[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 [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.), 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