[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 55 (Thursday, March 20, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14939-14941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5689]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

45 CFR Part 670

RIN 3145-AA48


Conservation of Antarctic Animals and Plants

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, The 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is amending its regulations to 
designate additional Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMA) and one 
new Historical Site or Monument (HSM). Further, NSF is amending its 
regulations to reflect that the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties 
(Consultative Parties), at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting 
XXIX (ATCM XXIX) in Edinburgh, Scotland adopted Measure 4 (2006) which 
removed all species of the genus Arctocephalus, Fur Seals, from the 
list of Specially Protected Species in Appendix A to Annex II to the 
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (The 
Protocol). These additions only reflect measures already adopted by the 
Consultative Parties at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.

DATES: Effective Date: March 20, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bijan Gilanshah, Office of the General 
Counsel, at 703-292-8060, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 
(ACA), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 2401, et seq.) implements the Protocol on 
Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Annex II of the 
Protocol contains provisions for conservation of native Antarctic 
plants and animals. Annex V contains provisions for the protection of 
specially designated areas. Section 2405 of title 16 of the ACA directs 
the Director of the National Science Foundation to issue such 
regulations as are necessary and appropriate to implement Annexes II 
and V to the Protocol.
    The Antarctic Treaty Parties periodically adopt measures to 
establish additional specially protected areas, specially managed areas 
and historical sites or monuments in Antarctica. This rule is being 
revised to add two new Antarctic Specially Managed Areas and one new 
Historical Site and Monument. Finally, this revision reflects a 
decision by the Consultative Parties to de-list all species of the 
genus Arctocephalus, Fur Seals, from the list of Specially Protected 
Species in Appendix A to Annex II to the Protocol. The Fur Seals will 
continue to receive comprehensive protection under the Environmental 
Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty.
    No public comment is needed because the addition of these areas or 
sites and the delisting merely implements measures adopted by the 
Consultative Parties at ATCM XXIX.

Determinations

    NSF has determined, under the criteria set forth in Executive Order 
12866, that this rule is not a significant regulatory action requiring 
review by the Office of Management and Budget. This rule involves a 
foreign affairs function of the United States and is, therefore, exempt 
from the notice requirements of section 553 of the Administrative 
Procedures Act and from regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. Although this rule is 
exempt from the Regulatory Flexibility Act, it has nonetheless been 
determined that this rule will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small businesses. For purposes of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), these amendments to the 
existing regulations do not change the collection of information 
requirements contained in NSF's existing regulations, which have 
already been approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 670

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antarctica, Exports, 
Imports, Plants, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wildlife.

    Dated: March 17, 2008.
Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel.
    Pursuant to the authority granted by 16 U.S.C. 2405(a)(1), NSF 
hereby amends 45 CFR part 670 as set forth below:

PART 670--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 670 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 2405, as amended.


0
1. Section 670.25 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  670.25  Designation of specially protected species of native 
mammals, birds, and plants.

    The following species has been designated as Specially Protected 
Species by the Antarctic Treaty Parties and is hereby designated 
Specially Protected Species:

[[Page 14940]]

    Common Name and Scientific Name
    Ross Seal--Ommatophoca rossii
0
2. Section 670.29 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  670.29  Designation of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, 
Specially Managed Areas and Historic Sites and Monuments.

    (a) The following areas have been designated by the Antarctic 
Treaty Parties for special protection and are hereby designated as 
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA). The Antarctic Conservation 
Act of 1978, as amended, prohibits, unless authorized by a permit, any 
person from entering or engaging in activities within an ASPA. Detailed 
maps and descriptions of the sites and complete management plans can be 
obtained from the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar 
Programs, National Science Foundation, Room 755, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230.

