[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10884-10885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04565]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0047; 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 
April 1, 2016. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit public 
hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by 
April 1, 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-2016-0047.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0047; 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 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: 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. 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,

[[Page 10885]]

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: Tonya Bryson, Winston, GA; PRT-42334B
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), 
Aquatic box turtle (Terrapene coahuila), Bolson tortoise (Gopherus 
flavomarginatus), and spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii). This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.
Applicant: Juliann Sweet, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-80172B
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: Exuma Island iguana (Cyclura cychlura 
figginsi). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: The Austin Savanna, Creedmoor, TX; PRT-10982A
    The applicant requests an amendment and renewal of their captive-
bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following 
species to enhance species propagation or survival: Galapagos giant 
tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), radiated tortoise, (Astrochelys radiata), 
salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), white cockatoo (Cacatua 
alba), yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), blue-throated macaw 
(Ara glaucogularis), ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), black and white 
ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), red-ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra), 
cottontop tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), lar gibbon (Hylobates lar), 
Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), black rhinoceros 
(Diceros bicornis), Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Grevy's 
zebra (Equus grevyi), Hartmann's zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae), 
Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii), Barasingha (Rucervus 
duvaucelii), Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii), bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus 
pygargus), red lechwe (Kobus leche), and slender-horned gazelle 
(Gazella leptoceros). This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Kenneth Morrill, Escalon, CA; PRT-86976b
    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 enhancement of the survival of the species.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Anthony Pagano, USGS/Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK; 
PRT-77245B
    The applicant requests a permit to take two captive-born polar 
bears (Ursus maritimus) at Oregon Zoo by biological sampling and 
fitting and removal of GPS collars for the purpose of scientific 
research on polar bears' diet and energetics. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant for up to 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.

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2016-04565 Filed 3-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P