[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60477-60478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24241]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978

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 November 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.

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:

Permit Application: 2013-022

1. Applicant: Mahlon C. Kennicutt, II, Department of Oceanography, Rm. 
608 Eller Oceanography & Meteorology Bldg., 3146 Texas A&M University, 
College Station. TX 77843-3146.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Take and Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The applicant 
plans to enter ASPA158-Hut Point, ASPA 122-Arrival Heights, ASPA 157-
Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Turtle Rock, and Bratina Island to collect 
soil samples and take permafrost measurements. These sites are 
specifically targeted because of the nature of their geology, climatic 
influences, and topography. Two sites will be sampled as reference 
controls (Cape Royds-ASPA 157 and Bratina Island) for the study of 
temporal and spatial scales of various types of disturbances in and 
around McMurdo Station. The other sites (Arrival Heights-ASPA 122 and 
Hut Point-ASPA 158), have been sampled in past field seasons and are 
slated to be sampled as part of the ongoing environmental monitoring 
program.

Location

    ASPA158-Hut Point, ASPA 122-Arrival Heights, ASPA 157-Backdoor Bay, 
Cape Royds, Turtle Rock, and Bratina Island.

Dates

    December 12, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

Permit Application: 2013-023

    Applicant: Diana H. Wall, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, 
Dept. 1499, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1499.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Import into the USA. 
The applicant plans to enter ASPA 116-New

[[Page 60478]]

College Valley, Cape Bird, ASPA 121-Cape Royds, and ASPA 124-Cape 
Crozier to collect soils and associated terrestrial invertebrates found 
in ornithogenic soils from penguin rookeries. The intent of the survey 
is to describe suitable habitats in ornithogenic soils of Ross Island 
and to compare these habitats with those identified in the Dry Valleys.

Location

    ASPA 116-New College Valley, Cape Bird, ASPA 121-Cape Royds, and 
ASPA 124-Cape Crozier.

Dates

    January 1, 2012 to February 25, 2012.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-24241 Filed 10-2-12; 8:45 am]
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