[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63893-63894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25025]


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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 December 19, 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

Permit Application: 2020-011

    1. Applicant: Heather J. Lynch, Stony Brook University, 610 Life 
Sciences Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste management. The 
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated remotely piloted 
aircraft systems (RPAS) consisting, in part, of a quadcopter equipped 
with cameras to survey chinstrap penguin colonies in the South Shetland 
Islands in support of scientific research. The RPAS would be operated 
by trained and experienced pilots. Several additional measures would be 
taken to prevent against loss of the aircraft including maintaining 
visible line of sight, return to take-off location in case of loss of 
communication, conducting operations when the windspeed is 10 m/s or 
less, and use of observers during operations in unusual terrain. Flight 
times would be approximately 25 minutes each. The applicant is seeking 
a waste permit to cover any accidental releases that may result from 
operating the RPAS. The applicant would also bring small, closed 
containers of gas propane ashore to be used for emergency purposes only 
(e.g., need to remain onshore for extended periods).
    Location: ASPA 152 Western Bransfield Strait; South Shetland 
Islands: Low Island, Smith Island, Snow Island, Elephant Island; 
Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 1-March 1, 2020.

Permit Application: 2020-019

    2. Applicant: Bob Simpson, Vice President, Expedition Cruising, 
Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC, 1411 Opus Place, Executive Towers West II, 
Suite #300, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515-1182.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste management. The 
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated remotely piloted 
aircraft systems (RPAS) consisting, in part, of a quadcopter equipped 
with cameras to collect commercial and educational footage of the 
Antarctic. 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 pilots 
with extensive experience, who are pre-approved by the Expedition 
Leader. 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 less than 25 knots; flying for only 15 minutes 
at a time to preserve battery life; having prop guards on propeller 
tips, a flotation device if operated 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 an operational range of 500 meters. The applicant is seeking 
a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may result from 
operating the RPAS.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 9, 2019-March 30, 2020.

Permit Application: 2020-020

    3. Applicant: Lisa Bolton, Scenic USA, One Financial Center, Suite 
400, Boston, MA 02111.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste management. The 
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated remotely piloted 
aircraft systems (RPAS) consisting, in part, of a quadcopter equipped 
with cameras to collect commercial and educational footage of the 
Antarctic. 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 pilots 
with extensive experience, who are pre-approved by the Expedition 
Leader. 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 less than 25 knots; flying for only 15 minutes 
at a time to preserve battery life; having prop guards on propeller 
tips, a flotation device if operated 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 an operational range of 500 meters. The applicant would also 
operate two helicopters for sightseeing in the Antarctic Peninsula 
region. No landings would occur, except in the case of emergency. 
Helicopters will be garaged, fueled, and serviced on board the Scenic 
Eclipse. Helicopter operations will only occur weather conditions, 
including sufficiently low winds, that allow easy take-off and landing. 
Helicopters will be operated by trained, certified, and experienced 
pilots. Helicopters will carry emergency gear including cooking fuel 
and radios. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any 
accidental releases that may result from operating the RPAS and 
helicopters.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.

[[Page 63894]]

    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 26, 2019-March 31, 2020.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2019-25025 Filed 11-18-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P