[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70563-70564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27624]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0112; 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 January 22, 2020.

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-2019-0112.
    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-2019-0112.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0112; 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: 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 
(CBW) 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: Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN; Permit No. 
57460D
    The applicant requests authorization for a permit to import samples 
of wild green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead sea turtle 
(Caretta caretta), and Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) 
for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a 
single import.
Applicant: The San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA; Permit No. 49913D
    The applicant requests authorization for a permit to export two 
male babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) to Tierpark

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Berlin, Berlin, Germany, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation 
or survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Marc Papiernik, Romeoville, IL; Permit No. 34678D
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife (CBW) registration 
under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for Madagascar radiated tortoise (Astrochelys 
radiata), 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: Christian Ryder, Greenwich, CT; Permit No. 52946D
    The applicant requests a CBW registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for 
Grand Cayman blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi), 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: Russell Johnson, Scottsdale, AZ; Permit No. 53009D
    The applicant requests a CBW registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for 
Grand Cayman blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi), 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: Ryan Combs, Peoria, AZ; Permit No. 59845D
    The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of 
one sport-hunted trophy 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.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: SeaWorld LLC d/b/a SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, CA; Permit 
No. 16657D
    The applicant requests a permit to import one female captive-bred 
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) from Kamogawa Sea World, Chiba, 
Japan, for the purpose of public display. This notification is for a 
single import.

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. 2019-27624 Filed 12-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P