[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24592-24593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08883]


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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 May 26, 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 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: 2023-001

1. Applicant: Michelle Shero, 266 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA 02543.


[[Page 24593]]


    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Import into USA, Export From USA. The applicant requests an Antarctic 
Conservation Permit authorizing activities associated marine mammal 
research in Antarctica. Proposed research activities involve conducting 
physiological studies on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in 
Erebus Bay, McMurdo Sound, to determine factors that contribute to 
lifetime reproductive success and overall fitness. The applicant would 
capture, and handle 26 adult-pup pairs each year over the course of the 
reproductive cycle. Adult Weddell seals will be handled 5 times per 
season at different points in their reproductive cycle and pups will be 
handled 3 times between parturition and post-weaning each year. Each 
capture will involve sedation, health exams, sample collection, 
ultrasound and possibly the deployment of dive instruments. Sampling 
procedures include blood and tissue sampling, weighing, flipper 
tagging, ultrasound and taking of morphometric measurements. The 
applicant also proposes importing and any salvaged tissue or scat 
collected opportunistically during research activities.
    Location: Erebus Bay, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: October 2, 2022-September 30, 2027.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-08883 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P