81 FR 62541 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)

Page Range		62541-62542
FR Document		2016-21669

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 81 Issue 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62541-62542]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21669]



[[Page 62541]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 11, 2016. 
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: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address or ACApermits@nsf.gov.

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: 2017-013

1. Applicant: Dr. George Watters, Director, AMLR Program, Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8901 La 
Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
    Waste Management Permit. This permit application pertains to ship 
and shore-based research and logistic activities conducted by the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Antarctic 
Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program. The AMLR Program conducts 
research from a vessel platform in the Antarctic Peninsula region, 
collecting environmental, oceanographic, primary productivity, finfish 
and prey data (zooplankton abundance and distribution, particularly 
Antarctic krill Euphausia superba). In addition, the applicant conducts 
krill-dependent, land-based predator investigations at two temporary 
field camps in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica: Cape Shirreff 
and Copacabana.
    Cape Shirreff is a temporary, multi-year field camp on Livingston 
Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. During each year of the 
proposed permitting period (2016-2021), the field camp will typically 
be occupied for less than five months (<=150 days; normally around 120 
days) during the austral spring/summers and will house 4-6 researchers. 
Semiannually for short durations only (usually less than two weeks), an 
additional group of two to four researchers may reside in a temporary 
tent structure; tent location will be setup to minimize impact on flora 
and fauna. In addition, the AMLR Program utilizes an all-terrain 
vehicle (ATV) that is stored at the Cape Shirreff field camp.
    Copacabana field camp is located in Antarctic Specially Protected 
Area (ASPA) Number 8 (Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George 
Island, South Shetland Islands). The approximate coordinates of the 
camp are 62[deg]10' South latitude by 58[deg] 28' West longitude. The 
camp consists of four structures connected by walkways. All buildings 
and equipment are properly sealed and stored over the winters such that 
they are inaccessible to wildlife. The AMLR Program recognizes the 
status of Copacabana as an ASPA (No. 128) and adheres to all protection 
afforded as such. During the proposed permitting period (2016-2021), 
the field camp may be occupied for significantly shorter periods than 
historically, typically less than one month (<=30 days) during the 
austral summer of each year.
    Research equipment deployed near both field will include a snow 
measurement gauge and remote, autonomous cameras and will be removed 
from the field at the conclusion of the work. The AMLR program will 
also continue their use of a vertical take-off and landing unmanned 
aerial vehicle (VTOL-UAV) for conducting census surveys of animal 
colonies. The VTOL-UAV that the applicant proposes to deploy has GPS 
capability and will fly missions up to 30 minutes at altitudes between 
75 and 300 feet. The aircraft are operated by trained, experienced 
pilots and flight crews. Observers will be used to maintain visual 
line-of-sight with the UAV any time the aircraft is more than 300 m 
from the pilot. Appropriate safety measures will be in place and best 
practices for operating in polar environments will be employed.
    Wastes and designated pollutants associated with typical field camp 
operations will be generated, released, stored, and removed. The field 
camps will release wastes to air in the form of emissions resulting 
from the combustion of gasoline, propane, and charcoal. Releases of 
wastes to water will be limited to greywater and human sewage only. 
Sewage is disposed of directly into the sea with appropriate mixing. 
Wastes and designated pollutants resulting from scientific research 
include materials used to mark animals (e.g. paints, dyes, tags) and 
doubly-labeled water used to measure energetics and body condition in 
fur seals. All radioisotope materials will be handled to minimize the 
risk of inadvertent release.
    Releases associated with camp logistics and operations occur daily 
throughout the period of camp occupation. Releases resulting from 
research activities occur episodically throughout the field season. 
Other than the above releases, all other wastes will be packaged (or 
otherwise contained) and removed from the site for proper disposal 
under approved guidelines. As far as possible, removal via transfer to 
the AMLR research vessel will occur annually. Waste awaiting retrograde 
will be stored under cover (e.g., in buildings, fish boxes, tents, or 
under tarps) to ensure that it is isolated from wildlife and is not 
scattered by wind.
    Over the period 2017-2021, the AMLR Program plans to conduct three 
surveys including 30-90 days of vessel operations in the Antarctic 
Peninsula region annually during the austral summer. The vessel follows 
a standardized survey grid, and depending on the focus any given year, 
additional smaller sections of the region are surveyed. During the 
surveys, the Program deploys drifters and expendable bathythermographs 
(XBTs) and expendable conductivity-temperature and depth (XCTDS) probes 
to collect hydrographic data within the study area to better understand 
the relationship between the target species and their environment, and 
to help partner programs (NOAA Global Drifter Program) with deployment 
of their instruments. The applicant plan annual

