[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 61235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27034]


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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, 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 26, 2003. 
This application 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), as amended 
by the Antarctic Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, has 
developed regulations for the 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 Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas.
    The applications received are as follows:

1. Applicant: Permit Application No. 2004-017, Paul R. Renne, Berkeley 
Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area. The applicant proposes to 
collect rock samples from 6 locations within the Barwick and Balham 
Valleys (ASPA 123), as part of a larger strategy to provide a 
new quantitative tool providing data on the ages and evolution of 
surfaces. The rock samples are an essential part of an on-going project 
constraining the terrestrial production rate of the cosmogenic nuclide 
\38\ Ar. The McMurdo Dry Valleys are an ideal location for this type of 
study due to their very long exposure history (millions of years) 
combined with generally high elevations, low erosion and soil build up 
and high latitude: all factors which act to maximize cosmogenic nuclide 
production. Large scale flat surfaces with long exposure and high 
elevation within the Valleys, however, are scarce, and the flat plateau 
area formed by the Insel Range creates the most ideal surface for this 
type of sampling.

Location

    Barwick and Balham Valleys (ASPA 123).

Dates

    December 15, 2003 to January 30, 2004.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 03-27034 Filed 10-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M