[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21417-21418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10674]


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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 modification 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 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 a requested permit modification.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, 
comments, or views with respect to these permit applications by June 1, 
2001. 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 a 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

    The Foundation issued a permit (2000-001) to Dr. Steven D. Emslie 
on September 21, 1999. The issued permit allows the applicant access to 
certain Antarctic Specially Protected Areas in order to conduct surveys 
and excavations of modern and abandoned penguin colonies by surveying 
ice-free areas to locate evidence of a breeding colony (pebble and/or 
bone

[[Page 21418]]

concentrations, and rich vegetation). Not all sites will be visited in 
single season and access depends upon research vessel cruise tracks and 
accessibility to the site(s). The sites visited would be sampled by 
placing a test pit, no more than 1x1 meter in size, in the colony and 
excavating in 5-10 cm level until bedrock or non-ornithogenic sediments 
are encountered. To minimize impacts, test pits will be placed in areas 
with little or no vegetation when possible. Upon completion of the 
excavation, test pits would be refilled and any vegetation disturbed on 
the surface replaced. Collected sediments will be taken to the 
laboratory for processing. Sediments will be washed through fine-mesh 
screens; all organic remains will be sorted from the sediments and 
preserved for identification and analysis.
    The applicant proposes access additional Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas only on an opportunity basis depending upon vessel 
cruise tracks and schedules. The additional ASPA's are listed under 
Location, below:

Location

ASPA 102--Rookery Islands, Holme Bay
ASPA 103--Ardery Island and Odbert Island, Budd Coast
ASPA 104--Sabrina Island, Balleny Islands
ASPA 109--Moe Island, South Orkneys
ASPA 110--Lynch Island, South Orkneys
ASPA 111--Southern Powell Island and adjacent islands, South Orkneys
ASPA 114--North Coronation Island, South Orkneys
ASPA 127--Haswell Island
ASPA 135--Bailey Peninsula, Budd Coast
ASPA 136--Clark Peninsula, Budd Coast

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-10674 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M