[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62909-62910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26383]


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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 January 4, 2019. 
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 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

    1. Applicant Permit Application: 2019-016
    Ashley Perrin, Antarctic Ice Pilot, for SY Destination, 14 
Washington Ave., San Rafael, CA 94903.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Waste Management. The applicant is requesting a permit for waste 
management activities associated with operating the yacht, SY 
Destination, in the Antarctic Treaty area for three weeks in January 
2019. The cruise program would consist of a one-time voyage to 
Antarctica with operations in the Southern Ocean, Antarctic Peninsula 
region, and the South Shetland Islands. The applicant expects there to 
be a total of thirteen people total aboard the vessel during the 
voyage. Activities would include sightseeing, small boat cruising, 
brief shore excursions, polar plunging, snorkeling/diving, and 
operation of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) as a 
navigational and safety aid. The RPAS would consist of a small, camera-
equipped quadcopter, operated by an experienced pilot, within visual 
line of sight, under fair weather conditions, and according to best 
operating practices. The yacht has an onboard sewage treatment plant 
that meets MARPOL standards. All food waste and garbage would be 
collected, maintained onboard the vessel, and properly disposed of 
outside the Treaty area. Best practices would be employed to mitigate 
the risk of accidental releases to the environment.

Location

    Southern Ocean, Antarctic Peninsula region, South Shetland Islands.

[[Page 62910]]

Dates of Permitted Activities

    January 3-24, 2019.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-26383 Filed 12-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P