ASPA 101 Taylor Rookery, Mac. Robertson Land, East Antarctica
ASPA 102 Rookery Islands, Holme Bay, Mac. Robertson Land, East 
Antarctica
ASPA 103 Ardery Island and Odbert Island, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land, East 
Antarctica
ASPA 104 Sabrina Island, Balleny Islands
ASPA 105 Beaufort Island, Ross Sea (see ASPA 124)
ASPA 106 Cape Hallett, Victoria Land
ASPA 107 Emperor Island, Dion Islands, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic 
Peninsula (see Measure 1, 2002)
ASPA 108 Green Island, Berthelot Islands, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 109 Moe Island, South Orkney Islands
ASPA 110 Lynch Island, South Orkney Islands
ASPA 111 Southern Powell Island and adjacent islands, South Orkney 
Islands
ASPA 112 Coppermine Peninsula, Robert Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 113 Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbour, Anvers Island, Palmer 
Archipelago
ASPA 114 Northern Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands
ASPA 115 Lagotellerie Island, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 116 `New College Valley', Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, Ross Island
ASPA 117 Avian Island, off Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 118 `Cryptogam Ridge', Mount Melbourne, Victoria Land
ASPA 119 Davis Valley and Forlidas Pond, Dufek Massif
ASPA 120 `Pointe-G[eacute]ologie Archipelego', Terre Ad[eacute]lie
ASPA 121 Cape Royds, Ross Island
ASPA 122 Arrival Heights, Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island
ASPA 123 Barwick and Balham Valleys (see Measure 1, 2002), Victoria 
Land
ASPA 124 Cape Crozier, Ross Island
ASPA 125 Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 126 Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 127 Haswell Island
ASPA 128 Western shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island
ASPA 129 Rothera Point, Adelaide Island
ASPA 130 `Tramway Ridge', Mount Erebus, Ross Island
ASPA 131 Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, Victoria Land
ASPA 132 Potter Peninsula, `25 de Mayo' (King George) Island, South 
Shetland Islands
ASPA 133 Harmony Point, west coast of Nelson Island, South Shetland 
Islands
ASPA 134 Cierva Point and offshore islands, Danco Coast, Antarctic 
Peninsula
ASPA 135 North-eastern Bailey Peninsula, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land
ASPA 136 Clark Peninsula, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land
ASPA 137 Northwest White Island, McMurdo Sound
ASPA 138 Linnaeus Terrace, Asgaard Range, Victoria Land
ASPA 139 Biscoe Point, Anvers Island
ASPA 140 Parts of Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 141 `Yukidori Valley', Langhovde, L[uuml]tzow-Holmbukta
ASPA 142 Svarthamaren, M[uuml]hlig-Hofmannfjella, Dronning Maud Land
ASPA 143 Marine Plain, Mule Peninsula, Vestfold Hills, Princess 
Elizabeth Land
ASPA 144 `Chile Bay' (Discovery Bay), Greenwich Island, South Shetland 
Islands
ASPA 145 Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 146 South Bay, Doumer Island, Palmer Archipelago
ASPA 147 Ablation Valley-Ganymede Heights, Alexander Island
ASPA 148 Mount Flora, Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 149 Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Island, Livingston Island, South 
Shetland Islands
ASPA 150 Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay, King George Island
ASPA 151 Lions Rump, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 152 Western Bransfield Strait off Low Island, South Shetland 
Islands
ASPA 153 Eastern Dallmann Bay off Brabant Island, Palmer Archipelago
ASPA 154 Botany Bay, Cape Geology, Victoria Land
ASPA 155 Cape Evans, Ross Island
ASPA 156 Lewis Bay, Mount Erebus, Ross Island
ASPA 157 Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross Island
ASPA 158 Hut Point, Ross Island
ASPA 159 Cape Adare, Borchgrevink Coast
ASPA 160 Frazier Islands, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica (see Measure 2, 
2003)
ASPA 161 Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea
ASPA 162 Mawson's Huts, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land, East 
Antarctica (see Measure 2, 2004)
ASPA 163 Dakshin Gangotri Glacier, Dronning Maud Land
ASPA 164 Scullin and Murray Monoliths, Mac. Robertson Land, East 
Antarctica
ASPA 165 Edmonson Point, Wood Bay, Ross Sea
ASPA 166 Port-Martin, Terre Ad[eacute]lie
ASPA 167 Hawker Island, Vestfold Hills, Ingrid Christensen Coast, 
Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica

    (b) The following areas have been designated by the Antarctic 
Treaty Parties for special management and are hereby designated as 
Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMA). Detailed maps and 
descriptions of the sites and complete management plans can be obtained 
from the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 
National Science Foundation, Room 755, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230.
ASMA 1 Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASMA 2 McMurdo Dry Valleys, Southern Victoria Land
ASMA 3 Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land
ASMA 4 Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
ASMA 5 Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, South Pole
ASMA 6 Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica
    (c) The following areas have been designated by the Antarctic 
Treaty Parties as historic sites or monuments (HSM). The Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, as amended, prohibits any damage, removal or 
destruction of a historic site or monument listed pursuant to Annex V 
to the Protocol. Descriptions of the sites or monuments can be obtained 
from the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 
National Science Foundation, Room 755, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230.
HSM 1 Flag mast at South Pole

[[Page 14941]]

