Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Permit Applications, 31204-31207 [2020-11078]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
Plan Area
The geographic scope of the Final
Plan includes two plan areas. Plan Area
A encompasses approximately 209,000
acres of the City of Lincoln and
unincorporated lands in western Placer
County and is the focus of the Final
Plan. Plan Area B includes additional
specific areas in Placer and Sutter
Counties that are not included in Plan
Area A. Combined, Plan Areas A and B
cover approximately 260,000 acres.
Covered Activities
The proposed section 10 ITPs would
allow take of 14 covered species
resulting from covered activities in the
proposed plan area. The applicants are
requesting incidental take authorization
for covered species resulting from
covered activities, including urban and
rural development, water management,
conservation measures, and facilities
maintenance. A complete description of
the covered activities is provided in the
Final Plan, Chapter 2. The applicants
are also proposing to implement a
number of project design features,
including best management practices, as
well as general and species-specific
avoidance and minimization measures
to minimize the impacts of the take from
the covered activities.
Covered Species
The following wildlife species
federally listed as endangered are
proposed to be covered by the Final
Plan: Conservancy fairy shrimp
(Branchinecta conservatio) and vernal
pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus
packardi). The following wildlife
species federally listed as threatened are
proposed to be covered by the Final
Plan: Giant garter snake (Thamnophis
gigas), California red-legged frog (Rana
draytonii), valley elderberry longhorn
beetle (Desmocerus californicus
dimorphus), and vernal pool fairy
shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi). The
following wildlife species that are not
federally listed are also proposed to be
covered by the Final Plan: Swainson’s
hawk (Buteo swainsoni), California
black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis
coturniculus), western burrowing owl
(Athene cunicularia hypugaea),
tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor),
western pond turtle (Actinemys
marmorata), and foothill yellow-legged
frog (Rana boylii).
Two species of fish are proposed to be
covered by the Final Plan under an ITP
from NMFS: The Central Valley
steelhead (distinct population segment;
Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), which is
federally listed as threatened; and the
Central Valley fall/late-fall run Chinook
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salmon (evolutionarily significant unit;
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), which is
not listed.
that those requirements are met, we will
issue a permit to the applicants for the
incidental take of the Covered Species.
National Environmental Policy Act
Compliance
The final EIS/EIR was prepared to
analyze the impacts of issuing an ITP
based on the Final Plan and to inform
the public of the proposed action,
alternatives, and associated impacts and
to disclose any irreversible
commitments of resources. The final
EIS/EIR analyzes three alternatives in
addition to the proposed action
described above. The other alternatives
include a no-action (i.e., no ITP)
alternative, a reduced take/reduced fill
alternative, and a reduced permit term
alternative, and are all described in the
Final EIS/EIR. The final EIS/EIR also
includes all comments received on the
draft EIS/EIR, draft HCP/NCCP, and
responses to those comments.
Authority
Public Review
The FWS published a notice of intent
to prepare a joint EIS/EIR in the Federal
Register on March 7, 2005 (70 FR
11022), announcing a 30-day public
scoping period, during which the public
was invited to provide written
comments and attend three public
meetings. The FWS published a notice
of availability of the draft EIS/EIR and
draft HCP/NCCP in the Federal Register
on June 21, 2019 (84 FR 29224),
announcing a 60-day public comment
period, during which the public was
invited to provide written comments
and attend two public meetings.
Copies of the final EIS/EIR and Final
Plan are available for inspection (see
ADDRESSES). Any comments we receive
will become part of the public record.
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.
Next Steps
Issuance of an incidental take permit
is a Federal proposed action subject to
compliance with NEPA and the ESA.
The FWS and NMFS will evaluate the
application, associated documents, and
any public comments we receive to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of NEPA
regulations and sections 7 and 10(a) of
the ESA. If FWS and NMFS determine
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We issue this notice pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) and its implementing
regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32),
and the National Environmental Policy
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1506.6 and 43 CFR 46.305).
Michael Fris,
Assistant Regional Director, Pacific
Southwest Region, Sacramento.
[FR Doc. 2020–10401 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2020–0031;
FXIA16710900000–201–FF09A30000]
Foreign Endangered Species; Marine
Mammals; Receipt of Permit
Applications
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit
applications; request for comments.
