[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41271-41272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19800]


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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 September 5, 
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 (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 Antarctic 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.
    The applications received are as follows:
    1. Applicant: Victoria Underwood-Wheatley, Abercrombie & Kent, 
Inc./ Explorer Shipping Corp., 10601 Tierrasanta Blvd., #316, San 
Diego, CA 92124.

[Permit Application No. 2002-004]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take. The application 
proposes to opportunistically salvage up to two penguin carcasses 
(Adelie, gentoo, or chinstrap) for educational purposes for anatomical 
analyses and physiological studies. The carcasses will be collected 
during the M/S Explorer's January 4-19, 2002 voyage to the Antarctic 
Peninsula. Onboard will be high school students and adult escorts and 
teachers from two elite preparatory schools: the Hotchkiss School in 
Connecticut, and the Foxcroft School in Virginia. The study of the 
carcasses will be a unique and highly educational opportunity for the 
students. The carcasses will remain in the Antarctic Treaty Area.
    Location: Antarctic Penninsula Area.
    Dates: January 4-19, 2002.

[[Page 41272]]

    2. Applicant: Gary D. Miller, Biology Department, University of New 
Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001.

[Permit Application No. 2002-005]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take and Import into the 
U.S. The applicant proposes continue the analysis of phylogenetic 
relationships, population genetics, and disease of Antarctic seabirds. 
The applicant proposes to collect blood and tissue samples from up to 
400 Adelie and up to 200 Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, and Emperor 
penguins, South Polar and Antarctic skuas, Kelp gulls and Snowy 
Sheathbills each over the next two years. In addition, the applicant 
plans to attach up to 10 conventional VHF transmitters and not more 
than 3 satellite transmitters on skuas each year to determine the 
dynamics of movement around the breeding area and then to determine the 
greater distance traveled during migration. This will address the 
ability of skuas to become infected and subsequently pass on avian 
diseases.
    The applicant will conduct most of his sampling in collaboration 
with Australian scientists at Davis Station in East Antarctica. Other 
samples will be taken on an opportunistic basis while serving as a 
lecturer onboard cruise ships operating in the Peninsula Area during 
the austral summer. Samples collected will be returned to the United 
States for analysis.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula and associated islands, East 
Antarctica and the Ross Sea region.
    Dates: November 1, 2001 to April 1, 2003.
    3. Applicant: Ruldolf S. Scheltema, Biology Department, Woods Hole 
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

[Permit Application No. 2002-006]

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce into Antarctica. 
The applicant proposes to use Thalassiosera pseudonana, Isochryois 
galbana, and Dunaliella teriolecta cultures of unicellur algae in 
rearing zooplankton organisms. Indigenous zooplankton will be collected 
in antarctic waters and reared in the laboratory onboard ship, using 
the above named unicellular algae as food. The study will deal with the 
history of antarctic organisms, in particular with the larvae of 
benthic organisms. The larval life history is especially important in 
understanding the demography of bottom organisms. At the completion of 
the study, the algal cultures will be disposed of by heat 
sterilization.
    Location: Onboard the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD in the region of the 
South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates: November 30, 2001 to December 31, 2001.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-19800 Filed 8-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M