Title 50

SECTION 13.11

13.11 Application procedures.

§ 13.11 Application procedures.

The Service may not issue a permit for any activity authorized by this subchapter B unless you have filed an application under the following procedures:

(a) Forms. Applications must be submitted in writing on a Federal Fish and Wildlife License/Permit Application (Form 3-200) or as otherwise specifically directed by the Service.

(b) Forwarding instructions. Applications for permits in the following categories should be forwarded to the issuing office indicated below.

(1) You may obtain applications for migratory bird banding permits (50 CFR 21.22) by writing to: Bird Banding Laboratory, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708-4037. Submit completed permit applications to the same address.

(2) You may obtain applications for designated port exception permits and import/export licenses (50 CFR 14) by writing to the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Region in which you reside (see 50 CFR 2.2 or the Service Web site, http://www.fws.gov, for addresses and boundaries of the Regions). Submit completed permit applications to the same address.

(3) You may obtain applications for Wild Bird Conservation Act permits (50 CFR part 15); injurious wildlife permits (50 CFR part 16); captive-bred wildlife registrations (50 CFR part 17); permits authorizing import, export, or foreign commerce of endangered and threatened species, and interstate commerce of nonnative endangered or threatened species (50 CFR part 17); marine mammal permits (50 CFR part 18); and permits and certificates for import, export, and re-export of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (50 CFR part 23) from the Service's permits Web page at http://www.fws.gov/permits/ or from the Division of Management Authority at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b). Submit completed permit applications to the same street address.

(4) You may obtain Endangered Species Act permit applications (50 CFR 17) for activities involving native endangered and threatened species, including incidental take, scientific purposes, enhancement of propagation or survival (i.e., recovery), and enhancement of survival by writing to the Regional Director (Attention: Endangered Species Permits) of the Region where the activity is to take place (see 50 CFR 2.2 or the Service Web site, http://www.fws.gov, for addresses and boundaries of the Regions). Submit completed applications to the same address (the Regional office covering the area where the activity will take place). Permit applications for interstate commerce for native endangered and threatened species should be obtained by writing to the Regional Director (Attention: Endangered Species Permits) of the Region that has the lead for the particular species, rather than the Region where the activity will take place. You can obtain information on the lead Region via the Service's Endangered Species Program Web page (http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html) by entering the common or scientific name of the listed species in the Regulatory Profile query box. Send interstate commerce permit applications for native listed species to the same Regional Office that has the lead for that species. Endangered Species Act permit applications for the import or export of native endangered and threatened species may be obtained from the Division of Management Authority in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section.

(5) You may obtain applications for bald and golden eagle permits (50 CFR part 22) and migratory bird permits (50 CFR part 21), except for banding and marking permits, from, and you may submit completed applications to, the “Migratory Bird Permit Program Office” in the Region in which you reside. For addresses of the regional offices, see 50 CFR 2.2, or go to: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/mbpermits/Addresses.html.

(c) Time notice. The Service will process all applications as quickly as possible. However, we cannot guarantee final action within the time limit you request. You should ensure that applications for permits for marine mammals and/or endangered and threatened species are postmarked at least 90 calendar days prior to the requested effective date. The time we require for processing of endangered and threatened species incidental take permits will vary according to the project scope and significance of effects. Submit applications for all other permits to the issuing/reviewing office and ensure they are postmarked at least 60 calendar days prior to the requested effective date. Our processing time may be increased by the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the requirement to publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting a 30-day public comment period when we receive certain types of permit applications, and/or the time required for extensive consultation within the Service, with other Federal agencies, and/or State or foreign governments. When applicable, we may require permit applicants to provide additional information on the proposal and on its environmental effects as may be necessary to satisfy the procedural requirements of NEPA.

(d) Fees. (1) Unless otherwise exempted under this paragraph (d), you must pay the required permit processing fee at the time that you apply for issuance or amendment of a permit. You must pay in U.S. dollars. If you submit a check or money order, it must be made payable to the “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” The Service will not refund any application fee under any circumstances if we have processed the application. However, we may return the application fee if you withdraw the application before we have significantly processed it.

