2014-19341. Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; 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, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibit 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 September 15, 2014. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by September 15, 2014.

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.), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 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. Under the MMPA, you may request a hearing on any MMPA application received. If you request a hearing, give specific reasons why a hearing would be appropriate. The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of the Service Director.

III. Permit Applications

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Turtle Conservancy Behler Chelonian Center, Ojai, CA; PRT-34804B

The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) and angulated tortoise (A. yniphora) from the wild in Madagascar for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Avian Behavior International, LLC, Escondido, CA; PRT-28369B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species, golden conure (Aratinga guarouba), Cuban amazon (Amazona leucocephala), and red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis). The purpose of the permit is to enhance the species' propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: White Oak Conservancy Foundation, Yulee, FL; PRT-36263B

The applicant requests a permit to import one Southern black rhinoceros (D iceros bicornis minor) that is captive-bred 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: Boulder Ridge Ranch LLC, Alto, MI; PRT-80856A

The applicant requests an amendment of his captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), Red-ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra), Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), and Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) to enhance the species' propagation or survival. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Adam Rosenblatt, New Haven, CT; PRT-33280B

The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) from the wild in Guyana for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Jan Lundberg, Indianapolis, IN; PRT-40124B

The applicant requests a permit to import a 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.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: Spiegel TV, Hamburg, Germany; PRT-40066B

The applicant requests a permit to photograph polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the vicinity of Kaktovik, Barter Island, Barrow, Alaska, from land based vehicles and boats for commercial and educational purposes. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant for less than a 1-year period.

Applicant: University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Health Program, Gainesville, FL; PRT-067116

The applicant requests renewal and amendment of a permit to take wild and captive-held Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus) for the purpose of scientific research to better understand manatee physiology and health and to investigate diagnostic applications. The applicant would also import and export biological species from all sirenians. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Concurrent with publishing this notice in the Federal Register, we are forwarding copies of the above applications to the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.

Brenda Tapia,

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