2020-07638. Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; 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 (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) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

DATES:

We must receive comments by May 13, 2020.

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-2020-0020.

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-2020-0020.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0020; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Monica Thomas, by phone at 703-358-2185, 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.), and section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we invite public comments on permit applications before final action is taken. With some exceptions, the ESA and MMPA prohibit 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. Service regulations regarding permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the MMPA with respect to any marine mammals are available in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 18. Concurrent with publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we are forwarding copies of the marine mammal applications to the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

III. Permit Applications

We invite comments on the following applications.

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Patty Parker c/o Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO; Permit No. 45594D

The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples derived from wild Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) taken in the Galapagos, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Kristin Brzeski, Houghton, MI; Permit No. 51283D

The applicant requests a permit to export to Canada biological samples taken from gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the wild for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single export.

Applicant: John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, MI; Permit No. 54616D

The applicant requests a permit to import a male captive-born snow leopard (Uncia uncia) from the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Dylan T. Carr, Garberville, CA; Permit No. 62721D

The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of a male scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd maintained in Mexico, to enhance the species' propagation and survival. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Center for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, LLC., Punta Gorda, FL; Permit No. 59204D

The applicant requests a permit to export two male and three female captive-born lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) to the Darling Downs Zoo, Pilton, Australia, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.

Applicant: Rockin' S Exotic Game Ranch, San Angelo, TX; Permit No. 50118D

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii) 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: Dallas Zoo Management, dba Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX; Permit No. 56427D

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: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Tomistoma (Tomistoma schlegelii), and Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Camarillo, CA; Permit No. 695190

The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport nonliving museum specimens of endangered species previously accessioned into the applicant's collection for scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Permit No. 67714D

The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport nonliving museum specimens of endangered species previously accessioned into the applicant's collection for scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Kyle Wildlife Limited Partnership, Bandera, TX; Permit No. 52973D

The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) from the captive herd maintained at their facility, to enhance the species' propagation and survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Rockin' S Exotic Game Ranch, San Angelo, TX; Permit No. 50097D

The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii) from the captive herd maintained at their facility, to enhance the species' propagation and survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Gary C. Ball, Indianapolis, IN; Permit No. 66461D

The applicant requests a permit to import one sport-hunted trophy of a 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.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science dba Alaska Sealife Center, Seward, AK; Permit No. 73634A

The applicant requests a renewal of their permit for public display of the non-depleted population of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) that have been rescued, rehabilitated, and deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

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 the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its implementing regulations.

Monica Thomas,

Management Analyst, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.