[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66990-66991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23460]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0124;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) prohibits 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 
October 31, 2016. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit 
public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES 
section by October 31, 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-2016-0124.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0124; 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, 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.

[[Page 66991]]

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-90722B

    The applicant requests a permit to export two male and two female 
captive bred Grand Cayman blue iguanas (Cyclura lewisi) for the purpose 
of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: Fred Gage, La Jolla, CA; PRT-99616B

    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from 
captive bred Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) for the purpose of 
scientific research.

Applicant: Panther Ridge Conservation Center, Wellington, FL; PRT-
203027

    The applicant requests amendment of an existing captive-bred 
wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add the following 
species to enhance species propagation or survival: Leopard (Panthera 
pardus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: William Ahrens, Marvin, NC; PRT-86901B

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), 
Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), aquatic box turtle 
(Terrapene coahuila), and Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra). This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: Phoenix Herpetological Society, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-19818A

    The applicant requests amendment of an existing captive-bred 
wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add the following 
species to enhance species propagation or survival: Cuban crocodile 
(Crocodylus rhombifer), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), 
Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), African slender-snouted 
crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus), freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus 
johnstoni), Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius), Chinese 
alligator (Alligator sinensis), Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis 
tetraspis), broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris), black caiman 
(Melanosuchus niger), and tomistoma (Tomistoma schlegelii). This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: SeaWorld, LLC, San Diego, CA; PRT-02152C

    The applicant requests a permit for public display of one Pacific 
walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) which had been found as an 
abandoned calf near Barrow, Alaska, was rescued, rehabilitated, and 
subsequently deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service because the calf did not have the necessary skills to survive 
in the wild.
    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. 2016-23460 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P