AGENCY:
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
June 22, 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 https://
www.regulations.gov in Docket No.
FWS–HQ–IA–2020–0031.
Submitting Comments: When
submitting comments, please specify the
name of the applicant and the permit
number at the beginning of your
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
comment. You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
• Internet: https://
www.regulations.gov. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS–
HQ–IA–2020–0031.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–HQ–
IA–2020–0031; 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 DMAFR@fws.gov, 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 https://
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 https://
www.regulations.gov, your entire
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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 application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and the
Committee of Scientific Advisors for
their review.
III. Permit Applications
We invite comments on the following
applications.
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A. Endangered Species
Applicant: NRCAN Natural Resource
Canada c/o U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Maine Field Office, East Orland,
ME; Permit No. 53601D
The applicant requests authorization
to export to Canada wild furbish
lousewort (Pedicularis furbishiae) seeds
collected in Maine for the purpose of
enhancing the propagation or survival of
the species. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Chicago Botanic Garden,
Glencoe, IL; Permit No. 69662D
The applicant requests authorization
to import seed and pollen of the Olulu
plant (Brighamia insignis) from multiple
botanic institutions for the purpose of
enhancing the propagation or survival of
the species. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, MA; Permit No.
63307D
The applicant requests authorization
to import biological samples derived
from wild Verreaux’s sifakas
(Propithecus verreauxi), ring-tailed
lemurs (Lemur catta), and red-and-gray
mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus),
taken in Madagascar, for the purpose of
scientific research. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Tony Goldberg, Madison,
WI; Permit No. 56953D
The applicant requests a permit to
import biological samples derived from
wild and captive-born common
chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), taken in
the Republic of Congo, for the purpose
of scientific research. This notification
is for a single import.
Applicant: Columbus Zoo and
Aquarium, Powell, OH; Permit No.
60002D
The applicant requests authorization
to import biological samples derived
from wild black-and-white ruffed
lemurs (Varecia variegata), taken in
Madagascar, for the purpose of scientific
research. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Graham Banes, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI;
Permit No. 93299C
The applicant requests authorization
to import biological samples from
captive-bred and wild orangutans
(Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii)
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from multiple locations for the purpose
of enhancing the propagation or survival
of the species through scientific
research. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Jordana Meyer, Stanford
University, Stanford, CA; Permit No.
55307D
The applicant requests authorization
to import biological samples from wild
African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
taken in Garamba National Park,
Republic of Congo, for the purpose of
enhancing the propagation or survival of
the species through scientific research.
This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: St. Augustine Alligator Farm,
St. Augustine, FL; Permit No. 15196D
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. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Common name
Cabot’s tragopan pheasant.
Komodo island monitor ...
Congo dwarf crocodile ....
African dwarf crocodile ...
Chinese alligator .............
Blue-throated macaw ......
Siamese crocodile ..........
Scientific name
Tragopan caboti.
Varanus komodoensis.
Osteolaemus tetraspis
osborni.
Osteolaemus tetraspis.
Alligator sinensis.
Ara glaucogularis.
Crocodylus siamensis.
Applicant: Bright and Associates, LLC,
dba Bright’s Zoo, Limestone, TN; Permit
No. 51201D
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. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Common name
Jackass penguin .............
Baird’s tapir .....................
Cotton-top tamarin ..........
Galapagos tortoise .........
Radiated tortoise ............
Lar gibbon .......................
Species name
Spheniscus demersus.
Tapirus bairdii.
Saguinus oedipus.
Chelonoidis niger.
Astrochelys radiata.
Hylobates lar.
Applicant: Mississippi Aquarium,
Gulfport, MS; Permit No. 59433D
The applicant requests a captive-bred
wildlife registration under 50 CFR
17.21(g) for jackass penguins
(Spheniscus demersus) to enhance the
propagation or survival of the species.
This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
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Applicant: Peoria Zoo at Glen Oak Park,
Peoria, IL; Permit No. 59321D
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. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Common name
Chinese alligator .............
Panamanian golden frog
Mongoose lemur .............
Galapagos tortoise .........
Ring-tailed lemur ............
Mandrill ...........................
Siberian tiger ..................
Cotton-top tamarin ..........
Alligator sinensis.
Atelopus zeteki.
Eulemur mongoz.
Chelonoidis niger.
Lemur catta.
Mandrillus sphinx.
Panthera tigris altaica.
Saguinus oedipus.
The applicant requests a captive-bred
wildlife registration under 50 CFR
17.21(g) for snow leopards (Uncia
uncia) 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: Steve Martin’s Natural
Encounters, Inc., Winter Haven, FL;
Permit No. 42547B
The applicant requests a captive-bred
wildlife registration under 50 CFR
17.21(g) for blue-throated macaw (Ara
glaucogularis), to enhance the
propagation or survival of the species.
This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
Applicant: Ox Ranch Investments LLC
dba Ox Hunting Ranch, Uvalde, TX;
Permit No. 10867B
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. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Eld’s brow-antlered deer
Arabian oryx ...................
Swamp deer ...................
Species name
Cervus eldi.
Oryx leucoryx.
Cervus duvauceli.
Applicant: William Porter, Fort Denaud,
FL; Permit No. 08333D
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. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
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Madagascar radiated tortoise.
Galapagos tortoise .........
Blue-throated macaw ......
St. Vincent parrot ............
Cuban parrot ...................
White cockatoo ...............
Philippine cockatoo .........
Salmon-crested cockatoo
Scientific name
Geochelone radiata.
Geochelone nigra.
Ara glaucogularis.
Amazona guildingii.
Amazona leucocephala.
Cacatua alba.
Cacatua
haematuropygia.
Cacatua moluccensis.
Species name
Applicant: Chattanooga Zoo,
Chattanooga, TN; Permit No. 56470D
Common name
Common name
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Applicant: UC Davis Center for Plant
Diversity, Davis, CA; Permit No. 60226D
The applicant requests authorization
to export and reimport nonliving
museum plant 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: Ox Ranch Investments LLC
dba Ox Hunting Ranch, Uvalde, TX;
Permit No. 10866B
The applicant requests a permit
authorizing the culling of excess Eld’s
brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldi),
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and
swamp deer (Rucervus 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 5year period.
Applicant: Jeff Demaske, Greeley, CO;
Permit No. 55199D
The applicant requests a permit to
import a sport hunted trophy of a hyena
(Parahyaena brunnea) from Zimbabwe
for the purpose of enhancing the
propagation or survival of the species.
This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Wayne P. Johnson, Long
Beach, MS; Permit No. 71738D
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 South Africa, to enhance the species’
propagation and survival.
Richard Roark, Marshall, TX; Permit No.
72865D
The applicant requests a permit to
import a sport-hunted trophy of one
sport-hunted trophy of 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.
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V. Authority
We issue this notice under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act
Applicant: Wild Space Productions,
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
Pacific Grove, CA Permit No. 62285D
seq.), and its implementing regulations,
The applicant requests a permit to
and the Marine Mammal Protection Act
photograph southern sea otters (Enhydra of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et
lutris nereis) along the coast of
seq.), and its implementing regulations.
California, at the locations listed below,
Monica
Thomas,
for the purpose of enhancement of the
Management Analyst, Branch of Permits,
survival of the species through
Division of Management Authority.
educational photography.
[FR Doc. 2020–11078 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am]
• Monterey Harbour
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
• Cannery Row, Pacific Grove stretch
• Monterey Bay Inn, Cannery Row
• Pebble Beach (Point Joe—within
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Pebble Beach)
• Point Lobos (using boat launch
Fish and Wildlife Service
Whalers Cove)
[FWS–R6–ES–2020–N044;
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Hopkins
FXES11130600000–201–FF06E00000]
Marine Station
• Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Receipt of Recovery Permit
• Sandshell Beach—behind Cypress
Applications
Point
• Otter Point—Perkins Park, Pacific
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Grove
Interior.
• Berwick Park
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit
• Elkhorn Slough
applications; request for comments.
