[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 72451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30169]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a 
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 December 23, 2011. 
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: Polly A. Penhale at the above address 
or (703) 292-7420.

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: 2012-011.
    Daniel P. Costa, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 
University of California--Santa Cruz, Long Marine Lab, 100 Shaffer 
Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take and Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The applicant 
plans to enter the Antarctic Specially Protected Areas of Cape Evans 
(ASPA 155), Backdoor Bay (ASPA 157), and Hut Point (ASPA 158) to 
collect 1 cm\2\ samples of skin and fur, and 1 whisker from up to 50 
dead seals caught during the early 1900s by the explorers and are found 
in and around the historic huts located in these protected areas. 
Naturally occurring stable isotopes of carbon ([delta] \13\C) and 
nitrogen ([delta] \15\N) have been increasingly used to study trophic 
relationships and feeding habits of marine mammals, based on the 
demonstration that isotopic ratios in tissue samples from a given 
species are correlated with those of the prey items included in the 
diet. As stable isotope composition does not change over time, the 
isotope signature of seals collected by the historic explorers early in 
the 20th century will reflect the diet of Weddell seals at that time. 
These data will be compared to the isotopic signature of Weddell seals 
in the Ross Sea today. Such data may provide evidence of a potential 
shift in the diet of this apex predator that might be indicative of 
ecosystem change.

Location

    Cape Evans (ASPA 155), Backdoor Bay (ASPA 157), and Hut Point (ASPA 
158).

Dates

    December 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-30169 Filed 11-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P