87 FR 182 pgs. 57724-57725 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978
Type: NOTICEVolume: 87Number: 182Pages: 57724 - 57725
Pages: 57724, 57725FR document: [FR Doc. 2022-20402 Filed 9-20-22; 8:45 am]
Agency: National Science Foundation
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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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.
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 October 21, 2022. 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 or ACApermits@nsf.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, at the above address, 703-292-4479.
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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 as requiring special protection. The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas.
Application Details
Permit Application: 2023-010
1. Applicant
Becky Ball, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Take, Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA), Import to USA. The applicant plans to take up to 117 (500 gram) soil samples, 36 samples of the plant Deschampsia antarctica, 72 moss samples, and 36 cyanobacterial mat samples per year from 4 locations on King George Island, Robert Island, and the Antarctic Peninsula. This project will develop understanding of plant functional traits and their role in succession during glacial retreat in terrestrial Antarctica. The applicant plans to conduct sampling and soil respiration experiments at sites near to ASPA 151, ASPA 112, ASPA 125, ASPA 150, ASPA 128, and ASPA 134 with sampling occurring within the ASPA only if suitable sites cannot be accessed outside of the ASPA boundary. The applicant plans to import soil and plant samples into the USA for study at the home institutions.
Location
ASPA 112-Coppermine Peninsula, Robert Island, South Shetland Islands; ASPA 125-Fildes Peninsula, King George Island; ASPA 128-Western shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands; ASPA 134-Cierva Point and offshore islands, Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula; ASPA 150-Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay, King George Island; ASPA 151-Lions Rump, King George Island, South Shetland Islands.
Dates of Permitted Activities
1 December 2022-31 March 2024.
Permit Application: 2023-013
2. Applicant
Dr. Heather Lynch, Stony Brook University, IACS 163, Stony Brook, NY 11794.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act waste management permit for activities associated with penguin population surveys in the Western Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The applicant proposes using battery-powered, quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to assist in the collection of imagery data for a multi-scale population census of penguin colonies. Mitigation measures will be put in place to prevent loss of aircraft. These measures include UAVs being flown by a trained pilot in fair-weather conditions and having stationed observers maintain visual contact with the aircraft at all times. The applicant proposes various recovery methods in the unlikely event that an aircraft is lost over land or sea. These measures will limit any potential impacts on the Antarctic environment. The applicant seeks a waste permit to cover any accidental release that may result from UAV use.
Location
King George Island, South Shetland Islands; Western Antarctic Peninsula.
Dates of Permitted Activities
November 15, 2022-February 1, 2023.
Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-20402 Filed 9-20-22; 8:45 am]
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