[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74302-74303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20690]


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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

[[Page 74303]]

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 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.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2025-012

1. Applicant: Heather Lynch, Stony Brook University, IACS 163, Stony 
Brook, NY 11794
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Harmful Interference, Enter 
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The applicant would survey 
chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colonies in the South 
Shetland Islands including multiple sites on Low Island. The outcomes 
of the surveys would be useful in determining population abundance and 
distribution of chinstrap penguins, important consumers of Antarctic 
krill. Surveys would be completed using direct manual counts (on foot) 
and by operating small, remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) over 
colonies. RPAS would be operated by experienced pilots at altitudes of 
at least 30 meters above wildlife. Although no significant disturbance 
is expected, both manual counts and RPAS overflights have the potential 
to disturb chinstrap penguins as well as Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis 
adeliae), Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua), the Southern giant petrel 
(Macronectes giganteus), Southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides), Cape 
petrel (Deption capense), Antarctic blue-eyed shag (Phalacrocorax 
atriceps), Antarctic brown skua (Catharacta antarctica), South polar 
skua (Catharacta maccormicki), Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), and the 
Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) based on the location of the surveys. 
While conducting visitor site surveys and censuses, the applicant would 
potentially enter a number of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas 
(ASPAs) in the Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Location: King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Robert 
Island, Livingston Island; Western Antarctic Peninsula; ASPA 112, 
Coppermine Peninsula, Robert Island, South Shetland Islands; ASPA 125, 
Fildes Peninsula, King George Island (25 de Mayo); ASPA 126 Byers 
Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands; ASPA 128, Western 
shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands; 
ASPA 132, Potter Peninsula, King George Island (Isla 25 de Mayo, South 
Shetland Islands; ASPA 133, Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South 
Shetland Islands; ASPA 134, Cierva Point and offshore islands, Danco 
Coast, Antarctic Peninsula; ASPA 139, Biscoe Point, Anvers Island, 
Palmer Archipelago; ASPA 150, Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay, King George 
Island (25 de Mayo); ASPA 151, Lions Rump, King George Island, South 
Shetland Islands; ASPA 171, Narebski Point, Barton Peninsula, King 
George Island; ASPA 180, Danger Islands; ASPA 182, Western Bransfield 
Strait and Eastern Dallman Bay.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 1, 2024-March 1, 2025

Alina Pavao,
Administrative Assistant, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2024-20690 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P