81_FR_818 81 FR 814 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

81 FR 814 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 4 (January 7, 2016)

Page Range814-814
FR Document2016-00030

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 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 814]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00030]


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

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 February 8, 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 [email protected].

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

1. Applicant Permit Application: 2016-024
    Ari S. Friedlaender, Ph.D., Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State 
University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science 
Drive, Newport, OR 97365

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

    Waste Permit. The applicant will conduct research around the 
Antarctic Peninsula to determine the ecological role of baleen whales. 
Recently developed sensor tags will be used to collect data on the 
underwater movement and behavior of the whales. Over time, the 
applicant will be able to determine how changes in the whales' behavior 
correspond to changes in sea ice, krill, and other critical aspects of 
the Antarctic marine ecosystem that are at risk from rapidly changing 
climates. The applicant will also collect skin and blubber biopsy 
samples to gain a better understanding of the identity, population 
structure, and health of the whales. The applicant will collaborate 
with Antarctic tour operators that will provide platforms to the 
applicant's research team in order to gather data during time periods 
that are undersampled. The applicant is seeking a waste permit to cover 
any accidental releases that may occur if the biopsy darts and/or tags 
are lost.
    Multi-sensor, suction cup tags. The tags contain electronic sensors 
that are contained in a syntactic foam housing (400g in weight). The 
tags also contain a VHF radio beacon that aids in tag retrieval via 
standard radio tracking equipment. The tags remain on whales for up to 
24 hours via silicon suction cups. When they are shed, they float and 
are retrieved using radio telemetry tracking tools. The applicant's 
research team remains in visual or radio contact with the tag 
continuously while it is deployed and until it is recovered. While tag 
failure is rare, if the VHF transmitter fails the tag would likely 
remain floating until it became beach-cast. In the applicant's 
experience, VHF failure occurs rarely, less than 1% of all deployments. 
A lost tag would constitute waste in the form of 300 grams of syntactic 
foam, 100 grams of electronics and 20 grams of silicon suction cups. 
The research teams are comprised of experienced researchers with many 
years of field time. By employing personnel such as this, the applicant 
minimizes the risk of generating waste and losing any equipment due to 
human error.
    Biopsy darts. Biopsy sampling is done with a crossbow firing a 
floating dart, made of aluminum and carbon fiber, that bounces off the 
whale's body after extracting a tiny plug of tissue. The biopsy tips 
are a 40 mm stainless steel barrel. The bolts also contain a 5x2cm foam 
float that is used to aid in dart retrieval. The bolts are highly 
visible and remain at the surface for retrieval. The applicant will 
only collect samples when weather and light conditions are good and 
offer the best chance at retrieving the bolt. The applicant's research 
team generally takes samples at a range of 10-30 meters that allows 
them to maintain visual contact with the bolt when it is in the water. 
During biopsy sampling, the team has an observer whose job is to 
maintain visual contact with the bolt until retrieval. The applicant's 
research team has collected over 500 biopsy samples in Antarctica on 
various projects and has only failed to retrieve two bolts to date. 
When bolts are lost, it is likely that they would remain floating for 
some time unless the foam breaks in which case the bolt would likely 
sink quickly.

Location

    Antarctic Peninsula

Dates

    February 23, 2016 to April 30, 2020

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-00030 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

814 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Application Details made of aluminum and carbon fiber, Rebecca A. Womeldorf, Rules that bounces off the whale’s body after 1. Applicant Permit Application: 2016– Committee Secretary, Rules Committee extracting a tiny plug of tissue. The 024 Support Office, Administrative Office of biopsy tips are a 40 mm stainless steel the United States Courts, Washington, Ari S. Friedlaender, Ph.D., Marine barrel. The bolts also contain a 5x2cm DC 20544, telephone (202) 502–1820. Mammal Institute, Oregon State foam float that is used to aid in dart University, Hatfield Marine Science retrieval. The bolts are highly visible Dated: January 4, 2016. Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, and remain at the surface for retrieval. Rebecca A. Womeldorf, Newport, OR 97365 The applicant will only collect samples Rules Committee Secretary. Activity for Which Permit is Requested when weather and light conditions are [FR Doc. 2016–00037 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am] good and offer the best chance at BILLING CODE 2210–55–P Waste Permit. The applicant will retrieving the bolt. The applicant’s conduct research around the Antarctic research team generally takes samples at Peninsula to determine the ecological a range of 10–30 meters that allows role of baleen whales. Recently them to maintain visual contact with the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION developed sensor tags will be used to bolt when it is in the water. During collect data on the underwater Notice of Permit Applications Received biopsy sampling, the team has an movement and behavior of the whales. Under the Antarctic Conservation Act observer whose job is to maintain visual Over time, the applicant will be able to of 1978 contact with the bolt until retrieval. The determine how changes in the whales’ applicant’s research team has collected behavior correspond to changes in sea AGENCY: National Science Foundation. over 500 biopsy samples in Antarctica ice, krill, and other critical aspects of ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications the Antarctic marine ecosystem that are on various projects and has only failed Received under the Antarctic at risk from rapidly changing climates. to retrieve two bolts to date. When bolts Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law The applicant will also collect skin and are lost, it is likely that they would 95–541. blubber biopsy samples to gain a better remain floating for some time unless the understanding of the identity, foam breaks in which case the bolt SUMMARY: The National Science population structure, and health of the would likely sink quickly. Foundation (NSF) is required to publish whales. The applicant will collaborate Location a notice of permit applications received with Antarctic tour operators that will to conduct activities regulated under the provide platforms to the applicant’s Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. research team in order to gather data Dates NSF has published regulations under during time periods that are the Antarctic Conservation Act at title February 23, 2016 to April 30, 2020 undersampled. The applicant is seeking 45 part 671 of the Code of Federal a waste permit to cover any accidental Nadene G. