[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 249 (Monday, December 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 67731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28343]


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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 30, 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 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: 2019-013
    Kim Bernard, 104 CEOAS Admin. Bldg., Oregon State University, 
Corvallis, OR, 97330.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Introduce Non-Indigenous Species into Antarctica. The applicant, a 
researcher supported by NSF, would bring the diatom species, 
Fragilariopsis cylindrus, to Palmer Station for a six-month feeding 
study involving Antarctic krill. This species was originally harvested 
in Antarctic waters and was cultured at the University of Washington. 
Using the diatom culture, rather than culturing newly collected local 
diatoms, would allow the study to commence in a timely manner and 
significantly enhance the potential for a successful long-term feeding 
study. Aquarium tanks used in the feeding study would have filters 
attached to the out-flow that will trap the diatoms as they leave the 
tank and prevent them from entering the local system. The applicant 
would use in-line filter holders with Whatman GF/F filters. The filters 
would be checked daily to ensure they are functioning as needed and 
would be replaced as often as necessary. Once removed, the filters 
would be dried and disposed of, thereby preventing any contamination of 
local waters with the diatom culture.

Location

    Palmer Station, Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    04/12/2019-10/31/2019.
2. Applicant Permit Application: 2019-014
    Michelle Shero, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02540.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take, Harmful Interference, Import into USA. The applicant is 
requesting a permit in support of a study of the energy dynamics, 
foraging behaviors, and reproductive output of female Weddell seals 
(Leptonychotes weddellii) in Erebus Bay and Cape Colbeck, Antarctica. 
The applicant would evaluate endocrine profiles, body composition, and 
dive efforts of female Weddell seals across the year, to provide links 
with the probability of pregnancy and carrying the pregnancy to full-
term. The applicant would develop non-invasive photogrammetric 
techniques using remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to estimate 
mass and energy dynamics of a much larger number of animals than would 
be possible via ground survey. To achieve project goals, a cohort of 25 
animals in Erebus Bay or Cape Colbeck, Antarctica would undergo health 
assessments in both October-November and February-March each year 
(blood draws, morphometric measurements, satellite tagging, RPAS 
photogrammetry; 50 seals per year), while RPAS surveys will be 
conducted for the population. Dive recorders would also be deployed, 
and subsequently recovered during the following year (25 animals). 
Research activities would conducted as part of a larger assessment of 
Weddell seals in the Ross Sea MPA, led by the New Zealand Antarctic 
Program. The NZ program would be leading animal handling procedures and 
all instrumentation of the animals. The applicant would be joining the 
project as collaborators, primarily for the purpose of conducting 
physiological studies and RPAS surveys. Up to 500 crabeater seals 
(Lobodon carcinophagus) may by unintentionally disturbed during ground 
or RPAS surveys. The applicant would also salvage up to 12 Weddell 
seals, all ages and sexes, found dead and dies of natural causes.

Location

    Erebus Bay and Cape Colbeck, Antarctica.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    February 1, 2019-January 31, 2024.

Susanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-28343 Filed 12-28-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P