[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 51497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18227]


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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 September 21, 2020. 
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: 2021-004

1. Applicant: Grant Ballard, Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 
Cypress Dr. #11, Petaluma, CA 94954.
    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs), Import into USA. The 
applicant proposed to enter ASPA 121, Cape Royds, ASPA 124, Cape 
Crozier, and ASPA 105, Beaufort Island, to conduct research on the role 
of environmental factors on foraging, diet, growth, and survival of 
Adelie penguins. Research activities would include installing 
weighbridges, resighting banded birds, and following birds through 
incubation and chick-rearing until late January. The applicant and 
agents would attach logging and tracking devices on breeding adults and 
collect fecal samples from adults and chicks during the brooding and 
guarding stage, then would attach long-term GPS-Argos tags and 
geolocating dive recorders on adult penguins. The applicant and agents 
would measure and band 200 chicks at Cape Royds and 500 chicks at Cape 
Crozier each season, and would deploy GPS-Argos tags on molted 
juveniles. The applicant and agents would also conduct similar research 
at Cape Bird, but the work would be conducted outside the ASPA 
boundary. To survey the large colonies at Cape Royds and Cape Crozier 
in a timely manner, the applicant and agents would employ multiple, 
self- and collectively-aware remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS) 
simultaneously. The RPAS will be piloted by trained, experienced, and 
certified operators and the operations will also involve additional 
visual observation of penguin behavior. For the surveys, the RPAS 
launch site would be at least 20 meters away from nesting birds and the 
RPAS would be operated at 50 meters above ground level and nest birds 
to help ensure minimal disturbance. Surveys at Cape Crozier have the 
potential to disturb south polar skuas nesting near the penguin colony. 
Images obtained from the surveys would be used to estimate the number 
of nesting adults and chicks, as well as nesting density. The applicant 
and agents would access the general areas by helicopter and would enter 
the ASPAs on foot. The applicant would maintain a webcam (PenguinCam) 
positioned slightly inside the Cape Royds ASPA boundary.
    Location: ASPA 121, Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 124, Cape 
Crozier, Ross Island; ASPA 105, Beaufort Island; Cape Bird (outside 
ASPA boundary).
    Dates of Permitted Activities: October 15, 2020-February 15, 2025.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-18227 Filed 8-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P