[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19190]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 8, 1994]


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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, Public Law 95-541.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish 
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 these permit applications by September 2, 
1994. Permit applications 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: Nadene G. Kennedy at the above address 
or (703) 306-1031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541), has 
developed regulations that implement the ``Agreed Measures for the 
Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora'' for all United States 
citizens. The Agreed Measures, developed by the Antarctic Treaty 
Consultative Parties, recommended establishment of a permit system for 
various activities in Antarctica and designation of certain animals and 
certain geographic areas requiring special protection. The regulations 
establish such a permit system to designate Specially Protected Areas 
and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
    The applications received are as follows:

1. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-003
    Gerald L. Kooyman
    Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine
    Scripps Institution of Oceanography
    University of California, San Diego
    La Jolla, CA 92093

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking. Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest.
    Ground counts will be made at three major colonies and the smallest 
and most southern colony bordering the Ross Sea. This is the 
continuation of the longest series of censuses of emperor penguins in 
Antarctica. Two adult emperors each from Coulman Island and Bartlett 
Island and two fledglings from Cape Washington will be fitted with 
satellite transmitters and released. Blood and muscle samples will be 
taken from 50-60 chicks collected over the course of the season from 
various locations and later released. Experiments on twenty captured 
adults will be conducted over two months to explore and comprehend the 
physiological responses that support the great diving capacities of 
these birds. In addition, 15 chicks that fail to fledge will be 
collected, moved to the vicinity of McMurdo Station, hand-fed and 
fattened while studying the development of their diving abilities. 
Afterwards they will be released.

Location

    Coulman Island, Bartlett Inlet, Cape Washington, and Cape Crozier 
(SSSI #4).

Dates

    October 1, 1994--March 1, 1995.

2. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-004
    Wayne Z. Trivelpiece
    Department of Biology
    Montana State University
    Bozeman, MT 59717

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking. Import into the U.S. Enter Site of Special Scientific 
Interest.
    Between 500-2,000 chicks of each penguin species will be banded, 
plus adults as needed, to fulfill research goals in the continuing 
study of the behavioral ecology and population biology of the Adelie, 
Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins and the interactions among these species 
and their principal avian predators: Skuas, gulls, sheathbills, and 
Giant Fulmars. Up to a maximum of 50 adults of each penguin species 
will be fitted with radio transmitters and time-depth recorders to 
continue studying penguin foraging habits. All captured birds will be 
released unharmed. Carcasses and skeletons of penguins and other 
antarctic flying birds salvaged at the study site will be imported into 
the U.S. for educational and scientific study. In addition, fish 
samples, frozen or parts of skeletons, from work on penguin and skua 
diets, will also be imported for identification.

Location

    SSSI #48--Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South 
Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

Dates

    October 1, 1994-April 1, 1995.

3. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-005
    Diana W. Freckman
    College of Natural Resources
    Colorado State University
    Ft. Collins, CO 80523

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Enter Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Import into the U.S.
    The applicant proposes to enter five (5) Sites of Special 
Scientific Interest to collect soil samples to examine the distribution 
and trophic structure of nematode communities. Site access will be by 
helicopter to the landing pad designated for each site and the duration 
of visit to the site will be limited to several hours with a group of 
no more than 4-5 people. Soil sampling protocols have been selected to 
minimize site disturbance. Manner of taking: Soil and/or rock samples 
will be placed in sterile plastic bags and returned to McMurdo where 
the nematodes will be immediately extracted. Remaining soil samples 
will be shipped to the U.S. for further biological and chemical 
analysis.

Location

    Barwick Valley, Victoria Land (SSSI #3); Cape Crozier, Ross Island 
(SSSI #4); Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, Ross Island (SSSI #10); Canada 
Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, Victoria Land (SSSI #12); and, 
Linnaeus Terrace, Asgaard Range, Victoria Land (SSSI #19).

Dates

    November 9, 1994-January 21, 1995.

4. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-006
    Arthur L. DeVries
    Physiology Department
    University of Illinois
    524 Burrill Hall
    407 South Goodwin
    Urbana, Illinois 61801

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Introduction of Non-indigenous Species into Antarctica. Fifteen 
specimens of adult male and female wetas, Hemideina maori (flightless 
insects), will be transported from New Zealand to the Crary Science and 
Engineering Center at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The wetas are a 
freeze tolerant insect which will be used in experiments to determine 
if small amounts of fish antifreeze glycopeptides can enhance freezing 
tolerance. The wetas are the only freeze-tolerant insects large enough 
(2 to 3 inches) for implanting a cannula for removal of hemolymph and 
injection of AFGPs, which makes the proposed experiments feasible. The 
insects will be maintained in a temperature controlled walk-in-freezer. 
Upon completion of experiments, the wetas or their remains will be 
returned to New Zealand or preserved in formalin.

Location

    McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica.

Dates

    October 1, 1994-February 27, 1995.

5. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-007
    Arthur L. DeVries
    Physiology Department
    University of Illinois
    524 Burrill Hall
    407 South Goodwin
    Urbana, Illinois 61801

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Introductin of Non-indigenous Species into Antarctica. Fifteen (15) 
specimens of New Zealand black cod, Notothenia angustata (Family 
Nototheniidae), will be cold acclimated in a closed seawater system in 
the aquarium at McMurdo Station. The cold acclimated specimens will be 
used in experiments to determine the role of the antifreeze 
glycopeptides in freezing avoidance, and for isolating DNA. The DNA 
will be screened for the presence of an ``unexpressed'' antifreeze 
glycopeptide gene. Upon completion of experiments, the black cod will 
be sacrificed and preserved in formalin.

Location

    McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica.

Dates

    October 1, 1994-February 27, 1995.

6. Applicant    Permit Application No. 95-013
    Ron Naveen
    Oceanities, Inc.
    2378 Rt. 97
    Cooksville, MD 21723

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking. Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest. The applicant 
proposes over the next two seasons to catalogue the physical and 
biological characteristics of more than 60 locations that are visited 
in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The efforts to inventory, mark, or 
photograph such sites or to demarcate discrete groups, colonies, or 
plots of penguins, flying seabirds, or terrestrial plants may involve 
very slight disturbance to these animals. Access to the sites will be 
via tourist vessels, national research and supply vessels, and perhaps 
yachts and aircraft. The researchers may be required to occasionally 
hold over for short periods at either national research stations or at 
specific research field sites, including the study site on the Western 
Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island (SSSI #8), to meet the next 
available vessel in order to effectively cover the maximum number of 
sites during the summer season.

Location

    Various visitor sites in the Antarctic Peninsula Region, including 
a possible stop over at the research site at Admiralty Bay (SSSI #8).

Dates

    November 1, 1994-March 1, 1996.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-19190 Filed 8-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M