[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61328-61329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24278]


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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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[[Page 61329]]

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 December 6, 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: 2022-021

1. Applicant Henry Wulff, Altas Ocean Voyages, 1 E Broward Blvd., Suite 
800, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301.

    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 remotely piloted 
aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. RPAs will be flown by experienced, pre-
approved pilots for educational, commercial, or marketing purposes 
only. RPAs will only be flown in fair-weather conditions with wind 
speeds less than 7m/s. Aircrafts will not be flown over any 
concentrations of wildlife, or any Antarctic Specially Protected or 
Specially Managed Areas or any Historic Sites and Monuments without 
authorization. Operators and observers will maintain visual line of 
sight with the aircraft during all flight operations, and measures will 
be in place to prevent loss of aircraft during operations. The 
applicant seeks a waste management permit to cover any accidental 
release that may result from the use of RPAs.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-March 31, 2022.

Permit Application: 2022-022

2. Applicant: Deirdre Dirkman, Vantage Travel, 90 Canal St., Boston, MA 
02114.

    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 remotely piloted 
aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. Flights of RPAs will be limited to 
commercial, educational, and marketing use only. Aircraft are only to 
be flown by experienced, pre-approved pilots in fair weather 
conditions. RPAs will not be flown over any concentrations of wildlife, 
Antarctic Specially Protected or Specially Managed Areas or any 
Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments without appropriate 
authorization. Operators will always maintain visual line of site with 
aircraft during flight to monitor activities and prevent loss of 
aircraft. Observers will assist in monitoring and observe for any 
wildlife or potential hazards. The applicant seeks a permit to cover 
any accidental release that may result from RPA use.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-March 31, 2022.

Permit Application: 2022-023

3. Applicant: Tom Russell, Swan Hellenic Antarctic, 1800 SE 10th Ave., 
#240, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Permit for waste management 
activities associated with use of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in 
Antarctica. Aircrafts will be launched from land or by boat and will be 
used for commercial, marketing, or educational purposes only. RPAs will 
not be flown over any concentrations of wildlife, Antarctic Specially 
Protected or Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments 
without appropriate authorization. Aircraft are only to be flown by 
experienced, pre-approved pilots in fair weather conditions and in the 
presence of an observer, who will observe the flight area for potential 
hazards. Measures are in place to prevent loss of the aircraft. The 
applicant seeks a waste management permit to cover any accidental 
releases that may result from RPA use.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-March 31, 2021.

Permit Application: 2022-024

4. Applicant: Michael Hjorth, Albatros Expeditions, 4770 Biscayne 
Blvd., PHR, Miami, FL 33137.

    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 Remotely piloted 
aircrafts (RPAs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Antarctica. RPAs 
will be flown by experienced, pre-approved pilots for educational, 
commercial, or marketing purposes. Aircrafts will not be flown over any 
concentrations of wildlife, or any Antarctic Specially Protected or 
Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments without 
appropriate authorization. Operators will maintain visual line of sight 
with the aircraft during all flight operations, and measures will be in 
place to prevent loss of aircraft during operations. Observers will be 
present to observe for any wildlife or other potential hazards. ATVs 
will be used to support onshore activities and will be refueled once 
daily. Refueling of ATVs will be done by experienced staff and 
precautions will be taken to prevent any accidental release of fuel. 
Supplies will be on hand to assist in cleanup of any fuel spilled 
during operations. The applicant seeks a waste management permit to 
cover any accidental release that may result from the use of RPAs or 
ATVs.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2021-March 31, 2022.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-24278 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P