[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55736-55737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24348]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0072; 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 December 7, 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-2018-0072.
    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-2018-0072.
     U.S. Mail or Hand-Delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0072; 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. 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

[[Page 55737]]

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 issued 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. ESA 
permits cover a wide range of activities pertaining to foreign listed 
species, including import, export, and activities in the United States.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite comments on the following applications.

Applicant: Dr. Viktoria Oelze, University of California Santa Cruz, 
Santa Cruz, CA; Permit No. 91602C

    The applicant requests authorization to import non-invasively 
collected hair samples from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in 
Tanzania for the purpose of scientific research. This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.

Applicant: Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY; Permit No. 85317C

    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
collected from wild, captive-held, and/or captive-born specimens of any 
and all endangered animal species from any and all worldwide locations, 
for the purpose of scientific research. No animals may be intentionally 
killed for the purpose of collecting such samples. Any invasively 
collected samples can only be collected by trained personnel. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: Dr. Tom McCarthy, Panthera Corporation, New York, NY; Permit 
No. 91449C

    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
collected from wild snow leopards (Unicia uncia) in Kyrgyzstan for the 
purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to 
be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Dmitri Petrov, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Permit No. 
93509C

    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
from wild African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) from Painted Dog 
Conservation, Harare, Zimbabwe, for the purpose of scientific research. 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Six Flags Great Adventure Safari Park, Jackson, NJ; Permit 
No. 701129

    The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris 
altaica) to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: Wildlife Partners LLC, San Antonio, TX; Permit No. 98330C

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

Applicant: Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc. (ZooTampa at 
Lowry Park), Tampa, FL; Permit No. 90228C

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for Komodo Island monitor (Varanus komodoensis), 
yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus), great Indian 
rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus), 
clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and African penguin (Spheniscus 
demersus), to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH; Permit No. 72284C

    The applicant requests a permit to import samples derived from wild 
black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) from Centre ValBio 
Research Station, Ranomafana, Madagascar, for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Pinola Conservancy, Shreveport, LA; Permit No. 78121C

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for Japanese crane (Grus japonensis) and Cabot's 
tragopan pheasant (Tragopan caboti). This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Multiple Applicants

    The following applicants request permits to import 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: Michael Stein, Francisco, IN; Permit No. 97800C
Applicant: Brenda Potterfield, Columbia, MO; Permit No. 98341C
Applicant: Nicholas Potterfield, Columbia, MO; Permit No. 98343C
Applicant: Sara Potterfield, Columbia, MO; Permit No. 98344C
Applicant: Rich Cabela, Sidney, NE; Permit No. 97878C
Applicant: Patrick Sands, Dallas, TX; Permit No. 98646C
Applicant: Nello Cooper, Fairbanks, AK; Permit No. 98051C
Applicant: Wyatt Norman, Corpus Christi, TX; Permit No. 97895C

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 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. 12345A, you would go to regulations.gov and search for 
``12345A''.

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. 2018-24348 Filed 11-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P