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Notice2023-21998

Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0184; FXIA16710900000-234-FF09A30000]

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Published

October 4, 2023

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service

Abstract

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.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68661-68663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21998]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0184; FXIA16710900000-234-FF09A30000]

Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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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 November 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The applications, application supporting
materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be
available for public inspection at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> in
Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0184.
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:
<bullet> internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0184.
<bullet> U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0184; 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: Brenda Tapia, by phone at 703-358-2185
or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5e1e8e4e3f7e5c3d2d68bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd8d1dddacedcfaebefb2fbf3ea">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay
services offered within their country to make international calls to
the point-of-contact in the United States.

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 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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

[[Page 68662]]

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.

Applicant: University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Athens, GA; PER4208692

The applicant requests authorization to import tissue or blood
samples of any captive-bred or wild avian species (class Aves), reptile
species (class Reptilia), and fish (within the taxonomic phylum
Chordata) from locations worldwide for the purpose of diagnostic
testing for infectious diseases/scientific research. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.

Applicant: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Permit No.
PER3940627

The applicant requests renewal of a permit to import scientific
samples collected from wild live and salvaged hawksbill (Eretmochelys
imbricata) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles from
Nicaragua for the purpose of scientific research. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year
period.

Applicant: Duke University, Durham, NC; Permit No. PER4463030

The applicant requests a permit to export scientific samples
collected from 17 captive-bred chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from the
United States to Germany for the purpose of scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
3-year period.

Applicant: NOAA, Miami, FL; Permit No. PER4327126

The applicant requests renewal of a permit for import, export, and
introduction from the sea of biological samples derived from live or
salvaged from dead specimens of species, to include Caretta caretta
(loggerhead sea turtle), Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle),
Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp's Ridley sea turtle), Lepidochelys olivacea
(Olive Ridley sea turtle), Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill sea
turtle), and Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback sea turtle) for the
purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to
be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Hemker Park and Zoo, Freeport, MN; Permit No. PER4234292

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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ring- tail lemur.......................... Lemur catta.
Cotton-top tamarin........................ Saguinus oedipus.
Black-and-white ruffed lemur.............. Varecia rubra.
Grevy's zebra............................. Equus grevyi.
Black-footed penguin...................... Spheniscus demersus.
Arabian oryx.............................. Oryx leucoryx.
Japanese crane............................ Grus japonensis.
White-naped crane......................... Grus vipio.
Bontebok.................................. Damaliscus pygargus
(=Dorcas) dorcas.
Slender-horn gazelle...................... Gazella leptoceros.
Cuvier's gazelle.......................... Gazella cuvieri.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applicant: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Bay Lake, FL; Permit No. PER4361497

The applicant requests to renew 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Komodo monitor............................ Varanus komodoensis.
Galapagos giant tortoise.................. Chelonoidis niger.
Radiated tortoise......................... Astrochelys radiata.
White-naped crane......................... Grus vipio.
Lechwe.................................... Kobus leche.
Eld's deer................................ Rucervus eldii.
North Sulawesi babirusa................... Babyrousa celebensis.
Southern white rhinoceros................. Ceratotherium simum simum.
Black rhinoceros.......................... Diceros bicornis.
Somali wild ass........................... Equus africanus somalicus.
Hartmann's mountain zebra................. Equus zebra hartmannae.
Grevy's zebra............................. Equus grevyi.
African wild dog.......................... Lycaon pictus.
Sumatran tiger............................ Panthera tigris sumatrae.
Cheetah................................... Acinonyx jubatus.
Western gorilla........................... Gorilla gorilla.
Siamang................................... Symphalangus syndactylus.
Northern white-cheeked gibbon............. Nomascus leucogenys.
Mandrill.................................. Mandrillus sphinx.
Lion-tailed macaque....................... Macaca silenus.
Cottontop tamarin......................... Saguinus oedipus.
Golden lion tamarin....................... Leontopithecus rosalia.
Ring-tailed lemur......................... Lemur catta.
Red-collared brown lemur.................. Eulemur collaris.
Bontebok.................................. Damaliscus pygargus
pygargus.
African lion.............................. Panthera leo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applicant: Toledo Zoological Society, Toledo, OH; Permit No. PER4417242

The applicant requests to amend a captive-bred wildlife
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) to add 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.

Multiple Trophy Applicants

The following applicants request permits to import sport-hunted
trophies 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.
<bullet> Teddy Dickerson, Hillsville, VA; Permit No. PER4459612
<bullet> Sammy Shaw, Galax, VA; Permit No. PER4459661
<bullet> Patrick Fitzgerald, Parker, CO; Permit No. PER4549178
<bullet> Loren Griess, Hastings, NE; Permit No. PER4581626

[[Page 68663]]

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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 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.

Brenda Tapia,
Supervisory Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits,
Division of Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2023-21998 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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