[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46750-46751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20009]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0017; 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 acquired 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-2018-0017.
    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-2018-0017.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0017; 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, confine your 
comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, 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 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. 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.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite the public to comment on the following applications.
Applicant: Gorilla Doctors, Baltimore, MD; Permit No. 77544C
    The applicant requests a permit to import scientific samples from 
wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), eastern lowland 
gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri), western lowland gorillas (Gorilla 
gorilla gorilla), bonobos (Pan paniscus), common chimps (Pan 
troglodytes), and L'hoest's monkeys (Cercopithecus l'hoesti) from the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, for the purpose 
of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Trophy Applicants
    The following applicants requests permits to import a sport-hunted 
trophies of 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: Carolyn Kimbro, Smyrna, GA; Permit No. 77185C
    Applicant: Mark Pirkle, Blanket, TX; Permit No. 76772C
    Applicant: Stewart Schanzenbach, Grand Forks, ND; Permit No. 73080C
    Applicant: Bruce Pultz, Watertown, NY; Permit No. 63052C
    Applicant: Timothy Cerow, Watertown, NY; Permit No. 63051C

[[Page 46751]]

    Applicant: Geoffrey Corn, Springfield, CO; Permit No. 70482C
    Applicant: David Sanson, Walnut Creek, CA; Permit No. 73144C
    Applicant: Janelle Manion, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 74740C
    Applicant: Matthew Severs, Park City, KY; Permit No. 75883C
    Applicant: Stephen Leblanc, Parker, CO; Permit No. 75904C
    Applicant: AnnMarie Meyer, Macomb, IL; Permit No. 75905C
    Applicant: Brian Johnson, Tucson, AZ; Permit No. 69508C
    Applicant: Mark Hettervig, Oregon City, OR; Permit No. 69673C
    Applicant: Ernest Dosio, Lodi, CA; Permit No. 62557C
    Applicant: Christian Rothermel, Mohnton, PA; Permit No. 54295C

IV. Next Steps

    If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed in this notice, 
we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. You may locate the 
notice announcing the permit issuance date by searching http://www.regulations.gov for the permit number listed above in this document 
(e.g., #####X).

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. 2018-20009 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P