[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54842-54843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7740]



[[Page 54842]]

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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, Pub. L. 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 October 19, 2006. 
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: Dr. Polly A. Penhale 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: Charles D. Amsler, Jr. (Permit Application No. 2007-002), 
Department of Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294-
1170.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce a non-indigenous 
species into Antarctica, and import into the U.S.A. The applicant plans 
to return cultures, collected in Antarctica, of filamentous macroalgae 
and diatoms to Antarctica for use in feeding bioassays. The amphipods 
are offered algae from culture and extractor bioassays where the 
effects of secondary metabolites extracted from large macroalgae are 
measured onalgae from culture. These cultures will be autoclaved at the 
conclusion of the field season. The applicant also plans to collect 
filamentous brown algal endophytes for return to the U.S. for 
identification and additional extract bioassays. They will be 
maintained in culture at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
    Location: Palmer Station, Antarctica.
    Dates: January 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008.

2. Applicant: Rennie S. Holt (Permit Application No. 2007-003), 
Director, AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 
92038.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Enter Antarctic 
Specially Protected Area, and Import into the U.S. The applicant plans 
to census and capture up to 600 pup, 50 juvenile and 60 adult Antarctic 
fur seals, and 20 leopard seals for the purpose of tagging, 
instrumentation, extraction of blood, and milk samples. The samples 
collected will further the study of attendance, diving, foraging, diet, 
age determination, pathology and long-term monitoring of Leopard and 
Antarctic fur seals at Cape Shirreff Antarctic Specially Protected 
Area. In addition the applicant plans to capture, band and release up 
to 1500 Chinstrap penguins, 500 Gentoo penguins, 100 Cape Petrels, 
Giant Petrels, Sheathbills, and Kelp gulls, 200 South Polar Skuas and 
Brown Skuas, and Blue Eyed Shags. The applicant plans to salvage 
carcasses and bones of dead animals found on the beach. Collected 
samples and dead specimens will be returned to the U.S. for further 
study.
    Location: Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island (ASMA 149) 
(including San Telmo Islands), Seal Island, and King George Island.
    Dates: November 1, 2006 to April 30, 2011.

3. Applicant: Bruce D. Sidell, (Permit Application No. 2007-007), 
School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, MA 04469-5751.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Introduce Non-
indigenous Species into Antarctica, and Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant proposes to use frozen fish bait (M. 
magellanicus and D. eleginoides), purchased in Chile, in frozen 10-15 
kg blocks for use in fish traps/pots to capture Antarctic fishes for 
physiology and biochemistry studies.
    Location: Western Bransfield Strait (ASPA 152) and East 
Dallman Bay (ASPA 153).
    Dates: April 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007.

4. Applicant: Brenda Hall (Permit Application No. 2007-009), Climate 
Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant proposes to enter the New College Valley, 
Cape Bird Specially Protected Area (ASPA 116) to dig small (<1 
m) pits and excavate seal hair/skin and, if present, penguin bones. 
Pits will be backfilled and surface material replaced. By examining 
abandoned colonies, the applicant can reconstruct the seal and penguin 
populations over time and identify when these animals were not present 
in the Ross Sea area. It has been determined that elephant seals had 
used the Scott Coast but heavy ice conditions caused them to shift 
locations. The applicant wishes to search the Cape Bird area for 
elephant seals remains. The excavated samples will help to determine if 
elephant seals had previously occupied Cape Bird.
    Location: New College Valley, Cape Bird (ASPA 116), Ross 
Island.
    Dates: December 20, 2006 to February 20, 2007.

5. Applicant: Robert A. Blanchette, (Permit Application No. 2007-010), 
495 Borlaug Hall, 991 Upper Buford Circle, University of Minnesota, St. 
Paul, MN 55018-6030.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas. The applicant proposes enter historic sites to 
investigate the biological and non-biological deterioration processes 
to help develop conservation plans to preserve important historic 
structures and artifacts in Antarctica. Sampling of wood, soil, and 
other organic materials will be done to assess and characterize 
microbial populations at the various sites.
    Location: Historic huts of the Ross Sea: Discovery Hut (ASPA 157); 
Cape Evans (ASPA 154); Cape Royds (ASPA 156); and, Cape Adare. 
Peninsula historic artifacts at Deception Island, Livingston Island, 
East Base ND E Station at Stonington Island, Port Lockroy, Wordie House 
(Faraday), Detaille Island, Horseshoe Island and Blaiklock Island.
    Dates: September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2009.

6. Applicant: Same Feola, (Permit Application No. 2007-015), Program 
Director, Raytheon Polar Service

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Company, 7400 S. Tuscon Way, Centennial, CO 80112.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas. The applicant proposes that it's two chartered 
vessels, Nathaniel B. Palmer and Laurence M. Gould, will transit, when 
necessary, through the following Marine Specially Protected Areas: Port 
Foster, Deception Island (ASPA 145), Western Bransfield Strait (ASPA 
152), and East Dallman Bay (ASPA 153). Transit through these areas are 
for scientific purposes and the sites will be avoided whenever 
possible.
    Location: Port Foster, Deception Island (ASPA 145), Western 
Bransfield Strait (ASPA 152), and East Dallman Bay (ASPA 153).
    Dates: September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2011.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 06-7740 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M