81 FR 62542 - 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		62542-62543
FR Document		2016-21668

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 670 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 62542-62543]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21668]


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

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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 670 
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: 2017-012

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
    Take, Harmful Interference, Enter Antarctic Specially Protected 
Areas, Import into USA. This permit application pertains to research 
activities conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) 
Program. The U.S. AMLR Program proposes to take pinniped species in the 
Antarctic Peninsula region, primarily at Cape Shirreff, Livingston 
Island, as part of a long-term ecosystem monitoring program established 
in 1986. Permission is requested to take Antarctic fur seals 
(Arctocephalus gazelle; 1203 adult/juvenile; 6005 pups), southern 
elephant seals (Mirounga leonine; 102 adult/juvenile; 102 pups), 
crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga; census only), leopard seals 
(Hydrurga leptonyx; 202 adult/juvenile), Ross seals (Ommatophoca 
rossii; census only), and Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii; 62 
adult/juvenile; 42 pups) by harassment associated with life-history 
studies and surveys to census or estimate abundance and distribution of 
pinnipeds. Specific take activities include capture/handling/release of 
animals for studies of attendance behavior (radio transmitter (VHF)), 
diving (time-depth recorders; TDRs), at-sea foraging locations 
(platform terminal transmitter (PTT), geo-location light loggers (GLS), 
or global positioning system (GPS) instruments), energetics (doubly-
labeled water studies using stable and or radio-isotopes), diet 
(including enema, milk collection for fatty acid signature analysis, or 
tissues for stable isotope analysis), age determination (post-canine 
tooth extraction), pathology (blood collection), and population 
dynamics (tagging). The U.S. AMLR Program does not plan any lethal 
take; however, accidental mortality as a direct result of the studies 
is possible and thus included as part of this application. All methods 
to be used in the conduct of the proposed studies have been used 
extensively by U.S. AMLR researchers and the marine mammal research 
community, generally. All studies of foraging ecology, population 
dynamics, mark-recapture, census, reproductive success and energetics 
are part of a long-term monitoring effort coordinated with other 
Antarctic treaty nations under the auspices of Convention for the 
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
    The U.S. AMLR Program also proposes continue studies of the 
behavioral ecology and population biology of the Ad[eacute]lie, gentoo, 
and chinstrap penguins, as well as interactions among these species and 
their principal avian predators (skuas, gulls, sheathbills and giant 
petrels). These studies make use of permanent marks (including flipper 
banding, pit tagging, and genetic markers) to identify individuals and 
track them accurately over time. The applicant will continue to study 
penguins' foraging habits, involving the use of VHF, PTT, GPS, TDRs and 
GLS tags. These instruments may be deployed on adults of all species at 
any time during the breeding season and on chicks of all species during 
the fledging period. Another component of the foraging behavior studies 
will involve diet collections using the wet offloading technique. The 
applicant plans to stomach lavage adult penguins at each site. The 
applicant will also collect data on egg sizes and adult weights of each 
species and weigh and measure chicks at cr[egrave]che age (ca. 21 days 
of age) and fledging for comparative annual growth indices in all 
species. In addition, penguin uropygial gland oil may be collected for 
contaminant studies and unhatched penguin eggs may be collected for 
lipid analysis. Empty egg shells and feathers (breast and tail) may 
also be collected for isotopic and genetic studies. Morphometric 
information to be recorded includes bill (culmen) depth and length and 
tarsus length. These measurements are usually taken during tag 
deployment, diet collection, or

