[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46535-46536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21446]


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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 November 6, 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, 703-292-8030, or [email protected].

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

Application Details

1. Applicant--Permit Application: 2018-003
    David Schutt, Penguins International, PO Box 100483, Denver, CO 
80250.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Harmful Interference; Import Into USA. The applicant proposes to 
collect samples of feathers molted from gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis 
papua, (n=2400) and fragments from discarded eggshells of gentoo 
penguins (n=50) for use in a study of pollutant exposure in penguins 
across a wide latitudinal gradient. The applicant plans to collect 
these abandoned biological tissue samples at approximately eleven 
gentoo penguin colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The 
applicant will collect samples opportunistically from the ground or 
from penguin carcasses from the periphery and/or low-density areas of 
the colonies in order to minimize disturbance to the penguins. The 
samples will be imported into the USA and will be analyzed at the home 
institution.

Location

    West Antarctic Peninsula region including South Orkney Islands, 
Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands.

Dates

    October 1, 2017-June 1, 2018.
2. Applicant--Permit Application: 2018-018
    Vernon G. Chu, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc, 747 Third Ave., 7th FL, 
New York, NY 10017-2803.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Take; Harmful Interference. The applicant proposes to film Weddell 
seals in the McMurdo Sound area. Up to 16 Weddell seals (eight mother 
and pup pairs) could be targeted and disturbed during filming on the 
sea ice, underwater, and by air via remotely piloted aircraft. Up to 80 
additional Weddell seals may be disturbed as a result of the filming 
activities. The footage will be used in a BBC documentary series that 
is expected to be useful for education and outreach about Antarctica 
and the scientific research conducted there. The applicant has also 
applied for a commercial or education photography permit from the 
National Marine Fisheries Service under the authority of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).

Location

    McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

[[Page 46536]]

Dates

    October 1-December 15, 2017.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-21446 Filed 10-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P