[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9748-9749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04608]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]
Endangered Foreign Species and Protected 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, invite the public to
comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign
endangered species and marine mammals. With some exceptions, the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species
unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.
The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing
these permits.
DATES: We must receive comments by April 6, 2018.
ADDRESSES:
Document availability: The applications, as well as any comments
and other materials that we receive, will be available for public
inspection online in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099 at http://www.regulations.gov.
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-2017-0099.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
When submitting comments, please indicate the name of the applicant and
the PRT# at the beginning of your comment. We will post all comments on
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Russell, 703-358-2280.
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
listed above under Submitting Comments in ADDRESSES. We will not
consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not in
ADDRESSES.
Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible,
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 in 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
[[Page 9749]]
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.
C. Who will see my comments?
If you submit a comment via 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.
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 the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361
et seq.), 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: IDEXX Reference Laboratories, Westbrook, ME; PRT-57489C
The applicant requests a permit to import blood samples derived
from captive-bred black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from African
Safari, Puebla, Mexico, for scientific research. This notification is
for a single import.
Applicant: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY; PRT-26682C
The applicant requests a permit to export, re-export, and import
biological samples, parts, and products from live, dead, wild, and
captive-born endangered mammals (excluding marine mammals), birds,
reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates from worldwide locations
for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-62534C
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) to
enhance species propagation or survival. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: East Texas Ranch, LP, Athens, TX; PRT-37142A
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) to enhance
species propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to
be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: East Texas Ranch, LP, Athens, TX; PRT-51951C
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelli) 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.
Multiple Trophies
The following applicants each request a permit to import sport-
hunted trophies of a 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.
Applicant: Alan Long, Talala, OK; PRT-63010C
Applicant: Michael Towbin, Kirkland, WA; PRT-59012C
Applicant: Terry Anderson, Bozeman, MT; PRT-52689C
Applicant: Robert Gwin, Oklahoma City, OK; PRT-55023C
Applicant: Scott Roleson, Whiting, NJ; PRT-54410C
B. Marine Mammals
Applicant: USGS-Southeast Ecological Science CTR, Gainesville, FL; PRT-
791721
The applicant requests authorization to renew and amend their
permit to export, import, and re-export biological samples of live and
dead Sirenia (all species of manatees and dugongs, including Trichechus
manatus latirostris, T. m. manatus, Trichechus inunguis, Trichechus
senegalensis, and Dugong dugon) for the purpose of scientific research.
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant
over a 5-year period. 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.
IV. Next Steps
If the Service decides to issue permits to any of the applicants
listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal
Register. You may locate the Federal Register notice announcing the
permit issuance date by searching http://www.regulations.gov under the
permit number listed in this document (e.g., PRT-12345c).
V. Authority
Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).
Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-04608 Filed 3-6-18; 8:45 am]
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