80 FR 57403 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 184 (September 23, 2015)

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 at title 45 part 671 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57403-57404]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24177]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act.

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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 at title 45 part 671 
of 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 23, 2015. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Li Ling Hamady, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address or [email protected] or (703) 292-7149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541), 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 a requiring special protection. The 
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.
    Application Details:

Permit Application: 2016-007

1. Applicant John McKeon, President, Polar Latitudes, Inc., 857 Post 
Road, #366, Fairfield, CT 06825.

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Type, description of activity

Location

    Waste Permit;
    For Coastal Camping: The applicant seeks permission for no more 
than 30 campers and two expedition staff to camp overnight at select 
locations for a maximum of 10 hours ashore. Camping would be away from 
vegetated sites and >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 would be brought onshore and all wastes, 
including human waste, would be collected and returned to the ship for 
proper disposal. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any 
accidental releases that may result from camping. For UAV Filming: The 
applicant wishes to fly small, battery operated, remotely controlled 
copters equipped with a cameras to take scenic photos and film of the 
Antarctic. The UAVs would not be flown over concentrations of birds or 
mammals or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The UAVs would 
only be flown by operators with extensive experience (>20 hours), who 
are pre-approved by the Expedition Leader. Several measures would be 
taken to prevent against loss of the UAV including painting the 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; having 
prop guards on propeller tips, a flotation device if operated over 
water, and a ``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 UAV does not exceed an operational range of 500 meters. The 
applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases 
that may result from flying a UAV.

[[Page 57404]]

Location

    Camping: Possible locations include Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco 
Island, Rong[eacute] Island, the Errera Channel, Paradise Bay 
(including Almirante Brown/Base Brown or Skontorp Cove), the Argentine 
Islands, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, the Argentine Islands, Hovgaard 
Island, Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect Point and Portal Point.
    UAV filming: Western Antarctic Peninsula region

Dates

    October 30, 2015 to March 19, 2016.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-24177 Filed 9-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P