[[Page 62542]]

deployments up to 150 XBTs, 20 XCTDS and 55 drifters. The U.S. AMLR 
Program may deploy upwards of three mooring arrays which will release 
up to 6 ferrous weights (train wheels), at the recovery of the 
mooring(s). Each mooring weight set will weigh between 750 and 1500lbs, 
depending on the magnitude of the current speed in the vicinity of the 
mooring locations. These mooring weights will not be recovered. In 
addition to drifters and XBTs, the AMLR Program also deploys and 
recovers a variety of gears that are not intentionally released into 
the environment. These may include both oceanographic instruments and 
fishing gears, for example: Conductivity-temperature-depth profilers 
(CTD), plankton nets, commercial bottom trawls, continuous plankton 
records, winged optical particle counters, towed current profilers, and 
acoustic buoys.

Location

    Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island; Copacabana, western shore of 
Admiralty Bay; Western Antarctic Peninsula

    Dates: October 1, 2016-July 30, 2021.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-21669 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2016 / Notices 62541

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Oceanic and Atmospheric capability and will fly missions up to 30
Administration’s (NOAA) Antarctic minutes at altitudes between 75 and 300
Notice of Permit Applications Received Marine Living Resources (AMLR) feet. The aircraft are operated by
Under the Antarctic Conservation Act Program. The AMLR Program conducts trained, experienced pilots and flight
of 1978 research from a vessel platform in the crews. Observers will be used to
Antarctic Peninsula region, collecting maintain visual line-of-sight with the
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
environmental, oceanographic, primary UAV any time the aircraft is more than
ACTION: Notice of permit applications productivity, finfish and prey data 300 m from the pilot. Appropriate safety
received under the Antarctic (zooplankton abundance and measures will be in place and best
Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law distribution, particularly Antarctic krill practices for operating in polar
95–541. Euphausia superba). In addition, the environments will be employed.
SUMMARY: The National Science applicant conducts krill-dependent, Wastes and designated pollutants
Foundation (NSF) is required to publish land-based predator investigations at associated with typical field camp
two temporary field camps in the South operations will be generated, released,
a notice of permit applications received
Shetland Islands, Antarctica: Cape stored, and removed. The field camps
to conduct activities regulated under the
Shirreff and Copacabana. will release wastes to air in the form of
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.
Cape Shirreff is a temporary, multi- emissions resulting from the
NSF has published regulations under
year field camp on Livingston Island, combustion of gasoline, propane, and
the Antarctic Conservation Act at title
South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. charcoal. Releases of wastes to water
45 part 671 of the Code of Federal
During each year of the proposed will be limited to greywater and human
Regulations. This is the required notice
permitting period (2016–2021), the field sewage only. Sewage is disposed of
of permit applications received.
camp will typically be occupied for less directly into the sea with appropriate
DATES: Interested parties are invited to than five months (≤150 days; normally mixing. Wastes and designated
submit written data, comments, or around 120 days) during the austral pollutants resulting from scientific
views with respect to this permit spring/summers and will house 4–6 research include materials used to mark
application by October 11, 2016. This researchers. Semiannually for short animals (e.g. paints, dyes, tags) and
application may be inspected by durations only (usually less than two doubly-labeled water used to measure
interested parties at the Permit Office, weeks), an additional group of two to energetics and body condition in fur
address below. four researchers may reside in a seals. All radioisotope materials will be
ADDRESSES: Comments should be temporary tent structure; tent location handled to minimize the risk of
addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, will be setup to minimize impact on inadvertent release.
Division of Polar Programs, National flora and fauna. In addition, the AMLR Releases associated with camp
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Program utilizes an all-terrain vehicle logistics and operations occur daily
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. (ATV) that is stored at the Cape Shirreff throughout the period of camp
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: field camp. occupation. Releases resulting from
Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at Copacabana field camp is located in research activities occur episodically
the above address or ACApermits@ Antarctic Specially Protected Area throughout the field season. Other than
nsf.gov. (ASPA) Number 8 (Western Shore of the above releases, all other wastes will
Admiralty Bay, King George Island, be packaged (or otherwise contained)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
South Shetland Islands). The and removed from the site for proper
National Science Foundation, as approximate coordinates of the camp disposal under approved guidelines. As
directed by the Antarctic Conservation are 62°10′ South latitude by 58° 28′ far as possible, removal via transfer to
Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), as West longitude. The camp consists of the AMLR research vessel will occur
amended by the Antarctic Science, four structures connected by walkways. annually. Waste awaiting retrograde will
Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, All buildings and equipment are be stored under cover (e.g., in buildings,
has developed regulations for the properly sealed and stored over the fish boxes, tents, or under tarps) to
establishment of a permit system for winters such that they are inaccessible ensure that it is isolated from wildlife
various activities in Antarctica and to wildlife. The AMLR Program and is not scattered by wind.
designation of certain animals and recognizes the status of Copacabana as Over the period 2017–2021, the
certain geographic areas a requiring an ASPA (No. 128) and adheres to all AMLR Program plans to conduct three
special protection. The regulations protection afforded as such. During the surveys including 30–90 days of vessel
establish such a permit system to proposed permitting period (2016– operations in the Antarctic Peninsula
designate Antarctic Specially Protected 2021), the field camp may be occupied region annually during the austral
Areas. for significantly shorter periods than summer. The vessel follows a
Application Details historically, typically less than one standardized survey grid, and
month (≤30 days) during the austral depending on the focus any given year,
Permit Application: 2017–013 summer of each year. additional smaller sections of the region
1. Applicant: Dr. George Watters, Research equipment deployed near are surveyed. During the surveys, the
Director, AMLR Program, both field will include a snow Program deploys drifters and
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, measurement gauge and remote, expendable bathythermographs (XBTs)
autonomous cameras and will be and expendable conductivity-
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

