[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46965-46966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20078]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0054; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued permits to 
conduct certain activities with endangered species under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities 
involving listed species unless a Federal permit is issued to allow 
such activity.

ADDRESSES: Information about the applications for the permits listed in 
this notice is available online at www.regulations.gov. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for details.

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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), have issued permits to conduct certain activities with 
endangered species in response to permit applications that we received 
under the authority of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
    After considering the information submitted with each permit 
application and the public comments received, we issued the requested 
permits subject to certain conditions set forth in each permit. For 
each application for an endangered species, we found that (1) the 
application was filed in good faith, (2) the granted permit would not 
operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species, and (3) the 
granted permit would be consistent with the purposes and policy set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA.

Availability of Documents

    The permittees' original permit application materials, along with 
public comments we received during public comment periods for the 
applications,

[[Page 46966]]

are available for review. To locate the application materials and 
received comments, go to www.regulations.gov and search for the 
appropriate permit number (e.g., 12345C) provided in the following 
table:

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              Permit No.                           Applicant                      Permit issuance date
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115344................................  Forrest Simpson...............  April 17, 2018.
58260C................................  Northeastern University/Ocean   April 11, 2018.
                                         Genome Legacy Center.
125284................................  Smithsonian Institution/        April 12, 2018.
                                         National Museum of Natural
                                         History.
42528C................................  Miami-Dade Zoological Park and  March 20, 2018.
                                         Gardens.
51951C................................  East Texas Ranch, LP..........  July 24, 2018.
37142A................................  East Texas Ranch, LP..........  July 24, 2018.
32977C................................  Denver Zoological Foundation,   June 20, 2018.
                                         d/b/a Denver Zoo.
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Permit Issued Under Emergency Exemption

    On May 23, 2017, the Service issued a permit (Permit No. 90984C) to 
the Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, New York, to import 
biological samples from confiscated wild-caught specimens of radiated 
tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) in Madagascar, for the purpose of 
enhancement of the survival of the species. This action was authorized 
under section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Service determined that an emergency 
affecting the health and well-being of these confiscated tortoises 
existed, and that no reasonable alternative was available to the 
applicant for the following reason:
    The Wildlife Conservation Society requested a permit to import 
biological samples from Dr. Randriamahazo Herilala in Analamanga, 
Madagascar, due to the pending review of their request for a blanket 
import permit covering biological samples from multiple species (Permit 
No. 85317C) for scientific research and diagnostics purposes. The 
length of time involved in reviewing this application, as well as the 
regulatory requirement for a 30-day public comment period associated 
with this proposed activity, would have caused an undue delay in 
analyzing these samples for the presence of any potential pathogens, 
diseases, or nutritional deficiencies relating to these confiscated 
specimens. This analysis is needed to help facilitate the placement and 
care of these confiscated specimens within Madagascar, mitigating 
further mortalities and improving the conditions under which these 
specimens are currently being held.

Authority

    We issue this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species 
Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and its implementing 
regulations, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its implementing regulations.

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-20078 Filed 9-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P