[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63631-63632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19966]


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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 October 16, 2023. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

[[Page 63632]]


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: 2024-009

1. Applicant
    Steve Wellmeier, Director of Special Projects, Poseidon Expeditions 
USA LLC, 245 Warwick Ave, Suite 119, Warwick, RI 02889
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 30 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 wildlife concentrations, avoiding any 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, Errera Channel, 
Neumeyer Channel, Petermann Island, other locations south of the 
Lemaire Channel, locations in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic 
Sound, Antarctic Peninsula area.
Dates of Permitted Activities
    October 28, 2023-March 30, 2028.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-19966 Filed 9-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P