83 FR 535 - Endangered Species Receipt of Permit Applications

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 3 (January 4, 2018)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibit 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 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 535-537]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28498]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0095; 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, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibit 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 February 5, 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-2017-0095 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-2017-0095.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0095; 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

[[Page 536]]

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 amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA, 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: Lacy James Harber, Denison, TX; PRT-31792C
    The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy 
of one male black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Namibia for the 
purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification covers a single import conducted by the applicant.
Applicant: Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, Miami, FL; PRT-
42528C
    The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-born giant 
otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) to Emperor Valley Zoo, Trinidad and 
Tobago, to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This 
notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Federico Zannini, Royal Oak, MI; PRT-58261C
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) to enhance 
propagation or survival of the species. 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-57017C
    The applicant requests a permit to import one Asian elephant 
(Elephas maximus) from the Melbourne Zoo, Australia, to enhance the 
propagation of the species. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO; PRT-62698C
    The applicant requests a permit to import blood and swab samples 
from Galapagos tortoises from three locations in the Galapagos Islands, 
Ecuador, for scientific research. This notification covers activities 
to be conducted by the applicant over a 3-year period.
Applicant: Lolo Kwong, Temple City, CA; PRT-60612C
    The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) to 
enhance species propagation or survival. This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Zoological Society of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; PRT-681252
    The applicant requests renewal of a captive-bred wildlife 
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance 
species propagation or survival: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), blue-
throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis), Aye-aye (Daubentonia 
madagascariensis), eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis 
michaeli), southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), black-
footed cat (Felis nigripes), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), red-crowned 
crane (Japanese or Manchurian crane) (Grus japonensis), white-handed 
gibbon (Lar gibbon) (Hylobates lar), ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), 
Brazilian ocelot (Leopardus pardalis mitis), Bali myna (Rothschild's 
starling) (Leucopsar rothschildi), African painted dog (Lycaon pictus), 
Japanese macaque (snow monkey) (Macaca fuscata fuscata), clouded 
leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), bonobo 
(pygmy chimpanzee) (Pan paniscus), African lion (Panthera leo 
melanochaita), Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), Sumatran 
orangutan (Pongo abelii), Coquerel's Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli), 
Indian rhinoceros (greater one-horned rhinoceros) (Rhinoceros 
unicornis), African penguin (Black-footed penguin) (Spheniscus 
demersus), Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), snow leopard (Panthera 
uncia), and Andean condor (Vultur gryphus). This notification covers 
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Museum Applicants:

Smithsonian Institution/National Museum of Natural History, Washington, 
DC; PRT-125284
    The applicant requests the 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.
Northeastern University/Ocean Genome Legacy Center, Nahant, MA; PRT-
58260C
    The applicant requests a 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.

Trophy applicants:

    Each 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: Ronald E. Rhodes, Columbus, TX; PRT-61783C

Applicant: Daniel J. Nordin, Elm Grove, WI; PRT-58895C

Applicant: Donald E. Southorn, Wyoming, MI; PRT-59677C

Applicant: Jacob A. Ankele, Rapid City, SD; PRT-58530C

Applicant: Jason Thomas Parsons, Birmingham, AL; PRT-58231C

Applicant: Christian A. Fast, Prairieville, LA; PRT-59019C

Applicant: Ray A. Potts, Wisdom, MT; PRT-62604C

Applicant: Dana L. Johnston, Washington, PA; PRT-58226C

Applicant: Milak Pomares, Miami, FL; PRT-58906C

Applicant: Edwin J. Whitney; San Antonio, TX; PRT-60580C

Applicant: Jerry E. Copeland Salado, TX; PRT-53908C

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

[[Page 537]]

permit issuance date by searching in www.regulations.gov under the 
permit number listed in this document (e.g., PRT-12345c).

V. 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. 2017-28498 Filed 1-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P