[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9748-9749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04608]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Endangered Foreign Species and Protected Marine Mammals; Receipt 
of Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to 
comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign 
endangered species and marine mammals. With some exceptions, the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species 
unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. 
The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits.

DATES: We must receive comments by April 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Document availability: The applications, as well as any comments 
and other materials that we receive, will be available for public 
inspection online in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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-2017-0099.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0099; 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# at the beginning of your comment. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Russell, 703-358-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedures

A. How do I comment on submitted applications?

    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed above under Submitting Comments in ADDRESSES. We will not 
consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not in 
ADDRESSES.
    Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible, 
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 in 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

[[Page 9749]]

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.

C. Who will see my comments?

    If you submit a comment via 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.

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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.), 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: IDEXX Reference Laboratories, Westbrook, ME; PRT-57489C

    The applicant requests a permit to import blood samples derived 
from captive-bred black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from African 
Safari, Puebla, Mexico, for scientific research. This notification is 
for a single import.

Applicant: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY; PRT-26682C

    The applicant requests a permit to export, re-export, and import 
biological samples, parts, and products from live, dead, wild, and 
captive-born endangered mammals (excluding marine mammals), birds, 
reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates from worldwide locations 
for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-62534C

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) to 
enhance species propagation or survival. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: East Texas Ranch, LP, Athens, TX; PRT-37142A

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) to enhance 
species propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to 
be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: East Texas Ranch, LP, Athens, TX; PRT-51951C

    The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess 
barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelli) 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.

Multiple Trophies

    The following applicants each request a permit to import sport-
hunted trophies 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: Alan Long, Talala, OK; PRT-63010C
Applicant: Michael Towbin, Kirkland, WA; PRT-59012C
Applicant: Terry Anderson, Bozeman, MT; PRT-52689C
Applicant: Robert Gwin, Oklahoma City, OK; PRT-55023C
Applicant: Scott Roleson, Whiting, NJ; PRT-54410C

B. Marine Mammals

Applicant: USGS-Southeast Ecological Science CTR, Gainesville, FL; PRT-
791721

    The applicant requests authorization to renew and amend their 
permit to export, import, and re-export biological samples of live and 
dead Sirenia (all species of manatees and dugongs, including Trichechus 
manatus latirostris, T. m. manatus, Trichechus inunguis, Trichechus 
senegalensis, and Dugong dugon) for the purpose of scientific research. 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over 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.

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 http://www.regulations.gov under the 
permit number listed in this document (e.g., PRT-12345c).

V. Authority

    Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).

Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-04608 Filed 3-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P