(2) If regulations in this subchapter require more than one type of permit for an activity and the permits are issued by the same office, the issuing office may issue one consolidated permit authorizing the activity in accordance with § 13.1. You may submit a single application in such cases, provided that the single application contains all the information required by the separate applications for each permitted activity. Where more than one permitted activity is consolidated into one permit, the issuing office will charge the highest single fee for the activity permitted.

(3) Circumstances under which we will not charge a permit application fee are as follows:

(i) We will not charge a permit application fee to any Federal, tribal, State, or local government agency or to any individual or institution acting on behalf of such agency. Except as otherwise authorized or waived, if you fail to submit evidence of such status with your application, we will require the submission of all processing fees prior to the acceptance of the application for processing.

(ii) As noted in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.

(iii) We may waive the fee on a case-by-case basis for extraordinary extenuating circumstances provided that the issuing permit office and a Regional or Assistant Director approves the waiver.

(4) User fees. The following table identifies specific fees for each permit application or amendment to a current permit. If no fee is identified under the Amendment Fee column, this particular permit either cannot be amended and a new application, and application fee, would need to be submitted or no fee will be charged for amending the permit (please contact the issuing office for further information).

Type of permit CFR
Citation
Permit
application
fee
Administration
fee 1
Amendment
fee
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Migratory Bird Import/Export 50 CFR part 21 75
Migratory Bird Banding or Marking 50 CFR part 21 No fee
Migratory Bird Scientific Collecting 50 CFR part 21 100 50
Migratory Bird Taxidermy 50 CFR part 21 100
Waterfowl Sale and Disposal 50 CFR part 21 75
Special Canada Goose 50 CFR part 21 No fee
Migratory Bird Special Purpose/Education 50 CFR part 21 75
Migratory Bird Special Purpose/Salvage 50 CFR part 21 75
Migratory Bird Special Purpose/Game Bird Propagation 50 CFR part 21 75
Migratory Bird Special Purpose/Miscellaneous 50 CFR part 21 100
Raptor Propagation 50 CFR part 21 100
Migratory Bird Rehabilitation 50 CFR part 21 50
Migratory Bird Depredation 50 CFR part 21 100 50
Migratory Bird Depredation/Homeowner 50 CFR part 21 50
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
Eagle Scientific Collecting 50 CFR part 22 100 50
Eagle Exhibition 50 CFR part 22 75
Eagle - Native American Religion 50 CFR part 22 No fee
Eagle Take permits - Depredation and Protection of Health and Safety 50 CFR part 22 100
Golden Eagle Nest Take 50 CFR part 22 100 50
Eagle Transport - Scientific or Exhibition 50 CFR part 22 75
Eagle Transport - Native American Religious Purposes 50 CFR part 22 No fee
Eagle Incidental Take - Up to 5 years, Commercial 50 CFR part 22 2,500 500
Eagle Incidental Take - Non-commercial 50 CFR part 22 500 150
Eagle Incidental Take - 5-30 years 50 CFR part 22 36,000 1 8,000
Eagle Incidental Take - Transfer of a permit 50 CFR part 22 1,000
Eagle Nest Take - Single nest, Commercial 50 CFR part 22 2,500 500
Eagle Nest Take - Single nest, Non-commercial 50 CFR part 22 500 150
Eagle Nest Take - Multiple nests 50 CFR part 22 5,000 500
Eagle Take - Exempted under ESA 50 CFR part 22 No fee
Endangered Species Act/CITES/Lacey Act
ESA Recovery 50 CFR part 17 100 50
ESA Interstate Commerce 50 CFR part 17 100 50
ESA Enhancement of Survival (Safe Harbor Agreement) 50 CFR part 17 50 25
ESA Enhancement of Survival (Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances) 50 CFR part 17 50 25
ESA Incidental Take (Habitat Conservation Plan) 50 CFR part 17 100 50
ESA and CITES Import/Export and Foreign Commerce 50 CFR part 17 100 50
ESA and CITES Museum Exchange 50 CFR part 17 100 50
ESA Captive-bred Wildlife Registration 50 CFR part 17 200 100
- Renewal of Captive-bred Wildlife Registration 50 CFR part 17 100
CITES Import (including trophies under ESA and MMPA) 50 CFR parts 17, 18, 23 100 50
CITES Export 50 CFR part 23 100 50
CITES Pre-Convention 50 CFR part 23 75 40
CITES Certificate of Origin 50 CFR part 23 75 40
CITES Re-export 50 CFR part 23 75 40
CITES Personal Effects and Pet Export/Re-export 50 CFR part 23 50
CITES Appendix II Export (native furbearers and alligators - excluding live animals) 50 CFR part 23 100 50
CITES Master File (includes files for artificial propagation, biomedical, etc., and covers import, export, and re-export documents) 50 CFR part 23 200 100
- Renewal of CITES Master File 50 CFR part 23 100
- Single-use permits issued on Master File 50 CFR part 23 5 2
CITES Annual Program File 50 CFR part 23 50
- Single-use permits issued under Annual Program 50 CFR part 23 5 2
CITES replacement documents (lost, stolen, or damaged documents) 50 CFR part 23 50 50
CITES Passport for Traveling Exhibitions and Pets 50 CFR part 23 75 3
CITES/ESA Passport for Traveling Exhibitions 50 CFR part 23 100 3
CITES Introduction from the Sea 50 CFR part 23 100 50
CITES Participation in the Plant Rescue Center Program 50 CFR part 23 No fee
CITES Registration of Commercial Breeding Operations for Appendix-I Wildlife 50 CFR part 23 100
CITES Request for Approval of an Export Program for a State or Tribe (American Ginseng, Certain Furbearers, and American Alligator) 50 CFR part 23 No fee
Import/Export License 50 CFR part 14 100 50
Designated Port Exception 50 CFR part 14 100 50
Injurious Wildlife Permit 50 CFR part 16 100 50
- Transport Authorization for Injurious Wildlife 50 CFR part 16 25
Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA)
Personal Pet Import 50 CFR part 15 50
WBCA Scientific Research, Zoological Breeding or Display, Cooperative Breeding 50 CFR part 15 100 50
WBCA Approval of Cooperative Breeding Program 50 CFR part 15 200 100
- Renewal of a WBCA Cooperative Breeding Program 50 CFR part 15 50
WBCA Approval of a Foreign Breeding Facility 50 CFR part 15 250 4
Marine Mammal Protection Act
Marine Mammal Public Display 50 CFR part 18 300 150
Marine Mammal Scientific Research/Enhancement/Registered Agent or Tannery 50 CFR part 18 150 75
- Renewal of Marine Mammal Scientific Research/Enhancement/Registered Agent or Tannery 50 CFR part 18 75

