[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59431-59432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23364]


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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.

[[Page 59432]]


DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to this permit application by November 26, 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: 2022-014

1. Applicant: Nicole Abbot, Vice-President, Wilderness Travel, 1102 
Ninth St., Berkley, CA 94710
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste management. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act permit for waste 
management activities associated with the use of unmanned aerial 
systems (UASs) in Antarctica. The applicant proposes using quadcopter 
UAS for commercial filmmaking purposes in areas surrounding South 
Georgia Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. UAS are only to be flown by 
pilots with extensive experience in the proposed regions. The applicant 
includes various mitigation measures to limit potential impacts to the 
environment. These measures include the following: Safety measures that 
minimize the risk of equipment failure, using observers to maintain 
visual line of sight with the aircraft and to aid in possible 
retrieval, not flying above any concentrations of wildlife and 
disinfecting UAVs after flight to prevent possible contamination 
between operation sites. The applicant seeks a waste permit to cover 
any accidental release that may result from UAS use.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 23, 2021-December 12, 2021.

Permit Application: 2022-019

2. Applicant: Walter Barinaga, Crystal Destination Experiences, 1501 
Biscayne Blvd. #501, Miami FL, 33132

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste management. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act permit for waste 
management activities associated with the use of Unmanned Aerial 
Systems (UAS) activities in the Antarctic. UAS will be flown by 
experienced, approved pilots for educational, marketing, and commercial 
purposes only. Flights will be conducted in fair weather conditions 
with wind speeds under 25 knots. UAS will not be flown over any 
concentrations of wildlife or Antarctic Specially Protected Areas or 
Historical Sites and Monuments. Observers will be present during all 
flights and will always maintain a visual line of sight with the 
aircraft. The applicant seeks a waste permit to cover any accidental 
release that may occur as the result of UAS activities.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-March 31, 2022.

Permit Application: 2022-020

3. Applicant: David Rootes, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions, 4741 S 
Commerce Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84107
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. Antarctic 
Logistics & Expeditions, LLC (ALE) seeks an Antarctic Conservation 
permit for waste management activities associated with logistics and 
tourism activities to be conducted in Antarctica. The applicant plans 
to operate a remote camp at Union Glacier, Antarctica, and provide 
logistical support services for scientific and other expeditions, film 
crews, and tourists. These activities include aircraft support, cache 
positioning, camp and field support, resupply, search and rescue, 
medevac, medical support, and logistic support for some National 
Operators. Operations will be centered around a main camp located on 
Union Glacier that is adjacent to a blue-ice runway. The blue-ice 
runway is a natural feature that requires limited amount of preparation 
and upkeep for aircraft use. There are standard programs offered on a 
regular basis including: Climbing trips to Vinson Massif, the Ellsworth 
Mountains, and the Transantarctic Mountains; ski trips to the Ellsworth 
Mountains and the Geographic South Pole; ice marathons and sky diving 
at Union Glacier; and flights to the Geographic South Pole and the 
emperor penguin colony at Gould Bay. Several aircraft will be operated 
by ALE throughout the Antarctic and may consist of the following: 
Ilyushin IL-76TD90, Boeing 767-300ER, Douglas DC3-TP67, Gulfstream 
G550, Dassault Falcon 7X, Dassault Falcon 900EX, and De Havilland DHC-6 
Twin Otter. ALE plans to allow clients to fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 
(UAV) provided their plan meets certain requirements, including ALE's 
standard operating procedures, IATTO UAV policy, and civil aviation 
authority regulations (ICAO, FAA, CAA).
    Location: Activities are centered around union glacier and in the 
general area surrounding the Patriot Hills and Ellsworth Mountains. 
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and Gould Bay. General routes from 
Hercules Cove to South Pole, Berkner Island to South Pole, and Ross Ice 
Shelf to South Pole.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 30, 2021-February 2, 2026.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-23364 Filed 10-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P