[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8093-8094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03105]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0040; FXIA16710900000-156-FF09A30000]


Endangered Species; 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) prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal 
authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

DATES: We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before 
[March 18, 2016. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit 
public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in ADDRESSES by March 
18, 2016.

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-2016-0040.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0040; 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# you are commenting on. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see Public Comments 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: Brenda Tapia, (703) 358-2104 
(telephone); (703) 358-2281 (fax); [email protected] (email).

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.

[[Page 8094]]

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 locations listed under Viewing 
Comments in 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: Phoenix Herpetological Society, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-80786B
    The applicant requests a permit to import 10 live captive-bred 
specimens of black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) from Aalborg Zoo, 
Aalborg, Denmark, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the 
species through zoological display and captive propagation.
Applicant: Cynthia Lagueux, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; 
PRT-86982B
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples 
collected from wild hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), 
green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback sea turtle 
(Dermochelys coriacea) for the purpose of scientific research. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.
Applicant: Chris Gurley, Yuma, TN; PRT-78710B
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris). 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Edwin Rymut, Fort Atkinson, WI; PRT-82084B
    The applicant requests a permit to import sport-hunted trophies of 
two 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.
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: James Mercer, Carbondale, KS; PRT-86126B
Applicant: Luisa Lee, Nashville, NC; PRT-82277B
Applicant: Harry Peterson, Sandy, UT; PRT-83947B

B. Marine Mammals

Applicant: British Broadcasting Corporation--Ocean, Bristol, England, 
UK; PRT-59492B
    The applicant requests an amendment to their permit to photograph 
northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from air, land, and boat 
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: Indianapolis Zoological Society, Indianapolis, IN; PRT-
81843B
    The applicant requests a permit to take one non-releasable male 
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) for the purpose of public 
display. ``Pakak'' was rescued as an abandoned calf near Barrow, 
Alaska, in June 2012. In October 2012, the Service deemed this animal 
non-releasable after determining that ``Pakak'' did not demonstrate the 
skills and abilities needed to survive in the wild; ``Pakak'' was 
subsequently transferred to the Indianapolis Zoo for continued care. 
The applicant is applying for a permit to permanently hold this animal 
for the purpose of public display.
    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. 2016-03105 Filed 2-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P