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###### Department of the Interior

###### Fish and Wildlife Service

          - [Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0159; FXIA16710900000-234-FF09A30000]

# AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

# ACTION:

Notice of receipt of permit application; request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on an application to conduct certain activities with a foreign species that is 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 September 28, 2023.

# ADDRESSES:

*Obtaining Documents:*                         The application, application supporting materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be available for public inspection at                         *https://www.regulations.gov*                         in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0159.                    

*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: https://www.regulations.gov.                          Search for and submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0159.                    
      -  U.S. mail:                          Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2023-0159; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.                               ( print page 59538)      

                        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                         *DMAFR@fws.gov.*                         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 this application. Before issuing the requested permit, 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 Application

We invite comments on the following application.

## Applicant: Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC; Permit No. PER4095187

                    The applicant requests a permit to export three captive-born giant pandas (                    *Ailuropoda melanoleuca*) from the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Sichuan, People's Republic of China, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This notification is for a single export.                

## IV. Next Steps

                    After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding permit issuance. If we issue a permit to the applicant listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the                     **Federal Register**                    . You may locate the notice announcing the permit issuance by searching                     *https://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.                

Brenda Tapia,

Supervisory Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 2023-18574 Filed 8-28-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4333-15-P