[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 58109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22854]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 19, 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: 2022-018

1. Applicant: Dr. Heather Lynch, Stony Brook University IACS 163 Stony 
Brook, NY 11794

    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act waste management permit 
for activities associated with long-term penguin research in the 
Weddell Sea. The applicant proposes using battery-powered, quadrotor 
unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) to assist in the collection of data for 
a multi-scale population census of penguin colonies in the Weddell Sea. 
Mitigation measures will be put in place to prevent loss of aircraft. 
These measures include UAVs being flown by trained pilots in fair-
weather conditions and having stationed observers maintain visual 
contact with the aircraft at all times. The applicant proposes various 
recovery methods in the unlikely event that an aircraft is lost over 
land or sea. These measures will limit any potential impacts on the 
Antarctic environment. The applicant seeks a waste permit to cover any 
accidental release that may result from UAV use.
    Location: Danger Islands, Weddell Sea, Antarctica.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 1, 2022-April 1, 2022.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-22854 Filed 10-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P