Endangered Species; Receipt of Applications for Permit

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of new permit applications; reopening comment period for previously announced permit applications.

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. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities In this notice, we announce 8 new permit applications that we have received, and we reopen the comment period on 11 permit applications that we had previously announced for public comment.

DATES:

We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before September 28, 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 either Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0107 for the applications discussed in section III.A. of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION or Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0079 for the applications discussed in section III.B. of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0107; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. (Make sure that you insert the correct docket number, either FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0107 or FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0079. The permit applications in either docket are described in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in III.A. and B.)

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.), 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.

III. Permit Applications

A. Endangered Species

Applicant: Wild Things Unlimited, Inc., Bozeman, MT; PRT-137719

The applicant requests a renewal of their permit to export salvaged hair samples collected from grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Cienegas Ranches, Ltd., Del Rio, TX; PRT-92685B

The applicant requests a permit for interstate and foreign commerce, and to export and cull excess barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) from the captive herd maintained at their facility, 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: Cienegas Ranches, Ltd., Del Rio, TX; PRT-92686B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Stanford University, Stanford, CA; PRT-04371C

The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples collected from wild specimens of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) for the purpose of scientific research.

Applicant: Qin Yi Yu, Temple City, CA; PRT-95968B

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). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Florida State University—Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium, Tallahassee, FL; PRT-230539

The applicant requests the renewal of their permit to export and re-import nonliving museum/herbarium specimens of endangered and threatened species (excluding animals) previously legally accessioned into the permittee's collection for scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; PRT-96221B

The applicant requests a permit to export to Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany, a single leaf from one individual tree of 28 species of Melicope spp., 6 species of Myrsine spp., 3 species of Platydesma spp., and 3 species of Zanthoxylum spp., collected from the wild in Hawaii. The export of these specimens is for purposes of scientific research on plant systematics, evolution, and biogeography. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Charles Butler, Mankato, MN; PRT-03232C

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. Reopening of Comment Period for Permit Applications (Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0079)

On July 18, 2016, we published a Federal Register notice inviting the public to comment on 11 applications for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species under Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2016-0079 (81 FR 46698). Due to an issue with viewing and submitting comments, we are now reopening the comment period to allow the public the opportunity to review information submitted by the applicants.

Applicant: Exotic Feline Breeding Compound, Inc., Rosamond, CA; PRT-88847B

The applicant requests a permit to import one female captive-bred Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) from Tierpark-Nordhorn gGmbH, Nordhorn, Germany, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.

Applicant: SeaWorld, San Antonio, TX; PRT-96334B

The applicant requests a permit to export one male captive-born Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis) for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.

Applicant: Pamela Plotkin, College Station, TX; PRT-43484B

The applicant requests reissuance of a permit to import biological samples from Costa Rica from wild-caught olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) for the purpose of scientific research.

Applicant: A Walk on the Wild Side, Canby, OR; PRT-93730B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), leopard (Panthera pardus), African lion (Panthera leo), and tiger (Panthera tigris). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: City of Saint Paul/Como Zoo, Saint Paul, MN; PRT 89851B and 89852B

The applicant requests a permit to import two captive-bred snow leopards (Uncia uncia), for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 1-year period.

Applicant: Out of Africa Wildlife Park, LLC, Camp Verde, AZ; PRT-760354

The applicant requests renewal of their captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species to enhance species propagation or survival: Leopard (Panthera pardus) and snow leopard (Uncia uncia). This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: James Mercer, Carbondale, KS; PRT-98881B

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

Multiple Applicants

The following applicants each request 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.

Applicant: Marion Searle, Lake Forest, IL; PRT-99186B

Applicant: Kristian O'Meara, Powell, OH; PRT-99852B

Applicant: David Robertson, Lewistown, MT; PRT-94807B