Notice2024-20681
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
September 12, 2024
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 89 Issue 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 74302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eaaba9ab9a8f9887839e99aa84998cc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9f8faf8c9dccbd4d0cdcaf9d7cadf97ded6cf">[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 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
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 12, 2024.
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