[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89464-89465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28470]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0253; FXIA16710900000-234-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 January 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: The applications, application supporting 
materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be 
available for public inspection at https://www.regulations.gov in 
Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0253.
    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: https://www.regulations.gov. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0253.
     U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0253; 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: Timothy MacDonald, by phone at 703-
358-2185 or via email at [email protected]. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

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 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 https://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 https://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.
    Applicant: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA; Permit 
No. PER5681188.
    The applicant requests a permit to import one wild Fiji crested 
iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) and five wild Fiji banded iguanas 
(Brachylophus fasciatus) from Spain for the purpose of enhancing the 
propagation or survival of

[[Page 89465]]

the species. This notification is for a single import.
    Applicant: Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA; Permit 
No. PER5352294.
    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
of free ranging and captive-held loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta 
caretta), green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), leatherback sea turtles 
(Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys 
imbricata) from multiple locations for the purpose of scientific 
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
    Applicant: International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI; Permit No. 
85311C.
    The applicant requests to renew 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.

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                Common name                        Scientific name
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black-necked crane........................  Grus nigricollis.
hooded crane..............................  Grus monacha.
red-crowned crane.........................  Grus japonensis.
Siberian crane............................  Grus leucogeranus.
White-naped crane.........................  Grus vipio.
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    Applicant: Harkey Ranch, El Dorado, TX; Permit No. PER6026464.
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) and the black-
and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), to enhance the propagation 
or survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
    Applicant: The Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center of 
the University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; Permit No. 
PER5691074.
    The applicant requests authorization to export and re-import 
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.
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.

 George Wulff, Sacramento, CA; Permit No. PER5581670
 James Warren, Atlanta, GA; Permit No. 67283D
 Gregory West, Dallas, TX; Permit No. PER5991794

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 https://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.

Timothy MacDonald,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2023-28470 Filed 12-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P