30476 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

Contact Person: Martin Slater, PHD,

Scientific Review Administrator, Center for

Scientific Review, National Institutes of

Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4184,

MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–

1149, slaterm@csr.nih.gov

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine,

93.306; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.333,

93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844,

93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893. National

Institutes of Health, HHS)

Dated: May 25, 2001.

LaVerne Y. Stringfield,

Director, Office of Federal Advisory

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 01–14157 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

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.). 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.

Applicant: AZA Rhinoceros Advisory

Group on behalf of Sedgwick County

Zoo, Wichita, KS, PRT–042888.

The applicant requests a permit to

import one female black rhinoceros

(Dicornis bicornis) from the Yokohama

Kanazawa Zoo, Japan, for the purpose of

enhancement of propagation of the

species through captive breeding.

Applicant: National Aviary in

Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, PRT–040800.

The applicant requests a permit to

export viable eggs of captive bred

Manchurian crane (Grus japonensis)

and white-naped crane (Grus vipio) for

the purpose of enhancement of the

survival of the species through captive

breeding and re-introduction. This

notification covers activities conducted

by the applicant over the next 5 years.

Applicant: Gary Duane Gust, Cedar

Springs, MI, PRT–043084.

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: James J. Moore, Ph.D.,

University of San Diego, PRT–039828.

The applicant request a permit to

import biological samples of

chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) collected

from the wild in Tanzania, for scientific

research. This notification covers

activities conducted by the applicant for

a period of five years.

Applicant: Washington Regional

Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA,

PRT–029665.

The applicant requests a permit to

import biological samples from

orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), siamang

(Symphalangus syndactylus), and

gibbons (Hylobates spp.) collected from

captive-held and captive-born

specimens in Indonesia, for scientific

research. This notification covers

activities conducted by the applicant

over a five year period.

Applicant: Howard H. McCutchen,

Hanlan, IA, PRT–043170.

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: Department of Geology &

Geophysics, University of Utah, UT,

PRT–043260.

The applicant requests a permit to

import biological samples collected

from wild yellow-footed rock wallabies

(Petrogale xanthopus) in Australia for

scientific research.

Applicant: Dr. Jennifer Pastorini,

Dept. of Biology, Southwest Texas State

University, TX, PRT–043202.

The applicant requests a permit to

import biological samples from a

collection currently held at the

University of Zurich, Switzerland, for

scientific research. The samples were

collected from both wild and captive

non-human primates and represent

multiple species in the families

Lepilemuridae, Daubentoniidae,

Indridae, Cheirogaleidae, and

Lemuridae.

Applicant: McCarthy Wildlife

Sanctuary, FL, PRT–037668.

The applicant requests a permit to

import one captive-born male cheetah

(Acinonyx jubatus) from DeWildt

Cheetah Research and Breeding Centre,

South Africa, for the purpose of the

enhancement of the survival of the

species.

Marine Mammals

The public is invited to comment on

the following application(s) for a permit

to conduct certain activities with marine

mammals. The application(s) 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: Charles F. Mervar,

Longmont, CO, PRT–043244.

The applicant requests a permit to

import a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

sport-hunted from the Lancaster Sound

polar bear population in Canada for

personal use taken April, 2001.

Applicant: Vaughn Liljenquist,

Glendale, AZ, PRT–043194.

The applicant requests a permit to

import a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

sport-hunted from the Northern

Beaufort Sea polar bear population in

Canada for personal use taken April,

2001.

Applicant: Sead Dizdarevic, Far Hills,

NJ, PRT–043241.

The applicant requests a permit to

import a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

sport-hunted from the Norwegian Bay

polar bear population in Canada for

personal use taken May, 2001.

Applicant: Jay E. Link, Minong, WI,

PRT–042006.

The applicant requests a permit to

import a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

sport-hunted from the Lancaster Sound

polar bear population in Canada for

personal use taken April, 2001.

Written data, comments, or requests

for copies of these complete

applications or requests for a public

hearing on these applications should be

sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Division of Management

Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room

700, Arlington, Virginia 22203,

telephone 703/358–2104 or fax 703/

358–2281. These requests must be

received within 30 days of the date of

publication of this notice. Anyone

requesting a hearing should give

specific reasons why a hearing would be

appropriate. The holding of such a

hearing is at the discretion of the

Director.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices 30477

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, Division of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington,

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

Fax: (703/358–2281).

Dated: May 25, 2001.

