[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 54253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21202]



[[Page 54253]]

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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 November 1, 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 (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 as requiring special protection. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2022-011

1. Applicant: Dr. John Durban, 446 Harbor Vista Drive, Friday Harbor 
WA, 98250.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant seeks a waste management permit under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act for activities associated with ongoing cetacean 
research in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Peninsula region. The 
applicant proposes using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) pilots from 
ships and small boats to collect photogrammetry images and blow samples 
from whales. UAS flights will be performed by experienced pilots and 
will last for a period of under 30 minutes. In addition to the pilots' 
extensive experience, mitigation measures will be put into place to 
minimize loss of equipment and to recover equipment in the unlikely 
event of equipment failure. The applicant also seeks to use small 
projectile biopsy darts to collect tissue samples. Following discharge 
and sampling, the darts will float, and high-visibility collars ensure 
a high likelihood for retrieval.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region. Southern Ross Sea Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-April 30, 2026.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-21202 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P