[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: 2021-22855]



[[Page 58109]]

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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 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 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. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2022-017

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

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference. 
The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act permit for activities 
associated with long-term population studies of Antarctic penguin 
species. The applicant proposes using unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) 
and manual surveying techniques to improve understanding of penguin 
distribution and abundance in the Weddell Sea region. Flights will be 
conducted by trained pilots in fair-weather conditions and in the 
presence of observers. All flights over wildlife concentrations will be 
conducted at an altitude of no less than 40 meters, to limit possible 
disturbance to wild populations. This permit seeks to cover any harmful 
interference with wild populations that may result from UAV use as well 
as any take that may occur as a result of research activities.
    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. 2021-22855 Filed 10-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P