[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 177 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43257-43258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19504]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


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

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit applications received.

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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 in 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 16, 2017. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Office 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].

[[Page 43258]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541, 45 CFR 670), 
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

Permit Application: 2018-008

1. Applicant: Jill Mikucki, Department of Microbiology, University of 
Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area (ASPA). The permit applicant proposes to enter ASPA 172, 
Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, as well as the Don Juan Pond 
restricted zone, to perform non-destructive geophysical surveys and to 
collect surface samples of brines, salts, and sediments. The applicant 
would use best-practice protocols to ensure the protection of the 
values of the areas and would use sterile sampling techniques. The 
applicant also plans to fly over the areas with using helicopter-borne 
electromagnetic survey technology to map resistivity of these 
hydrological regions.
    Location: ASPA 172, Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, McMurdo 
Dry Valleys, Victoria Land; ASMA 2, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Southern 
Victoria Land; Don Juan Pond.
    Dates: October 1, 2017-February 28, 2019.

Permit Application: 2018-010

2. Applicant: David J. Smith, NASA Ames Research Center, M/S SCR-261-3, 
Mofffett Field, CA 94035

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Introduce Non-Indigenous 
Species Into Antarctica. The permit applicant proposes to transport a 
containment device pre-loaded with dormant microbiological samples to 
Antarctica to be launched into the Earth's stratosphere as part of 
NASA's Long Duration Balloon program. The Exposing Microorganisms in 
the Stratosphere (E-MIST) payload contains five microbial strains: 
Bacillus pumilis SAFR032 (wild type), Bacillus pumilis SAFR032 (ISS 
flown), Acinetobacter pitti, Paenibacillus xerothermodurans, and 
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The strains are all glued on in stasis; none 
are actively growing or capable of dispersing. All the microbes inside 
the payload are in triple containment and will remain attached to the 
substrate before, during and after the balloon flight. The E-MIST 
payload itself will be attached to the balloon gondola prior to the 
launch of the balloon, will be recovered along with the main balloon 
payload, and will be returned to the USA and the home institution.
    Location: Ross Ice Shelf, Long Duration Balloon program launch and 
recovery sites, Antarctica.
    Dates: October 1, 2017-March 31, 2020.

Permit Application: 2018-011

3. Applicant: Kenneth Sims, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Dept 
3006, 1000 E. University Ave, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-
2000

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area (ASPA). The permit applicant proposes to enter ASPA 124, 
Cape Crozier, to collect volcanic rock and tephra samples. The 
applicant would travel on foot within the ASPA to at least three 
sampling locations. Samples would be collected using a rock hammer and 
hand trowels.
    Location: ASPA 124, Cape Crozier, Ross Island.
    Dates: November 1-December 15, 2017.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-19504 Filed 9-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P