[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49231-49232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22981]
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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.
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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 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 24, 2017.
This application 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, 45 CFR 671),
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: 2018-019
1. Applicant: Cedar Wright, Expedition Leader, The North Face, 2660
Juniper Ave, Boulder, CO 80304.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The
applicant is seeking a waste management permit for activities related
to climbing and skiing mountain peaks in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
The applicant proposed to establish a base camp near the Ulvetanna
peak. All waste generated would be removed from Antarctica with the
exception of urine and grey water. Any climbing
[[Page 49232]]
equipment used would be removed to the extent practicable. The
applicant would use best practices to minimize the risks of spills of
designated pollutants. The applicant proposes to operate a small,
battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) consisting, in
part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to collect footage of the
expedition. The quadcopter would not be flown over concentrations of
birds or mammals, or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The RPAS
would only be operated by a certified pilot with extensive experience.
Several measures would be taken to prevent loss of the quadcopter
including maintaining visual line of sight, limiting flight time to no
more that 20 minutes, having a return home feature, operating only
under calm weather conditions with good visibility, and not operating
in areas where retrieving the quadcopter would not be possible.
Location: Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
Dates: November 23--December 20, 2017.
Permit Application: 2018-020
2. Applicant: Dierk M. Reuter, Liton Services Inc, 180 E Pearson St,
Apt 4505, Chicago, IL 60611.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The
applicant is seeking a waste management permit for activities related
to a proposed flight to King George Island and over the Antarctic
Peninsula aboard a TBM 850 aircraft. The plane and crew will depart
Punta Arenas, Chile and stop at the King George Island airfield prior
to and following a non-stop flight over the Antarctic Peninsula, with a
turnaround point at approximately 75 degrees South, 71 degrees West.
The applicant proposes to overnight at King George Island before
returning to Punta Arenas, Chile. All gear; emergency equipment and
supplies; foodstuffs; garbage; and human waste would be stored in the
aircraft removed from Antarctica upon departure. Gear would be new and/
or de-contaminated before use in Antarctica. Emissions from the
aircraft would be minimized through proper engine maintenance.
Location: King George Island; West Antarctic Peninsula.
Dates: December 20, 2017--January 31, 2018.
Permit Application: 2018-021
3. Applicant: Lars Maltha Rasmussen, Albatros Expeditions US Ltd, 4770
Biscayne Boulevard PHR, Miami, FL 33137.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated RPAS consisting,
in part, of a quadcopter equipped with cameras to collect commercial
and educational footage of the Antarctic. The quadcopter would not be
flown over concentrations of birds or mammals, or over Antarctic
Specially Protected Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments. The RPAS
would only be operated by pilots with proficiency and experience, who
are pre-approved by the Captain and Expedition Leader. Several measures
would be taken to prevent loss of the quadcopter including only flying
when the wind is less than 25 knots; total flight times in accordance
with manufacturer specifications and appropriate to the cold
conditions; having an automatic return feature in case of loss of
control link or low battery; having an observer on the lookout for
wildlife, people, and other hazards; and ensuring that the separation
between the operator and quadcopter does not exceed an operational
range beyond visual contact. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to
cover any accidental releases that may result from operating the RPAS.
Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates: December 5, 2017-March 31, 2018.
Permit Application: 2018-025
4. Applicant: Bill Davis, VP Operations, Quark Expeditions, 3131
Elliot Avenue, Suite 250, Seattle, WA 98121.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The
applicant is seeking a waste management permit associated with the
operation of multiple tour vessels in the Antarctic Peninsula region.
Each vessel will complete multiple cruises and multiple landings per
cruise. Maximum passengers taken ashore at any one time will be limited
to 100 persons. On selected voyages Quark would offer activities
including shore excursions by Zodiac, kayaking, day paddling, stand-up
paddle boarding, polar plunges, cross-country skiing, ice climbing and
mountaineering, downhill skiing, and vessel-supported short overnight
stays (camping). The applicant also proposes to operate a small,
battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) consisting, in
part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to collect footage for
commercial and educational purposes. Mitigation measures would be in
place to reduce the risk of non-native species introductions and the
risk of spills or releases to the environment. Waste generated during
small boat and shore-based activities would be returned to the vessels
for proper disposal.
For vessel-supported short overnight stays (camping): Camping would
be away from vegetated sites and at least 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. Campers would be limited to 30 passengers plus staff, except
at the following sites where campers are limited to 60 passengers plus
staff: Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Pleneau Island, Leith
Cove, and Rong[eacute] Island. The ratio of staff to passengers would
be 1:10. Camping would include overnight stays of any duration, but in
accordance with the visitor site guidelines for each site.
For remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operation: The
quadcopter would not be flown over concentrations of birds or mammals,
or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas or Historic Sites and
Monuments. The RPAS would only be operated by pilots with adequate
experience. Several measures would be taken to prevent against loss of
the quadcopter including painting the them a highly visible color; only
flying when the wind is calm; flying for only 15 minutes at a time to
maintain adequate battery charge; having a flotation device for
operations over water, and an ``auto go home'' feature in case of loss
of control link or low battery; having an observer on the lookout for
wildlife, people, and other hazards; and ensuring that the separation
between the operator and quadcopter does not exceed a maximum distance
of 300 meters.
Location: Antarctic Peninsula region. For camping: Damoy Point/
Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Rong[eacute] Island, Errera Channel, Paradise
Bay, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, Argentine Islands (Winter Island by
Wordie House), Hovgaard Island, Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect
Point, Portal Point, Almirante Brown, Skontorp Cove, Neko Harbour,
Cuverville, Port Charcot, Jougla Point, Horseshoe Island, Stony Point,
Lefevre-Utile, the Naze, Yalour Islands.
Dates: October 25, 2017-March 31, 2022.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-22981 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P