[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 173 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50734-50736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19567]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0051; FXIA16710900000-212-FF09A30000]


Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Wild 
Bird Protection 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 (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), foreign or native species for which the Service has 
jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and foreign 
bird species covered under the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA). With 
some exceptions, the ESA, MMPA, and WBCA prohibit activities with 
listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such 
activities. These Acts also require that we invite public comment 
before issuing permits for any activity they otherwise prohibit with 
respect to any species.

DATES: We must receive comments by October 12, 2021.

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-2021-0051.
    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-2021-0051.

[[Page 50735]]

     U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0051; 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: Monica Thomas, 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.); section 
104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 
16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); and section 112(4) of the Wild Bird 
Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA; 16 U.S.C. 4901-4916), we invite public 
comments on permit applications before final action is taken. With some 
exceptions, these Acts 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. Service 
regulations regarding permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by 
the WBCA with respect to any wild birds are available in title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations in part 15.
    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 Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Titan Productions, Monterey, CA; Permit No. PER0004910

    The applicant requests a permit to photograph (video and still 
photography) northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska and 
southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California, for the 
purpose of commercial photography. This notification covers activities 
to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: BBC Studios Productions Ltd, Los Angeles CA; Permit No. 
PER0003402

    The applicant requests a permit to photograph (video and still 
photography) southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California, 
for the purpose of commercial photography. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, Monterey, CA; Permit No. 
186914

    The applicant requests a permit to renew their permit to take 
rescued southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California, for 
the purpose of scientific research. 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 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: David Kanellis, Las Vegas, NV; Permit No. 10109C

    The applicant wishes to renew and amend the cooperative breeding 
program, CB030 Raptor Cooperative Breeding Program, by including the 
following species: Verreaux's eagle-owl (Bubo lacteus), importing to 
the United States 16 birds (8 males and 8 females); spectacled owl 
(Pulsatrix perspicillata), importing to the United States 20 birds (10 
males and 10 females); and boobook owl (Ninox boobook), importing to 
the United States 24 birds (14 males and 10 females). If the amendment 
is approved, the program will be overseen by the California Hawking 
Club, Sacramento, 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

[[Page 50736]]

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 and section 
112(4) of the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR 15.26(c)).

Monica Thomas,
Management Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of Management 
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2021-19567 Filed 9-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P