HSM 2 Rock cairn and plaques on Ongul Island, Prins Harald Kyst
HSM 3 Rock cairn and plaque on Proclamation Island, Enderby Land
HSM 4 Bust and plaque at `Pole of Inaccessibility'
HSM 5 Rock cairn and plaque at Cape Bruce, Mac. Robertson Land
HSM 6 Rock cairn and canister at Walkabout Rocks, Vestfold Hills, 
Princess Elizabeth Land
HSM 7 Stone and plaque at Mabus Point, Queen Mary Land
HSM 8 Monument sledge and plaque at Mabus Point, Queen Mary Land
HSM 9 Cemetery on Buromskiy Island, Queen Mary Land
HSM 10 Observatory at Bunger Hills, Queen Mary Land
HSM 11 Tractor and plaque at Vostok Station
HSM 14 Ice cave at Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay, Scott Coast
HSM 15 Hut at Cape Royds, Ross Island
HSM 16 Hut at Cape Evans, Ross Island
HSM 17 Cross at Cape Evans, Ross Island
HSM 18 Hut at Hut Point, Ross Island
HSM 19 Cross at Hut Point, Ross Island
HSM 20 Cross on Observation Hill, Ross Island
HSM 21 Hut at Cape Crozier, Ross Island
HSM 22 Hut at Cape Adare, Borchgrevink Coast
HSM 23 Grave at Cape Adare, Borchgrevink Coast
HSM 24 Rock cairn at Mount Betty, Queen Maud Range
HSM 26 Installations at Barry Island, Debenham Islands, Marguerite Bay, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 27 Cairn with plaque at Megalestris Hill, Petermann Island, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 28 Cairn, pillar and plaque at Port Charcot, Booth Island, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 29 Lighthouse on Lambda Island, Melchior Islands, Antarctic 
Peninsula
HSM 30 Shelter at Paradise Harbour, Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 32 Monolith on Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands
HSM 33 Shelter, cross and plaque on Greenwich Island, South Shetland 
Islands
HSM 34 Bust on Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands
HSM 35 Cross and statue on Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands
HSM 36 Plaque at Potter Cove, King George Island, South Shetland 
Islands
HSM 37 Statue at Trinity Peninsula, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 38 Hut of Snow Hill Island, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 39 Hut at Hope Bay, Trinity Peninsula, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 40 Bust, grotto, statue, flag mast, graveyard and stele at Hope 
Bay, Trinity Peninsula, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 41 Hut and grave at Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 42 Huts, magnetic observatory and graveyard at Scotia Bay, Laurie 
Island, South Orkney Islands
HSM 43 Cross at `Piedrabuena Bay', Filchner Ice Front, Weddell Sea
HSM 44 Plaque at Nivlisen Ice Front, Princesse Astrid Kyst, Dronning 
Maud Land
HSM 45 Plaque at Metchnikoff Point, Brabant Island, Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 46 Buildings and installations at Port-Martin, Terre Ad[eacute]lie
HSM 47 Building on [Ibreve]le des P[eacute]trels, Terre Ad[eacute]lie
HSM 48 Cross on [Ibreve]le des P[eacute]trels, Terre Ad[eacute]lie
HSM 49 Pillar at Bunger Hill, Queen Mary Land
HSM 50 Plaque at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland 
Islands
HSM 51 Grave and cross at Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South 
Shetland Islands
HSM 52 Monolith at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland 
Islands
HSM 53 Monolith and plaques on Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands
HSM 54 Bust on Ross Island
HSM 55 Buildings and artifacts on Stonington Island, Marguerite Bay, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 56 Remains of hut and environs at Waterboat Point, Danco Coast, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 57 Plaque at ``Yankee Bay'' (Yankee Harbour), MacFarlane Strait, 
Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands
HSM 59 Cairn on Half Moon Beach, Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, 
South Shetland Islands
HSM 60 Plaque and cairn at 'Penguins Bay', Seymour Island, James Ross 
Island archipelago
HSM 61 `Base A' at Port Lockroy, Goudier Island, off Wiencke Island, 
Antarctic Peninsula
HSM 62 `Base F (Wordie House)' on Winter Island, Argentine Islands
HSM 63 `Base Y' on Horseshoe Island, Marguerite Bay, western Graham 
Land
HSM 64 `Base E' on Stonington Island, Marguerite Bay, western Graham 
Land
HSM 65 Message post on Foyn Island, Possession Islands
HSM 66 Cairn at Scott Nunataks, Alexandra Mountains
HSM 67 Rock shelter `Granite House' at Cape Geology, Granite Harbour
HSM 68 Depot at Hells Gate Moraine, Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova 
Bay
HSM 69 Message post at Cape Crozier, Ross Island
HSM 70 Message post at Cape Wadworth, Coulman Island
HSM 71 Whaling station at Whalers Bay, Deception Island
HSM 72 Cairn on Tryne Islands, Vestfold Hills
HSM 73 Memorial Cross, Lewis Bay, Ross Island
HSM 74 Wreckage of sailing ship, Elephant Island, South Shetland 
Islands
HSM 75 `A Hut', Pram Point, Ross Island
HSM 76 Ruins of base `Pedro Aguirre Cerda', Pendulum Cove, Deception 
Island
HSM 77 Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land
HSM 78 Memorial Plaque at India Point, Humboldt Mountains, Wohlthat 
Massif, central Dronning Maud Land
HSM 79 Lilie Marleen Hut, Mt. Dockery, Everett Range, Northern Victoria 
Land
HSM 80 Amundsen's Tent
HSM 81 Rocher du D[eacute]barquement (Landing Rock)
HSM 82 Monument to the Antarctic Treaty and Plaque

 [FR Doc. E8-5689 Filed 3-19-08; 8:45 am]
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