2019-25156. Foreign Endangered Species; Wild Bird Conservation Act; Receipt of Permit Applications

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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. We also invite comment on an application for approval to conduct certain activities with a foreign bird species covered under the Wild Bird Conservation Act.

DATES:

We must receive comments by December 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Obtaining Documents: The applications, application supporting materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0102.

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: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for and submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0102.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2019-0102; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PERMA; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

For more information, see Public Comment Procedures under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tim MacDonald, by phone at 703-358-2104, via email at [e-mail], or via the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

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 fax, 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 http://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 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. 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.

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; Permit No. 219951

The applicant requests the reissuance of a permit to import unlimited numbers of biological specimens from crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials (Order Crocodylia) for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze, FL; Permit No. 35106D

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.

Common name	Scientific name
Ring-tailed lemur	Lemur catta.
Black and white ruffed lemur	Varecia variegata.
Cottontop tamarin	Saguinus oedipus.
White-handed (Lar) gibbon	Hylobates lar.
Siamang	Symphalangus syndactylus.
Arabian oryx	Oryx leucoryx.
Galapagos tortoise	Chelonoidis nigra.
Radiated tortoise	Astrochelys radiata.
Western lowland gorilla	Gorilla gorilla.
Orangutan	Pongo pygmaeus.
Tiger	Panthera tigris.
African lion	Panthera leo.
Clouded leopard	Neofelis nebulosa.

B. Wild Bird Conservation

The public is invited to comment on the following application for approval to conduct certain activities with a bird species covered under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 4901-4916). This notice is provided pursuant to section 112(4) of the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR15.26(c)).

Applicant: Paul Marolf, Miami, FL; Permit No. 34725D

The applicant wishes to establish a cooperative breeding program for grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), importing into the United States 4,000 grey parrots currently held in facilities in South Africa. The applicant wishes to be an active participant in this program along with Jason Mitchell and Ray O'Neill, both of South Africa. If approved, the program will be overseen by the Organization of Professional Aviculturists, San Dimas, California.

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 http://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, and section 112(4) of the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR 15.26(c)).

Tim MacDonald,

Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.