[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1030-1031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-266]


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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 modification 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 a 
notice of requests to modify permits issued 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 modifications requested.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to these permit applications by February 1, 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.


[[Page 1031]]


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 Antartic 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 as requiring special protection. The 
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Specially 
Protected Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Description of Permit Modification Requested

    1. The Foundation issued a permit (99-010) to Dr. Rennie S. Holt on 
September 25, 1998. The issued permit allows for the censuring, 
capture, handling and released of up to 80 adult and 1500 Antarctic fur 
seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups. In addition, up to 40 female/pup 
pairs would be captured for measurements of energy expenditure, food 
intake, dive depth, duration, time of day and dive frequency, swim 
speed and foraging location, as well as attendance--related factors of 
pup growth using milk extraction and gastric lavage.
    The permit holder requests to modify his permit to conduct 
developmental metabolic studies (capture, tag, bleach mark, respiration 
rate, isotope) involving an increase of up to 32 animals per annum (16 
pups and 16 juveniles). Additional samples will be collected from pups 
and juveniles currently permitted for capture and handling (respiration 
rate, up to 15 pups and 10 juveniles per annum; isotope up to 10 
juveniles per annum). Samples and specimens will be imported into the 
United States for further scientific study and analysis.

Location

    Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island (SSSI #32), Byers Peninsula (SSSI 
#6), Shouth Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates

    February 1, 1999-April 1, 2001.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-266 Filed 1-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M