus*)
New Mexico
Presence/absence surveys; capture
Harm, harass
Renew.ESPER001337
Odysea Aquarium, LLC; Scottsdale, Arizona
Kemp's ridley sea turtle (
                            *Lepidochelys kempii*)
Arizona
Hold, display
Harm, harass
Renew and Amend.ESPER001137
Thompson, Brent; White Rock, New Mexico
Jemez Mountains salamander (
                            *Plethodon neomexicanus*)
New Mexico
Presence/absence surveys, capture, biosample
Harm, harass
New.ESPER001295
Reichenbacher, Frank; Scottsdale, Arizona
Arizona cliffrose (
                            *Purshia subintegra*)
New Mexico
Survey/monitor, leaf collection
Harm, harass
New.( print page 45749)ESPER001233
West, Sue; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Southwestern willow flycatcher (
                            *Empidonax traillii extimus*), Jemez Mountains salamander (
                            *Plethodon neomexicanus*)
New Mexico
Presence/absence surveys, capture, biosample
Harm, harass
New.ESPER001235
Davidson, Zoe (BLM); Santa Fe, NM
Knowlton's cactus (
                            *Pediocactus knowltonii*), Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus (
                            *Echinocereus fendleri*
                             var.
                            *kuenzleri*), Sneed's pincushion cactus (
                            *Coryphantha sneedii*
                             var.
                            *sneedii*), Holy Ghost ipomopsis (
                            *Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus*), Mancos milk-vetch (
                            *Astragalus humillimus*), Todsen's pennyroyal (
                            *Hedeoma todsenii*), Sacramento prickly poppy (
                            *Argemone pleiacantha*
                             ssp.
                            *pinnatisecta*), Lee pincushion cactus (
                            *Coryphantha sneedii*
                             var.
                            *leei*), Mesa Verde cactus (
                            *Sclerocactus mesae-verdae*), Zuni Fleabane (
                            *Erigeron rhizomatus*), Pecos sunflower (
                            *Helianthus paradoxus*), Sacramento Mountains thistle (
                            *Cirsium vinaceum*), gypsum wild-buckwheat (
                            *Eriogonum gypsophilum*)
New Mexico
Survey/monitor, Seed/fruit collection
Harm, harass
New.ESPER001385
New Mexico State Land Office; Santa Fe, New Mexico
Southwestern willow flycatcher (
                            *Empidonax traillii extimus*)
New Mexico
Presence/absence surveys
Harm, harass
Renew and Amend.
 Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
                    *et seq.*). Amy Lueders, Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


[FR Doc. 2021-17522 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P