[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 1542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00076]


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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 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.
    NSF issued a permit (ACA 2017-013) to George Watters on October 21, 
2016. The issued permit allows the applicant to conduct waste 
management associated with ship- and shore-based research and logistic 
activities conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) 
Program. The permit covers the deployment of a variety of oceanographic 
instruments.
    On March 30, 2018, a permit modification was issued providing 
further details about two types of oceanographic instruments that would 
be deployed during future research cruises. Up to six moorings would be 
deployed, as described in the original permit, and up to three Slocum 
gliders would be deployed and retrieved.
    Now, the permit holder has requested to a further modification to 
deploy up to seven (7) subsurface moorings of the type previously 
described.
    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: December 29, 2020-July 30, 2021.
    The permit modification was issued on December 29, 2020.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-00076 Filed 1-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P