Notice2025-20321
Notice of Permit Modification 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 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of requests to modify permits issued 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 a requested permit modification issued.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 221 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52118-52119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20321]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice of permit modification request received and permit
issued.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a
notice of requests to modify permits issued 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 a requested
permit modification issued.
DATES: November 6, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer,
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-4479; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#135250526376617e7a6760537d60753d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="efaeacae9f8a9d82869b9caf819c89c1888099">[email protected]</span></a>.
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.
Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued
a permit (ACA 2021-008) to Michael Gooseff on March 22, 2021. The
issued permit allows the applicant to enter Antarctic Specially
Protected Areas (ASPA) 131 and 172 (45 CFR 670) in association with
ongoing stream flow and water quality research as a part of the McMurdo
Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. The permit
allows for access to ASPA 172 to continue measurements of the Santa Fe
stream including stream-flow using velocity meters, pH, temperature,
and conductivity via meters, and collection of water quality samples.
The applicant proposes a modification to the permit to study
subsurface water movement under the Lower Taylor Glacier by accessing
the sub-aerial component of ASPA 172 to deploy up to eight SmartSolo
IGU-16HR 3C geophones on the glacier's surface. Each instrument has a
footprint of approximately 4 inches x 4 inches and would be attached to
the glacier's
[[Page 52119]]
surface by hand-auguring one 8-inch deep and 6-inch wide hole per
instrument and affixing with spikes within the hole. The instruments
contain an internal lithium-ion battery for power. The instruments
would be deployed in November 2025 and retrieved in December 2025. All
required biosecurity protocols for entering the sub-aerial component of
the ASPA would be followed, including sterilizing footwear and
equipment prior to entry and the use of sterile, protective over-
clothing.
The ACA Permit Officer has reviewed the modification request and
has determined that the amendment is not a material change to the
permit, and that the permitted work will have a less than a minor or
transitory impact.
The permit modification was issued on November 6, 2025
Jean C. Allen,
Office Director, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2025-20321 Filed 11-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 19, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.