E8-29196. Receipt of Applications for Permit

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of applications for permit.

SUMMARY:

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.

DATES:

Written data, comments or requests must be received by January 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Documents and other information submitted with these applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, by any party who submits a written request for a copy of such documents within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, Virginia 22203; fax [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Division of Management Authority, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Endangered Species

The public is invited to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct certain activities with endangered species. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Written data, comments, or requests for copies of these complete applications should be submitted to the Director (address above).

Applicant: Dr. Ajit Varki, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, PRT-196889

The applicant requests a permit to acquire from Coriell Institute, Camden, NJ, in interstate commerce DNA and/or cell lines from gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus and P.Q p. pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii) for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a one-year period.

Applicant: Larry E. Johnson (dba Safari Enterprises), Boerne, TX, PRT-157476

The applicant requests a permit to export 4 captive bred Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) to the Endangered Wildlife Conservation and Breeding Center, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: Hans R. Van Riel, North Las Vegas, NV, PRT-199024

The applicant requests a permit 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, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: Gary D. Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, PRT-198827

The applicant requests a permit 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, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: Alexander T. Barclay, III, San Antonio, TX, PRT-199513

The applicant requests a permit 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, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: James W. Anderson, Centerville, GA, PRT-199530

The applicant requests a permit 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, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Marine Mammals

The public is invited to comment on the following application for a permit to conduct certain activities with endangered marine mammals and/or marine mammals. The application was submitted to satisfy requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and/or the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing endangered species (50 CFR Part 17) and/or marine mammals (50 CFR Part 18). Written data, comments, or requests for copies of the complete applications or requests for a public hearing on these applications should be submitted to the Director (address above). Anyone requesting a hearing should give specific reasons why a hearing would be appropriate. The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of the Director.

Applicant: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, PRT-195274

The applicant requests a permit to acquire carcasses and tissue samples of northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from coastal Washington and Alaska and export frozen tissue samples to Fisheries and Oceans Canada laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the purpose of scientific research on the presence of infectious virus in the tissues of these sea otters. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a five-year period.

Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the Division of Management Authority is forwarding copies of the above applications to the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

Dated: November 21, 2008.

Lisa J. Lierheimer,

Senior Permit Biologist, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.