[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 77146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27305]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit modification request received and permit 
issued.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a 
notice of requests to modify permits issued 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 a requested 
permit modification issued.

DATES: January 12, 2023 to February 3, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-4479; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation (NSF), 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.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued 
a permit (ACA 2022-020) to David Rootes, Environmental Manager, 
Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, LLC (ALE), on November 29, 2021. 
The issued permit allows the applicant to operate a remote camp at 
Union Glacier, Antarctica, and provide logistical support services for 
scientific and other expeditions, film crews, and tourists. These 
activities include aircraft support, cache positioning, camp and field 
support, resupply, search and rescue, medevac, medical support and 
logistic support for some National Operators.
    Then, on September 15, 2022, the Foundation issued a permit 
modification to continue permitted activities, including minimization, 
mitigation, and monitoring of waste, for the 2022-2023 Antarctic 
season.
    Now the applicant proposes a modification to the permit to conduct 
helicopter operations. The helicopters will be operated in the Union 
Glacier area in order to evaluate the usefulness of the activity to 
ALE. Helicopters will be flown by pilots with mountain and glacier 
flight experience. No tourists will be flown in the helicopter. ALE has 
contingency plans for controlling environmental releases as a part of 
their existing activities at Union Glacier.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-27305 Filed 12-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P