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 and analyses of the applicable laws and regulations.

B. May I view 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 information you include, will be posted on the website. Regulations.gov does not require personal information if a submitter chooses to submit a comment anonymously. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal 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 view. 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 (50 CFR 17).

III. Permit Applications

We invite comments on the following applications.

Applicant: Mitchel Kalmanson, Sorrento, FL; Permit No. PER12003722

The applicant requests a permit to import four male and three female captive-bred African lions ( Panthera leo leo) from Zoo Animalia, Saint-Edouard-de-Maskinonge, Quebec, Canada, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Fresno's Chaffee Zoo, Fresno, CA; Permit No. PER12575644

The applicant requests a permit to import from Singapore one male captive-born tiger ( Panthera tigris) for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; Permit No. PER12275493

The applicant requests a permit to export biological samples extracted from captive-born giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single export.

Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Permit No. PER12097590

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. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Georgia Safari Conservation Park, Madison, GA; Permit No. PER12289890

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the Hartmann's mountain zebra ( Equus zebra hartmannae) and southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum), 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 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.

Applicant: Keith R. Warren, Seguin, TX; Permit No. PER12017464

Applicant: Daniel Macerelli, McKeesport, PA; Permit No. PER12034356

Applicant: Robert Arthur Sparks, Empire, CO; Permit No. PER12331219

Applicant: Brian Arnold, Augusta, GA; Permit No. PER12415938

Applicant: Michael Merchant, Oxford, MS; Permit No. PER12428370

Applicant: Drew O'Connor Dennison, St. Louis, MO; Permit No. PER12540160

Applicant: Max S. Buck, Molt, MT; Permit No. PER12540321

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.

89 FR 81928