Notice2022-25032
Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 17, 2022
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69051-69052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25032]
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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 December 19, 2022.
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8dccceccfde8ffe0e4f9fecde3feeba3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b0a080a3b2e3926223f380b25382d652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>.
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: 2023-020
1. Applicant: Lyndsey Lewis, Quark Expeditions, Seattle, WA 98121.
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d7a7b2a5babea3a497a6a2b6a5bcb2afa7b2b3bea3beb8b9a4f9b4b8ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="403025322d29343300313521322b25383025242934292f2e336e232f2d">[email protected]</span></a>
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation
Permit for waste management activities associated with the operation of
tour vessels in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Activities include
helicopter flights and helicopter based shore activities at select
locations, short overnight stays (camping) at select locations, and the
use of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. For helicopter
operations, the applicant would bring ashore cooking fuel and batteries
to be used in emergency situations only. All materials brought shore
during helicopter-based activities would be removed from the continent
following each activity and measures would be taken to minimize
environmental impact in the event of a release. Helicopters would only
be refueled aboard the operator's vessel and measures will be in place
to prevent accidental discharge. For short overnight stays (camping),
the applicant seeks permission for no more than 60 campers and
expedition staff to camp overnight at select locations for a maximum of
10 hours ashore. Camping would be away from vegetated sites and at
least 150m from wildlife concentrations or lakes, protected areas,
historical sites, and scientific stations. Tents would be pitched on
snow, ice, or bare smooth rock, at least 15m from the high-water line.
No food, other than emergency rations, would be brought onshore and all
wastes, including human waste, would be collected and returned to the
ship for proper disposal. For remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)
operation, the applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated
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
measures would be taken to prevent against loss of the quadcopter
including painting them a highly visible color; only flying when the
wind is less than 25 knots; flying for only 15 minutes at a time to
preserve battery life, 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; and ensuring that the separation between the operator
and quadcopter does not exceed an operational range of 500 meters.
Location
Andvord Bay, Argentine Islands, Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco
Island, Errera Channel, Horseshoe Island, Hovgaard Island, Leith Cove,
Lefevre-Utile Point, The Naze, Orne Harbor, Paradise Bay, Pleneau
Island, Portal Point, Prospect Point, Ronge Island, Skontorp Cove,
Stony Point, Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
November 1, 2022-March 31, 2027.
Permit Application: 2023-021
2. Applicant: John Dennis, Albatros Expeditions, 4770 Biscayne Blvd.
PHR, Miami, FL 33137
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act
permit for waste management activities associated with the use of
Remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in
Antarctica. RPAs will be flown by experienced, pre-approved pilots for
educational, commercial, or marketing purposes. Aircrafts will not be
flown over any concentrations of wildlife, or any Antarctic Specially
Protected or Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments
without appropriate authorization. Operators will maintain visual line
of sight with the aircraft during all flight operations, and measures
will be in place to prevent loss of aircraft during operations.
Observers will be present to observe for any wildlife or other
potential hazards. ATVs will be used to support onshore activities and
will be refueled once daily. Refueling of ATVs will be done by
experienced staff and precautions will be taken to prevent any
accidental release of fuel. Supplies will be on hand to assist in
cleanup of any fuel spilled during operations. The applicant seeks a
waste management permit to cover
[[Page 69052]]
any accidental release that may result from the use of RPAs or ATVs.
Location
Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
November 1, 2022-March 31, 2027.
Permit Application: 2023-022
3. Applicant: Deirdre Dirkman, Vantage Travel, 90 Canal St., Boston, MA
02114
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation
Permit for waste management activities associated with use of remotely
piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. Aircrafts will be launched from
land or by boat and will be used for commercial, marketing, or
educational purposes only. 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. Measures are in place to prevent loss of the
aircraft.
Location
Antarctic Peninsula region, Ross Sea region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
December 20, 2022-March 31, 2027.
Permit Application: 2023-023
4. Applicant: David Sagrista, Atlas Ocean Voyages, 1 E Broward Blvd.
Suite 800, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act
permit for waste management activities associated with the use of
Remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in Antarctica. RPAs will be flown by
experienced, pre-approved pilots for educational, commercial, or
marketing purposes. RPAs will only be flown in fair-weather conditions
with wind speeds less than 7m/s. Aircrafts will not be flown over any
concentrations of wildlife, or any Antarctic Specially Protected or
Managed Areas. Operators and observers will maintain visual line of
sight with the aircraft during all flight operations, and measures will
be in place to prevent loss of aircraft during operations. The
applicant seeks a waste management permit to cover any accidental
release that may result from the use of RPAs.
Location
Antarctic Peninsula region.
Dates of Permitted Activities
December 1, 2022-March 31, 2027.
Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-25032 Filed 11-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 17, 2022.
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