[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49103-49104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19593]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


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

AGENCY: National Science Foundation

ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978.

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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 671 
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 September 18, 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 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:
    1. Applicant, John McKeon, President, Polar Latitudes, Inc., 857 
Post Road, #366, Fairfield, CT 06825. Permit Application: 2015-
006.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Waste Permit;
    For Coastal Camping: The applicant seeks permission for no more 
than 20 campers and two expedition staff to camp overnight at select 
locations for a maximum of 10 hours ashore. Camping would be away from 
vegetated sites and >150m from wildlife concentrations or lakes, 
protected areas, historical sites, and scientific stations. Tents would 
be pitched on snow, ice, or bare smooth rock, at least 15m from the 
high water line. No food would be brought onshore and all wastes, 
including human waste, would be collected and returned to the ship for 
proper disposal. The applicant

[[Page 49104]]

is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may 
result from camping.
    For UAV Filming: The applicant wishes to fly small, battery 
operated, remotely controlled copters equipped with a cameras to take 
scenic photos and film of the Antarctic. The UAVs would not be flown 
over concentrations of birds or mammals or over Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas. The UAVs would only be flown by operators with 
extensive experience (>20 hours), who are pre-approved by the 
Expedition Leader. Several measures would be taken to prevent against 
loss of the UAV including painting them a highly visible color; only 
flying when the wind is less than 25 knots; flying for only 15 minutes 
at a time to preserve battery life; having prop guards on propeller 
tips, a flotation device if operated over water, and a ``go home'' 
feature in case of loss of control link or low battery; having an 
observer on the lookout for wildlife, people, and other hazards; and 
ensuring that the separation between the operator and UAV does not 
exceed an operational range of 500 meters. The applicant is seeking a 
Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may result from 
flying a UAV.

Location

    Camping: possible locations include Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco 
Island, Rong[eacute] Island, the Errera Channel, Paradise Bay 
(including Almirante Brown/Base Brown or Skontorp Cove), the Argentine 
Islands, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, the Argentine Islands, Hovgaard 
Island, Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect Point and Portal Point.
    UAV filming: Western Antarctic Peninsula region
DATES:
    November 12, 2014 to March 2, 2015.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-19593 Filed 8-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P