[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62600-62601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26215]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; 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 (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) and foreign or native species for which the Service 
has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With 
some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed 
species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such 
activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment 
before issuing permits for endangered species or marine mammals.

DATES: We must receive comments by January 3, 2019.

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-2018-0086.
    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-2018-0086.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0086; 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: Monica Thomas, 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 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.), and 
section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we invite public comments on permit 
applications before final action is taken. With some exceptions, the 
ESA and MMPA prohibit 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. Concurrent with 
publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we are forwarding 
copies of the marine mammal applications to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite comments on the following applications.

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Apple Valley, MN; Permit No. 
91440C

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) to enhance the propagation or survival of the species 
for: Golden lion

[[Page 62601]]

tamarin (Leonthopithecus rosalia), cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus 
Oedipus), Asian dhole (Cuon alpinus), Asian wild horse (Equus 
Przewalski), Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), Siberian tiger 
(Panthera tigris altaica), White-cheeked gibbon (Hylobates leucogenys), 
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), 
Rothschild's mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi), African penguin (Spheniscus 
demersus), West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis 
tetraspis), and komodo monitor (Varanus komodoensis). This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.

Applicant: Cord Offermann, Austin, TX; Permit No. 05160B

    The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance 
the propagation or survival of the species: Radiated tortoise 
(Astrochelys radiata), Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger), 
and spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii). This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.

Applicant: Chicago Zoological Society dba Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, 
IL; Permit No. 84889C

    The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance 
the propagation or survival of the species: Grevy's zebra (Equus 
grevyi), Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), lesser slow loris 
(Nycticebus pygmaeus), African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), 
and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Uno Mas Ranch, Bandera, TX; Permit No. 02149D

    The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess 
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from the captive herd maintained at their 
facility, to enhance the species' propagation and survival. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: Gary Reeder, Flagstaff, AZ; Permit No. 09831D

    The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of 
one 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.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: ABR, Inc.--Environmental Research and Services, Fairbanks, 
AK; Permit No. 75595C

    The applicant requests a permit for authorization to conduct aerial 
and boat surveys of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in 
Kamishak Bay of Cook Inlet. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 85339C

    The applicant requests a permit for authorization to conduct 
research on captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus) housed in various 
U.S. zoological facilities. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

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, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its implementing regulations.

Monica Thomas,
Management Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of Management 
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-26215 Filed 12-3-18; 8:45 am]
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