[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 57910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28757]



[[Page 57910]]

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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 December 6, 1996. 
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) 306-1033.

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

Rennie S. Holt, U.S. AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La 
Jolla, California 92038--Permit Application: 97-016

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking; Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest; and, Import into 
the U.S. The applicant proposes to enter Byers Peninsula (SSSI #6) and 
Cape Shirreff (SSSI #32) to study pinnipeds and seabirds. The AMLR 
Program proposes to establish a semi-permanent camp at Cape Shirreff to 
conduct these studies. Entry to the site will be by AMLR research 
personnel, contract support and ship personnel to assist in the set-up 
of the camp facilities in the first season (1996-97) and resupply of 
the camp. All activities within the site will comply with the site's 
management plan.
    The seabird research to be conducted consists of ship-supported and 
land-based studies. The ALMR Program will conduct intermittent censuses 
of all seabird species at Cape Shirreff. Using established protocols 
adopted by the CCAMLR, a subset of Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will 
be captured, temporarily marked and/or banded, instrumented (subset of 
adults only), handled (subset of adults only to have stomachs flushed), 
and then released. During capture, the birds will be weighed and 
measured. These parameters will be used to examine population dynamics 
of the various species.
    During the census surveys, pinniped and seabird specimens are often 
found dead and washed ashore. The applicant proposes to salvage up 10 
carcasses per year per seabird and pinniped species for importation to 
the U.S. for research and educational purposes.

Location

    SSSI #6--Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Island; 
and SSSI #32--Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.
    Dates: December 30, 1996 to April 1, 2001.

2. Applicant

Gary D. Miller and Robert D. Miller, Biology Department, University of 
New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131--Permit Application: 97-017

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking and Import into the U.S. The applicant will spend the season 
as a lecturer onboard a cruise ship visiting many sites repeatedly in 
the Antarctic Peninsula during the 1996-97 season. He plans to collect 
tissue samples from carcasses of dead penguins, mostly chicks that have 
started or were killed by skuas. He will collect 10 to 15 samples from 
as many sites as possible. Each tissue sample will be homogenized and 
put into buffer solution to stabilize the DNA. The samples will be 
returned to the laboratory at the University of New Mexico for 
processing. The applicant will use the samples to analyze the 
phylogenetic relationships and the genetic variation of 2 major genera 
of penguins, the Spheniscus and Pygoscelis penguins.

Location

Antarctic Peninsula.
    Dates: November 15, 1996-March 15, 1997.

3. Applicant

Steven D. Emslie, Department of Sciences, Western State College, 
Gunnison, Colorado--Permit Application: 97-018

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking; Enter Specially Protected Area; and Import into the U.S. 
The applicant proposes to conduct surveys and test excavations of 
abandoned penguin rookeries on Humble, Christine, Cormorant and 
Litchfield (SPA #17). The ice-free areas on these islands will be 
surveyed to locate evidence of former penguin breeding sites. The sites 
will be mapped and organic remains (penguin and other seabird bones and 
feathers) will be collected from the surface and subsurface of each 
rookery. Test pits will be placed in the abandoned rookeries and will 
be no larger than 1 x 1 m each. All pits will be refilled on the 
conclusion of the excavation. Collected sediments will be taken to 
Palmer Station for washing and sorting in the laboratory. All organic 
remains will be sorted form sediment and brought back to Western State 
College for identification and radiocarbon analyses.

Location

    Islands in the Palmer LTER region, including Litchfield Island 
(Specially Protected Area #17).
    Dates: February 28, 1997 to June 30, 1997.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-28757 Filed 11-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M