[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37445-37446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15118]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Modification Request 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 requests to modify permits issued 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 a requested permit modification.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to this permit application by July 23, 2012. 
Permit applications 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.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued 
a permit (2011-003) to Jo-Ann Mellish on June 6, 2011. The issued 
permit allows the applicant to capture and restrain up to 40 Weddell 
seals (weaned pups, juveniles and adults) to weigh, take digital images 
for 3D photogrammetric models and infrared analysis and ultrasound 
measurements of blubber depth, collect blood samples from the 
extradural vein, and blubber samples collected with a sterile biopsy 
punch. In addition, a telemetry instrument pack is glued to the fur in 
the mid-dorsal region. The pack allows for the recording of depth, swim 
speed, ambient temperature, and light levels, stomach temperature, heat 
flux and skin temperature. An additional stroke frequency sensor is 
glued to the base of the tail. These tests and instruments help 
quantify thermoregulatory

[[Page 37446]]

expenses in a model pagophilic species, the Weddell seal, as a function 
of size and body condition on a small temporal scale for specific 
environments, activities and swim speeds.
    The applicant requests a modification to her permit to allow:
    (1) Increase the number of seals from 40-55 (pup through adult) 
over the life of the permit. The addition of the 15 additional seals 
takes into account the loss of tags and incomplete datasets from 
irretrievable equipment. The additional seals will allow a minimum of 
10 complete datasets from each age class (pup, juvenile, and adult).
    (2) Authorization to conduct a full necropsy with collection of 
blood and tissue samples for import into the U.S. for post-mortem 
analysis.
    Location: ASPA 121-Cape Royds, and McMurdo Sound.
    Dates: October 2, 2012 to February 28, 2013.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-15118 Filed 6-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P