[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64101-64102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25082]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0093; FXIA16710900000-201-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 December 20, 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-2019-0093.
    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-2019-0093.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0093; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Headquarters, MS: PERMA; 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?

    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: University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Permit No. 40810D
    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
of wild and captive ground pangolin (Manis temminckii) from multiple 
countries for the purpose of scientific research. This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.
Applicant: Hidden Harbor Marine Environmental Project, Inc. dba The 
Turtle Hospital, Marathon, FL; Permit No. 47936D
    The applicant requests authorization to export one female 
loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) from The Turtle Hospital, 
Marathon, FL to Sea Life London Aquarium, London, U.K., for the purpose 
of enhancing the

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propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a 
single export.
Applicant: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, c/o Caribbean Ecological Service 
Field Office, Boqueron, PR; Permit No. 51216D
    The applicant requests authorization to export dried and/or 
preserved plant samples of (Cordia bellonis) for the purpose of 
scientific research. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Stevens Forest, Sanderson, TX; Permit No. 36949D
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) 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: Joan Hemker, Hemker Park and Zoo, Freeport, MN; Permit No. 
21468B
    The applicant requests an amendment of an existing captive-bred 
wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for jackass penguin 
(Spheniscus demersus), ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), cotton-top 
tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra), and 
black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) 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: Forest Stevens, Sanderson, TX; Permit No. 46450D
    The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess 
barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) 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.
    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: Tanner Glidden, Klamath Falls, OR; Permit No. 51278D
Applicant: Phillip Landry, Leesvile, CA; Permit No. 76127C

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK; Permit No. 11219B
    The applicant requests renewal of their permit for public display 
of Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) that were rescued from the wild 
and designated non-releasable due to their inability to survive in the 
wild. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 33776D
    The applicant requests a permit to collect biological samples from 
and conduct aerial surveys using Unmanned Aerial Systems of wild-caught 
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) from all age classes and sexes for 
the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities 
to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: University of California-Davis, Davis, CA; Permit No. 98121C
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from 
wild-caught Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) from Fisheries and 
Oceans Canada for the purpose of scientific research. This notification 
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year 
period.
Applicant: Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA; Permit No. 
02713D
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from 
two male and two female, wild-caught polar bear (Ursus maritimus) from 
the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada for the purpose of 
scientific research.

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. 2019-25082 Filed 11-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P