6794 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 1997 / Notices

Group consists of 17 members

representing the following principal

interests: sport hunting and fishing,

environmental, public-at-large (5),

recreation users, local government,

science/academic, conservation,

subsistence, commercial fishing,

aquaculture, commerical tourism, forest

products, and Native landowners.

Members were appointed to serve a twoyear term.

To carry out its advisory role, the

Advisory Group makes

recommendations, to, and advises, the

Trustee Council in Alaska on the

following matters:

All decisions related to injury assessment,

restoration activities, or other use of natural

resource damage recovery monies obtained

by the government, including all decisions

regarding:

a. Planning, evaluation and allocation of

available funds;

b. Planning, evaluation and conduct of

injury assessment; and

c. Planning, evaluation and conduct of

restoration activities.

Trustee Council intentions regarding

the importance of obtaining a diversity

of viewpoints is stated in the Public

Advisory Group Background and

Guidelines (March 1993, updated June

1994): ‘‘The Trustee Council intends

that the Public Advisory Group be

established as an important component

of the Council’s public involvement

process.’’ The Council continues, stating

their desire that ‘‘* * * a wide

spectrum of views and interest are

available for the Council to consider as

it evaluates, develops, and implements

restoration activities. It is the Council’s

intent that the diversity of interests and

views held by the Public Advisory

Group members contribute to wide

ranging discussions that will be of

benefit to the Trustee Council.’’

In order to ensure that a broad range

of public viewpoints continues to be

available to the Trustee Council, and in

keeping with the settlement agreement,

the Public Advisory Group is being

renewed for another two-year period.

Certification

I hereby certify that the renewal of the

Charter of the Public Advisory Group,

an advisory committee to make

recommendations to and advise the

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council

in Alaska, is necessary and in the public

interest in connection with the

performance of duties mandated by the

settlement of United States v. State of

Alaska, No. A91–081 CV, and is in

accordance with the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation

and Liability Act of 1980, as amended

and supplemented.

Dated: January 28, 1997.

Bruce Babbit,

Secretary of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 97–3588 Filed 2–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–10–M

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Receipt of Applications for

Permit

The following applicants have

applied for a permit to conduct certain

activities with endangered species. This

notice is provided pursuant to section

10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et

seq.):

Applicant: Michael Horovitz,

Savannah, GA, PRT–824931.

The applicant requests a permit

authorizing interstate commerce to

acquire one radiated tortoise

(Geochelone radiata) for the purpose of

enhancement of the species through

captive propagation.

Applicant: National Zoological Park,

Washington, DC, PRT–824960

The applicant requests a permit

authorizing the import of blood and

tissue samples taken from wild black

rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from South

Africa for the purpose of scientific

research and enhancement of survival of

the species.

Applicant: Mary Katherine Gonder,

New York, NY, PRT–810330.

The applicant requests a permit

amendment to import hair samples of

chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) collected

from zoo specimens and sleeping nests

in Cameroon for enhancement of the

species through scientific research.

Written data or comments should be

submitted to the Director, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Office of Management

Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive,

Room 430, Arlington, Virginia 22203

and must be received by the Director

within 30 days of the date of this

publication.

Documents and other information

submitted with these applications are

available for review, subject to the

requirements of the Privacy Act and

Freedom of Information Act, by any

party who submits a written request for

a copy of such documents to the

following office within 30 days of the

date of publication of this notice: U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Room 430, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone: (703/358–2104);

FAX: (703/358–2281).

Dated: February 7, 1997.

Mary Ellen Amtower,

Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 97–3513 Filed 2–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment and Receipt of an

Application Submitted by the Charles

Ingram Lumber Company for an

Incidental Take Permit for Redcockaded Woodpeckers in Association

With Management Activities on Their

Property in Florence County, South

Carolina

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Charles Ingram Lumber

Company (Applicant) has applied to the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

for an incidental take permit (ITP)

pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act),

as amended. The proposed permit

would authorize the incidental take of a

Federally endangered species, the redcockaded woodpecker, Picoides borealis

(RCW), known to occur on property

owned by the Applicant in Florence

County, South Carolina. The Applicant

is requesting an ITP in order to harvest

the timber on their property for

economic reasons. The Applicant’s

property, known as Hoods Crossing, is

located approximately five miles

northwest of Pamplico in Florence

County. The tract consists of 753 acres

of which 364 acres is in pine plantation

aged between 1–15 years, 382 acres in

mature timber, and approximately 7

acres in ditches and roads. The

proposed permit would authorize

incidental take of a single RCW at

Hoods Crossing in exchange for

mitigation elsewhere as described

further in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section below.

The Service also announces the

availability of an environmental

assessment (EA) and habitat

conservation plan (HCP) for the

incidental take application. Copies of

the EA and/or HCP may be obtained by

making a request to the Regional Office

(see ADDRESSES). This notice also

advises the public that the Service has

made a preliminary determination that

issuing the ITP is not a major Federal

action significantly affecting the quality

of the human environment within the

meaning of Section 102(2)(C) of the

National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (NEPA), as amended. The Finding

of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is