[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57237-57238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24004]


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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, (Pub. L. 95-541), as amended by the Antarctic 
Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-227).

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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 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 October 22, 2015. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESS:  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: Polly A. Penhale, Environmental 
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 
(Pub. L. 104-227), 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

[[Page 57238]]

system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

 Permit Application: 2016-011

1. Applicant: Stephanie Jenourvrier, Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02453.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: The applicant intends to 
collect a multi-scale and temporal baseline data set on the largest 
cluster of Adelie penguin breeding colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula 
(AP). The area near the Danger Islands in the Weddell Sea (eastern AP) 
may account for half of the total breeding population of Adelie 
penguins in the AP, yet these colonies are little known. Penguin 
population shifts have been documented in the western AP and this study 
will help reduce uncertainty for the eastern AP populations. Should the 
weather preclude reaching the site, alternative study sites have been 
identified.
    Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Filming: The applicant wishes to fly 
a small, battery operated, remotely-controlled quadrotor Unmanned 
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in order to photograph penguin colonies as part of 
a multiscale spatial survey of penguin colonies. The primary flight 
mode for the vehicles will be automatic take off, landing, and waypoint 
using ground station software. The secondary/emergency mode is remote 
control operation of the UAV by a trained pilot on the ground. In both 
flight modes the quadcopter will always be flown within visible sight 
of the pilot and designated observers. Operations will only be 
conducted inside the 10m/s maximum wind speed estimate. The UAV will 
only be flown in visual meteorological conditions. Flights will be 
flown between 50 and 200 ft. above the colonies in keeping with 
previous experience by other researcher engaged in similar UAV-based 
surveys of wildlife in the Antarctic. A risk analysis and mitigation 
measures should reduce the risk of loss the UAV. The UAV pilots will be 
trained to the standard of ground school training provide for a private 
pilot's license and training on simulators and significant flight time 
with the UAVs will be conducted before deployment. The applicant is 
seeking a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may result 
from flying a UAV.
    Remote Cameras: The applicant wishes to deploy a network of four 
solar-powered, satellite-linked remote cameras to examine penguin vital 
rates. The time-lapse cameras, specially designed for this application, 
have been field tested over the winter at other sites in the 
Antarctica. The cameras will be mounted on a scaffold pole supported by 
an aluminum tripod. No malfunctions or adverse effects were seen in 
previous deployments. The instruments also record air temperature. The 
cameras are intended to remain in situ and operate remotely for five 
seasons. The units are completely weatherproof and are powered by 
batteries that are charged via a solar cell.
    Dates: 1 December 2015 through 1 January 2016.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-24004 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P