We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered species under ...
Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct 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 April 24, 2023.
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 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): permitsR4ES@fws.gov.
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, 404-679-7097 (telephone) or
karen_marlowe@fws.gov
(email). 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
( printed page 17604)
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531et 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 ESA's definition of “take” 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) 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.
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, U.S. Forest Service; Columbia, SC
Red-cockaded woodpecker (
Picoides borealis) and American chaffseed (
Schwalbea americana)
South Carolina
Red-cockaded woodpecker: population management and monitoring; American chaffseed: germination and reintroduction
Red-cockaded woodpecker: capture, band, drill nest cavities, install inserts and restrictors, install snake and squirrel excluders, monitor nest cavities and artificial nest cavities, recapture, and translocate; American chaffseed: collect seeds
Renewal and amendment.
PER0388631-0
Gordon-Bryon Stuart Marsh; Raleigh, NC
Amphibians: Neuse River waterdog (
Necturus lewisi); Fishes: Carolina madtom (
Noturus furiosus) and Roanoke logperch (
Percina rex); Mussels: Atlantic pigtoe (
Fusconaia masoni), dwarf wedgemussel (
Alasmidonta heterodon), Tar River spinymussel (
Parvaspina steinstansana), and yellow lance (
Elliptio lanceolata)
North Carolina and Virginia
Presence/probable absence surveys
Amphibians and Fishes: capture, handle, identify, mark, and release; Mussels: capture, handle, identify, mark, release, and salvage relic shells
New.
ES67197D-2
Tyler Black; Chapel Hill, NC
Neuse River waterdog (
Necturus lewisi), Carolina madtom (
Noturus furiosus), and sickle darter (
Percina williamsi)
North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture, handle, identify, and release
Amendment.
( printed page 17606)
ES206872-12
Joy O'Keefe, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana, IL
Gray bat (
Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (
Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis), tricolored bat (
Perimyotis subflavus), and Virginia big-eared bat (
Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Presence/probable absence surveys, studies to document habitat use, population monitoring, and to evaluate potential impacts of white-nose syndrome or other threats
Enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, collect hair samples, swab, use tape to collect mites, wing punch, and release
Renewal and amendment.
ES38792A-3
U.S. Army; Fort Gordon, GA
Red-cockaded woodpecker (
Picoides borealis)
Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart, and Fort Benning, Georgia; Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests, Florida; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Population management and monitoring
Capture, band, drill nest cavities, install inserts and restrictors, install snake and squirrel excluders, monitor nest cavities and artificial nest cavities, recapture, and translocate
Renewal and amendment.
ES05565B-2
UT-Battelle Corp.; Oak Ridge, TN
Gray bat (
Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (
Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (
Perimyotis subflavus)
Oak Ridge Reservation, Tennessee
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture with mist nets, handle, identify, band, wing punch, salvage, and release
Renewal and amendment.
( printed page 17607)
ES56515D-1
Leslie Meade; Richmond, KY
Gray bat (
Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (
Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis), Ozark big-eared bat (
Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), and Virginia big-eared bat (
Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Presence/probable absence surveys, studies to document habitat use, population monitoring, and studies to evaluate potential impacts of white-nose syndrome or other threats
Enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with harp traps, collect hair samples, wing punch, swab, and release
Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, and North Carolina
Scientific research
Collect caterpillars and sacrifice or retain all lab-reared caterpillars
Amendment.
ES56746B-5
Joseph Johnson; Cincinnati, OH
Gray bat (
Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (
Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis), tricolored bat (
Perimyotis subflavus), and Virginia big-eared bat (
Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
Presence/probable absence surveys, investigate impacts of white-nose syndrome and habitat management on bat communities, migration studies, and genetic analyses
Enter hibernacula and maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, wing punch, and release
Renewal and amendment.
ES37652B-3
Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service; Asheville, NC
Capture, band, monitor nest cavities, construct and monitor artificial nest cavities and restrictors, translocate, recapture, and release
Renewal and amendment.
ES43261B-1
Ann Altman; Columbia, SC
Carolina heelsplitter (
Lasmigona decorata)
North Carolina and South Carolina
Presence/probable absence surveys
Capture, handle, identify, release, and salvage relic shells
Renewal.
ES79580A-4
Jason Butler; Midway, KY
Mammals: gray bat (
Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (
Myotis sodalis), and northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis); Fishes: blackside dace (
Phoxinus cumberlandensis) and Cumberland darter (
Etheostoma susanae)
Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
Presence/probable absence surveys
Mammals: enter hibernacula or maternity roost caves, capture with mist nets or harp traps, handle, identify, band, radio tag, salvage dead bats, and release; Fishes: capture, handle, identify, and release
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Presence/probable absence surveys
Reptiles: flattened musk turtle: capture, identify, measure, and release; Fishes: capture, handle, identify, and release; Mussels: capture, handle, identify, release, and salvage relic shells; Snails: capture, handle, identify, release, collect vouchers, and salvage relic shells; Crustaceans: Nashville crayfish: capture, identify, measure, sex, and release
Monitor and evaluate nest hatching success and conduct scientific research
Salvage hatched eggs, inviable eggs, and dead embryos, and collect cloacal swabs from wild or captive individuals
Renewal and amendment.
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
If we decide to issue a permit to an applicant listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the
Federal Register
.
Authority
We publish this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531et seq.).