Monica Farris,

Senior Biologist, Branch of Permits, Office

of Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 01–14188 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Draft

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Recovery Plan for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Document

Availability.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service announces the availability for

public review of a draft Recovery Plan

for the southwestern willow flycatcher

(Empidonax traillii extimus). The

breeding range of this bird includes

southern California, southern Nevada,

southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico,

western Texas, southwestern Colorado,

and possibly extreme northern portions

of the Mexican states of Baja, California

del Norte, Sonora, and Chihuahua.

Within this region, the species breeds in

dense riparian tree and shrub

communities associated with rivers,

swamps, and other wetlands including

lakes (e.g., reservoirs). Most of these

habitats are classified as forested

wetlands or scrub-shrub wetlands. The

Service solicits review and comment

from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft Recovery

Plan must be received on or before

October 4, 2001 to receive consideration

by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the draft Recovery Plan may obtain a

copy by contacting Greg Beatty, Arizona

Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West

Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,

Arizona, 85021–4951 (602/242–0210).

Written comments and materials

regarding the plan should be addressed

to the Field Supervisor at this same

address. Comments and materials

received are available on request for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg

Beatty (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or

threatened animal or plant species to

the point where it is again a secure, selfsustaining member of its ecosystem is a

primary goal of the Service’s

endangered species program. To help

guide the recovery effort, the Service is

working to prepare recovery plans for

most of the listed species native to the

United States. Recovery plans describe

actions considered necessary for

conservation of species, establish

criteria for the recovery levels for

downlisting or delisting them, and

estimate time and cost for implementing

the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

(Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.), requires the development of

recovery plans for listed species unless

such a plan would not promote the

conservation of a particular species.

Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in

1988, requires that public notice and an

opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery

plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during a public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised

recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these

comments into account in the course of

implementing approved recovery plans.

The Draft Southwestern Willow

Flycatcher Recovery Plan describes the

status, current management, recovery

objectives and criteria, and specific

actions needed to reclassify the

southwestern willow flycatcher from

endangered to threatened, and to

ultimately delist it. The draft Plan was

developed by: Deborah M. Finch, U.S.

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain

Research Station, Albuquerque, New

Mexico (Team Leader); Stephen I.

Rothstein, University of California,

Santa Barbara, California (Vice Team

Leader); Jon C. Boren, New Mexico State

University, Las Cruces, New Mexico;

Jerry L. Holechek, New Mexico State

University, Las Cruces, New Mexico;

Barbara E. Kus, U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) Western Ecological Research

Center, San Diego State University, San

Diego, California; Robert M. Marshall,

The Nature Conservancy, Tucson,

Arizona; Susan J. Sferra, U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation, Phoenix, Arizona; Mark K.

Sogge, USGS Forest and Rangeland

Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado

Plateau Field Station, Flagstaff, Arizona;

Julie C. Stromberg, Arizona State

University, Tempe, Arizona; Bradley A.

Valentine, California Department of Fish

and Game, Santa Rosa, California; Mary

J. Whitfield, Southern Sierra Research

Center, Weldon, California; Sartor O.

Williams III, New Mexico Department of

Game and Fish, Santa Fe, New Mexico;

and geographically-based teams of

stakeholders (Implementation

Subgroups), which include

representatives of Native American

Tribes, State and local governments,

ranchers, private land owners and

managers, agency representatives, and

others.

The southwestern willow flycatcher is

known to currently breed in dense

riparian vegetation in southern

California, southern Nevada, southern

Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and

southwestern Colorado. Although

extreme northwestern Mexico and

western Texas are considered part of its

breeding range, no nesting birds are

presently known to occur in these areas.

The dense riparian vegetation that is

needed for breeding was historically

rare and sparsely distributed, and is

now more rare. Destruction and

modification of riparian habitats have

been caused mainly by: reduction or

elimination of surface and subsurface

water due to diversion and groundwater

pumping; changes in flood and fire

regimes due to dams and stream

channelization; clearing and controlling

vegetation, livestock grazing; changes in

water and soil chemistry due to

disruption of natural hydrologic cycles;

and establishment of non-native plants.

Concurrent with habitat loss have been

increases in brood parasitism by the

brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

and the presence of nest predation

which inhibits reproductive success and

further reduces population levels.

Actions needed to recover the

southwestern willow flycatcher are

those that would increase and improve

breeding habitat by restoring and/or recreating natural physical and biotic

processes that influence riparian

ecosystems, and reducing other stresses

on the flycatcher. Specific actions

include: changing management of

surface and groundwater, including

fundamental changes in dam operations,

and restoring flood cycles; reducing

impacts of domestic livestock, wild

burros, and native ungulates; improving

metapopulation stability; securing longterm protection of breeding habitat;

managing exotic plant species; reducing

brood parasitism by brown-headed