[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12268-12270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06212]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0011; 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; request for comments.

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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 any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA 
or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

DATES: We must receive comments by May 1, 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-2019-0011.
    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-2019-0011.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0011; 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?

    We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies 
to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested 
permits, we will take into consideration any information that we 
receive during the public comment period.
    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 at 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(c) 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 certain activities with listed species unless 
Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. Permits 
issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA allow otherwise prohibited 
activities for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or 
survival of the affected species. Service regulations regarding 
prohibited activities with endangered species, captive-bred wildlife 
registrations, and permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the 
ESA with respect to any endangered species are available in title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17. Service regulations 
regarding permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the MMPA 
with respect to any marine mammals are available in title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations in part 18. 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: Tony Goldberg, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Permit 
No. 09881D

    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples of 
wild-born and captive-born chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from Ngamba 
Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda, for the

[[Page 12269]]

purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single 
import.

Applicant: Denver Zoological Foundation, Denver, CO; Permit No. 17573D

    The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-born Malay 
tapir (Tapirus indicus) to Africam, Mexico, for the purpose of 
enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification 
is for a single export.

Applicant: University of Illinois, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 
Brookfield, IL; Permit No. 21469B

    The applicant requests to import biological samples from chimpanzee 
(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: LMBI, Fort Worth, TX; Permit No. 18708D

    The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-born southern 
black rhino (Diceros bicornis) to Taronga Zoo, Australia, for the 
purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification is for a single export.

Applicant: Duke University Lemur Center, Durham, NC; Permit No. 21559D

    The applicant requests a permit to export one male and one female 
captive-born Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) to Tierpark 
Berlin, Berlin, Germany, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation 
or survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.

Applicant: Elliot Jacobson, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; 
Permit No. 21270D

    The applicant requests a permit to import biological tissue samples 
of Central American river turtle (Dermatemys mawii) from Unitedville, 
Belize, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is 
for a single import.

Applicant: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha, NE; Permit No. 
22215D

    The applicant requests a permit to import one live captive-bred 
male Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) from Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 
Russian Federation, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or 
survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH; Permit No. 04323D

    The applicant requests a permit to import one female captive-born 
Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) for the purpose of enhancing 
the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a 
single import.

Applicant: Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, NY; Permit No. 02406D

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for snow leopard (Panthera uncia) 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: Virginia Safari Park, Natural Bridge, VA; Permit No. 02395D

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) and southern 
white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) 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: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden, Los Angeles, CA; 
Permit No. 11986D

    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species listed in the table below, to 
enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Common name                        Scientific name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
African wild dog..........................  Lycaon pictus
Andean condor.............................  Vultur gryphus
Anoa......................................  Bubalus depressicornis
Asian elephant............................  Elephas maximus
Baird's tapir.............................  Tapirus bairdii
Bali mynah................................  Leucopsar rothschildi
Black lemur...............................  Eulemur macaco
Blue-billed curassow......................  Crax alberti
Blue-throated macaw.......................  Ara glaucogularis
Bornean orangutan.........................  Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus
Buru babirusa.............................  Babyrousa celebensus
Chimpanzee................................  Pan troglodytes
Francois' langur..........................  Trachypithecus francoisi
Giant otter...............................  Pteronura brasiliensis
Golden-lion tamarin.......................  Leontopithecus rosalia
Grevy's zebra.............................  Equus grevyi
Harpy eagle...............................  Harpia harpyja
Komodo monitor............................  Varanus komodoensis
Mandrill..................................  Mandrillus sphinx
Maned wolf................................  Chrysocyon brachyurus
Peninsular pronghorn......................  Antilocapra americana
                                             peninsularis
Radiated tortoise.........................  Astrochelys radiata
Ring-tailed lemur.........................  Lemur catta
San Esteban Island chuckwalla.............  Sauromalus varius
Siamang...................................  Symphalangus syndactylus
Snow leopard..............................  Uncia uncia
Southern pudu.............................  Pudu puda
Tiger.....................................  Panthera tigris
Tomistoma.................................  Tomistoma schlegeli
Verreaux's sifaka.........................  Propithecus verreauxi
Western gorilla...........................  Gorilla gorilla
Woylie....................................  Bettongia penicillata
Yellow-footed rock wallaby................  Petrogale xanthopus
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applicant: William Tatom, Amarillo, TX; Permit No. 98275C

    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in 
Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the 
species.

Applicant: Rita Kalmon, Medford, WI; Permit No. 98276C

    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in 
Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the 
species.

Applicant: Nathan Somero, New Ipswich, NH; Permit No. 98249C

    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in 
Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the 
species.

Applicant: David Baldauf., Gilbert, AZ; Permit No. 98253C

    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in 
Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the 
species.

Applicant: Anthony Deshaw, Rochester Hills, MI; Permit No. 14599D

    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in 
Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the 
species.
Multiple Trophy Applicants
    The following applicants request permits to import sport-hunted 
trophies

[[Page 12270]]

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: Steven Crews, Natchitoches, LA; Permit No. 15034D

Applicant: Donald Youngblood, Keizer, OR; Permit No. 17070D

Applicant: Donald Wehmeyer, Abilene, TX; Permit No. 17570D

Applicant: Scott Ames, Tulsa, OK; Permit No. 21256D

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Admin, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response 
Program, Silver Spring, MD; Permit No. 009526

    NMFS, the applicant, requests renewal of their permit in order to 
salvage, receive, possess, analyze, transfer, import, and export 
samples and parts of all marine mammal species under U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) jurisdiction and also for incidental take of 
all marine mammals under USFWS jurisdiction that may occur while NMFS 
is performing research or emergency response activities on marine 
mammals under NMFS jurisdiction under NMFS permit no. 18786-02. They 
are also requesting Level B coverage for incidental harassment that may 
occur to the four marine mammal species that are found in U.S. waters; 
the possible incidental harassment would occur as a result of 
activities conducted under NMFS's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding 
Response Program permit for the purpose of enhancement of the survival 
of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by 
the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 
Madison, WI; Permit No. 51164C

    The applicant requests authorization for the following activities, 
for the purpose of scientific research (in order to determine possible 
causes of disease and mortality):
    To receive and process northern sea otter (NSO) carcasses stranded 
in Washington and Alaska;
    To transport tissue samples from these NSO carcasses to other lab 
facilities within the United States for diagnostic testing; and
    To export biological specimens to the Department of Fisheries and 
Oceans in Canada of northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni), 
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), West Indian manatee (Trichechus 
manatus), and polar bear (Ursus maritimus).
    This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. 
Petersburg, FL; Permit No. 773494

    The applicant requests renewal of their research permit to conduct 
aerial surveys on West Indian Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus). 
They are also requesting to import, export, or re-export biological 
samples (tissues, parts, samples, or carcasses) of West Indian manatee, 
Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), African manatee (Trichechus 
senegalensis), and dugong (Dugong dugon) for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.

IV. Next Steps

    After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding 
permit issuance. 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.

Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2019-06212 Filed 3-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P