1 An additional Administration Fee of $8,000 will be assessed every 5 years for permits with durations longer than 5 years for permit review.

2 Each.

3 Per animal.

4 Per species.

(5) We will charge a fee for substantive amendments made to permits within the time period that the permit is still valid. The fee is generally half the original fee assessed at the time that the permit is processed; see paragraph (d)(4) of this section for the exact amount. Substantive amendments are those that pertain to the purpose and conditions of the permit and are not purely administrative. Administrative changes, such as updating name and address information, are required under 13.23(c), and we will not charge a fee for such amendments.

(6) Except as specifically noted in paragraph (d)(4) of this section, a permit renewal is an issuance of a new permit, and applicants for permit renewal must pay the appropriate fee listed in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.

(e) Abandoned or incomplete applications. If we receive an incomplete or improperly executed application, or if you do not submit the proper fees, the issuing office will notify you of the deficiency. If you fail to supply the correct information to complete the application or to pay the required fees within 45 calendar days of the date of notification, we will consider the application abandoned. We will not refund any fees for an abandoned application.

[70 FR 18317, Apr. 11, 2005, as amended at 72 FR 48445, Aug. 23, 2007; 73 FR 29083, May 20, 2008; 73 FR 42281, July 21, 2008; 74 FR 46875, Sept. 11, 2009; 78 FR 35152, June 12, 2013; 78 FR 73723, Dec. 9, 2013; 79 FR 30417, May 27, 2014; 79 FR 43964, July 29, 2014; 81 FR 8002, Feb. 17, 2016; 82 FR 41177, Aug. 30, 2017]