[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28558-28559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11372]


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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 June 16, 2014. This 
application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Li Ling Hamady, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address or [email protected] or (703) 292-7149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541), as

[[Page 28559]]

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.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2015-001

    1. Applicant: Robert Pitman, NOAA, NMFS, Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla CA USA 92037

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take and import into the U.S. The applicant's study of movement 
patterns, diet preferences, and genetics of whales calls for collecting 
pencil eraser size tissue samples from up to 200 killer whales (Orcinus 
orca), 15 common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 10 Arnoux's 
beaked whales (Berardius arnuxii), 15 blue whales (Balaenoptera 
musculus), 50 Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), 10 
southern right whales (Eubalaena australis), 35 sperm whales (Physeter 
macrocephalus), 35 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), and 50 humpback 
whales (Megaptera movaengliae) of both sexes. The tissue samples will 
be used in food and habitat studies (using stable isotopes and fatty 
acids). The same samples will also be used to determine genetic 
distinctness of the different killer whale types in Antarctica. Tissue 
samples will be imported to the U.S. for analysis at the Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center. Small (ca 40g) satellite tags or suction cup 
tags will be attached to some whales to investigate movement patterns. 
Whales will also be photographed for photo identification purposes. 
Additionally, dead marine birds or mammals and parts thereof from 
killer whale kills will be salvaged, when possible, for identification 
and to determine baseline environmental chemical composition.

Location

    Southern Ross Sea, Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates

    October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2020.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-11372 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P