[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32701-32702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13299]


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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 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 July 2, 2012. 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL 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: Gerald Kooyman, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093.

    Permit Application: 2013-006.
    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take. Once emperor penguins 
depart the colony after raising their chicks their natural history is 
nearly unknown. They migrate to some of the most remote regions of the 
Antarctic. The reason for the migration is thought to be to find 
fertile foraging areas and a stable platform of sea ice where they can 
endure their complete feather molt of 35 days before going back to sea. 
This is the most critical time in the life cycle for adult birds. If 
they do not feed well before and after the molt, they are at the 
greatest risk for survival. For a host of reasons it is desirable to 
know more about this critical time, and one of the overriding 
incentives is to know how best to conserve this great natural resource 
of the bird, the food source, and the habitat. Acting as our guide 
these tagged birds will tell us much about their environment. Taking 
advantage of the opportunity to go to one of these great molting areas 
and determine the foraging areas and the travel of the birds on their 
return to the breeding colonies is the goal. This can only be 
accomplished remotely using the most advanced technology of the day, 
and that is satellite transmitters that will provide data about their 
aquatic behavior and travel positions on a day to day schedule. Body 
mass measurement is one of the least intrusive, and most direct ways of 
determining the condition of the animal. They will be weighed just 
prior to the attachment of the transmitter, and soon after they have 
completed the molt. A few feathers will also be collected to determine 
gender by molecular analysis back in the home laboratory. Gender is an 
important variable related to the life history of any animal, and 
should be determined whenever possible.
    The applicant plans to be onboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer cruising 
the Ross Sea and will temporarily capture up to 30 adult (after their 
molt) Emperor penguins to attach a satellite transmitter and remove 
five feathers for gender determination, then release the birds within 
20 minutes after capture.
    Location: Ross Island vicinity.

[[Page 32702]]

    Dates: December 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-13299 Filed 5-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P