[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64484-64485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17437]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit modification request received and permit 
issued.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a 
notice of requests to modify permits issued 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 a requested 
permit modification issued.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, 
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-4479; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation (NSF), 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.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued 
a permit (ACA 2023-004) to Steve Emslie on July 26, 2022. The issued 
permit allows for take and harmful interference associated with 
research examining ecological responses in diet and foraging behavior 
of the Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in Antarctica. The permit 
holder may collect up to 150 ancient and modern penguin tissues per 
year at active and abandoned penguin colonies in the Ross Sea region. 
Ice-free areas would be surveyed and sampled through excavations 1x1 m 
in size, of sediment and rock in penguin colonies, and bones, feathers, 
eggshell, and whole

[[Page 64485]]

carcasses would be salvaged. The permit holder may collect salvaged 
whole or partial seabird carcasses, up to 10 of each species per year, 
of native Antarctic birds found dead on beaches, at seabird colonies, 
at McMurdo and Palmer stations, or on any U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) 
vessel. The applicant may enter ASPAs 104, 105, 106, 121, 124, 159, 
161, 165.
    Now the applicant proposes a modification to the permit to add 
access to ASPA 178--Inexpressible Island and Seaview Bay, Ross Sea to 
continue diet and foraging behavior research. The activities are 
consistent with the management plan for the ASPA.
    The ACA Permit Officer has reviewed the modification request and 
has determined that the amendment is not a material change to the 
permit, and it will have a less than a minor or transitory impact.
    Dates: July 26, 2022 to December 31, 2025.

    The permit modification was issued on June 25, 2024.
Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2024-17437 Filed 8-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P