E8-3629. 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 March 27, 2008.

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 application 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: Kenneth D. Drawdy, Jr., Leesburg, GA, PRT-168857.

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.

Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

The public is invited to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct certain activities with endangered marine mammals and/or marine mammals. The applications were 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: Niladri Basu, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, PRT-165727.

The applicant requests a permit for the import of biological samples from the brains of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) obtained from animals taken for native subsistence harvest in East Greenland for the purpose of scientific research on the effects of chemical pollution on the health of Arctic polar bear populations. This notification covers the one-time activity to be conducted by the applicant within a one-year period.

Applicant: Graham A.J. Worthy, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, PRT-056326.

The applicant requests to renew and amend his permit for take of up to 20 captive-held Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) per year for the purpose of scientific research on the physiological ecology of the Florida manatee. In addition to experiments on the thermoregulatory and osmoregulatory capability of this species, biological samples will be obtained from live and dead salvaged specimens. 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: February 8, 2008.

Lisa J. Lierheimer,

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