[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60412-60414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27375]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0033; Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077; 
FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Foreign Endangered and Threatened Species; 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 and threatened species. With some exceptions, the 
Endangered Species Act 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 
January 19, 2018.

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-2017-0033 and/or Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077, as indicated in 
III. Permit Applications, below.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0033 and/or Docket

[[Page 60413]]

No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    When submitting comments, please also 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: Joyce Russell, Government Information 
Specialist, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Headquarters, MS: IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803; telephone 703-358-2023; facsimile 703-358-2280.

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 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please include the Federal 
Register notice publication date, the docket number, 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.; ESA), 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; Jan. 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.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain 
activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the ESA 
prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization 
is acquired that allows such activities.
Applicant: Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans, LA; PRT-50379C; 
Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077
    The applicant requests a permit to import one captive-born male 
orangutan (Pongo abelii) from the Hannover Zoo, Hannover, Germany, to 
enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This notification 
is for a single import.

Applicant: University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; PRT-50259C; 
Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077
    The applicant requests a permit to import any endangered or 
threatened wildlife and plant species from worldwide sources, for the 
purpose of scientific research in applied animal ecology using stable 
isotope analysis. This notification covers activities to be conducted 
by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Ronald Grant, Brackettville, TX; PRT-65097A; Docket No. FWS-
HQ-IA-2017-0077
    The applicant requests a permit authorizing interstate and foreign 
commerce, export, and cull of excess red lechwe (Kobus leche) from 
captive herds maintained at their facility, for the purpose of 
enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Christopher Murray, Cookeville, TN; PRT-28444C; Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077

    The application requests a permit authorizing multiple-use import 
of American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) scientific samples from Costa 
Rica, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, MI; 
PRT-41443C; Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077

    The applicant requests a permit to import howler monkey (Alouatta 
palliata) blood and hair samples from Nicaragua, for the purpose of 
scientific research. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL; PRT-24014C; Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-
2017-0033

    In the Federal Register of July 6, 2017 (82 FR 31346), we published 
a notice inviting the public to comment on an application we received 
from Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL. Two species--black rhinoceros (Diceros 
bicornus) and common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)--were inadvertently 
left out of the description of the application. We are reopening the 
comment period on this application. We must receive comments or 
requests for documents on or before the date shown in the DATES 
section. The full, correct description of the Busch Gardens application 
reads as follows:
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR

[[Page 60414]]

17.21(g) to enhance the propagation or survival of the following 
species:
    African slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus), Asian 
elephant (Elephas maximus), black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornus), 
cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), 
western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), 
Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufus), 
mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz), ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), red-
ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra), Cuban parrot (Amazona leucocephala), 
blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis), and golden parakeet (Guarouba 
guarouba). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Morani River Ranch, Uvalde, TX; PRT-49112A; Docket No. FWS-
HQ-IA-2017-0033

    In the Federal Register of July 6, 2017 (82 FR 31346), we published 
a notice inviting the public to comment on an application we received 
from Morani River Ranch, Uvalde, TX. In that notice, the application 
was described incorrectly as a captive-bred wildlife application rather 
than a culling application. We are reopening the comment period on this 
application. We must receive comments or requests for documents on or 
before the date shown in the DATES section. The full, correct 
description of the Morani River Ranch application reads as follows:
    The applicant requests a renewal of their permit authorizing the 
culling of excess barasingha (also known as ``swamp deer''; Cervus 
duvauceli), red lechwe (Kobus leche), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and 
Eld's brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi) from the captive herd maintained 
at their facility, 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: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, La Jolla, CA; PRT-69509B; Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-
0077

    The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport 
nonliving museum specimens of endangered and threatened 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: H & L Sales, Inc., Hunt, Texas; PRT-704025; Docket No. FWS-
HQ-IA-2017-0077

    The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess 
barasingha (Rucervus dubauceli) and Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) 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.
Trophy Applicants (Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0077)
    The following applicants each request a permit to import a 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.
Applicant: Larry Fliehs, Groton, SD; PRT-42537C
Applicant: Waggoner M. McDonnold, Midland TX; PRT-49644C
Applicant: Justin M. Bates, Dublin, OH; PRT-49643C
Applicant: Corbin J. Robertson Jr., Houston, TX; PRT-40255C
Applicant: Richard M. Bradish, Belgrade, MT; PRT-46591C
Applicant: Danny R. Hendrickson, Abilene, TX; PRT-47478C
Applicant: George Alan Clark, San Antonio, TX; PRT-54418C
Applicant: James R. Rymer, Jones, OK; PRT-45743C

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 regulations.gov under the permit 
number listed in this document.

V. Public Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this notice 
by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not consider 
comments sent by email or fax or to an address not listed in ADDRESSES.
    If you submit a comment via 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, 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.
    We will post all hardcopy comments on regulations.gov under the 
applicable docket number.

VI. Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2017-27375 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P