80 FR 36552 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on eight applications to conduct activities intended to enhance the survival of target endangered species.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36552-36553]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15606]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2015-N103; FXES11130600000-156-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit 
Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to 
comment on eight applications to conduct activities intended to enhance 
the survival of target endangered species.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
July 27, 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: [email protected]. 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); 
[email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits certain activities with 
endangered and threatened species unless authorized by a Federal 
permit. Along with our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 17, the Act

[[Page 36553]]

provides for permits and requires that we invite public comment before 
issuing permits for endangered species.
    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 TE053925

    Applicant: Niobrara National Scenic River, National Park Service, 
NE.
    The applicant requests the renewal of their permit to continue 
presence/absence surveys for the interior least tern (Sternula 
antillarum athalassos) in Nebraska along the Niobrara River for the 
purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE161444

    Applicants: California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, San 
Francisco, CA.
    The applicant requests the renewal of their permit for public 
display and educational efforts at the Steinhart Aquarium in California 
with pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) for the purpose of 
enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE64613B

    Applicant: Andrew Phillips, Denver, CO.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in 
Colorado for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE65611B

    Applicant: Dennis Skadsen, Grenville, SD.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) in South Dakota, North 
Dakota, and Minnesota for the purpose of enhancing the species' 
survival.

Permit Application Number TE66505B

    Applicant: Wenck Associates, Mandan, ND.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in North Dakota and South 
Dakota on the Missouri River from Garrison Dam to Lake Oahe for the 
purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE66521B

    Applicant: Western Biology, LLC, Hotchkiss, CO.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) and Southwestern willow 
flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in Colorado and Utah for the 
purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE237960

    Applicant: Power Engineers, Hailey, ID.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys 
for the American burying beetle in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and 
Arkansas for the purpose of enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE66521B

    Applicant: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO.
    The applicant requests a permit to conduct plague immunity research 
for black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) in Colorado to determine the 
appropriate timing to administer vaccines 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. 2015-15606 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P