[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22988-22989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10536]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0011; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


June 18, 2018 Foreign Endangered Species; 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. 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 June 18, 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-2018-0011 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-2018-0011.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0011 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: Brenda Tapia, (703) 358-2104 
(telephone); [email protected] (email).

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

[[Page 22989]]

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 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. 1531et seq.), 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: San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA; PRT-72882C (Previously 
PRT-778487)

    The applicant requests renewal of their permit for scientific 
research with wild and captive-born giant pandas currently held under 
loan agreement with the Government of China under the provisions of the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Panda Policy. The proposed research will 
cover all aspects of behavior, reproductive physiology, genetics, 
nutrition, and animal health and is a continuation of activities 
currently in progress. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO; PRT-42604C

    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from 
African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) from Painted Dog Research Trust in 
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for scientific research purposes. This 
notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Center for Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, Punta Gorda, 
FL; PRT-018969

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa 
celebensis), lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), Javan banteng (Bos 
javanicus), lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), Malayan tapir (Tapirus 
indicus), greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), and 
black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Dub Wallace Ranch LLC, Sonora, TX; PRT-63016C

    The applicant requests a permit authorizing interstate and foreign 
commerce, export, and cull of excess Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from 
a captive herd 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: H & L Sales, Inc., Hunt, TX; PRT-704025

    The applicant requests a permit authorizing interstate and foreign 
commerce, export, and cull of excess Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and 
barasingha (Rucervus duvauceli) from captive herd 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: Dub Wallace Ranch LLC, Sonora, TX; PRT-62275C

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

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 
application number listed in this document (e.g., PRT-12345X).

V. Authority

    Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-10536 Filed 5-16-18; 8:45 am]
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