[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 74302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20681]


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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 October 15, 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

Permit Application: 2025-011

    1. Applicant: Robin West, VP & GM Expeditions, Seabourn Quest, 
Seabourn Cruise Line Ltd., 450 Third Ave. W, Seattle, WA 98119.
    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 include painting the them a 
high-visibility color; only flying when the wind is less than 25 knots; 
flying for only 15 minutes at a time to preserve battery life; having 
prop guards on propeller tips, a flotation device if operated over 
water, and an ``auto go home'' feature in case of loss of control link 
or low battery; having an observer on the lookout for wildlife, people, 
and other hazards; ensuring that the separation between the operator 
and quadcopter does not exceed an operational range of 500 meters; and 
implementing biosecurity measures 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: October 27, 2024-March 6, 2028.

Permit Application: 2025-013

    2. Applicant: Heather Lynch, Stony Brook University, IACS 163, 
Stony Brook, NY 11794.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act waste management permit 
for activities associated with penguin population surveys in the 
Western Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The 
applicant proposes using battery-powered, quadrotor unmanned aerial 
vehicles (UAVs) to assist in the collection of imagery data for a 
multi-scale population census of penguin colonies. The UAV will only be 
flown by a pilot with extensive experience. Mitigation measures will be 
put in place to prevent loss of aircraft. These measures include UAVs 
being flown by a trained pilot in fair-weather conditions and having 
stationed observers maintain visual contact with the aircraft at all 
times. The applicant proposes various recovery methods in the unlikely 
event that an aircraft is lost over land or sea. These measures will 
limit any potential impacts on the Antarctic environment. The applicant 
seeks a waste permit to cover any accidental release that may result 
from UAV use.
    Location: King George Island, South Shetland Islands; Western 
Antarctic Peninsula.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2024-March 1, 2025.

Alina Pavao,
Administrative Assistant, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2024-20681 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P