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) 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 October 31, 2016. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0124.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0124; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

When submitting comments, please indicate the name of the applicant and the PRT# you are commenting on. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section below for more information).

Viewing Comments: Comments and materials we receive will be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov,, or by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; telephone 703-358-2095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Tapia, (703) 358-2104 (telephone); (703) 358-2281 (fax); DMAFR@fws.gov (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: Phoenix Herpetological Society, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-90722B

The applicant requests a permit to export two male and two female captive bred Grand Cayman blue iguanas (Cyclura lewisi) for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.

Applicant: Fred Gage, La Jolla, CA; PRT-99616B

The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from captive bred Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) for the purpose of scientific research.

Applicant: Panther Ridge Conservation Center, Wellington, FL; PRT-203027

The applicant requests amendment of an existing captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Leopard (Panthera pardus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: William Ahrens, Marvin, NC; PRT-86901B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), aquatic box turtle (Terrapene coahuila), and Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Phoenix Herpetological Society, Scottsdale, AZ; PRT-19818A

The applicant requests amendment of an existing captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), African slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus), freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius), Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis), Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis), broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris), black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and tomistoma (Tomistoma schlegelii). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

B. Endangered Marine Mammals and Marine Mammals

Applicant: SeaWorld, LLC, San Diego, CA; PRT-02152C

The applicant requests a permit for public display of one Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) which had been found as an abandoned calf near Barrow, Alaska, was rescued, rehabilitated, and subsequently deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because the calf did not have the necessary skills to survive in the wild.

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.