[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46751-46752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20008]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0077; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


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 
species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed 
species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such 
activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before 
issuing permits for endangered species.

DATES: We must receive comments by October 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The applications, application 
supporting materials, and any comments and other materials that we 
receive will be available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0077.
    Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the 
name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your 
comment. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0077.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0077; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
    For more information, see Public Comment Procedures under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Tapia, by phone at 703-358-
2104, via email at [email protected], or via the Federal Relay Service at 
800-877-8339.

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 in 
ADDRESSES. We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an 
address not in ADDRESSES. We will not consider or include in our 
administrative record comments we receive after the close of the 
comment period (see DATES).
    When submitting comments, please specify the name of the applicant 
and the permit number at the beginning of your comment. Please make 
your requests or comments as specific as possible, and explain the 
basis for your comments. Provide sufficient information 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.

B. May I review comments submitted by others?

    You may view and comment on others' public comments on http://www.regulations.gov, unless our allowing so would violate the Privacy 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) or Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

C. Who will see my comments?

    If you submit a comment at 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. Moreover, all submissions from organizations 
or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.

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.), we 
invite public comments on permit applications before final action is 
taken. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed 
species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such 
activities. Permits issued under section 10 of the ESA allow activities 
for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of 
the affected species. Regulations regarding permit issuance under the 
ESA are in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite comments on the following applications:
    Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Permit 
No. 98983C
    The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-bred male 
giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to China Conservation and Research 
Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan City, China, for the purpose of 
enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification 
is for a single export.
    Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Permit 
No. 98985C

[[Page 46752]]

    The applicant requests a permit to re-export one captive-bred 
female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to China Conservation and 
Research Center for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan City, China, for the 
purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification is for a single export.

IV. Next Steps

    If we issue either of the permits listed in this notice, we will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register. You may locate the notice 
announcing the permit issuance by searching http://www.regulations.gov 
for the permit number listed above in this document. For example, to 
find information about the potential issuance of Permit No. 98983C, you 
would go to regulations.gov and search for ``98983C''.

V. Authority

    We issue this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and its implementing 
regulations.

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-20008 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P