[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78132-78134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27743]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 January 20, 2023. 
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 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: 2023-026

1. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
marine transit of U.S. Antarctic Program chartered vessels through 
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) 145, 152, and 153. The 
permit would be used solely for marine transit and not for any 
scientific activity within these ASPAs. Marine transit would occur so 
long as the values to be protected within each ASPA are not jeopardized 
and would only occur as necessary in the best interests of the U.S. 
Antarctic Program. The ASPAs would be avoided whenever possible.
    Location: ASPA 145--Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland 
Islands; ASPA 152--Western Bransfield Strait; ASPA 153--Eastern 
Dallmann Bay.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-027

2. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
recreational and educational visits to several historic huts in the 
vicinity of McMurdo Station. Visits would occur at Scott's hut at Cape 
Evans (ASPA 155), Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds (ASPA 157), Scott's 
Discovery hut at Hut Point (ASPA 158), and at Cape Adare (ASPA 159). 
Access to sites would be by tracked vehicle, helicopter, or on foot as 
appropriate. All visits would be conducted in accordance with the 
management plan for each specific site. Procedures for monitoring 
numbers of U.S. Antarctic Program visitors throughout the season would 
be implemented.
    Location: ASPA 155--Cape Evans, Ross Island; ASPA 157--Backdoor 
Bay, Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 158--Hut Point, Ross Island; ASPA 
159--Cape Adare, Borchgrevink Coast.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-028

3. Applicant Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic Support 
Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. [email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
entering Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) to gather 
professional video footage, still photographs, and to interview 
scientists in support of National Science Foundation (NSF) directed 
news and public outreach projects and releases. Visits would occur to 
ASPAs in conjunction with valid scientific activities for the express 
purposes of gathering footage and information on scientific research, 
general scenic locations, and interviews with scientists working in the 
field. Within historic huts, only tripods or monopods with flat 
bottomed rubber bases would be used. All visits would

[[Page 78133]]

be conducted in accordance with the management plan for each specific 
site.
    Location: ASPA 105--Beaufort Island, McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea; ASPA 
113--Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor, Anvers Island, Palmer 
Archipelago; ASPA 116--New College Valley, Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, 
Ross Island; ASPA 121--Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 124--Cape Crozier, 
Ross Island; ASPA 131--Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, 
Victoria Land; ASPA 138--Linnaeus Terrace, Asgard Range, Victoria Land; 
ASPA 139--Biscoe Point, Anvers Island, Palmer Archipelago; ASPA 155--
Cape Evans, Ross Island; ASPA 157--Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross 
Island; ASPA 158--Hut Point, Ross Island; ASPA 172--Lower Taylor 
Glacier and Blood Falls, Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria 
Land.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-029

4. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference. 
The applicant seeks an ACA permit for take and harmful interference for 
the purposes of herding native mammal and bird species away from 
aircraft runways, roads, and the ice pier at McMurdo Station, or the 
pier and general station area at Palmer Station to protect operational 
safety and prevent potential harm to the animals. Herding activities 
would be conducted in accordance with procedures using humane and non-
lethal techniques to move animals while causing as little disturbance 
to the animals as possible. Individuals tasked with herding would be 
specifically trained in the herding techniques and procedures. Most 
commonly encountered wildlife at McMurdo Station includes Weddell 
seals, Adelie penguins, Emperor penguins, and South Polar skuas. Most 
commonly encountered wildlife at Palmer Station includes Elephant 
seals, Antarctic fur seals, Crabeater seals, Adelie penguins, Gentoo 
penguins, Chinstrap penguins, and Brown skuas.
    Location: McMurdo Station, Ross Sea; Palmer Station, Anvers Island, 
Antarctic Peninsula Area.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-030

5. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for entry into 
Arrival Heights, Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 122 for 
ongoing scientific work by U.S. Antarctic Program principal 
investigators and their teams. Additionally Antarctic Support Contract 
(ASC) personnel would need access to the site daily for equipment 
monitoring, data acquisition, calibrations, and repairs. Official 
scientific visitors would also enter the site for educational and 
oversight purposes. Other ASC personnel may be called upon to perform 
inspections, maintenance, fueling, or repair functions at facilities 
within the ASPA. Environmental representatives may enter the site to 
observe and determine whether modifications to the management plan are 
warranted. All visits would be conducted in accordance with the 
management plan for each specific site.
    Location: ASPA 122--Arrival Heights, Hut Point Peninsula, Ross 
Island.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-031

6. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
entering Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) to support National 
Science Foundation (NSF) funded U.S. Antarctic Program science 
operations accessed using small boats from U.S. Antarctic Program 
research vessels or from Palmer Station. The ASPAs that would be 
entered are locations of routine support by Antarctic Support Contract 
station staff and marine technicians who commonly aid in transport, 
field camp put-in and take-out in support of science at these 
locations. Personnel would only enter ASPAs in support of science 
expeditions which would obtain separate ACA permits for entry to, and 
work within each specific ASPA. All visits would be conducted in 
accordance with the management plan for each specific site.
    Location: ASPA 113--Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor, Anvers 
Island, Palmer Archipelago; ASPA 117--Avian Island, Marguerite Bay, 
Antarctic Peninsula; ASPA 126--Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island; ASPA 
128--Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland 
Islands; ASPA 139--Biscoe Point, Anvers Island, Palmer Archipelago; 
ASPA 149--Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Island, Livingston Island, South 
Shetland Islands; ASPA 161--Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea; ASPA 173--Cape 
Washington and Silverfish Bay, Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-032

    7. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce Non-Indigenous 
Species into Antarctica. The applicants seeks an ACA permit to 
introduce non-indigenous species into Antarctica for the purposes of 
wastewater treatment at McMurdo Station. The applicant would introduce 
commercially available, proprietary bacteria supplement D500A for 
municipal wastewater treatment plants, for use at the wastewater 
treatment plant at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Benefits include better 
sludge settling, better dewatering, control of surface foam and 
filamentous growth, reduction of total sludge volume, and improved 
wastewater plant performance. Bacteria would not be released into the 
environment. Once expired, bacteria are captured in wastewater 
treatment plant solids that are retrograded to the United States. 
Effluent from the treatment plant is treated with UV sterilization 
before discharge.
    Location: McMurdo Station, Ross Sea.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-033

8. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
entering Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) to support National 
Science Foundation (NSF) funded U.S. Antarctic Program science 
operations. Antarctic Support Contract Operations and support personnel 
are required to conduct occasional operations, maintenance, 
construction, and rehabilitation activities in support of U.S. 
Antarctic Program science at designated ASPAs in the Ross Sea

[[Page 78134]]

region. ASPAs in this region are generally accessed via helicopter, 
thus a helicopter pilot and helicopter technician would accompany the 
operations personnel. No structures or scientific equipment would be 
erected within the ASPAs except as specified in separate science 
project specific ACA permits. All visits would be conducted in 
accordance with the management plan for each specific site.
    Location: ASPA 121--Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 124--Cape 
Crozier, Ross Island; ASPA 131--Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor 
Valley, Victoria Land; ASPA 137--North-West White Island, McMurdo 
Sound; ASPA 138--Linnaeus Terrace, Asgard Range, Victoria Land; ASPA 
172--Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry 
Valleys, Victoria Land; ASPA 175--High Altitude Geothermal sites of the 
Ross Sea Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

Permit Application: 2023-034

    9. Applicant: Michael Raabe, Leidos Innovations Group, Antarctic 
Support Contract, 7400 S Tucson Way, Centennial, CO. 
[email protected].

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially 
Protected Area. The applicant seeks an ACA permit for the purposes of 
entering Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) to support National 
Science Foundation (NSF) environmental management responsibilities 
under Annex V of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the 
Antarctic Treaty. A review of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 
management plans must be initiated at least every five years to; gather 
up to date information on site status; verify that the reasons for 
special protection remain valid; verify that the values being protected 
are being maintained; verify that the management measures in place are 
sufficient to provide protection; and recommend and management measures 
that may be necessary to maintain the values being protected. Antarctic 
Support Contract Environmental Engineering personnel would enter the 
listed ASPAs to collect information in support of 5-year ASPA 
management plan reviews, for general management and maintenance 
concerns, and to address any environmental concern or potential release 
within the ASPA. All visits would be conducted in accordance with the 
management plan for each specific site.
    Location: ASPA 105--Beaufort Island, McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea; ASPA 
106--Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, Ross Sea; ASPA 113--
Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor, Anvers Island, Palmer Archipelago; 
ASPA 121--Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 123--Barwick and Balham 
Valleys, Southern Victoria Land; ASPA 124--Cape Crozier, Ross Island; 
ASPA 128--Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South 
Shetland Islands; ASPA 131--Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor 
Valley, Victoria Land; ASPA 137--North-West White Island, McMurdo 
Sound; ASPA 138--Linnaeus Terrace, Asgard Range, Victoria Land; ASPA 
139--Biscoe Point, Anvers Island, Palmer Archipelago; ASPA 149--Cape 
Shirreff and San Telmo Island, Livingston Island, South Shetland 
Islands; ASPA 154--Botany Bay, Cape Geology, Victoria Island; ASPA 
172--Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry 
Valleys, Victoria Land; ASPA 175--High Altitude Geothermal sites of the 
Ross Sea Region; ASPA 176--Rosenthal Islands, Anvers Island, Palmer 
Archipelago.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: February 1, 2023-January 31, 2028.

    Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-27743 Filed 12-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P