[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 71 (Monday, April 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20518-20520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07638]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0020; FXIA16710900000-201-FF09A30000]
Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Permit
Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
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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 any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA
or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.
DATES: We must receive comments by May 13, 2020.
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-2020-0020.
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-2020-0020.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0020; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters, MS:
[[Page 20519]]
PRB/3W; 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-
2185, 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?
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.
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 at 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(c) 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 certain activities with listed species unless
Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. Permits
issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA allow otherwise prohibited
activities for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or
survival of the affected species. Service regulations regarding
prohibited activities with endangered species, captive-bred wildlife
registrations, and permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the
ESA with respect to any endangered species are available in title 50 of
the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17. Service regulations
regarding permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the MMPA
with respect to any marine mammals are available in title 50 of the
Code of Federal Regulations in part 18. 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: Patty Parker c/o Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO; Permit No.
45594D
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples
derived from wild Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) taken in
the Galapagos, for the purpose of scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: Kristin Brzeski, Houghton, MI; Permit No. 51283D
The applicant requests a permit to export to Canada biological
samples taken from gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the wild for the
purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single
export.
Applicant: John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, MI; Permit No. 54616D
The applicant requests a permit to import a male captive-born snow
leopard (Uncia uncia) from the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada, for the
purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This
notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Dylan T. Carr, Garberville, CA; Permit No. 62721D
The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of
a male scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd
maintained in Mexico, to enhance the species' propagation and survival.
This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Center for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, LLC.,
Punta Gorda, FL; Permit No. 59204D
The applicant requests a permit to export two male and three female
captive-born lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) to the Darling Downs
Zoo, Pilton, Australia, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or
survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Rockin' S Exotic Game Ranch, San Angelo, TX; Permit No.
50118D
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Eld's deer
(Rucervus eldii) to enhance the propagation or survival of the species.
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant
over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Dallas Zoo Management, dba Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX; Permit
No. 56427D
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species, to enhance the propagation
or survival of the species: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Tomistoma
(Tomistoma schlegelii), and Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
[[Page 20520]]
Applicant: Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Camarillo, CA;
Permit No. 695190
The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport
nonliving museum specimens of endangered species previously accessioned
into the applicant's collection for scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, PA; Permit No. 67714D
The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport
nonliving museum specimens of endangered species previously accessioned
into the applicant's collection for scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: Kyle Wildlife Limited Partnership, Bandera, TX; Permit No.
52973D
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) 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: Rockin' S Exotic Game Ranch, San Angelo, TX; Permit No.
50097D
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii) 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 C. Ball, Indianapolis, IN; Permit No. 66461D
The applicant requests a permit to import one sport-hunted trophy
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.
B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals
Applicant: Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science dba
Alaska Sealife Center, Seward, AK; Permit No. 73634A
The applicant requests a renewal of their permit for public display
of the non-depleted population of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris
kenyoni) that have been rescued, rehabilitated, and deemed non-
releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.
IV. Next Steps
After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding
permit issuance. 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. 2020-07638 Filed 4-10-20; 8:45 am]
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