[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78067-78068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25002]


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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 December 14, 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 part 
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.

[[Page 78068]]

Application Details

Permit Application: 2024-016

1. Applicant: Richard Boydon, Princess Cruise Line, 24305 Town Center 
Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated remotely piloted 
aircraft systems (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. Several mitigation measures to reduce environmental impacts and 
prevent against loss of the quadcopter would be in place. Biosecurity 
procedures would be in place by using disinfecting agents before and 
after each flight. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any 
accidental releases that may result from operating the RPAS.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 19, 2023-February 05, 2024.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-25002 Filed 11-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P