67752 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 219 / Monday, November 13, 2000 / Notices

collection and sharing once OMB

approval is completed.

Federal agencies may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless it displays a currently valid OMB

control number. OMB granted an

emergency control number (1018–0097)

for this collection of information, which

expired in August 1998. The Service is

currently in the process of preparing an

Environmental Impact Statement and

national management plan for the

double-crested cormorant and would

like to renew the control number so that

it may collect relevant biological

information from aquaculturists under

the terms of the Depredation Order.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16

U.S.C. 703–711) and Fish and Wildlife

Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate

the Department of the Interior as the key

agency responsible for the management

of migratory bird populations

frequenting the United States. This

responsibility dictates the gathering of

accurate data on various characteristics

of migratory bird populations. In 1998,

we issued a standing Depredation Order

that allows persons engaged in the

production of commercial freshwater

aquaculture stocks in 13 States to take

depredating double-crested cormorants

at aquacultural facilities. Under the

conditions of the Depredation Order,

any person exercising such privileges

must keep and maintain a monthly log

recording the date and number of all

cormorants killed each month, maintain

the log for a period of 3 years, and make

the log available to Federal and State

wildlife enforcement officers upon

request. The mortality information that

these logs provide is necessary for the

development of population data and

determination of program effectiveness

to be used for management purposes.

Title: Depredation Order for the

Double-crested Cormorant.

Approval Number: 1018–0097.

Service Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Annually.

Description of Respondents:

Businesses, individuals, and State,

local, or tribal governments

Total Annual Burden Hours: The total

annual burden is estimated at 875

hours.

Total Annual Responses: About 2,200

individuals are expected to complete

the required mortality logs and

approximately 250 individuals will

complete the annual survey (for a total

of 2,450).

We invite comments concerning this

renewal on: (1) Whether the collection

of information is necessary for the

proper performance of our migratory

bird management functions; (2) the

accuracy of our estimate of the burden

of the collection of information; (3)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (4) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents.

Dated: November 3, 2000.

Rebecca A. Mullin,

Information Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–28918 Filed 11–9–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Receipt of Applications for

Permit

Endangered Species

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: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo,

Omaha, NE, PRT–032757

The applicant has amended a permit

request. The original request for a

permit to import 1 captive-born female

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris

sumatrae) from the Surabaya Zoo,

Indonesia for the purpose of

propagation for the enhancement of the

survival of the species was published in

the Federal Register on September 21,

2000. The applicant now requests a

permit to import 1 captive-born male

and 2 captive-born female Sumatran

tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) from

the Surabaya Zoo, Indonesia for the

purpose of propagation for the

enhancement of the survival of the

species.

Applicant: Paul L. Snider, Lewiston, ID,

PRT–035504

The applicant requests a permit to

import the sport-hunted trophy of one

male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus

dorcas) culled from a captive herd

maintained under the management

program of the Republic of South Africa,

for the purpose of enhancement of the

survival of the species.

Applicant: White Oak Conservation

Center, Yulee, FL, PRT–843877

The applicant requests a permit to

import up to fifteen captive-held and/or

captive-born Visayan deer (Cervus

alfredi) originating from the Mari-ti

Center, Panay, Philippines, for the

purpose of enhancement of the survival

of the species through captive

propagation. The specimens will be

shipped to Zoo Zurich, Zurich,

Switzerland, for quarantine prior to

being imported into the United States.

Applicant: University of Illinois,

Chicago, IL PRT–009695

The applicant requests re-issuance of

their permit to import samples obtained

from Cuban sandhill cranes (Grus

canadensis nesiotes) in Cuba for the

purpose of scientific research. This

notification covers activities conducted

by the applicant over a five year period.

Marine Mammals

The public is invited to comment on

the following application for a permit to

conduct certain activities with marine

mammals. The application was

submitted to satisfy requirements of the

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and

the regulations governing marine

mammals (50 CFR 18).

Applicant: Joe Klutsch, King Salmon,

AK, PRT–035705

The applicant requests a permit to

import a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

sport-hunted from the Lancaster Sound

polar bear population, Northwest

Territories, Canada for personal use.

Written data or comments should be

submitted to the Director, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Division of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington,

Virginia 22203 and must be received by

the Director within 30 days of the date

of this publication.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

has information collection approval

from OMB through February 28, 2001.

OMB Control Number 1018–0093.

Federal Agencies may not conduct or

sponsor and a person is not required to

respond to a collection of information

unless it displays a current valid OMB

control number.

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 700, Arlington,

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

FAX: (703/358–2281).

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 219 / Monday, November 13, 2000 / Notices 67753

Dated: November 6, 2000.

Charlie Chandler,

Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 00–28895 Filed 11–9–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan Related to

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit for the Magic Carpet Woods

Association Project, Leelanau

Township, Leelanau County, Michigan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

and other agencies of the availability for

review and comment of a

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) and

Implementing Agreement. On March 29,

2000 Magic Carpet Woods Association

(Applicant) applied for an Incidental

Take Permit pursuant to section

10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (Act, 16 U.S.C.

