[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48769-48770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18747]


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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 30, 2021 
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 or [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Polly Penhale, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-8030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 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.

[[Page 48770]]

Application Details

Permit Application: 2022-007

1. Applicant: Dr. Robert Sanders, Dept. of Biology, Temple University, 
1900 N. 12th St., Philadelphia PA 19122

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Importation of non-
indigenous species. The applicant requests an Antarctic Conservation 
Act permit for use of bacterial cultures as a food source during a 
study of Antarctic mixotrophic phytoplankton aboard U.S. Antarctic 
Program vessels. The bacterial culture is a non-pathogenic marine 
species (Photobacterium angustum) obtained from American Type Culture 
Collection. Bacterial cultures will be fed to natural phytoplankton 
communities in a sealed, controlled setting aboard the vessel and 
isolated from the environment. At the conclusion of the experiments, 
any sample or culture remaining, including filtered seawater, would be 
destroyed by autoclaving on the ship. Supplies and equipment would be 
sterilized at the end of each experiment by autoclaving or using 
ethanol. The applicant and permit agents are experienced in using 
sterile techniques and in maintaining safe practices with microbial 
cultures.
    Location: Western Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: April 15-July 11, 2022.

Permit Application: 2022-009

2. Applicant: Steven D. Emslie, Dept. of Biology and Marine Biology, 
University of North Carolina, Wilmington, N.C. 28403

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Import into the U.S.A. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act permit for the 
importation of tissue samples collected in the Ross Sea Region, 
Antarctica. Samples to be imported include avian bones and feathers 
collected from salvaged remains as well as fish, squid, krill, and 
marine algae samples collected opportunistically. Samples will be 
collected by Dr. Xiadong Liu, a collaborator of the applicant 
authorized under the Chinese Antarctic Program and shipped to the 
United States. Importation of these samples will allow for increased 
data collection and help to mitigate impacts to field research caused 
by the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Location: Ross Sea Region, Antarctica.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2022-January 31, 2023.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-18747 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P