[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46715-46716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16869]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


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

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Modification Request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a 
notice of requests to modify permits issued to conduct activities 
regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. This is the 
required notice of a requested permit modification.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to this permit application by August 17, 2016. 
Permit applications 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: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address or [email protected].

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.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued 
a permit (ACA 2016-005) to Allyson Hindle on October 8, 2015. The 
issued permit allows the applicant to study the tissue specific dive 
response of Weddell seals, looking at nitric oxide regulation. The 
study's broad objective is to better understand the natural adaptations 
that allow Weddell seals to control their

[[Page 46716]]

cardiovascular system and tolerate extreme hypoxia during dives. Up to 
38 Weddell seals would be temporarily restrained for sample collection 
and morphological measurement. In addition, the applicant plans to 
salvage parts of dead animals encountered. Collected samples will be 
imported to the USA for lab analyses.
    Now the applicant proposes a modification to her permit to collect 
samples from an additional 12 live Weddell seals in order to validate 
results over time and between seasons. The additional samples will be 
collected following the currently permitted protocols, handling 
procedures, and disposition of samples. The additional sampling is 
covered under NMFS/MMPA permit #19439.
    Location: Delbridge Islands, Turks Head, Turtle Rock, Hutton 
Cliffs, Erebus Glacier Tongue, and in and around McMurdo Sound.
    Dates: August 1, 2016 to April 30, 2018.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-16869 Filed 7-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P