[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 56477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22982]
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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 21, 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
Permit Application: 2020-016
1. Applicant Ari Friedlaender, UC Santa Cruz, Institute of Marine
Sciences, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 96050.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference,
Import into USA, Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs). The
applicant proposes to engage in research activities to understand the
population demography, health, behavior, and ecology of cetaceans,
pinnipeds, and seabirds in the Antarctic Peninsula region. To study
these species, the applicant and agents would assess body condition,
health, behavior, and distribution using remotely piloted aircraft
systems (RPAS). Population demography and growth rates of cetaceans
would be evaluated from remote biopsy samples that would be imported to
the US for analysis. Behavior and ecology of individual whales would be
studied using multi-sensor suction cup tags that collect high-
resolution behavioral information for 1-2 days, dart/barb tags that to
collect spatial and dive data for up to one month, and implantable tags
that collect movement and behavioral data on individual whales for
months. The applicant and agents would biopsy, tag, and operate RPAS
over humpback whales, Antarctic minke whales, blue whales, fin whales,
sei whales, southern right whales, killer whales, and Arnoux's beaked
whales. The applicant and agents would also operate RPAS over Antarctic
fur seals, crabeater seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals, elephant
seals, Adelie penguins, gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, brown
skua, south polar skua, giant petrel, kelp gull, blue-eyed shag, and
snowy sheathbill. In order to capture imagery of some seals and seabird
species, the applicant and agents would enter the ASPA 117, Avian
Island. The proposed research focusing on cetaceans requires a permit
under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The proposed research on
pinnipeds would be authorized by a Letter of Confirmation issued by the
National Marine Fisheries Service (expiry date: November 15, 2022).
Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities: November 1, 2019--October 31, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2019-22982 Filed 10-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P