• Moss Landing Harbor
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
• Pescadero
Wildlife Service, have received
This notification covers activities to be
applications for permits to conduct
conducted by the applicant over a 5activities intended to enhance the
year period.
propagation or survival of endangered
IV. Next Steps
species under the Endangered Species
Act. We invite the public and local,
After the comment period closes, we
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to
will make decisions regarding permit
comment on these applications. Before
issuance. If we issue permits to any of
issuing any of the requested permits, we
the applicants listed in this notice, we
will take into consideration any
will publish a notice in the Federal
information that we receive during the
Register. You may locate the notice
public comment period.
announcing the permit issuance by
DATES: We must receive your written
searching https://www.regulations.gov
comments by June 22, 2020.
for the permit number listed above in
this document. For example, to find
ADDRESSES: Document availability and
information about the potential issuance comment submission: Use one of the
of Permit No. 12345A, you would go to
following methods to request
regulations.gov and search for
documents or submit comments.
‘‘12345A’’.
Requests and comments should specify
B. Endangered Marine Mammals and
Marine Mammals
Application
No.
TE183430–3
TE045150–4
Applicant
Headwaters Corporation,
Kearney, NE.
Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater, OK.
Background
The Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), prohibits certain activities with
endangered and threatened species
unless authorized by a Federal permit.
The ESA and our implementing
regulations in part 17 of title 50 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
provide for the issuance of such permits
and require that we invite public
comment before issuing permits for
activities involving endangered species.
A recovery permit issued by us under
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA
authorizes the permittee to conduct
activities with endangered species for
scientific purposes that promote
recovery or for enhancement of
propagation or survival of the species.
Our regulations implementing section
10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are found
at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife
species, 50 CFR 17.32 for threatened
wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for
endangered plant species, and 50 CFR
17.72 for threatened plant species.
Permit Applications Available for
Review and Comment
We invite local, State, and Federal
agencies; Tribes; and the public to
comment on the following applications.
• Interior least tern (Sternula
antillarum athalassos).
NE .........................
Pursue for presence/absence surveys, Renew.
nest monitoring, habitat management.
• American burying beetle
(Nicrophorus americanus).
NE, SD, KS, OK,
AR, TX.
Pursue for presence/absence surveys.
Hold in captivity for captive breeding
and rearing, for reintroduction purposes.
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Take activity
Permit
action
Location
Written comments we receive become
part of the administrative record. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
18:07 May 21, 2020
the applicant name(s) and application
number(s) (e.g., TE123456):
• Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov.
• U.S. Mail: Marjorie Nelson, Chief,
Division of Ecological Services, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union
Blvd., Suite 670, Lakewood, CO 80228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits
Coordinator, Ecological Services, 303–
236–4224 (phone), or permitsR6ES@
fws.gov (email). Individuals who are
hearing or speech impaired may call the
Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–
8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species
Public Availability of Comments
VerDate Sep<11>2014
31207
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.
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Renew.
While you can request in your comment
that we withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. All submissions
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 100 (Friday, May 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31204-31207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11078]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0031; FXIA16710900000-201-FF09A30000]
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 June 22, 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 https://www.regulations.gov in Docket
No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0031.
Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the
name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your
[[Page 31205]]
comment. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0031.
U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0031; 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 [email protected], 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 https://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 https://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 application 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: NRCAN Natural Resource Canada c/o U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Maine Field Office, East Orland, ME; Permit No. 53601D
The applicant requests authorization to export to Canada wild
furbish lousewort (Pedicularis furbishiae) seeds collected in Maine for
the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.
This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant
over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL; Permit No. 69662D
The applicant requests authorization to import seed and pollen of
the Olulu plant (Brighamia insignis) from multiple botanic institutions
for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the
species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA; Permit No.
63307D
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples
derived from wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), ring-
tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), and red-and-gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus
griseorufus), taken in Madagascar, for the purpose of scientific
research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: Tony Goldberg, Madison, WI; Permit No. 56953D
The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples
derived from wild and captive-born common chimpanzees (Pan
troglodytes), taken in the Republic of Congo, for the purpose of
scientific research. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH; Permit No. 60002D
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples
derived from wild black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata),
taken in Madagascar, for the purpose of scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: Graham Banes, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI;
Permit No. 93299C
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples
from captive-bred and wild orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii)
[[Page 31206]]
from multiple locations for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or
survival of the species through scientific research. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.
Applicant: Jordana Meyer, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Permit No.
55307D
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples
from wild African elephants (Loxodonta africana) taken in Garamba
National Park, Republic of Congo, for the purpose of enhancing the
propagation or survival of the species through scientific research.
This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL; Permit No.
