82 FR 24381 - Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Applications for Permit

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 101 (May 26, 2017)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24381-24383]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10853]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0031; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Applications for 
Permit

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications for permit.

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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 endangered 
species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act ESA prohibits 
activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired 
that allows such activities.

DATES: We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before 
June 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-
IA-2017-0031.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0031; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
    When submitting comments, please indicate the name of the applicant 
and the PRT# you are commenting on. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section 
for more information).
    Viewing Comments: Comments and materials we receive will be 
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of 
Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; 
telephone 703-358-2095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Russell, Government Information 
Specialist, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Headquarters, MS: IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803; telephone 703-358-2023; facsimile 703-358-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Comment Procedures

A. How do I request copies of applications or comment on submitted 
applications?

    Send your request for copies of applications or comments and 
materials concerning any of the applications to the contact listed 
under ADDRESSES. Please include the Federal Register notice publication 
date, the PRT-number, and the name of the applicant in your request or 
submission. We will not consider requests or comments sent to an email 
or address not listed under ADDRESSES. If you provide an email address 
in your request for copies of applications, we will attempt to respond 
to your request electronically.
    Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible. 
Please confine your comments to issues for which we seek comments in 
this notice, and explain the basis for your comments. Include 
sufficient information with your comments 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. We 
will not consider or include in our administrative record comments we 
receive after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments 
delivered to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).

B. May I review comments submitted by others?

    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the street address listed under 
ADDRESSES. The public may review documents and other information 
applicants have sent in support of the application unless our allowing 
viewing would violate the Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act. 
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

II. Background

    To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected 
species, and in consideration of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), along with 
Executive Order 13576, ``Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and 
Accountable Government,'' and the President's Memorandum for the Heads 
of Executive Departments and Agencies of January 21, 2009--Transparency 
and Open Government (74 FR 4685; Jan. 26, 2009), which call on all 
Federal agencies to promote openness and transparency in Government by 
disclosing information to the public, we invite public comment on these 
permit applications before final action is taken.

[[Page 24382]]

III. Permit Applications

A. Endangered Species

    We invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain 
activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA) prohibits 
activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired 
that allows such activities.

Applicant: Feld Entertainment, Inc., Palmetto, FL; PRT-22685C

    The applicant requests a permit to re-export eight captive-born 
tigers (Panthera tigris) to enhance the propagation or survival of the 
species to Alexander Lacey c/o Zirkus Krone, Munchen, Germany. This 
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 
5-year period.

Applicant: International Elephant Foundation c/o Fort Worth Zoo, Fort 
Worth, TX; PRT-09806C

    The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples 
from African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephant (Elephas 
maximus) from various countries for the purpose of scientific research. 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Priour Brothers Ranch, Ingram, TX; PRT-707102
    The applicant requests a permit to authorize interstate commerce, 
export, and cull of excess barasingha (Rucervus duvauceli), Eld's deer 
(Rucervus eldii), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and red lechwe (Kobus 
leche) in captive herds maintained at their facility in both Mountain 
Home and Kerrville, Texas, 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: Carson Springs Wildlife Foundation, Gainesville, Florida 
PRT-56870A
    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: Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), black and 
white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), red ruffed lemur (Varecia 
rubra), black lemur (Eulemur macaco), leopard (Panthera pardus), snow 
leopard (Uncia uncia), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Grevy's zebra (Equus 
grevyi), scimitar-horned oryx, (Oryx dammah), addax (Addax 
nasomaculatus), dama gazelle (Nanger dama), red lechwe (Kobus leche), 
Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), and radiated tortoise 
(Astrochelys radiata). This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Kenneth D. Sheaff, Yardley, PA; PRT-03362C
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) 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: Priour Brothers Ranch; PRT-672849
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for barasingha (Rucervus duvauceli), Eld's brow-
antlered deer (Rucervus eldi), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and red 
lechwe (Kobus leche) 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: NH&S Holdings, LLC, Valley Mills, TX; 64164A
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) and red lechwe 
(Kobus leche), 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: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI; PRT-18137C
    The applicant requests a permit to import eastern gorilla (Gorilla 
beringei) serum collected from wild animals in Rwanda for the purpose 
of scientific research.
Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; PRT-50819A
    The applicant requests a renewal of their permit to export and 
reimport nonliving museum specimens of endangered and threatened 
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.
Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; PRT-27097C
    The applicant requests a permit to import one Fiji banded iguana 
(Brachylophus fasciatus) from the Ministry of the Environment and 
Sustainable Development, Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the purpose of 
enhancing the propagation or survival of the species under the managed 
work of the Species Survival Program.
Applicant: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH; PRT-14745C
    The applicant requests a permit to import samples for captive-bred 
Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager) 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: Hugh Nguyen, Morgan Hill, CA; PRT-12447C
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the golden parakeet (Guarouba guarouba) 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: Michael Ryckman, Painted Post, NY; PRT-75285A
    The applicant requests a renewal for a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for radiated tortoise (Astrochelys 
radiata) 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: KJC Holdings, Valley Spring, TX; PRT-200207
    The applicant requests a renewal of a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for barasingha (Rucervus 
duvaucelii), to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. 
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant 
over a 5-year period.
    Multiple Applicants: The following applicants each request 
authorization to import the 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, to 
enhance the propagation or survival of the species.
John Verlander, El Paso, Texas; PRT-22943C
Corey Shaefer, Mountain Home, TX; PRT-24114C

B. Marine Mammals

Applicant: U.S. National Park Service, Juneau, AK; PRT-14762C
    The applicant requests a permit to harass the Southeast Alaska 
stock of wild northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) through air 
and ground/vessel surveys for the purpose of scientific

[[Page 24383]]

research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the 
applicant over a 5-year period.
    Concurrent with publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we 
are forwarding copies of the above applications to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

IV. Next Steps

    If the Service decides to issue permits to any of the applicants 
listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register. You may locate the Federal Register notice announcing the 
permit issuance date by searching in www.regulations.gov under the 
permit number listed in this document.

V. Public Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this notice 
by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not consider 
comments sent by email or fax or to an address not listed in ADDRESSES.
    If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
comment, including any personal identifying information, will be posted 
on the Web site. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes 
personal identifying information, 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.
    We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov.

VI. Authorities

    Endangered Species Act of 1973, (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
    Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).

Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2017-10853 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P