[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 86160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27211]


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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 January 11, 2024. 
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: 2024-018
Sarah Kienle, Baylor University, Baylor Science Building, One Bear 
Place #97388, Waco, TX 76798

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take, Import into USA, Export from USA. The applicant seeks an ACA 
permit for research on the adaptive capacity of pinnipeds in 
Antarctica. The applicant proposes to collect tissue samples from 
leopard, crabeater, Weddell, Ross, and southern elephant seals using a 
biopsy dart gun. The applicant proposes to also opportunistically 
collect tissue samples found near animals. The applicant proposes to 
handle up to 30 pups and 30 adults each year. Adult seals would be 
chemically immobilized and physiological samples taken. Adult seals 
would also be marked and have biologging instruments attached. 
Additionally, the applicant proposes to use Remotely Piloted Aircraft 
Systems (RPAS) to conduct photographic surveys of seals.

Location

    Antarctic Peninsula Region.

Dates of Permitted Activities

    January 20, 2024-June 20, 2026.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-27211 Filed 12-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P