[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46535-46536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21446]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice of permit applications received.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 in 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 November 6, 2017.
This application 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: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
the above address, 703-292-8030, or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541, 45 CFR 670),
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
1. Applicant--Permit Application: 2018-003
David Schutt, Penguins International, PO Box 100483, Denver, CO
80250.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Harmful Interference; Import Into USA. The applicant proposes to
collect samples of feathers molted from gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis
papua, (n=2400) and fragments from discarded eggshells of gentoo
penguins (n=50) for use in a study of pollutant exposure in penguins
across a wide latitudinal gradient. The applicant plans to collect
these abandoned biological tissue samples at approximately eleven
gentoo penguin colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The
applicant will collect samples opportunistically from the ground or
from penguin carcasses from the periphery and/or low-density areas of
the colonies in order to minimize disturbance to the penguins. The
samples will be imported into the USA and will be analyzed at the home
institution.
Location
West Antarctic Peninsula region including South Orkney Islands,
Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands.
Dates
October 1, 2017-June 1, 2018.
2. Applicant--Permit Application: 2018-018
Vernon G. Chu, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc, 747 Third Ave., 7th FL,
New York, NY 10017-2803.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Take; Harmful Interference. The applicant proposes to film Weddell
seals in the McMurdo Sound area. Up to 16 Weddell seals (eight mother
and pup pairs) could be targeted and disturbed during filming on the
sea ice, underwater, and by air via remotely piloted aircraft. Up to 80
additional Weddell seals may be disturbed as a result of the filming
activities. The footage will be used in a BBC documentary series that
is expected to be useful for education and outreach about Antarctica
and the scientific research conducted there. The applicant has also
applied for a commercial or education photography permit from the
National Marine Fisheries Service under the authority of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).
Location
McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
[[Page 46536]]
Dates
October 1-December 15, 2017.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-21446 Filed 10-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P