[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62893-62894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22451]


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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 November 16, 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: 2023-016

1. Applicant: Steve Wellmeier, Managing Director, Poseidon Expeditions 
USA LLC, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 502, Providence, RI 02906, 
[email protected]


[[Page 62894]]


    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 40 campers and 
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 20m 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.
    Location: Port Lockroy, Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Paradise Bay, Neko 
Harbor, Danco Island and Cuverville and the vicinity of the Errera 
Channel, Neumeyer Channel, Petermann Island, South of the Lemaire 
Channel, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula area.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: October 22, 2022-March 30, 2023.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-22451 Filed 10-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P