[[Page 62543]]

banding. The principal avian predators of the penguins (skuas, gulls, 
giant petrels and sheathbills) are also monitored and, when possible, 
adults and chicks will be banded, weighed and measured for behavioral 
and demographic studies. In addition, the applicant may census, band 
and measure cape petrels and blue-eyed shags. The applicant may collect 
samples of penguin and skua blood from adults of each species. The 
number of takes per annum of each avian species will be as follows: 
chinstrap penguin, 3320; Adelie penguin, 2880; Gentoo penguin, 3020; 
brown skua, 600; south polar skua, 600; giant petrel, 600; kelp gull, 
100; blue-eyed shag, 150; snowy sheathbill, 45; cape petrel, 200. All 
sampling protocols involve techniques that are standard within the 
seabird community. Those protocols related to the CCAMLR Ecosystem 
Monitoring Program (CEMP) are described by CCAMLR.
    The U.S. AMLR Program requests permission to conduct extensive 
studies at the Cape Shirreff and Copacabana research sites. 
Additionally, the Program anticipates conducting intermittent 
peninsula-wide pinniped and seabird surveys. As such, the applicant 
requests access to all ASPAs in the South Shetland Islands and in the 
Antarctic Peninsula. Entry to sites will be made via U.S. AMLR charter 
or NSF vessels, with immediate access via zodiac operations. Peninsula-
wide pinniped and seabird surveys may include the use of unmanned 
aerial vehicles and photogrammetry. U.S. AMLR researchers will adhere 
to ASPA protections at all times and plan all activities to minimize 
disruption to flora and fauna. All species, pinniped and avian, are 
subject to harmful interference due to census (aerial or ground) and 
other work described in this application.
Location
    Antarctic Peninsula region, South Shetland Islands vicinity: Cape 
Shirreff, Livingston Island; San Telmo Islands; Copacabana, western 
shore of Admiralty Bay; and Lions Rump, King George Island.

ASPA 108, Green Island, Berthelot Islands, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 112, Coppermine Peninsula, Robert Island
ASPA 113, Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor, Palmer Archipelago
ASPA 125, Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 126, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 128, Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island
ASPA 132, Potter Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 133, Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Island
ASPA 134, Cierva Point Offshore Islands, Danco Coast, Antarctic 
Peninsula
ASPA 139, Biscoe Point, Anvers Island
ASPA 140, Shores of Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland 
Islands
ASPA 144, Chile Bay
ASPA 145, Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 146, South Bay, Doumer Island, Palmer Archipelago
ASPA 148, Mount Flora, Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 149, Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 150, Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay, King George Island, South 
Shetland Islands
ASPA 151, Lions Rump, King George Island, South Shetland Islands
ASPA 152, Western Bransfield Strait, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 153, East Dallmann Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
ASPA 171, Narebski Point, Barton Peninsula, King George Island

    Dates: October 1, 2016-July 30, 2021
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-21668 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