National Marine Fisheries Service,
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, removed from the field at the temperature and depth (XCTDS) probes
CA 92037. conclusion of the work. The AMLR to collect hydrographic data within the
program will also continue their use of study area to better understand the
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested a vertical take-off and landing relationship between the target species
Waste Management Permit. This unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL–UAV) and their environment, and to help
permit application pertains to ship and for conducting census surveys of animal partner programs (NOAA Global Drifter
shore-based research and logistic colonies. The VTOL–UAV that the Program) with deployment of their
activities conducted by the National applicant proposes to deploy has GPS instruments. The applicant plan annual

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:11 Sep 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1

62542 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2016 / Notices

deployments up to 150 XBTs, 20 XCTDS Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson (doubly-labeled water studies using
and 55 drifters. The U.S. AMLR Program Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. stable and or radio-isotopes), diet
may deploy upwards of three mooring FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (including enema, milk collection for
arrays which will release up to 6 ferrous Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at fatty acid signature analysis, or tissues
weights (train wheels), at the recovery of the above address or ACApermits@ for stable isotope analysis), age
the mooring(s). Each mooring weight set nsf.gov. determination (post-canine tooth
will weigh between 750 and 1500lbs, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
extraction), pathology (blood
depending on the magnitude of the National Science Foundation, as collection), and population dynamics
current speed in the vicinity of the directed by the Antarctic Conservation (tagging). The U.S. AMLR Program does
mooring locations. These mooring Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), as not plan any lethal take; however,
weights will not be recovered. In amended by the Antarctic Science, accidental mortality as a direct result of
addition to drifters and XBTs, the Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, the studies is possible and thus
AMLR Program also deploys and has developed regulations for the included as part of this application. All
recovers a variety of gears that are not establishment of a permit system for methods to be used in the conduct of
intentionally released into the various activities in Antarctica and the proposed studies have been used
environment. These may include both designation of certain animals and extensively by U.S. AMLR researchers
oceanographic instruments and fishing certain geographic areas a requiring and the marine mammal research
gears, for example: Conductivity- special protection. The regulations community, generally. All studies of
temperature-depth profilers (CTD), establish such a permit system to foraging ecology, population dynamics,
plankton nets, commercial bottom designate Antarctic Specially Protected mark-recapture, census, reproductive
trawls, continuous plankton records, Areas. success and energetics are part of a long-
winged optical particle counters, towed term monitoring effort coordinated with
current profilers, and acoustic buoys. Application Details other Antarctic treaty nations under the
Permit Application: 2017–012 auspices of Convention for the
Location
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island; Applicant: Dr. George Watters, Director,
Resources (CCAMLR).
Copacabana, western shore of Admiralty AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries
Science Center, National Marine The U.S. AMLR Program also
Bay; Western Antarctic Peninsula proposes continue studies of the
Fisheries Service, 8901 La Jolla
Dates: October 1, 2016–July 30, 2021. Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037. behavioral ecology and population
Nadene G. Kennedy, biology of the Adélie, gentoo, and
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested chinstrap penguins, as well as
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of
Polar Programs. Take, Harmful Interference, Enter interactions among these species and
