[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 67825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21703]


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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 November 1, 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

1. Applicant

Permit Application: 2024-011.
Alia Khan, 516 High St. M.S. 9181 Bellingham, WA 98225.

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Harmful Interference. The applicant proposes to collect snow 
samples across the West Antarctic Peninsula region for scientific 
purposes. Collecting samples adjacent to high density penguin areas is 
critical to the study. There is the potential for slight disturbance of 
penguin species during sampling and installation of time lapse cameras. 
This permit would address the potential for harmful interference of the 
following species: Adelie penguin (Pygoselis adeliae), chinstrap 
penguin (P. antarctica), and the gentoo penguin, (P. papua). The 
applicant would not directly enter penguin colonies, or approach 
penguins within 5 meters.

Location

    Antarctica Peninsula Region, Palmer Station area; Booth Island, and 
Petermann Island.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    November 24, 2023-March 31, 2028.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-21703 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P