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

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2016 / Notices 62543

banding. The principal avian predators ASPA 132, Potter Peninsula, King Division of Polar Programs, National
of the penguins (skuas, gulls, giant George Island, South Shetland Islands Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
petrels and sheathbills) are also ASPA 133, Harmony Point, Nelson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
monitored and, when possible, adults Island, South Shetland Island FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and chicks will be banded, weighed and ASPA 134, Cierva Point Offshore Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
measured for behavioral and Islands, Danco Coast, Antarctic the above address or ACApermits@
demographic studies. In addition, the Peninsula nsf.gov or (703) 292–7149.
applicant may census, band and ASPA 139, Biscoe Point, Anvers Island
ASPA 140, Shores of Port Foster, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
measure cape petrels and blue-eyed
Deception Island, South Shetland National Science Foundation, as
shags. The applicant may collect
Islands directed by the Antarctic Conservation
samples of penguin and skua blood from
ASPA 144, Chile Bay Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), as
adults of each species. The number of
ASPA 145, Port Foster, Deception amended by the Antarctic Science,
takes per annum of each avian species
Island, South Shetland Islands Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996,
will be as follows: chinstrap penguin,
ASPA 146, South Bay, Doumer Island, has developed regulations for the
3320; Adelie penguin, 2880; Gentoo
Palmer Archipelago establishment of a permit system for
penguin, 3020; brown skua, 600; south ASPA 148, Mount Flora, Hope Bay, various activities in Antarctica and
polar skua, 600; giant petrel, 600; kelp Antarctic Peninsula designation of certain animals and
gull, 100; blue-eyed shag, 150; snowy ASPA 149, Cape Shirreff, Livingston
sheathbill, 45; cape petrel, 200. All certain geographic areas a requiring
Island, South Shetland Islands special protection. The regulations
sampling protocols involve techniques ASPA 150, Ardley Island, Maxwell Bay,
that are standard within the seabird establish such a permit system to
King George Island, South Shetland designate Antarctic Specially Protected
community. Those protocols related to Islands
the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Areas.
ASPA 151, Lions Rump, King George
Program (CEMP) are described by Island, South Shetland Islands Application Details
CCAMLR. ASPA 152, Western Bransfield Strait,
The U.S. AMLR Program requests Permit Application: 2017–014
Antarctic Peninsula
permission to conduct extensive studies ASPA 153, East Dallmann Bay, 1. Applicant: Jerry McDonald (Principal
at the Cape Shirreff and Copacabana Antarctic Peninsula in Charge), Leidos Innovations
research sites. Additionally, the ASPA 171, Narebski Point, Barton Group, Antarctic Support Contract,
Program anticipates conducting Peninsula, King George Island 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial,
intermittent peninsula-wide pinniped Dates: October 1, 2016–July 30, 2021 CO 80112–3938.
and seabird surveys. As such, the Nadene G. Kennedy,
applicant requests access to all ASPAs Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of
in the South Shetland Islands and in the Polar Programs. Enter Antarctic Specially Protected
Antarctic Peninsula. Entry to sites will Areas (ASPAs). The applicant plans to
[FR Doc. 2016–21668 Filed 9–8–16; 8:45 am]
be made via U.S. AMLR charter or NSF transit through three marine ASPAs
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
vessels, with immediate access via (ASPA 145 Port Foster, Deception
zodiac operations. Peninsula-wide Island, South Shetland Islands; ASPA
pinniped and seabird surveys may NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 152 Western Bransfield Strait and ASPA
include the use of unmanned aerial 153 Eastern Dallmann Bay) only when
vehicles and photogrammetry. U.S. Notice of Permit Applications Received necessary and when transit through the
AMLR researchers will adhere to ASPA Under the Antarctic Conservation Act areas does not jeopardize the values to
protections at all times and plan all of 1978 be protected as described in each
activities to minimize disruption to flora management plan.
and fauna. All species, pinniped and AGENCY: National Science Foundation
ACTION: Notice of permit applications Location
avian, are subject to harmful
interference due to census (aerial or received under the Antarctic ASPA 145 Port Foster, Deception Island,
ground) and other work described in Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law South Shetland Islands
this application. 95–541. ASPA 152 Western Bransfield Strait
ASPA 153 Eastern Dallmann Bay
Location SUMMARY: The National Science
Foundation (NSF) is required to publish Dates
Antarctic Peninsula region, South
a notice of permit applications received September 1, 2016 to September 1,
Shetland Islands vicinity: Cape Shirreff,
to conduct activities regulated under the 2021
Livingston Island; San Telmo Islands;
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.
Copacabana, western shore of Admiralty Permit Application: 2017–015
NSF has published regulations under
Bay; and Lions Rump, King George
the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 2. Applicant: Jerry McDonald (Principal
Island.
45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal in Charge), Leidos Innovations
ASPA 108, Green Island, Berthelot Regulations. This is the required notice
Islands, Antarctic Peninsula Group, Antarctic Support Contract,
of permit applications received. 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial,
ASPA 112, Coppermine Peninsula,
DATES: Interested parties are invited to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Robert Island CO 80112–3938.
ASPA 113, Litchfield Island, Arthur submit written data, comments, or
views with respect to this permit Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Harbor, Palmer Archipelago
ASPA 125, Fildes Peninsula, King application by October 11, 2016. This Enter Antarctic Specially Protected
George Island, South Shetland Islands application may be inspected by Areas (ASPAs). The following ASPAs
ASPA 126, Byers Peninsula, Livingston interested parties at the Permit Office, contain historic huts from the Heroic
Island, South Shetland Islands address below. Age of Antarctic Exploration: ASPA 155
ASPA 128, Western Shore of Admiralty ADDRESSES: Comments should be Cape Evans, Ross Island; ASPA 157
Bay, King George Island addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross; ASPA

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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:14:56
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:14:56

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 62542