[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68086-68087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23686]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0126; FXIA16710900000-201-FF09A30000]


Foreign Endangered Species; Wild Bird Conservation Act; 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 November 27, 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-2020-0126.
    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-2020-0126.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0126; 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. 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.

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Tufts University, North Grafton, MA; Permit No. 56679D
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples 
derived from the following species, taken in Peru, for the purpose of 
scientific research:
     Wild Goeldi's monkeys (Callimico goeldii),
     Bald uacari (Cacajao calvus),
     Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), and

[[Page 68087]]

     Yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Lagothrix flavicauda syn. 
Oreonax flavicauda).
    This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO; Permit No. 71918D
    The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples 
derived from wild and captive-bred Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus 
rhombifer) and American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) taken in the 
Zapata Swamp, in Cuba, for the purpose of scientific research. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.
Applicant: Columbian Park Zoo/City of Lafayette, Lafayette, IN; Permit 
No. 60773D
    The applicant requests to amend their permit to purchase an 
additional captive-bred female African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) in 
interstate commerce from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, 
California, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of 
the species. This notification is for a single interstate commerce 
activity.
Applicant: San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA; Permit No. 70167B
    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
including but not limited to skin biopsies, blood, hair, and tissue 
from any endangered or threatened species for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: John D. Maditz, Nokesville, VA; Permit No. 82173D
    The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of 
one 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: Clyde Peeling's Reptiland, Allenwood, PA; Permit No. 42675B
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for Komodo island monitor (Varanus komodoensis) and 
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), to enhance the propagation or 
survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

B. 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: Vernon Brett Padgett, Atlanta, GA; 12087C
    The applicant wishes to amend the cooperative breeding program, 
CB042 Captive Breeding Program for under-represented Bucerotidae and 
Psittaciformes in aviculture, by including knobbed hornbill (Aceros 
cassidix), importing into the United States 25 individual birds (12 
males and 13 females). If the amendment is approved, the program will 
be overseen by the Zoological Association of America, Punta Gorda, 
Florida.

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/Data Administrator, Branch of 
Permits, Division of Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2020-23686 Filed 10-26-20; 8:45 am]
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