[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 86159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27214]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-4479, or [email protected].

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 a requiring special protection. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

 Permit Application: 2024-013

1. Applicant: Daniel Villa, Sea Shepherd Global, 1217 S 9th St., 
Tacoma, WA 98405
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant has provided a revised application to seek an Antarctic 
Conservation Permit for waste management activities associated with use 
of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. Aircrafts will be 
used for documenting krill fishery activities and capturing video 
footage of wildlife from an oblique angle at least 75 m away in all 
directions. RPAs will not be flown over any concentrations of wildlife, 
Antarctic Specially Protected or Managed Areas or Historic Sites and 
Monuments without appropriate authorization. Aircraft are only to be 
flown by experienced, pre-approved pilots in fair weather conditions 
and in the presence of an observer, who will always maintain visual 
line of sight with the aircraft during operation. Mitigating measures 
are in place to prevent loss of the aircraft such as conducting site 
assessments in advance of deployment and having alternative landing 
sites.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 5, 2023-February 15, 2024.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-27214 Filed 12-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P