[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 1792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00445]


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

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 February 11, 2022. 
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: 2022-028.
    1. Applicant: Jonathan Hong, COO XM2 Aerial Pty Ltd., 15143 
Waterman Dr., Van Nuys CA 91406.
    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) in Antarctica. The applicant proposes using multiple UAS 
for commercial filmmaking purposes in areas surrounding the Antarctica 
Peninsula. UAS are only to be flown by pre-approved pilots with 
extensive flight experience. 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: March 1, 2022-February 28, 2023.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-00445 Filed 1-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P