[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 184 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 53353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20813]


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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 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 issued.

DATES: November 20, 2019-March 30, 2022.
    The permit modification was issued on September 21, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Polly Penhale, ACA Permit Officer, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-7420; 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 as requiring special 
protection.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued 
a permit (ACA 2019-012) to Conrad Combrink, Silversea Cruises, Ltd., on 
November 13, 2018. The issued permit allows the applicant to conduct 
waste management activities associated with the operation of remotely 
piloted aircraft systems (RPAs). Cruises engages experienced pilots to 
fly small, battery-operated, remotely controlled quadcopter equipped 
with cameras to capture aerial footage for commercial and educational 
uses.
    On September 19, 2021, Bill Davis, Vice President, Expeditions 
Operations and Development, Silversea Cruises, Ltd., provided NSF an 
update based on activities planned for the 2019-2020 field season. 
Silversea's activities are the same or similar as those detailed in the 
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.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-20813 Filed 9-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P