Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications

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 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.), 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.

Applicant: University of Washington dba Center for Environmental Forensic Science, Seattle, WA; Permit No. PER3472978

The applicant requests a permit to import biological specimens derived from animals of unknown origin within the family Rhinocerotidae for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA; Permit No. PER11846441

The applicant requests a permit to import one wild Fiji banded iguana ( Brachylophus fasciatus) from Saipan for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY; Permit No. PER12124015

The applicant requests authorization to export and re-import nonliving museum 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: Panther Ridge Conservation Center Inc., Loxahatchee, FL; Permit No. PER10708981

The applicant requests a permit to import two captive-bred ocelots ( Leopardus pardalis), one male and one female, from Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park, Rust de Winter, Limpopo, South Africa, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: SeaWorld California, San Diego, CA; Permit No. PER11660838

The applicant requests a permit to import and release into the wild one loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta), which was rescued from the wild in Canada, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Michael Damron, Houston, TX; Permit No. PER12034353

The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) from Namibia for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: Tucker Knight, Houston, TX; Permit No. PER12034355

The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) from Namibia for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.

Applicant: University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX; Permit No. PER11948527

The applicant requests authorization to import up to 120 tubes containing 2-millometer (mm) or 3-mm wild-collected Verreaux's sifaka ( Propithecus verreauxi) ear tissue samples, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.

Applicant: Thomas Motlow, Dallas, TX; Permit No. PER11844490

The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for radiated tortoise ( Geochelone 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: Center for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, Punta Gorda, FL; Permit No. PER12064268

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.