Rules and Regulations. Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments

Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior
Action: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments
Citation: FR Doc. 2021-28443 · FWS-R2-ES-2021-N216; FXES11130200000-223-FF02ENEH00

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 February 2, 2022.

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 action CS0080862 Harpo Faust, Saff Killingsworth; Tucson, Arizona Acuña cactus ( Echinomastus erectocentrus var. acunensis ) Arizona Survey/monitor, collect Harm, kill New. TE037155 Bio-West, Inc.; Round Rock, Texas Barton Springs salamander ( Eurycea sosorum ), Austin blind salamander ( Eurycea waterlooensis ), Ouachita rock pocketbook ( Arcidens wheeleri ), winged mapleleaf ( Quadrula fragosa ), Neosho mucket ( Lampsilis rafinesqueana ), Neosho madtom ( Noturus placidus ) Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas Survey/monitor, capture, handle, collect, release Harass, harm, kill Amend. TE67491A Permits West, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico Southwestern willow flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ), yellow-billed cuckoo ( Coccyzus americanus ) Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah Survey/monitor Harass, harm Renew, amend. CS0082113 U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Las Cruces, New Mexico Gila chub ( Gila intermedia ), Gila topminnow ( Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentalis ), spikedace ( Meda fulgida ), desert pupfish ( Cyprinodon macularius ) Arizona, New Mexico Survey, capture, handle Harass, harm, kill New. TE006655 Logan Simpson Design, Inc., Tempe, Arizona Black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ), southwestern willow flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ), Yuma clapper rail ( Rallus longirostris yumanensis ), Gila topminnow ( Poeciliopsis occidentalis ), razorback sucker ( Xyrauchen texanus ) Arizona, New Mexico, Utah Survey/monitor Harass, harm Renew, amend. TE25781D Atkins International Inc., Austin, Texas Golden-cheeked warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ) Texas Presence/absence surveys, habitat assessment Harass, harm Renew, amend. CS0082163 Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program, San Antonio, Texas Fountain darter ( Etheostoma fonticola ), Texas blind salamander ( Eurycea rathbuni ) Texas Capture, display for educational purposes Harass, harm, capture New. TE91694B Cramer, Steven; San Antonio, Texas Huston toad ( Bufo houstonensis ), Texas prairie dawn ( Hymenoxys texana ) Texas Presence/absence surveys Harass, harm Renew, amend. CS0081603 Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix, Arizona Southwestern willow flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ), yellow-billed cuckoo ( Coccyzus americanus ), desert pupfish ( Cyprinodon macul ), Gila chub ( Gila intermedia ), Gila topminnow ( Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentalis ), lesser long-nosed bat ( Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae ), Sonoran pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana sonoriensis ) Arizona Survey/monitor Harass, harm New. CS0081216 Lamont, Megan; Giddings, Texas Golden-cheeked warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ) Texas Presence/absence protocol surveys Harass, harm New. CS0079419 Tucson Audubon Society, Tucson, Arizona Southwestern willow flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ) Arizona, New Mexico Presence/absence protocol surveys and habitat assessments Harass, harm New. TE11267C Buschow, Marissa; Sugar Land, Texas Golden-cheeked warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ), Houston toad ( Bufo houstonensis ) Texas Survey Harass, harm Amend. TE75679D Ramirez, Alex; San Antonio, Texas Houston toad ( Bufo houstonensis ) Texas Survey Harass, harm Amend. CS0080544 Cook, Leneka; San Antonio, Texas Golden-cheeked Warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ) Texas Presence/absence protocol surveys and habitat assessments Harass, harm New. ESPER25781D Atkins North America, Inc., Austin, Texas Golden-cheeked warbler ( Dendroica chrysoparia ) Texas Presence/absence protocol surveys and habitat assessments Harass, harm Amend. ESPER0018550 Mowad, Gary; Scottsdale, Arizona Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ), jaguarundi ( Herpailurus yagouaroundi ) Texas Camera monitoring using scents/attractants Harass, harm New. ESPER0011772 U.S. Forest Service—Coronado National Forest; Tucson, Arizona Beardless chinchweed ( Pectis imberbis ) Arizona Seed collection Collect Amend. ESPER0020702 National Audubon Society—Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona Yellow-billed cuckoo ( Coccyzus americanus ), Yuma clapper rail ( Rallus longirostris yumanensis ) Arizona Survey/monitor Harass, harm Amend. ESPER0007529 U.S. Forest Service—Gila National Forest; Silver City, New Mexico Bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ), Gila chub ( Gila intermedia ), loach minnow ( Tiaroga cobitis ), spikedace ( Meda fulgida ), northern Mexican gartersnake ( Thamnophis eques megalops ), narrow-headed gartersnake ( Thamnophis rufipunctatus ), southwestern willow flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ), yellow-billed cuckoo ( Coccyzus americanus ) New Mexico Survey/monitor, capture/handle Harass, harm New. ESPER0019716P Boeing, Wiebke; Las Cruces, New Mexico Pecos assiminea ( Assiminea pecos ) New Mexico Survey/monitor, capture Harass, harm New. ESPER0020647 National Park Service—Bandelier National Monument; Los Alamos, New Mexico Jemez Mountains salamander ( Plethodon neomexicanus ) New Mexico Survey/monitor Harass, harm Renew. ESPER822908 Caesar Kleburg Wildlife Research Institute; Kingsville, Texas Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ) Texas Trap, presence/absence surveys Harass, harm Renew. Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). Amy L. Lueders, Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2021-28443 Filed 12-30-21; 8:45 am]