# Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Permit Applications
**AGENCY:**
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
**ACTION:**
Notice of receipt of permit applications.
**SUMMARY:**
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (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) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for activities involving endangered species or marine mammals.
**DATES:**
We must receive comments by January 10, 2019.
**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-2018-0083.
*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-2018-0083.
• *U.S. mail or hand-delivery:* Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2018-0083; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 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 703-358-2104, via email at *[email protected],* or via the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Public Comment Procedures**
**A. How do I comment on submitted applications?**
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. Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible, confine your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and explain the basis for your comments. 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 on *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(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 *et seq.* ), and section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 *et seq.* ), we invite public comments on permit applications before final action is taken. With some exceptions, the ESA and MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. Permits issued under section 10 of the ESA allow activities for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species. Regulations regarding permit issuance under the ESA are in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17. ESA permits cover a wide range of activities pertaining to foreign listed species, including activities related to the captive-breeding of such species here in the United States. Concurrent with publishing this notice in the *Federal Register* , we are forwarding copies of the marine mammal applications to the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors for their review.
**III. Permit Applications**
We invite comments on the following applications.
**A. Endangered Species**
**Applicant: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL; Permit No. 93295C**
The applicant requests a permit to import scientific samples of ocelot ( *Leopardus pardalis mitis* ), jaguar ( *Panthera onca* ), and South American tapir ( *Tapirus terrestris* ) from Brazil for the purposes of scientific research. This notification is for a single import.
**Applicant: Wild Cat Education & Conservation Fund, Occidental, CA; Permit No. 97801C**
The applicant requests a permit to purchase a captive-born snow leopard ( *Uncia uncia* ) from Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Goddard, KS, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single transfer.
**Applicant: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; Permit No. 88299C**
The applicant requests a permit to import scientific samples of Verreaux's sifaka ( *Propithecus verreauxi* ) from Madagascar for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
**Applicant: Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY; Permit No. 99617C**
The applicant requests a permit to export two male and two female captive-bred African wild dogs ( *Lycaon pictus* ) to Canada for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.
**Applicant: Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN; Permit No. 80987C**
The applicant requests a permit to import scientific samples of leatherback sea turtles ( *Dermochelys coriacea* ) from Equatorial Guinea for the purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
**Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Abingdon, VA; Permit No. 85964C**
The applicant requests a permit to export wild Lee County cave isopods ( *Lirceus usdaglun* ) taken in Lee County, VA, to University Claude Bernard Lyon, Villeurbanne Cedex, France, for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single export.
**Applicant: University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI; Permit No. 93299C**
The applicant requests authorization to import biological samples from captive-bred and wild orangutans ( *Pongo pygmaeus* ) from multiple locations for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species through scientific research. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
**Applicant: Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT; Permit No. 00760D**
The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples of wild roseate terns ( *Sterna dougallii dougallii* ) from Canada for the purpose of scientific research. This notification is for a single import.
**Applicant: Forrest Simpson, Conroe, TX; Permit No. 99011C**
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for barasingha ( *Rucervus duvaucelii* ), which is listed at 50 CFR 17.11(h) as swamp deer ( *Cervus duvauceli* ), 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: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Permit No. 93568C**
