[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52446-52448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21955]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-541)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit applications received under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, P.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 September 28, 
2000. 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) 292-7405.

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:

1. Applicant

Wayne Z. Trivelpiece, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038

[Permit Application No. 2001-011]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Enter Antarctic 
Specially Protected Area, and Import into the U.S. The applicant plans 
to enter his study site at the Western Shore of Admiralty Bay (ASPA 
#128) to continue a study of the behavioral ecology and population 
biology of the Adelie, Gentoo, and chinstrap penguins and the 
interaction among these species and their principal avian predators: 
skuas, gulls, sheathbills, and giant petrels. The applicant plans to 
band 500 each of Adelie and Gentoo penguin chicks, plus adults of all 
three penguin species, as needed (not greater than 150 adults per 
species). As part of a continuing study of the penguins' foraging 
habits, approximately 50 adult penguins per species will be handled to 
attach radio-transmitters (Txs), satellite tags (PTTs), and time-depth 
recorders (TDRs). The study also involves stomach pumping a maximum of 
40 adult penguins per species, as well as collecting data on egg sizes 
and adult weights for a maximum of 100 nests per species. The principal 
avian predators of the penguins will be banded as well. Furthermore, 2 
milliliter blood samples may need to be collected from a maximum of 20 
breeding adults of each species for contaminant analysis as part of a 
collaborative effort with the Italian Antarctic Program. All birds will 
be released on-site after capture and handling.
    Location: ASP 128--Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George 
Island.
    Dates: October 1, 2000 to April 1, 2001.

2. Applicant

Mahlon C. Kennicutt, II, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, 
Texas A&M University, 833 Graham Road, College Station, TX 77845

[Permit Application No. 2001-012]

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take, Enter Antarctic 
Specially Protected Area, and Import into the U.S. The applicant plans 
to enter six sites, three of which are Antarctic Specially Protected 
Areas, to use as potential control areas for a study of the temporal 
and spatial scales of various types of disturbances in and around 
McMurdo Station. An initial helicopter reconnaissance mission will help 
determine which sites meet the sampling requirements. Samples of soil 
and permafrost measurement could help determines the impact of 
particulate and/or aerosols from McMurdo Station.
    Location: ASPA #116--``New College Valley'', Caughley Beach, Cape 
Bird, Ross Island; ASPA #121--Cape Royds, Ross Island; and, ASPA #137--
Northwest White Island, McMurdo Sound.
    Dates: November 11, 2000 to December 31, 2002.

[[Page 52447]]

3. Applicant

Brenda Hall, 311 Bryand G.S.C., University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469

[Permit Application No. 2001-013]

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas. The applicant proposes to enter several Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas in the Antarctic Peninsula to examine the 
glacial geology and raised beaches of the South Shetland Islands in 
order to gain a better understanding of the climate and glacial history 
of the area. The work involves examining the stratigraphy of glacial 
and beach deposits, looking for striations, and collecting ancient 
organic material for radiocarbon dating. Small (1 m\2\) pits will be 
dug in the sediments to look at the internal structure of the soil and 
to collect samples for later grain-size analysis and radiocarbon 
dating. The pits will be refilled and the surface will be returned to 
its near natural condition. The applicant also plans to map the 
different landforms, survey elevations of beaches, and collect a few 
small (50 mm diameter) cores from shallow ponds to examine the climate 
record and to obtain a minimum age for deglaciation of the islands. 
Access to the sites will be by either zodiac or on foot.
    Location: ASPA #125--Fildes Peninsula, King George Island; ASPA 
#126--Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island; ASPA #132--Potter Peninsula, 
King George Island; ASPA #149--Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island; ASPA 
#150--Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay, King George Island; and, ASPA #151--
Lions Rump, King George Island.
    Dates: March 1, 2001-June 15, 2001.

4. Applicant

John T. Lisle, Lockheed Martin, Mail Stop C23, 2400 NASA Road One, 
Houston, TX 77058

[Permit Application No. 2001-014]

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Introduce Non-indigenous 
Species into Antarctica. The applicant plans to take bacterial cultures 
(1 ml vials each of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridiudm perfringens, Salmonella 
typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, 
Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Pseudomonas putida) that are either 
lyophilized or maintained on solid medium to Antarctica for use as 
positive and negative controls in microbiological assays to be 
performed in the Crary Science and Engineering Laboratory facility at 
McMurdo Station. These bacterial controls will be used in assays to 
assess the extent of fecal contamination in the waters and sediments 
off the coast of McMurdo Station. These controls are especially 
important since all the assays have been designed for use in more 
temperate waters. Without the controls, the data will be questionable 
in regard to applicability to Antarctic waters. All of the bacterial 
cultures will be contained in the lab and upon completion of the assays 
will be autoclaved and properly disposed.
    Location: Crary Science and Engineering Laboratory, McMurdo 
Station, Ross.
    Dates: October 1, 2000 to November 20, 2000.

5. Applicant

Robert A. Blanchette, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Buford Circle, University 
of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108-6030

[Permit Application No. 2001-015]

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take; Enter Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas. The applicant is cooperation with the New 
Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust and researchers from the University of 
Waikato, New Zealand, plan to enter ASPA #154--Cape Evans Historic 
Site, ASPA #156--Hut and associated artifacts, Backdoor Bay, Cape 
Royds, and ASPA #157--Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Ross Island, to assess 
the deterioration taking place in the historic huts of the Ross Sea 
region. The applicant proposes to collect wood samples from hut 
foundations and exterior regions and collect samples from the wood test 
panels set up in 1999. In addition, soil samples will be collected from 
areas around the huts. The microbial diversity of the area will be 
determined by additional sampling at the historic hut locations as well 
as Cape Crozier and a Dry Valley site. Samples will be returned to the 
U.S. for further analysis.
    Location: ASPA #154--Cape Evans Historic Site, ASAP #156--Hut and 
associated artificates, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, and ASPA #157--
Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Ross Island.
    Dates: December 4, 2000 to December 20, 2000.

