[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46771-46772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19116]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Application Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) has received a waste management permit application for Quark 
Expeditions' cruise ships to conduct a number of activities, including: 
Shore excursions via zodiac, camping ashore or extended stays, 
mountaineering, kayaking, cross country skiing, and downhill skiing. 
The application is submitted by Quark Expeditions of Waterbury, Vermont 
and submitted to NSF pursuant to regulations issued under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to this permit application by September 5, 2012. 
Permit applications may be inspected by interested parties at the 
Permit Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Polly A. Penhale at the above 
address or (703) 292-8030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF's Antarctic Waste Regulation, 45 CFR 
Part 671, requires all U.S. citizens and entities to obtain a permit 
for the use or release of a designated pollutant in Antarctica, and for 
the release of waste in Antarctica. NSF has received a permit 
application under this Regulation for conduct of activities such as 
shore excursions, camping, where emergency provisions will be taken 
ashore that would include cook stoves, fuel, radios, batteries, etc. 
and may include the generation of waste. In addition, mountaineering 
activities that would include use of emergency provisions, crampons, 
ice axes, climbing harnesses,

[[Page 46772]]

screw-gated carabiners, prusik slings, and climbing helmets.
    Designated pollutants that would be associated with the various 
excursions are typically air emissions and waste water (urine, grey-
water, and human solid waste. All wastes would be packaged and removed 
to the ship(s) for proper disposal in Chile or the U.S. under approved 
guidelines prior to the end of each season.
    The permit: Eric Stangeland, Executive VP Operations, Quark 
Expeditions, Inc., Waterbury, VT Permit application No. 2012 WM-004.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-19116 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P