15196D
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. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Scientific name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabot's tragopan pheasant................. Tragopan caboti.
Komodo island monitor..................... Varanus komodoensis.
Congo dwarf crocodile..................... Osteolaemus tetraspis
osborni.
African dwarf crocodile................... Osteolaemus tetraspis.
Chinese alligator......................... Alligator sinensis.
Blue-throated macaw....................... Ara glaucogularis.
Siamese crocodile......................... Crocodylus siamensis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: Bright and Associates, LLC, dba Bright's Zoo, Limestone, TN;
Permit No. 51201D
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. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Species name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackass penguin........................... Spheniscus demersus.
Baird's tapir............................. Tapirus bairdii.
Cotton-top tamarin........................ Saguinus oedipus.
Galapagos tortoise........................ Chelonoidis niger.
Radiated tortoise......................... Astrochelys radiata.
Lar gibbon................................ Hylobates lar.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: Mississippi Aquarium, Gulfport, MS; Permit No. 59433D
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for jackass penguins (Spheniscus demersus) 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: Peoria Zoo at Glen Oak Park, Peoria, IL; Permit No. 59321D
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. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Species name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese alligator......................... Alligator sinensis.
Panamanian golden frog.................... Atelopus zeteki.
Mongoose lemur............................ Eulemur mongoz.
Galapagos tortoise........................ Chelonoidis niger.
Ring-tailed lemur......................... Lemur catta.
Mandrill.................................. Mandrillus sphinx.
Siberian tiger............................ Panthera tigris altaica.
Cotton-top tamarin........................ Saguinus oedipus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: Chattanooga Zoo, Chattanooga, TN; Permit No. 56470D
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for snow leopards (Uncia uncia) 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: Steve Martin's Natural Encounters, Inc., Winter Haven, FL;
Permit No. 42547B
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis), 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: Ox Ranch Investments LLC dba Ox Hunting Ranch, Uvalde, TX;
Permit No. 10867B
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. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Species name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eld's brow-antlered deer.................. Cervus eldi.
Arabian oryx.............................. Oryx leucoryx.
Swamp deer................................ Cervus duvauceli.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: William Porter, Fort Denaud, FL; Permit No. 08333D
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. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Scientific name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madagascar radiated tortoise.............. Geochelone radiata.
Galapagos tortoise........................ Geochelone nigra.
Blue-throated macaw....................... Ara glaucogularis.
St. Vincent parrot........................ Amazona guildingii.
Cuban parrot.............................. Amazona leucocephala.
White cockatoo............................ Cacatua alba.
Philippine cockatoo....................... Cacatua haematuropygia.
Salmon-crested cockatoo................... Cacatua moluccensis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity, Davis, CA; Permit No.
60226D
The applicant requests authorization to export and reimport
nonliving museum plant 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: Ox Ranch Investments LLC dba Ox Hunting Ranch, Uvalde, TX;
Permit No. 10866B
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
Eld's brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldi), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx),
and swamp deer (Rucervus 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: Jeff Demaske, Greeley, CO; Permit No. 55199D
The applicant requests a permit to import a sport hunted trophy of
a hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) from Zimbabwe for the purpose of enhancing
the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a
single import.
Applicant: Wayne P. Johnson, Long Beach, MS; Permit No. 71738D
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 South Africa, to enhance the species' propagation and
survival.
Richard Roark, Marshall, TX; Permit No. 72865D
The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted trophy of
one sport-hunted trophy of 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.
[[Page 31207]]
B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals
Applicant: Wild Space Productions, Pacific Grove, CA Permit No. 62285D
The applicant requests a permit to photograph southern sea otters
(Enhydra lutris nereis) along the coast of California, at the locations
listed below, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the
species through educational photography.
Monterey Harbour
Cannery Row, Pacific Grove stretch
Monterey Bay Inn, Cannery Row
Pebble Beach (Point Joe--within Pebble Beach)
Point Lobos (using boat launch Whalers Cove)
Monterey Bay Aquarium: Hopkins Marine Station
Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Sandshell Beach--behind Cypress Point
Otter Point--Perkins Park, Pacific Grove
Berwick Park
Elkhorn Slough
Moss Landing Harbor
Pescadero
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 https://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.
[FR Doc. 2020-11078 Filed 5-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
