[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53932-53933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17080]


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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 September 8, 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: 2024-004

1. Applicant: Dr. Paul Ponganis, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 
UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0204
    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area. The applicant seeks an 
Antarctic Conservation Act permit authorizing take and harmful 
interference associated with ongoing research examining the oxygen 
transport systems of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) in 
Antarctica. The applicant proposes capturing up to 38 non-breeding or 
sub-adult penguins from the McMurdo Sound region or, if necessary, in 
Cape Washington (ASPA 173). The applicant will access ASPA 173 by 
fixed-wing aircraft in accordance with the ASPA management plan. 
Throughout the course of the physiology study, penguins will be kept 
captive on the sea ice, but will be allowed to dive and forage at will. 
Research activities involve the administration of general anesthesia 
and the attachment of instrumentation to measure oxygen levels, heart 
rate/stroke rate, and dive depth/activity. In some penguins, blood 
samples may be collected during dives. At the end of each dive study, 
equipment will be removed, and the penguins will be released at the 
McMurdo Sea ice edge, where they will be able to rejoin nearby 
colonies.
    Location: McMurdo Sound, ASPA 173: Cape Washington and Silverfish 
Bay
    Dates of Permitted Activities: October 1, 2023-December 20, 2023.
Permit Application: 2024-005
2. Applicant: Rachael Herman, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 
11794-5215
    Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Import into USA. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act 
permit authorizing take and harmful interference and import of samples 
to the USA associated with research examining adaptation of Gentoo 
penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica. The applicant proposes 
collecting blood samples from up to 20

[[Page 53933]]

Gentoo penguins, feather samples from up to 5 Gentoo penguins, and 
blood samples from up to 10 Adelie penguins (P. adeliae) from the 
Antarctic Peninsula region. The applicant also proposes to salvage a 
maximum of 10 failed gentoo penguin eggs, and up to 2 recently deceased 
Gentoo penguin carcasses.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: November 1, 2023-March 31, 2024.

Kimiko Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-17080 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P