6. Applicant

Thomas W. Yelvington, Raytheon Polar Services Company, 61 Inverness 
Drive East, Suite 300, Englewood, CO 80112

[Permit Application No. 2001-016]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce Non-indigenous 
Species into Antarctica. The applicant plans to take a frozen reagent 
containing 4% Vibrio fischeri and 2% sodium chloride in water to 
Antarctica for use in a Microtox toxicity analyzer. The organism is 
used as a reagent in a commercially available toxity analyzer that 
measures changes in light emission in response to contaminates or 
naturally occurring toxicity in soil and water samples. Results of the 
analysis are used to determine the toxic content of the samples and 
thereby the remediation process required. The reagent will be used 
solely in the Crary Science and Engineering laboratory. The waste 
reagent and analyzed samples will be sterilized and disposed of 
according to their proper waste classification.
    Location: Crary Science and Engineering Laboratory, McMurdo 
Station, Ross Island.
    Dates: October 1, 2000 to October 1, 2005.

7. Applicant

Michael D. Riley, Moody Gardens, Inc., 1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 
77554

[Permit Application No. 2001-017]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take and Import into the 
U.S. The applicant plans to collect 100 eggs each of Adelie, Chinstrap 
and Gentoo penguins and return them to Moody Gardens (an accredited 
zoological facility) for incubation, hatching, rearing, and eventual 
display for educational and scientific research purposes. The egg 
collection will take place in the general area of King George Island, 
however, none of the Antarctic Specially Protected Areas will be 
entered. The applicant will coordinate collection activities with 
researchers in the area to insure established study sites are not 
disrupted. Collection of the eggs will be done by hand and only one egg 
per clutch will be taken. The eggs will be immediately placed in a 
portable incubator,and a 24 hour watch will ensure proper temperature 
is maintained. The incubators, with the collection team, will be flown 
from Antarctica to Punta Arenas, Chile then to the U.S.
    Location: King George Island and vicinity, Antarctic Peninsula.
    Dates: November 1, 2000 to 31 December 2001.

8. Applicant

Jerry L. Mullins, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 521, Reston, VA 20192

[Permit Application No. 2001-018]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant's GPS survey team plans to enter ASPA 
#116--

[[Page 52448]]

``New College Valley'', Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, ASPA #121 Cape 
Royds, Ross Island and ASPA #124--Cape Crozier to establish 
geographical coordinates and elevations for preselected 
photoidentifiable points to meet national mapping accuracy standards 
for 1:25,000-scale mapping at these sites. In addition, a series of 
locations, including these three sites, will be occupied so the team 
can use a millimeter accuracy geodetic control to detect horizontal and 
vertical movement of solid rock sites in the McMurdo Dry Valley region 
of the Transantarctic Mountains over an extended period of time.
    Location: ASPA #116--``New College Valley'', Caughley Beach, Cape 
Bird, ASPA #121 Cape Royds, Ross Island, ASPA #124--Cape Crozier and 
the McMurdo Sound vicinity.
    Dates: October 1, 2000 to February 15, 2005.

9. Applicant

William Swanson, 16000 Elmo Lane, El Paso, TX 79923

[Permit Application No. 2001-019]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take; Import into the U.S. 
The applicant is a participant in the Teachers Experiencing Antarctica 
(TEA) program and will be working with the Long Term Ecological 
Research (LTER) team at Palmer Station, Antarctica. The applicant 
proposes to salvage dead specimens (penguins, seabirds, and seals, 
etc.) and materials found in and around Palmer Station on an 
opportunistic basis. The collected specimens will be used in an 
educational outreach collection of the Palmer Station LTER for 
presentations to middle and high school students.
    Location: Palmer Station, Anvers Island, and vicinity.
    Dates: November 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000.

10. Applicant

Richard M. Jones; 1732 Broadview Drive, Billings, MT 59105

[Permit Application No. 2001-020]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take; Import into the U.S. 
The applicant is a participant in the Teachers Experiencing Antarctica 
(TEA) program and will be working with a science group in the McMurdo 
Station vicinity. The applicant proposes to salvage dead specimens 
(penguins, seabirds, and seals, etc.) and materials found in and around 
McMurdo Station on an opportunistic basis. The collected specimens will 
be used in a display for use in classroom presentations and other 
educational outreach presentations to teachers and students.
    Location: McMurdo Station, Ross Island, and McMurdo Sound vicinity.
    Dates: November 20, 2000 to November 18, 2001.

11. Applicant

Thomas W. Yelvington, Raytheon Polar Services Company, 61 Inverness 
Drive East, Suite 300, Englewood, CO 80112

[Permit Application No. 2001-021]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant proposes to enter ASPA #106--Cape Hallett 
to conduct a complete visual inspection of the abandoned station and 
environs based on historical records and reports. Although several 
cleanup operations have taken place since the station closed, 
historical records and recent visits by scientific parties indicate a 
significant amount of debris and potential chemical release into the 
environment still exits at the site. Areas to know and suspected 
activities such as petroleum product storage and usage, solid waste, 
and chemical storage and disposal will be evaluated as to the potential 
for environmental impact. Areas that exhibit signs of petroleum or 
chemical contamination, such as free product, staining, odor, or 
proximity to storage areas will be evaluated and soil samples collected 
for analysis of likely pollutants. If time and conditions permit, 
debris may be collected and secured for future removal.
    Location: Enter ASPA #106--Cape Hallett, Victoria Land.
    Dates: October 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-21955 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M