[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63456-63457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26029]


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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 this permit application by November 5, 2002. 
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 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. 2003-013]

    1. Applicant: Arthur L. DeVries, 524 Burrill Hall, Department of 
Animal Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce non-indigenous 
species into Antarctica. The applicant plans to bring approximately 5 
million frozen brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) egg cysts to 
Antarctica to be used as food for Antarctic larval fishes. The brine 
shrimp will be hatched in +20[deg]C seawater in incubators in the Crary 
Science and Engineering Center at McMurdo Station. The hatched larva 
will be concentrated to the consistency of a thick soup, frozen into 2 
cubic centimeter cubes at -80[deg]C and fed to Dragon fish larva 
(Gymonodraco acuticeps). The larva will be held in small running 
seawater aquaria with the outlet screened with a mesh sufficiently 
small to prevent escape of the dead brine shrimp, as well as the fish 
larva. Residual dead brine shrimp will be retrieved from the aquaria, 
autoclaved and disposed of as biological waste.
    Location: Crary Science and Engineering Center, McCrudo Station, 
Antarctica.
    Dates: November 5, 2002 to February 28, 2003.

[Permit Application No. 2033-014]
    2. Applicant: Gary D. Miller, Biology Department, University of New 
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take and Import into the 
United States. The applicant plans to continue analysis of the 
phylogenetic relationships, population genetics, and diseases of 
Antarctic seabirds. The applicant will embark on a circumnavigation 
cruise of the Antarctic this season and plans to collect small tissue 
samples from fresh or frozen carcasses of various seabirds, with a main 
focus on collecting samples from Emperor penguin carcasses. The cruise 
will allow access to a number of Emperor penguin rookeries, as well as 
other sites. No more than fifteen samples will be collected from a 
single site. Tissue samples will be homogenized and put into a buffer 
solution to stabilize the DNA. As part of this collaborative work, 
chick carcasses will be inspected for the presence of Bursa of 
Fabricius, which will be excised and preserved for PCR testing for the 
presence of viruses. The Bursa samples will be returned to Dr. Geoff 
Shellam's lab in Perth, Australia, whereas all other samples will be 
imported to the U.S. and processed at the University of New Mexico.
    Location: Balleny Islands, Shirley Island, Haswell Island, Vestfold 
Hills, Larsemann Hills, Scullin and Murray Monoliths, Cape Darnley, 
Auster Rookery, Kloa Point, Proclamation Island, Lazarev Ice Shelf, 
Atka Bay, Elephant Island, Pourquoi Pas Island, Cape Hallett, and Cape 
Adare.
    Dates: November 15, 2002 to November 15, 2003.

[[Page 63457]]

[Permit Application No. 2003-014]

    3. Applicant: Joan Miller, P.O. Box 237, Tesuque, NM 87574.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctica Specially 
Protected Areas. The applicant proposes to enter several ASPA's on Ross 
Island to photograph the exterior and interior of the historic huts. 
The photographs will be used to illustrate the efforts to preserve 
historic materials from attack by fungi and bacteria. In addition, 
images will be used in a book documenting the history of human 
habitation in Antarctica, and will chronicle the use of various 
materials used for structures, clothing, transport, and communication 
from the early 1900's through the present.
    Location:

ASPA 154--Cape Evans Historic Site
ASPA 156--Hut and Associated artifacts, Backdoor Bay, Cape 
Royds, Ross Island
ASPA 157--Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Ross Island

    Dates: October 7, 2002 to January 23, 2003.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-26029 Filed 10-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M