Notice2025-17440
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 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permit applications received to conduct activities consistent with the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 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 90 Issue 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44109-44110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17440]
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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
notice of permit applications received to conduct activities consistent
with the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published
regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 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 14, 2025.
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#317072704154435c584542715f42571f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="662725271603140b0f12152608150048010910">[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, 16 U.S.C.
2401 et seq.), as amended by the Antarctic Science, Tourism and
Conservation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-227), has developed regulations
(45 CFR parts 670 to 674) for the establishment of a permit system for
various activities in Antarctica related to the designation of certain
animals and certain geographic areas as requiring special protection,
among other purposes.
Application Details
1. Permit Application: 2026-004
Applicant: Sarah Conner, BBC Studios Americas Inc., 1120 Avenue of the
Americas, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10036
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Harmful Interference (45
CFR 670). The applicant requests a permit in association with
documentary film making activities. Activities would focus on the
filming of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) through filming from
underwater, using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and land-
based platforms. The applicant requests up to 30 disturbances per day,
not to exceed 280 disturbances for the project. During this project,
the applicant requests incidental interaction with no more than 1
Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) per week, and 1 Leopard seal
(Hydrurga leptonyx) per week. Filming would occur at maintained U.S.
Antarctic Program dive sites in McMurdo Sound and Erebus Bay. Animal
approaches would be gradual, and no animal will be approached closer
than 5m. Newborn neonate pups will not be approached. The applicant
would operate, battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft systems
(RPAS) consisting, in part, of a quadcopter equipped with cameras. The
RPAS would only be operated by a pilot with extensive experience.
Takeoff and landing would occur at least 100m away from animals, and
flown above animals at a minimum altitude of 23m, dropping to 10m only
if no signs of disturbance have been detected. The applicant has
received a NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service permit for these
activities.
Location: McMurdo Sound and Erebus Bay.
Dates of Permitted Activities: October 8, 2025-November 15, 2025
Permit Application: 2026-005
2. Applicant: Jason Flesher, Scenic Luxury Tours and Cruises, 6422 W
Briles Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85083
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially
Protected Area (45 CFR 670). The applicant seeks a permit authorizing
entry into Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) in association
with visits to historic huts in the Ross Sea and East Antarctica
regions. Up to 580 persons would enter each ASPA accompanied
[[Page 44110]]
by guides trained in the history and preservation of the historic huts.
All visits would be in accordance with the management plans for each
ASPA.
Locations: ASPA 155--Cape Evans, Ross Island; ASPA 157--Backdoor
Bay, Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 158--Hut Point, Ross Island; ASPA
162--Mawson's Huts, Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land, East
Antarctica.
Dates of Permitted Activities: December 14, 2025-February 22, 2026.
Jean C Allen,
Office Director, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2025-17440 Filed 9-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2025.
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