[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 149 (Monday, August 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46733-46734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16783]


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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 Received and Permit 
Issued.

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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 and permits issued 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 
a requested permit modification and permit issued.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-8224; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation (NSF), 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.
    1. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2018-013) to Linnea Pearson on October 
16, 2017. The issued permit allows the permit holder to handle Weddell 
seal pups per year for the purposes of studying the thermoregulatory 
strategies by which the pups maintain euthermia in air and in water and 
examine the development of diving capability as the animals prepare for 
independent foraging. On October 18, 2019, NSF approved a modification 
to the permit to allow changes to the sedation procedures, take 
numbers, tag attachment, sample collection, and antibiotic treatment.
    Now the permit holder has requested the following modification to 
allow for full antibiotic treatment of pups in the study, should the 
need arise. The Environmental Officer has reviewed the modification 
request and has determined that the amendment is not a material change 
to the permit, and it will have a less than a minor or transitory 
impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 8, 2019-October 1, 2020.
    The permit modification was issued on November 8, 2019.
    2. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2017-012) to George Watters. The issued 
permit allows the permit holder and agents to engage in take, harmful 
interference, ASPA entry, and import in support of the marine mammal 
and avian research activities conducted by National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Antarctic Marine Living Resources 
(AMLR) Program.
    Now the permit holder proposes a permit modification to collect 
fresh penguin fecal material (feces, scat, guano) samples to aid in a 
study of microplastics levels in the diets of seabirds. The samples 
would be collected during the course of research activities that are 
already permitted and would not cause any additional disturbance to the 
penguins. Therefore, there is no request for additional take or harmful 
interference. The samples would be preserved in ethanol and transported 
to a laboratory in the U.S. for microscopic analysis. The sample 
collection would begin in the 2019/2020 season and continue for the 
duration of the permit. The Environmental Officer has reviewed the 
modification request and has determined that the amendment is not a 
material change to the permit, and it will have a less than a minor or 
transitory impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 21, 2019-July 30, 2021.
    The permit modification was issued on November 21, 2019.
    3. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2017-029) to John Durban. The issued 
permit allows the permit holder and agents to engage in take and import 
into the USA. Manner of taking includes using a remotely piloted 
aircraft system (RPAS) for photogrammetry and blow sample

[[Page 46734]]

collection from whales; boat-based photography for individual 
recognition and species identification; and projectile biopsy sampling 
for collection of skin and blubber samples. Whole or parts of dead 
animals may be salvaged for chemical analysis or genetic determination 
of species for unidentified prey parts. Samples are imported into the 
USA and archived at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
    Now the permit holder proposes a permit modification to collect 
floating fecal samples from killer whales to fill key data gaps on 
their dietary composition using genetic techniques. The samples would 
be collected during the course of research activities that are already 
permitted and would not cause any additional disturbance to whales. 
Therefore, there is no request for additional takes. The samples would 
be transported to a laboratory in the U.S. for analysis. The sample 
collection would begin in the 2019/2020 season and continue for the 
duration of the permit. The Environmental Officer has reviewed the 
modification request and has determined that the amendment is not a 
material change to the permit, and it will have a less than a minor or 
transitory impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 21, 2019-May 31, 2021.
    The permit modification was issued on November 21, 2019.
    4. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2017-019) to Jerry McDonald, Principal 
in Charge, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic Support Contract, to 
allow entry into five Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) in 
the Antarctic Peninsula region. The Antarctic Support Contractor's 
staff provides routine logistics support in the transport of science 
teams and supporting personnel, and in field camp put-in and take-out. 
Entry into an ASPA would occur only to support a science project for 
which a permit has been issued. Entry needs and requirements will be 
reviewed by ASC Environmental Health and Safety Department prior to 
entry and reported per standard procedures.
    On March 9, 2017, the permit was modified to include entry into one 
additional ASPA (Byers Peninsula, #126) and on October 6, 2017 the 
permit was modified to include entry into into two additional ASPAs: 
ASPA No. 161, Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea and ASPA No. 173, Cape 
Washington and Silverfish Bay, Terra Nova bay, Ross Sea.
    Now the permit holder is requesting entry into five additional 
ASPAs in order to support scientific research activities funded and 
supported by NSF and the US Antarctic Program. The permit holder and 
agents would enter ASPA 107, Emperor Island; ASPA 108, Green Island; 
ASPA 115, Lagotellerie Island; ASPA 134, Cierva Point and offshore 
islands; and ASPA 170, Marion Nunatuks, Charcot Island. The 
Environmental Officer has reviewed the modification request and has 
determined that the amendment is not a material change to the permit, 
and it will have a less than a minor or transitory impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 8, 2020-September 1, 2021.
    The permit modification was issued on January 8, 2020.
    5. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2020-013) to Nicholas Teets on January 
2, 2020. The issued permit allows the permit holder and agents to 
access sites along the Antarctic Peninsula, including ASPAs 108, 126, 
and 134, to collect midges (Belgica antarctica) for physiology and 
genetic studies as described in the attached permit application.
    Now the applicant proposes a permit modification to enter APSA 149, 
Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Island, Livingston Island, South Shetland 
Islands, to survey the area for the presence midges and to make 
collections of the insects in accordance with the conditions and 
details of their original permit. The Environmental Officer has 
reviewed the modification request and has determined that the amendment 
is not a material change to the permit, and it will have a less than a 
minor or transitory impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 17, 2020-July 1, 2022.
    The permit modification was issued on January 17, 2020.
    6. NSF issued a permit (ACA 2017-012) to George Watters. The issued 
permit allows the permit holder and agents to engage in take, harmful 
interference, ASPA entry, and import in support of the marine mammal 
and avian research activities conducted by National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Antarctic Marine Living Resources 
(AMLR) Program.
    A recent modification to this permit, dated November 21, 2019, 
permitted the applicant to collect fresh penguin fecal material samples 
to study the presence of microplastics in seabird diets.
    Now the applicant proposes a permit modification to add the take 
and harmful interference of king penguins, Aptenodytes patagonicus, to 
the permit. The permit holder identified a king penguin in the study 
area and would approach for photographs and to confirm the presence of 
an egg. The Environmental Officer has reviewed the modification request 
and has determined that the amendment is not a material change to the 
permit, and it will have a less than a minor or transitory impact.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 17, 2020-July 30, 2021.
    The permit modification was issued on January 17, 2020.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-16783 Filed 7-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P