2015-03381. Endangered Species; Receipt of Applications for Permit

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of applications for permit.

SUMMARY:

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

DATES:

We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before March 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Brenda Tapia, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, Branch of Permits, MS: IA, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041; fax [phone]; or email [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Tapia, [phone] (telephone); [phone] (fax); [e-mail] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedures

A. How do I request copies of applications or comment on submitted applications?

Send your request for copies of applications or comments and materials concerning any of the applications to the contact listed under ADDRESSES. Please include the Federal Register notice publication date, the PRT-number, and the name of the applicant in your request or submission. We will not consider requests or comments sent to an email or address not listed under ADDRESSES. If you provide an email address in your request for copies of applications, we will attempt to respond to your request electronically.

Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible. Please 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 (see 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.

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.), along with Executive Order 13576, “Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government,” and the President's Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies of January 21, 2009—Transparency and Open Government (74 FR 4685; January 26, 2009), which call on all Federal agencies to promote openness and transparency in Government by disclosing information to the public, we invite public comment on these permit applications before final action is taken.

III. Permit Applications

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: GTWT, LLC, dba Bang 57 Ranch, Okeechobee, FL; PRT-48053A

The applicant requests a permit to authorize interstate and foreign commerce, export, and cull of excess barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) from the captive herd maintained at their facility for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA; PRT-45381B

The applicant requests a permit to export three males and one female captive-bred Mauritius Pink Pigeons (Columba mayeri) from Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, Iowa to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Channel Islands for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Turtle Conservancy, Ojai, CA; PRT-45549B

The applicant requests a permit to import ten wild individuals of the species angulated tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.

Applicant: Garden State Tortoise LLC, Freehold, NJ; PRT-233243

The applicant requests an amendment of his captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the species listed below to enhance the species' propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Species

Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

Aquatic box turtle (Terrapene coahuila)

Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)

Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus)

Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)

Tartaruga (Podocnemis expansa)

Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii)

River terrapin (Batagur baska)

Applicant: Joan Embery-Pillsbury, Lakeside, CA; PRT-45981B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) and black & white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegate) to enhance the species propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Multiple Applicants

The following applicants each request 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: Terry Arnold, Fellows, CA; PRT-57131B

Applicant: Leo Wright, Mead, WA; PRT-49585B

Applicant: Robert Bonar, Minneapolis, MN; PRT-55925B

Applicant: Bernard Richburg, Little Rock, AR; PRT-56820B

Applicant: Nicolas Pittman, Whiteville, TN; PRT-56826B

Brenda Tapia,

Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.