[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49045-49046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22944]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice of permit modification request.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a
notice of requests to modify permits issued to conduct activities
regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. This is the
required notice of a requested permit modification.
DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments,
or views with respect to this permit application by November 22, 2017.
Permit applications may be inspected by interested parties at the
Permit Office, address below.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Office of
Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
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), 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.
Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued
a permit (ACA 2016-020) to Laura K.O. Smith, Owner, Operator Quixote
Expeditions, on December 23, 2015. The issued permit allows the permit
holder to conduct waste management activities associated with the
operation of the ``Ocean Tramp,'' a reinforced ketch rigged sailing
yacht in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Activities to be conducted by
Quixote include: Passenger landings, hiking, photography, wildlife
viewing, and possible station visits.
A recent modification to this permit, dated November 9, 2016,
permitted the permit holder to continue permitted activities, including
minimization, mitigation, and monitoring of waste, for the 2016-2017
Antarctic season. The Environmental Officer reviewed the modification
request and determined that the amendment was not a material change to
the permit, and it will have a less than a minor or transitory impact.
Now the permit holder proposes a modification to the permit to
continue the permitted activities for the 2017-2018 Antarctic season
and add coastal camping activities as well as resupply of fresh food as
part of Quixote's new fly/
[[Page 49046]]
cruise operations. The maximum number of camping participants would be
12. Camping would be away from vegetated sites and >150m from wildlife
concentrations or lakes, protected areas, historical sites, and
scientific stations. Tents would be pitched on snow, ice, or bare
smooth rock, at least 15m from the high-water line. No food, other than
emergency rations, would be brought onshore and all wastes, including
human waste, would be collected and returned to the ship for proper
disposal. The permit holder is seeking a waste permit modification to
cover any accidental releases that may result from camping and other
activities.
Location: Antarctic Peninsula; For camping, possible locations
include Dorian Cove, Enterprize Isand, Cuverville are/Errera Channel,
Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Rong[eacute] Island, Paradise
Bay, Argentine Islands, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, Hovgaard Island,
Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect Point, Portal Point.
Dates: December 1, 2017-February 6, 2021.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-22944 Filed 10-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P