[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68314-68315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32739]


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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, Pub. L. 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 January 4, 1999. 
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) 306-1030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 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.

[Permit Application No. 99-017]

    1. Applicant: Charles R. Stearns, Department of Atmospheric and 
Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1225 West Dayton Street, 
Madison, Wisconsin 52706.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas.
    The applicant proposes to install an Antarctic Weather Station 
(AWS) at Cape Bird, Ross Island. Studies of weather in the vicinity of 
McMurdo indicate an AWS at this location will help provide valuable 
data for forecasting weather in the Ross Island region. The applicant 
intends to install the AWS outside Antarctic Specially Protected Area 
#116, New College Valley, however, due to unfamiliarity with the 
terrain it may be necessary to place the AWS within site. The applicant 
also proposes to return to the site on occasion to service the AWS.
    Location: ASPA #116--New College Valley, Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, 
Ross Island.

[[Page 68315]]

    Dates: January 1, 1999-February 15, 2001.

[Permit Application No. 99-018]

    2. Applicant: Gary Klinkhammer, College of Atmospheric Sciences, 
Oregon State University, 104 Ocean Administration Building, Corvallis, 
Oregon 97331-5503.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas.
    The applicant proposes to visit several hydrothermal sites at 
Deception Island and in the Bransfield Strait for purposes of 
collecting sediment and rock samples. These samples will be gathered by 
TV grab, dredging and gravity coring. Some of the hydrothermal sites 
exist in Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) #145, Port Foster, 
Deception Island, and in ASPA #152, the Western Bransfield Strait, off 
Low Island. The applicant proposes to collect any biological specimens 
that are accidentally retrieved during the sediment and rock sampling 
and return them to the university for use in scientific studies.
    Location: ASPA #145--Port Foster, Deception Island, and ASPA #152--
Western Bransfield Strait, off Low Island.
    Dates: April 14, 1999-May 10, 1999.

[Permit Application No. 99-019]

    3. Applicant: Lars Wikander, President, Quark Expeditions, Inc., 
980 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut 06820.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area.
    The applicant conduct educational visits, for passengers, staff and 
crew of the icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov, to the following Ross 
Island areas: Cape Evans Historic Site (ASPA #154), Hut and associated 
artifacts, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds (ASPA #156), Discovery Hut, Hut 
Point (ASPA #157), and Huts and associated artifacts, Cape Adare (ASPA 
#158). Visits will be conducted in accordance with the relevant 
Management Plans for each site. Access to the sites may be by zodiac or 
helicopter as appropriate.
    Location:

ASPA #154--Evans Historic Site
ASPA #156--Hut and associated artifacts, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross 
Island
ASPA #157--Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Ross Island
ASPA #158--Huts and associated artifacts, Cape Adare

    Dates: January 1, 1999-March 31, 2003.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-32739 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M