1531, et seq.) from the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service). This notice is

provided pursuant to section 10(c) of

the Act and National Environmental

Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

An April 20, 2000 Notice made

available for a permit to authorize the

incidental take associated with

harassment (i.e., harm) of the pipping

plover (Charadrius melodus; bird)

which is federally listed as endangered.

The take would occur as a result of

residential construction adjacent to Lake

Michigan beachfront in Leelanau

Township, Leelanau County, Michigan.

That application has been assigned

permit number TE–025433.

Copies of the revised EA/HCP and

Implementing Agreement may be

obtained by making a request to the

Regional Office address below.

Comments on the EA/HCP must be

submitted in writing. All comments

received, including names and

addresses, will become part of the

public record and will be available for

review pursuant to section 10(c) of the

Act. The comment period is 30 days

because the application was received

prior to issuance of the ‘‘Five-Point

Policy’’ (June 1, 2000; 65 FR 35242).

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before COB December 13,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the documents may obtain copies by

writing, telephoning, fax, or e-mail to

either of the two Service positions listed

in the following paragraphs. The EA/

HCP is also available at the following

Internet address: www/

midwest.fws.gov/nepa/

Documents will be available for

public inspection during normal

business hours (8:00–4:30), at the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service Regional

Office in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and

at the East Lansing Field Office in East

Lansing, Michigan. Written comments

should be submitted to the Regional

HCP Coordinator at the address or via

FAX listed below. All comments

received will become part of the

administrative record and may be

released to the public. Please refer to

permit number TE–025433 when

submitting comments.

Regional HCP Coordinator, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Services, 1 Federal Drive,

Fort Snelling, MN 55111–4056,

Telephone: 612/713–5343, Fax: 612/

713–5292

Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, East Lansing Field

Office, 2651 Coolidge Rd., Suite 101,

East Lansing, Michigan 48823–6316,

Telephone: 517/351–2555

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Peter Fasbender, Regional HCP

Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Fort Snelling, Minnesota,

telephone (612) 713–5343, or email

peterlfasbender@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act and federal regulations

prohibit ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife

species listed as endangered or

threatened. Take of listed fish or

wildlife is defined under the Act to

mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,

wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or to

attempt to engage in any such conduct.

However, the Service, under limited

circumstances, may issue permits to

take listed species, provided such take

is incidental to, and not the purpose of,

an otherwise lawful activity.

Regulations governing permits for

threatened species are found in 50 CFR

17.32.

Background

The proposed Magic Carpet Woods

Association residential construction is

located on approximately 91 acres at the

north end of Kehl Road in Leelanau

Township, Leelanau Township,

Leelanau County, Michigan. The

beachfront of the property is part of the

Lake Michigan Cathead Bay shoreline.

Magic Carpet Woods Association is

requesting a 25-year incidental take

permit for potential take (harassment) of

the piping plover on the beach of the

Association property. The beach/dune

portion of the property is the only part

potentially containing piping plover

habitat. This area consists of open,

unvegetated beach and grassy low dunes

that abuts a forested portion. The beach/

dune is narrow and averages about 85

feet wide.

Piping plovers have nested in recent

years at the adjacent Leelanau State

Park, although none nested there or

elsewhere in Cathead Bay in 2000. No

plovers have been known to nest on or

as near as one-half mile of the

Association beach, nor have they ever

been recorded using the Association

beach. The beach currently does not

have characteristics of good nesting

habitat. There may be potential for

plovers to nest on the property in the

future if an expanded plover population

exhibits variation in acceptable breeding

habitat characteristics or natural forces

alter current beach characteristics. On

July 6, 2000, the Service published a

proposal to designate critical habitat for

the piping plover. All of the Cathead

Bay shoreline is included in a proposed

3.7 mile long unit potentially containing

primary constituent elements of critical

habitat. The open dune portion of the

project site contains several hundred

individual Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium

pitcheri) plants, a threatened species.

Piping plovers are known to be

extremely sensitive to disturbance by

human activity. Direct and indirect

effects of human activity throughout the

Great lakes and Atlantic coast breeding

range is strongly implicated in the

species decline that lead to its listing as

an endangered species in 1985. The

project involves construction of 13

single family residences within the

forested portion of the property adjacent

to and parallel with the one-half mile

long beach. Broadwalk may be

constructed through the vegetated

dunes, but otherwise the project will not

result in any construction on, or other

physical alteration of the beach portion

of the property. Construction of the

proposed project would result in human

activity along a section of beach

presently associated with undeveloped

land.

Potential take of piping plovers would

occur through harassment of adults and

chicks. The HCP provides conservation

and protective measures to minimize

and mitigate such take to a level that

will not reduce productivity to slow

progress toward recovery. The HCP

provides for seasonally restructions of

human presence on the beach, control of

all pets during the critical nesting and

rearing period, control of garbage,