[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62089-62091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26266]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2015-0149; FXIA16710900000-167-FF09A30000]


Endangered Species; Wild Bird Conservation; Marine Mammals; 
Receipt of Applications for Permit

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications for permit.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to 
comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities 
with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal 
authorization is acquired that allows such activities. The public is 
also invited to comment on the following applications for approval to 
conduct certain activities with bird species covered under the Wild 
Bird Conservation Act of 1992, which was enacted to ensure that exotic 
bird species are not harmed by international trade and to encourage 
wild bird conservation programs in countries of origin.

DATES: We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before 
November 16, 2015. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit 
public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES 
section by November 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES:
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-
IA-2015-0149.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2015-0149; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Headquarters, MS:

[[Page 62090]]

BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see the Public Comments section below for more information).
    Viewing Comments: Comments and materials we receive will be 
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of 
Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; 
telephone 703-358-2095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Endangered Species Applications: Brenda Tapia, Program Analyst/Data 
Administrator, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Headquarters, MS: IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803; telephone 703-358-2104; facsimile 703-358-2280.
    Wild Bird Conservation Act Applications: Craig Hoover, Chief, 
Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Headquarters, MS: IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; 
telephone 703-358-2095; facsimile 703-358-2298. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedures

A. How do I request copies of applications or comment on submitted 
applications?

    Send your request for copies of applications or comments and 
materials concerning any of the applications to the contact listed 
under ADDRESSES. Please include the Federal Register notice publication 
date, the PRT-number, and the name of the applicant in your request or 
submission. We will not consider requests or comments sent to an email 
or address not listed under ADDRESSES. If you provide an email address 
in your request for copies of applications, we will attempt to respond 
to your request electronically.
    Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible. 
Please confine your comments to issues for which we seek comments in 
this notice, and explain the basis for your comments. Include 
sufficient information with your comments to allow us to authenticate 
any scientific or commercial data you include.
    The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and 
likely to influence agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by 
quantitative information or studies; and (2) Those that include 
citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations. We 
will not consider or include in our administrative record comments we 
receive after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments 
delivered to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).

B. May I review comments submitted by others?

    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the street address listed under 
ADDRESSES. The public may review documents and other information 
applicants have sent in support of the application unless our allowing 
viewing would violate the Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act. 
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.

II. Background

    To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected 
species, and in consideration of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 
seq.), along with Executive Order 13576, ``Delivering an Efficient, 
Effective, and Accountable Government,'' and the President's Memorandum 
for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies of January 21, 
2009--Transparency and Open Government (74 FR 4685; January 26, 2009), 
which call on all Federal agencies to promote openness and transparency 
in Government by disclosing information to the public, we invite public 
comment on these permit applications before final action is taken. 
Under the MMPA, you may request a hearing on any MMPA application 
received. If you request a hearing, give specific reasons why a hearing 
would be appropriate. The holding of such a hearing is at the 
discretion of the Service Director.

III. Permit Applications

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Keenesburg, CO; PRT-59839B
    The applicant requests a permit to import seven captive-bred tigers 
(Panthera tigris), two captive-bred jaguars (Panthera onca), and one 
captive-bred leopard (Panthera pardus) for the purpose of enhancement 
of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to 
be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: Brady Champion Ranch, LLC, Rochelle, TX; PRT-51308B
    On July 23, 2015, we published a Federal Register notice inviting 
the public to comment on an application for a permit to conduct certain 
activities with endangered species (80 FR 43790). We made any error by 
omitting one species in the Brady Champion Ranch application, which 
starts at the upper right in column 3 on page 43791. The omitted 
species is Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). All the other information we 
printed was correct. With this notice, we correct that error and reopen 
the comment period for PRT-51308B. The correct entry for this 
application is as follows: The applicant requests a permit authorizing 
interstate and foreign commerce, export, and cull of excess Barasingha 
(Rucervus duvaucelii), Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii), Arabian oryx (Oryx 
leucoryx), and Red lechwe (Kobus lechwe) from the captive herd 
maintained at their facility, for the purpose of enhancement of the 
survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mexican Wolf Reintroduction 
Project, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM; PRT-001904
    The applicant requests renewal of a permit to import live Mexican 
or lobo wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) for breeding and reintroduction, 
as well as the import of biological samples for genetic studies, for 
the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species and 
scientific research. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Abilene Zoological Gardens, Abilene, TX; PRT-66556B
    The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-bred maned 
wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) for the purpose of enhancement of the 
survival of the species. This notification covers

[[Page 62091]]

activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: St. Catherines Island Foundation, Midway, GA; PRT 77387B
    The applicant requests a permit to export 10 male captive-born 
ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) to the Australia Zoo, Queensland, 
Australia, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the 
species.
Applicant: Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA; PRT-
69024B
    The applicant requests a permit to export two male and six female 
captive-bred chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to Wingham Wildlife Park, 
Wingham, United Kingdom, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival 
of the species.
Applicant: Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, 
Santa Barbara, CA; PRT-74563B
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from 
wild African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.

Multiple Applicants

    The following applicants each request a permit to import the sport-
hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) 
culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of 
the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the 
survival of the species.
Applicant: Donald Meyer, San Antonio, TX; PRT-73590B
Applicant: Arthur Gutierrez, Weston, MA; PRT-71490B
Applicant: Christopher Gannon, Jupiter, FL; PRT-76689B
Applicant: Joshua Braun, Calhoun, MO; PRT-76169B
Applicant: Michael Long, Sterling City, TX; PRT-78222B

B. Wild Bird Conservation Act

Applicant: Marelina Salmones, Plano, TX
    The applicant wishes to establish a cooperative breeding program 
for the following: Grey-headed lovebird (Agapornis canus), Fischer's 
lovebird (Agapornis fischeri), Lilian's lovebird (Agapornis lilianae), 
black-cheeked lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis), red-headed lovebird 
(Agapornis pullarius), black-collared lovebird (Agapornis 
swindernianus), black-winged lovebird (Agapornis taranta), and masked 
lovebird (Agapornis personatus). The applicant wishes to be an active 
participant in this program along with four other individuals.
    If approved, the program will be overseen by the South Florida 
Lovebird Breeders Association, affiliated with Agapornis Breeders & 
Exhibitors, Plano, Texas.

C. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: John Downer Productions Ltd., Bristol, England; PRT-68000B
    The applicant requests a permit to photograph northern sea otters 
(Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska for commercial and educational 
purposes. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant for less than a 1-year period.
Applicant: U.S. Geological Survey--Biological Resources Division, Santa 
Cruz Field Station, Santa Cruz, CA; PRT-672624
    The applicant requests an amendment of the permit to take southern 
sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) in the wild to include studies on the 
foraging behaviors of the species for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant for the remainder of the validity of the permit.
Applicant: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA; PRT-186914
    The applicant requests an amendment of the permit to take up to 6 
wild, captive-held southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) that are 
being held for rehabilitation/release or are considered non-releasable, 
to investigate the use of an alternative life-history tag for the 
purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to 
be conducted by the applicant for the remainder of the validity of the 
permit.
    Concurrent with publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we 
are forwarding copies of the above applications to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2015-26266 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P