[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58792-58793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24706]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

[[Page 58793]]


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 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 30, 2015. 
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 requiring special protection. The regulations 
establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas.

Application Details

1. Applicant Permit Application: 2016-015

    James Droney, Vice President of Itinerary and Destination Planning, 
The World of Redinsea II, Ltd., 1551 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 
200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323.
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
    Waste permit: The applicant wishes to fly small, battery operated, 
remotely controlled copters (Unmanned Aerial Systems or UASs) equipped 
with cameras to take commercial photos and film of the Antarctic. The 
UASs would not be flown over concentrations of birds or mammals or over 
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments. 
The UASs 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 UAS or damage to 
the environment 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; having 
a Zodiac on standby in case of an unplanned water landing; 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 
UAS.
Location
    Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates
    December 23, 2015 to March 31, 2020.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-24706 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P