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, 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). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

DATES:

We must receive comments by April 30, 2021.

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-2020-0141.

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-2020-0141.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2020-0141; 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:

Tim MacDonald, 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 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.), we invite public comments on permit applications before final action is taken. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits 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.

III. Permit Applications

We invite comments on the following applications.

Endangered Species

Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, Carr, CO; Permit No. 800411 and Permit No. 086867

The applicant requests renewal and amendment of permits to export, import, and re-import both live captive-born and wild specimens, biological samples, and salvaged material of black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) to and from Canada and Mexico for completion of identified tasks and objectives mandated under the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Plan. Salvaged materials may include, but are not limited to, whole or partial specimens, blood, tissue, hair, and fecal swabs. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI; Permit No. PER0002969

The applicant requests a permit to export biological samples derived from the whooping crane (Grus americana), taken in Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species through scientific research. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; Permit No. 75498D

The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples derived from wild Central American river turtles (Dermatemys mawii), taken in Belize, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Memphis Zoo, Memphis, TN; Permit No. 75752D

The applicant requests a permit to import one female captive-born Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) from Twycross Zoo, Atherstone, United Kingdom, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Donald Lee Wehmeyer, Abilene, TX; Permit No. 71813D

The applicant requests a permit to import a sport-hunted cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) trophy from South Africa to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Tortoise Conservatory, LLC, Phoenix, AZ; Permit No. 59955B

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), 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: National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Permit No. 71028D

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.

Applicant: Virginia Zoological Park, Norfolk, VA; Permit No. 69710D

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.

Applicant: Gary Wiechens, Roll, AZ; Permit No. 62714D

The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) culled from a captive herd in Mexico, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.

Applicant: Richard Roark, Marshall, TX; Permit No. 72865D

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 enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.

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.