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following families: *Bufonidae, Accipitridae, Alcedinidae, Anatidae, Cacatuidae Cathartidae, Columbidae, Cracidae, Gruidae, Megapodiidae, Phasianidae, Psittacidae, Rallidae, Rhynochetidae, Spheniscidae, Sturnidae, Threskiornithidae, Antilocapridae, Artiodactyla, Bovidae, Canidae, Callithricidae, Cercopithecidae, Cervidae, Moschidae, Daubentoniidae, Elephantidae, Equidae, Felidae, Hominidae, Hylobatidae, Indridae, Lemuridae, Macropodidae, Potoroidae, Pteropodidae, Rhinocerotidae, Tapiridae, Ursidae, Crocodylidae, Gavialidae, Geoemydidae,* and *Iguanidae,* excluding *Cyclura lewisi, Testudinidae,* and *Varanidae,* 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 |
| --- | --- |
| Panamanian golden frog | . |
| harpy eagle | . |
| Guam kingfisher | . |
| Laysan duck | . |
| white-winged duck | . |
| white cockatoo | . |
| Andean condor | . |
| pink pigeon | . |
| blue-billed curassow | . |
| red-crowned crane | . |
| Maleo | . |
| Blyth's tragopan | . |
| Edward's pheasant | . |
| Palawan peacock-pheasant | . |
| blue-throated conure | . |
| Cuban Amazon | . |
| great green macaw | . |
| blue-throated macaw | . |
| Military macaw | . |
| scarlet-chested parrot | . |
| salmon-crested cockatoo | . |
| Guam rail | . |
| Kagu | . |
| African penguin | . |
| Bali myna | . |
| Waldrapp Ibis | . |
| Baja pronghorn | . |
| lowland Anoa | . |
| Addax | . |
| Addra gazelle | . |
| Arabian oryx | . |
| Bontebok | . |
| Cuvier's gazelle | . |
| Indian gaur | . |
| Javan banteng | . |
| Scimitar-horned oryx | . |
| Slender-horned gazelle | . |
| Zambesi lechwe | . |
| Chinese dhole | . |
| Maned wolf | . |
| golden lion Tamarin | . |
| golden-headed lion tamarin | . |
| Francois' langur | . |
| Gelada baboon | . |
| lion-tailed Macaque | . |
| Mandrill | . |
| Bactrian wapiti | . |
| Barasingha | . |
| Barbary red deer | . |
| Burmese Thamin | . |
| Mandarin sika | . |
| Southern Pudu | . |
| Siberian musk deer | . |
| Aye-Aye | . |
| African bush elephant | . |
| Ceylon elephant | . |
| Indian elephant | . |
| Grevy's zebra | . |
| Przewalski's wild horse | . |
| Somali wild ass | . |
| Amur leopard | |
| Black-footed cat | . |
| clouded leopard | . |
| African lion | . |
| Malayan tiger | . |
| snow leopard | . |
| cheetah | . |
| tiger | . |
| Bonobo | . |
| Bornean orangutan | . |
| Sumatran orangutan | . |
| Western Lowland gorilla | . |
| red-cheeked gibbon | . |
| Siamang | . |
| Coquerel's Sifaka | . |
| black-and-white ruffed lemur | . |
| blue-eyed black lemur | . |
| red ruffed lemur | . |
| red-collared lemur | . |
| ring-tailed lemur | . |
| pygmy slow Loris | . |
| Parma wallaby | . |
| Southern yellow-footed rock wallaby | . |
| Koala | . |
| Woylie | . |
| Rodrigues flying fox | . |
| black rhinoceros | . |
| Great Indian rhinoceros | . |
| Southern white rhinoceros | . |
| Baird's tapir | . |
| Malayan tapir | . |
| giant panda | . |
| Chinese alligator | . |
| slender-snouted crocodile | . |
| dwarf crocodile | . |
| Gharial | . |
| spotted pond turtle | . |
| river terrapin | . |
| Fijian banded iguana | . |
| Grand Cayman blue iguana | . |
| Jamaican iguana | . |
| Galapagos tortoise | . |
| radiated tortoise | . |
| Komodo dragon | . |
**Applicant: Uno Mas Ranch LLC, Brandera, TX; Permit No. 99164C**
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for Arabian oryx ( *Oryx leucoryx* ) 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: Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans, LA; Permit No. 86989C**
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for African wild dogs ( *Lycaon pictus* ), babirusa ( *Babyrousa babyrussa* ), swamp deer ( *Cervus duvauceli* ), pudu ( *Pudu pudu* ), Asian elephant ( *Elephas maximus* ), leopard ( *Panthera pardus* ), Komodo Island monitor ( *Varanus komodoensis* ), Sumatran orangutan ( *Pongo abelii* ), Panamanian golden frog ( *Atelopus varius zeteki* ), tomistoma ( *Tomistoma schlegelii* ), and Fiji banded iguana ( *Brachylophus fasciatus* ) 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: L.A. Waters Ranch, LLC, Utopia, TX; Permit No. 95637C**
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for African wild ass ( *Equus africanus* ) and barasingha ( *Rucervus duvaucelii* ), which is listed at 50 CFR 17.11(h) as swamp deer ( *Cervus duvauceli* ), 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 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.
**Applicant: Jeffery Hammond, Burns, WY; Permit No. 02623D**
**Applicant: Jeremy Hammond, Cody, WY; Permit No. 02624D**
**Applicant: Leslie Hathaway, Portland, IN; Permit No. 02625D**
**Applicant: Michael Dyson, Irving, TX; Permit No. 02612D**
**Applicant: Matthew Bell, Midland, TX; Permit No. 03114D**
**Applicant: Charles Bowlin, Shreveport, LA; Permit No. 02359D**
**Applicant: Donald Pflaum, Cavalier, ND: Permit No. 05672D**
**B. Marine Mammals**
**Applicant: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 690038**
The applicant requests renewal of a permit to conduct research activities on polar bears ( *Ursus maritimus* ) in the Southern Beaufort and Chukchi-Bering Seas, and to export and import samples of fat, blood, fur, skin, bones, claws, feces, DNA products, and teeth. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
**IV. Next Steps**
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 *http://www.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, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 *et seq.* ), and its implementing regulations.
Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.