    [Federal Register Volume 85, Number 168 (Friday, August 28, 2020)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 53396-53397]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2020-19018]

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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

    Fish and Wildlife Service

    [Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0091; FXIA16710900000-201-FF09A30000]

    Foreign Endangered Species; 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, 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 any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with
    respect to any endangered species.

    DATES: We must receive comments by September 28, 2020.
        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-2020-0091.
        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-2020-0091.
         U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
    Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0091; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 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-
    2185, via email at DMAFR@fws.gov, 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.), we
    invite public comments on permit applications before final action is
    taken. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits certain activities with
    listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such
    activities.

    [[Page 53397]]

    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.

    III. Permit Applications

        We invite comments on the following applications.

    Applicant: Memphis Zoological Society, Memphis, TN; Permit No. 052166

        The applicant requests reissuance of their permit for scientific
    research with two captive-born giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
    and their offspring currently held under loan agreement with the
    Government of China and under provision of the USFWS Giant Panda
    Policy. The proposed research will cover all aspects of behavior,
    reproductive physiology, nutrition, and animal health, and is a
    continuation of activities currently in progress. This notice covers
    activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

    Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Eagle and Wildlife
    Property Repository, Commerce City, CO; Permit No. 76282D

        The applicant requests a permit to import 9 kilograms of
    confiscated wild pangolin scales (Manis spp., potentially including
    Manis temminckii) from Kowloon, Hong Kong, for the purpose of enhancing
    the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a
    single import.

    Applicant: United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health
    Center, Honolulu, HI; Permit No. 105568

        The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples and
    carcasses from wild, captive-held, or captive-born animals for the
    purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to
    be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

    Applicant: Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Apple Valley, MN; Permit No.
    66472D

        The applicant requests a permit to export four male and four female
    captive-born Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) to the Orenburg
    Nature Reserve, Orenburg, Russia, for the purpose of enhancing the
    propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a
    single export.

    Applicant: Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Permit No. 69314D

        The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples
    derived from wild brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus), taken in
    Madagascar, and captive-born grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus),
    taken in France, for the purpose of scientific research. This
    notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
    5-year period.

    Applicant: Ryan Blakley, Lubbock TX; Permit No. 27473B

        The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
    50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species, 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
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Radiated tortoise.........................  Geochelone radiata.
    Galapagos tortoise........................  Geochelone nigra.
    Yellow-spotted side-necked turtle.........  Podocnemis unifilis.
    Ring-tailed lemur.........................  Lemur catta.
    Black-and-white ruffed lemur..............  Varecia variegata.
    Red ruffed lemur..........................  Varecia rubra.
    Cotton-headed tamarin.....................  Saguinus oedipus.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Applicant: University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; Permit No.
    93328C

        The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport
    nonliving museum specimens of endangered species previously accessioned
    into the applicant's collection for 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.

    Brenda Tapia,
    Management Analyst/Program Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of
    Management Authority.
    [FR Doc. 2020-19018 Filed 8-27-20; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4333-15-P