[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 185 (Monday, September 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58390-58391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20757]


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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 October 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: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-4479.

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: 2023-009

1. Applicant
    Harry R. Anderson, PHYWAVE, 250 Eagle Place NE, Bainbridge Island, 
WA 98110.
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
    Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act 
permit for waste management activities associated with the operation of 
a yacht, to conduct shore excursions, and the operation of a remotely 
piloted aircraft system (RPAS) in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The 
RPAS would consist of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to obtain 
footage of the vessel at anchor. The RPAS would only be operated by a 
FAA-licensed pilot. Several measures would be taken to prevent loss of 
the RPAS including floatation devices, flying in fair weather, and the 
use of return-to-home safety features. Flights would not occur in the 
vicinity of wildlife.
Location
    Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
    January 1, 2023-March 31, 2023.

Permit Application: 2023-011

2. Applicant
    Bill Davis, Vice President, Expeditions Operations and Development, 
Silversea Cruises, Ltd., 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 operation of 
a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) and a remotely operated 
vehicle (ROV) in the Antarctic Peninsula Region. The applicant proposes 
to operate small, battery-operated RPAS consisting, in part, of a 
quadcopter equipped with cameras to collect commercial footage of the 
Antarctic. The quadcopter would not be flown over concentrations of 
birds or mammals, or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas or 
Historic Sites and Monuments. The RPAS would only be operated by pilots 
with extensive experience, who are pre-

[[Page 58391]]

approved by the Expedition Leader. Several measures would be taken to 
prevent against loss of the quadcopter including painting the them a 
highly visible color; only flying when the wind is less than 25 knots; 
flying for only 15 minutes at a time to preserve battery life; having 
prop guards on propeller tips, a flotation device if operated over 
water, and an ``auto go home'' feature in case of loss of control link 
or low battery; having an observer on the lookout for wildlife, people, 
and other hazards; and ensuring that the separation between the 
operator and quadcopter does not exceed an operational range of 500 
meters. The applicant also proposes to operate small, tethered ROVs 
equipped with cameras to collect educational footage of underwater 
environments. The ROV power is fed through the tether and contains a 
1.5 liter oil filled compensator. The ROV would not be deployed under 
fast ice. The ROV would only be operator by a trained ROV pilot. ROVs 
would operate up to around 100m depth, and no more than 100m laterally 
from the ship. The ROV would not be operated within any protected areas 
or historic sites and monuments (HSMs).
Location
    Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
    November 7, 2022-March 30, 2027.

Permit Application: 2023-015

3. Applicant
    Haley Shephard, Vice President of Expedition Operations, Polar 
Latitudes, Inc. White River Junction, VT 05001
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
    Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act 
permit for waste management activities associated with coastal camping 
and the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) in the 
Antarctic Peninsula region. The applicant seeks permission for no more 
than 50 campers and 6 expedition staff to camp overnight at select 
locations for a maximum of 10 hours ashore. Camping would be away from 
vegetated sites and at least 150m from wildlife concentrations or 
lakes, protected areas, historical sites, and scientific stations. 
Tents would be pitched on snow, ice, or bare smooth rock, at least 15m 
from the high-water line. No food, other than emergency rations, would 
be brought onshore and all wastes, including human waste, would be 
collected and returned to the ship for proper disposal. For remotely 
piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operation, the applicant proposes to 
operate small, battery-operated RPAS consisting, in part, of a 
quadcopter equipped with cameras to collect commercial and educational 
footage of the Antarctic. The quadcopter would not be flown over 
concentrations of birds or mammals, or over Antarctic Specially 
Protected Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments. The RPAS would only be 
operated by pilots with extensive experience, who are pre-approved by 
the Expedition Leader. Several measures would be taken to prevent 
against loss of the quadcopter including painting the them a highly 
visible color; only flying when the wind is less than 25 knots; flying 
for only 15 minutes at a time to preserve battery life, a flotation 
device if operated over water, and an ``auto go home'' feature in case 
of loss of control link or low battery; having an observer on the 
lookout for wildlife, people, and other hazards; and ensuring that the 
separation between the operator and quadcopter does not exceed an 
operational range of 500 meters.
Location
    Camping: possible locations include Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco 
Island, Rong[eacute] Island, the Errera Channel, Paradise Bay 
(including Almirante Brown/Base Brown or Skontorp Cove), the Argentine 
Islands, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, Hovgaard Island, Orne Harbour, 
Leith Cove, Prospect Point and Portal Point. RPAS operations: Western 
Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
    October 30, 2022-March 30, 2027.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-20757 Filed 9-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P