[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62600-62601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26215]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]
Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Permit
Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the
public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with
foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) and foreign or native species for which the Service
has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With
some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed
species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such
activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment
before issuing permits for endangered species or marine mammals.
DATES: We must receive comments by January 3, 2019.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The applications, application supporting
materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be
available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket
No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086.
Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the
name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your
comment. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
For more information, see Public Comment Procedures under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Thomas, by phone at 703-358-
2104, via email at DMAFR@fws.gov, or via the Federal Relay Service at
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
A. How do I comment on submitted applications?
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods in
ADDRESSES. We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an
address not in ADDRESSES. We will not consider or include in our
administrative record comments we receive after the close of the
comment period (see DATES).
When submitting comments, please specify the name of the applicant
and the permit number at the beginning of your comment. Provide
sufficient information 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.
B. May I review comments submitted by others?
You may view and comment on others' public comments on http://www.regulations.gov, unless our allowing so would violate the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) or Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).
C. Who will see my comments?
If you submit a comment at http://www.regulations.gov, your entire
comment, including any personal identifying information, will be posted
on the website. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal
identifying information, such as your address, phone number, or email
address, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold
this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so. Moreover, 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.
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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and
section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we invite public comments on permit
applications before final action is taken. With some exceptions, the
ESA and MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal
authorization is issued that allows such activities. Permits issued
under section 10 of the ESA allow activities for scientific purposes or
to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species.
Regulations regarding permit issuance under the ESA are in title 50 of
the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17. ESA permits cover a wide
range of activities pertaining to foreign listed species, including
import, export, and activities in the United States. Concurrent with
publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we are forwarding
copies of the marine mammal applications to the Marine Mammal
Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.
III. Permit Applications
We invite comments on the following applications.
A. Endangered Species
Applicant: Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Apple Valley, MN; Permit No.
91440C
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) to enhance the propagation or survival of the species
for: Golden lion
[[Page 62601]]
tamarin (Leonthopithecus rosalia), cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus
Oedipus), Asian dhole (Cuon alpinus), Asian wild horse (Equus
Przewalski), Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), Siberian tiger
(Panthera tigris altaica), White-cheeked gibbon (Hylobates leucogenys),
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus),
Rothschild's mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi), African penguin (Spheniscus
demersus), West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis
tetraspis), and komodo monitor (Varanus komodoensis). This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.
Applicant: Cord Offermann, Austin, TX; Permit No. 05160B
The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance
the propagation or survival of the species: Radiated tortoise
(Astrochelys radiata), Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger),
and spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii). This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.
Applicant: Chicago Zoological Society dba Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield,
IL; Permit No. 84889C
The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance
the propagation or survival of the species: Grevy's zebra (Equus
grevyi), Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), lesser slow loris
(Nycticebus pygmaeus), African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis),
and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Uno Mas Ranch, Bandera, TX; Permit No. 02149D
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from the captive herd maintained at their
facility, to enhance the species' propagation and survival. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: Gary Reeder, Flagstaff, AZ; Permit No. 09831D
The applicant requests a permit to import a 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 enhancing the propagation or survival of the
species.
B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals
Applicant: ABR, Inc.--Environmental Research and Services, Fairbanks,
AK; Permit No. 75595C
The applicant requests a permit for authorization to conduct aerial
and boat surveys of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in
Kamishak Bay of Cook Inlet. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 85339C
The applicant requests a permit for authorization to conduct
research on captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus) housed in various
U.S. zoological facilities. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
IV. Next Steps
If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed in this notice,
we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. You may locate the
notice announcing the permit issuance by searching http://www.regulations.gov for the permit number listed above in this
document. For example, to find information about the potential issuance
of Permit No. 12345A, you would go to regulations.gov and search for
``12345A''.
V. Authority
We issue this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and its implementing
regulations, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its implementing regulations.
Monica Thomas,
Management Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-26215 Filed 12-3-18; 8:45 am]
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