[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 49132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21125]



[[Page 49132]]

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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 October 29, 2018. 
Permit applications 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), 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 2016-020) to Laura K.O. Smith, Owner, Operator Quixote 
Expeditions, on December 23, 2015. The issued permit allows the permit 
holder to conduct waste management activities associated with the 
operation of the ``Ocean Tramp,'' a reinforced ketch rigged sailing 
yacht in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Activities to be conducted by 
Quixote include: Passenger landings, hiking, photography, wildlife 
viewing, and possible station visits.
    A recent modification to this permit, dated November 22, 2017, 
permitted coastal camping activities in select locations and resupply 
of fresh food to the Quixote Expeditions vessel as part of fly/cruise 
operations.
    Now the permit holder proposes a modification to the permit to add 
a second vessel to support Quixote Expeditions activities, to conduct 
ship-to-ship fuel transfers, to release comminuted food waste 
(excepting poultry) at sea, and to operate a remotely piloted aircraft 
for educational and commercial purposes. In addition to the sailboat, 
Ocean Tramp, Quixote Expeditions would operate the motor vessel, Hans 
Hansson, in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The Hans Hansson would 
carry four or five crew members and up to 12 passengers. The vessel is 
capable of carrying up to 54,000 liters of diesel fuel in internal 
tanks; 500 liters of gasoline in a closed tank; four, 11 kg bottles of 
propane; and two liters of white gas in bottles. The permit holder 
proposes to conduct fuel transfers from the Hans Hansson to the Ocean 
Tramp, should it become necessary. Any such fuel transfers would follow 
precise fuel transfer procedures, with a shipboard oil pollution 
emergency plan kit readily available, and with no other concurrent 
activities happening. The permit holder proposes to release food waste, 
except poultry products, that has been reduced to small particles or 
ground into the sea at least 12 nautical miles from land. Quixote 
Expeditions would continue to hold all poultry waste, including eggs 
and eggshells, onboard for eventual disposal north of 60 degrees South 
or once in port outside Antarctica. The permit holder proposes to 
operate a small, battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system 
(RPAS) consisting, in part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to 
collect commercial and educational footage of the Antarctic, as well as 
for ice reconnaissance. 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 experienced pilots (<=20 hours). Several measures would be 
taken to prevent against loss of the quadcopter including a highly 
visible paint color; only operating when the wind is less than 15 
knots; operating for only to within 70% of battery life; having prop 
guards on propeller tips; using a flotation device if operated over 
water; 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 visual contact. The applicant is seeking 
a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may result from 
operating the RPAS.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula; For camping, possible locations 
include Dorian Cove, Enterprize Isand, Cuverville are/Errera Channel, 
Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Rong[eacute] Island, Paradise 
Bay, Argentine Islands, Andvord bay, Pleneau Island, Hovgaard Island, 
Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect Point, Portal Point.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2018-February 6, 2021.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-21125 Filed 9-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P