[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59819-59821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20978]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0099; 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

[[Page 59820]]

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 October 23, 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-2020-0099.
    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-2020-0099.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0099; 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.), 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: Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary, Reno NV, Permit No. 69790D
    The applicant requests a permit to purchase three male captive-born 
cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in interstate commerce from Tanganyika 
Wildlife Foundation, Goddard, KS, for the purpose of enhancing the 
propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a 
single interstate commerce activity.
Applicant: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 
Washington, DC; Permit No. 56444D
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples 
derived from wild Amsterdam albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis), band-
rumped storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro), Fiji petrel (Pseudobulweria 
macgillivrayi), Mascarene black petrel (Pterodroma aterrima), cahow 
(Pterodroma cahow), and Madeira petrel (Pterodroma madeira), taken in 
multiple locations, for the purpose of scientific research. This 
notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD; Permit No. 70028D
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples 
derived from one wild maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), taken in Noel 
Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia, for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK; 
Permit No. 075249
    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.

[[Page 59821]]

Applicant: Project Survival, Dunlap, CA; Permit No. 71734D
    The applicant requests a permit to import one male and one female 
captive-born cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) from Cango Wildlife Ranch, 
Oudtshoorn, South Africa, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation 
or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO; Permit No. 62698C
    The applicant requests a renewal of a permit to import blood and 
swab samples from the Galapagos tortoise (Geochelone nigra), from three 
locations in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, for scientific research. 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over a 5-year period.
Multiple Trophy Applicants
    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: Gary Bourn, Bennett, CO; Permit No. 79873D
Applicant: Debra Mathews, Frenchtown, MT; Permit No. 80624D

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Charlie Hamilton James, Jackson, WY; Permit No. 37946D
    The applicant requests a permit to photograph and film Southern sea 
otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) along the coast of California, for the 
purpose of commercial educational photography. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: Charlie Hamilton James, Jackson, WY; Permit No. 37058D
    The applicant requests a permit to photograph and film Northern sea 
otters (Enhydra lutrls kenyoni), for up to 28 days, in Alaska, for the 
purpose of educational photography. This species is not listed under 
the ESA. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 1-year period.

C. Wild Bird Conservation Act

    The public is invited to comment on the following application for 
approval to conduct certain activities with a bird species covered 
under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 4901-4916). 
This notice is provided pursuant to section 112(4) of the Wild Bird 
Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR 15.26(c)).
Applicant: Gregory P. Sercel, Pasadena, CA; Permit No. 76644D
    The applicant wishes to establish a cooperative breeding program 
for collared lory (Phigys solitarius), blue-crowned lorikeet (Vini 
australis), and cardinal lorry (Chalcopsitta cardinalis), importing to 
the United States 48 birds (16 of each species) currently held in 
facilities in captive breeding facilities in the Czech Republic, Italy, 
Germany, and Spain. The applicant wishes to be an active participant in 
this program, along with Christine Touchton (Lecanto, Florida), Charles 
Hawke (Portland, Oregon), and Jordan Berber (Atwater, California). If 
approved, the program will be overseen by the Organization of 
Professional Aviculturists, San Dimas, California.

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,
Management Analyst/Program Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2020-20978 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P