[Federal Register: August 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 156)]
[Notices]               
[Page 46503]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au06-76]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Emergency Exemption: Issuance of Permit for Endangered Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of emergency issuance of permit for endangered species.

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SUMMARY: The following permit was issued.

ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted for this 
application are available for review, subject to the requirements of 
the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, by any party who 
submits a written request for a copy of such documents to: U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 4401 North 
Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia 22203, telephone 703/358-
2104 or fax 703/358-2281.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division of Management Authority, 
telephone 703/358-2104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 21, 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) issued a permit (PRT-108841) to the Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, to 
import biological samples from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in 
Tanzania for the purpose of scientific research. This action was 
authorized under Section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Service determined that an 
emergency affecting the health and life of the chimpanzees at the 
Mahale Mountains National Park and Rubondo Island National Park in 
Tanzania existed and that no reasonable alternative was available to 
the applicant for the following reasons.
    Virginia Polytechinic Institute and State University requested a 
permit to import biological samples (bodily tissues and organs, hair, 
saliva, and other body parts) from the forest floor and from deceased 
animals found in the Mahle Mountains National Park in Kigoma, Tanzania, 
and Rubondo Island National Park in Mwanza, Tanzania, for emergency and 
ongoing health and disease evaluation purposes. Samples will be 
utilized exclusively for diagnostic and scientific purposes. The 
specimens will be used to run diagnostics tests to determine the cause 
of death. The necessary diagnostic testing is not available in Africa. 
The results of health and disease testing from these chimpanzees will 
help determine why the animals died in order to develop interventions 
to help prevent reoccurrence.

    Dated: July 21, 2006.
Michael S. Moore,
Senior Permit Biologist, Branch of Permits, Division of Management 
Authority.
 [FR Doc. E6-13243 Filed 8-11-06; 8:45 am]

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