[FR Doc. 2016–21669 Filed 9–8–16; 8:45 am] Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, their principal avian predators (skuas,
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P Import into USA. This permit gulls, sheathbills and giant petrels).
application pertains to research These studies make use of permanent
activities conducted by the National marks (including flipper banding, pit
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Oceanic and Atmospheric tagging, and genetic markers) to identify
Administration’s (NOAA) Antarctic individuals and track them accurately
Notice of Permit Applications Received Marine Living Resources (AMLR) over time. The applicant will continue
Under the Antarctic Conservation Act Program. The U.S. AMLR Program to study penguins’ foraging habits,
of 1978 proposes to take pinniped species in the involving the use of VHF, PTT, GPS,
Antarctic Peninsula region, primarily at TDRs and GLS tags. These instruments
AGENCY: National Science Foundation. Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, as part may be deployed on adults of all species
ACTION: Notice of permit applications of a long-term ecosystem monitoring at any time during the breeding season
received under the Antarctic program established in 1986. Permission and on chicks of all species during the
Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law is requested to take Antarctic fur seals fledging period. Another component of
95–541. (Arctocephalus gazelle; 1203 adult/ the foraging behavior studies will
juvenile; 6005 pups), southern elephant involve diet collections using the wet
SUMMARY: The National Science seals (Mirounga leonine; 102 adult/ offloading technique. The applicant
Foundation (NSF) is required to publish juvenile; 102 pups), crabeater seals plans to stomach lavage adult penguins
a notice of permit applications received (Lobodon carcinophaga; census only), at each site. The applicant will also
to conduct activities regulated under the leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx; 202 collect data on egg sizes and adult
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. adult/juvenile), Ross seals weights of each species and weigh and
NSF has published regulations under (Ommatophoca rossii; census only), and measure chicks at crèche age (ca. 21
the Antarctic Conservation Act at title Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii; days of age) and fledging for
45 part 670 of the Code of Federal 62 adult/juvenile; 42 pups) by comparative annual growth indices in
Regulations. This is the required notice harassment associated with life-history all species. In addition, penguin
of permit applications received. studies and surveys to census or uropygial gland oil may be collected for
DATES: Interested parties are invited to estimate abundance and distribution of contaminant studies and unhatched
submit written data, comments, or pinnipeds. Specific take activities penguin eggs may be collected for lipid
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

views with respect to this permit include capture/handling/release of analysis. Empty egg shells and feathers
application by October 11, 2016. This animals for studies of attendance (breast and tail) may also be collected
application may be inspected by behavior (radio transmitter (VHF)), for isotopic and genetic studies.
interested parties at the Permit Office, diving (time-depth recorders; TDRs), at- Morphometric information to be
address below. sea foraging locations (platform terminal recorded includes bill (culmen) depth
ADDRESSES: Comments should be transmitter (PTT), geo-location light and length and tarsus length. These
addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, loggers (GLS), or global positioning measurements are usually taken during
Division of Polar Programs, National system (GPS) instruments), energetics tag deployment, diet collection, or

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:11 Sep 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1

Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:15:15
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:15:15

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of permit applications received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541.
Dates		Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by October 11, 2016. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit
Contact		Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
FR Citation		81 FR 62541