83 FR 12959 - Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 58 (March 26, 2018)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12959-12960]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06036]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0001; FXIA16710900000-178-FF09A30000]


Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications.

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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 
endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal 
authorization is acquired that allows such activities. The ESA also 
requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: We must receive comments by April 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: The applications, as well as any 
comments and other materials that we receive, will be available for 
public inspection online in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0001 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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-2018-0001.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0001; 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# at the beginning of your comment. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Russell, 703-358-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Comment Procedures

A. How do I comment on submitted applications?

    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed under Submitting Comments in the ADDRESSES section. We will not 
consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not in the 
ADDRESSES section.
    Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible, 
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 in 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.

C. Who will see my comments?

    If you submit a comment via 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.

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

[[Page 12960]]

amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we invite public comment on 
these permit applications before final action is taken.

III. Permit Applications

    We invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain 
activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the ESA 
prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization 
is acquired that allows such activities.
Applicant: NOAA/Pacific Islands Regional Office, Honolulu, HI; PRT-
022729
    The applicant requests reissuance of their permit to import from 
the high seas samples and/or whole carcasses of short-tailed albatross 
(Phoebastria albatrus) for the purpose of enhancement of the species 
through scientific research. This notice covers activities conducted by 
the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA; PRT-68677C 
(Previously PRT-844694)
    The applicant requests reissuance of the permit to import 
biological samples collected from wild and captive-bred animals of 
Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill sea turtle 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys 
coriacea), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead sea turtle 
(Caretta caretta), and olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) 
for the purpose of scientific research. Samples are collected from live 
or salvaged specimens. This notification covers activities conducted by 
the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego; PRT-53381C
    The applicant requests a permit to import one male and two female 
captive-born quokka (Setonix brachyurus) to enhance the propagation and 
survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Zoological Society of Pittsburgh; PRT-69379C
    The applicant requests a permit to import African elephant 
(Loxodonta africana) semen to enhance the propagation and survival of 
the species. This notification is for multiple imports.
Applicant: Charles Jordan, d/b/a NBJ Zoological Park, LTD., Spring 
Ranch, TX; PRT-751619
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species 
propagation or survival: Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), ring-tailed 
lemur (Lemur catta), black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), 
brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), Diana monkey (Cercopithicus diana), and 
lar gibbon (Hylobates lar). This notification covers activities to be 
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Multiple Trophies
    The following applicants each request a permit to import sport-
hunted trophies of a 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: Thomas McRae Sloan, Midland, TX; PRT-63058C
Applicant: Frazer Wadenstorer, Holly, MI: PRT-44772C
Applicant: Michael R. Sartorie, Billings, MT; PRT-66543C
Applicant: Scott A. Lamphere, Henderson, MI; PRT-69701C
Applicant: Timothy Ferrall, Riverside, CA; PRT-61303C
Applicant: James Toney, Baker, LA; PRT-61596C
Applicant: Robert Hennen, Isle, MN; PRT-61302C

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 (e.g., PRT-12345X).

VI. Authority

    Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of 
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2018-06036 Filed 3-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P