[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29758-29759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11702]


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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 June 24,2004. 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 a requiring special protection. The 
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.
    The applications received are as follows:
1. Applicant
    Michael Castellini, Director, Institute of Marine Science, 
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775.

Permit Application No. 2005-002

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Taking. The applicant proposes to study Weddell seals to quantify 
the dynamics of lipid uptake and utilization in a naturally foraging 
mammalian carnivore by examining freely diving Weddell seals in 
Antarctica. This species offers a unique opportunity to model the 
biochemistry and physiology of nutrient utilization in a large 
carnivore that may not be possible in any other system. The applicant 
plans to capture up to 8 adult female seals, attach diving recorders 
and blood sampling lines, then transport the seals to a diving hut 
where they will be observed for several days and blood samples taken. 
Blood samples will also be taken from about 6 pups less than 5 weeks 
old. All seals will be returned to the tide crack areas.

Location

    McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

Dates

    October 5, 2004 to December 31, 2004.
2. Applicant
    Arthur L. DeVries, Department of Animal Biology, 524 Burrill Hall, 
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.

Permit Application No. 2005-003

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Introduce non-indigenous species to Antarctica. The applicant plans 
to import algal cells (Nanochloropsis) to be fed to imported marine 
rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus) after they hatch. After 5 days the 
rotifers will be harvested by filtering out the algae, and 
concentrating the rotifers into a thick slurry. The slurry will be 
flash-frozen and aliquots of the thawed rotifers will be fed daily to 
the larval stages of the naked dragon fish, Gymnodraco acuticeps. The 
naked dragon fish spawns in mid-October on rocks in the shallow waters 
of McMurdo Sound. Their eggs hatch some 10 months later, the full-terms 
eggs will be collected, the larva hatched in aquarium tanks, and reared 
in seawater tanks in the Crary Science and Engineering Center at 
McMurdo Station. The fish will be raised to juvenile stage to follow 
their elaboration of blood antifreeze glycoproteins. The rotifers and 
algae will be autoclaved and disposed of as dry biological waste.

Location

    McMurdo Station, Ross Island Antarctica.

Dates

    August 20, 2004 to February 15, 2005.

Applicant

    Lawrence J. Conrad, 845 17th Street, Washougal, WA 98761.

[[Page 29759]]

Permit Application No. 2005-004

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The applicant proposes 
take photographs of named geographic features throughout the McMurdo 
Sound region. The photographs will illustrate a geographically arranged 
gazetteer or ``field guide'' to the features. The applicant proposes to 
enter the Barwick Valley, Victoria Land (ASPA 123) to fully 
document the Barwick Valley features which will benefit the scientific 
community in current and future work. Delineating data accompanying 
each photograph will include latitude, longitude, altitude, date, time, 
elevation, look direction, focal length and associated camera settings. 
The photographs and accompanying data will provide the potential for 
contemporary and future comparative studies of landscape change, 
thereby reducing need for access to the ASPA. The applicant proposes 
approximately 5-days work in the Barwick Valley and will fully comply 
with the designated management plan for the site. Furthermore, the 
applicant will visit Cape Crozier (ASPA 124) to film Wilson's 
Stone Igloo and The Knoll, avoiding the penguin and skua rookeries.
    In addition, the applicant proposes to enter Discovery Hut (ASPA 
157), Cape Evans Historic Site (ASPA 154), and Hut 
and Associated Artifacts, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds (ASPA 156) 
for the purpose of reproducing historic photos of the area for use in 
the described gazetteer.

Location

ASPA 123--Barwick Valley, Victoria Land
ASPA 124--Cape Crozier, Ross Island
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

    August 22, 2004 to February 15, 2006.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-11702 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M