[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69051-69052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25032]


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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 December 19, 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: 2023-020

1. Applicant: Lyndsey Lewis, Quark Expeditions, Seattle, WA 98121. 
[email protected]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation 
Permit for waste management activities associated with the operation of 
tour vessels in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Activities include 
helicopter flights and helicopter based shore activities at select 
locations, short overnight stays (camping) at select locations, and the 
use of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. For helicopter 
operations, the applicant would bring ashore cooking fuel and batteries 
to be used in emergency situations only. All materials brought shore 
during helicopter-based activities would be removed from the continent 
following each activity and measures would be taken to minimize 
environmental impact in the event of a release. Helicopters would only 
be refueled aboard the operator's vessel and measures will be in place 
to prevent accidental discharge. For short overnight stays (camping), 
the applicant seeks permission for no more than 60 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 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 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

    Andvord Bay, Argentine Islands, Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco 
Island, Errera Channel, Horseshoe Island, Hovgaard Island, Leith Cove, 
Lefevre-Utile Point, The Naze, Orne Harbor, Paradise Bay, Pleneau 
Island, Portal Point, Prospect Point, Ronge Island, Skontorp Cove, 
Stony Point, Antarctic Peninsula region.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    November 1, 2022-March 31, 2027.

Permit Application: 2023-021

2. Applicant: John Dennis, 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

[[Page 69052]]

any accidental release that may result from the use of RPAs or ATVs.

Location

    Antarctic Peninsula region.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    November 1, 2022-March 31, 2027.

Permit Application: 2023-022

3. 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 
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 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 always maintain visual line of sight with the 
aircraft during operation. Measures are in place to prevent loss of the 
aircraft.

Location

    Antarctic Peninsula region, Ross Sea region.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    December 20, 2022-March 31, 2027.

Permit Application: 2023-023

4. Applicant: David Sagrista, Atlas 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. 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 
Managed Areas. 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, 2022-March 31, 2027.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-25032 Filed 11-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P