[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57236-57237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24005]


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 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, (Pub. L. 95-541), as amended by the Antarctic 
Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-227).

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a 
notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated 
under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published 
regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at title 45 part 670 
of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of 
permit applications received.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to this permit application by October 22, 2015. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Polly A. Penhale, Environmental 
Officer, at the above address or [email protected] or (703) 292-7149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as

[[Page 57237]]

directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541), 
as amended by the Antarctic Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 
1996, has developed regulations for the establishment of a permit 
system for various activities in Antarctica and designation of certain 
animals and certain geographic areas a requiring special protection. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2015-012

1. Applicant: Dr. Stephanie Jenourvrier, Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02453.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: The applicant intends to 
collect a multi-scale and temporal baseline data set on the largest 
cluster of Adelie penguin breeding colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula 
(AP). The area near the Danger Islands in the Weddell Sea (eastern AP) 
may account for half of the total breeding population of Adelie 
penguins in the AP, yet these colonies are little known. Penguin 
population shifts have been documented in the western AP and this study 
will help reduce uncertainty for the eastern AP populations.
    Take, Import, Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas: The 
applicant intends to obtain small samples of blood, tissue, feathers, 
and eggshells from Macaroni, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Ad[eacute]lie 
penguin colonies the Antarctic Peninsula. Organic remains in soil 
samples will also be collected. Samples taken at the sites will be sent 
back to the United States and the United Kingdom for analysis. The 
breeding sites will be censused by ground or by a hexacopters-based 
aerial photography system.
    Location: The focus of the study is the penguin colonies in the 
Danger Islands, Antarctic Sounds, Antarctic Peninsula. Should weather 
conditions preclude this area, the focus will shift to Elephant Island 
and vicinity, Low Island and vicinity and/or the South Shetland 
Islands. Visits may include the following ASPA's: ASPA No. 151, Lions 
Rump, King George Is; ASPA No. 126, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island; 
ASPA No. 152, West Bransfield, Low Island; ASPA No. 132, Potter 
Peninsula; ASPA No. 128, West Admiralty Bay; ASPA No. 150, Ardley 
Island; ASPA No. 133, Harmony Point; and ASPA No. 149, Cape Shirreff.
    Dates: 1 December 2015 through 30 June 2016.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-24005 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
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