[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 220 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53531-53532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24808]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 December 18, 2017. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Office of 
Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

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

[[Page 53532]]

671), 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

Permit Application: 2018-026

1. Applicant Kasey Stewart, 1241 Johnson Ave. #246, San Luis Obispo, CA 
93401.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Waste Management. The applicant proposes to operate a small, 
battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) consisting, in 
part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to collect footage for 
commercial purposes. The quadcopter would not be flown over 
concentrations of birds or mammals, or over Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments. The RPAS would only be 
operated by a pilot with adequate experience. Several measures would be 
taken to prevent against loss of the quadcopter including painting the 
them a highly visible color; only flying when the wind is calm; flying 
for only 15 minutes at a time to maintain adequate battery charge; 
having a flotation device for operations over water, and an ``auto 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; and 
ensuring that the separation between the operator and quadcopter does 
not exceed a maximum distance of 300 meters.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates: December 15-22, 2017.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-24808 Filed 11-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P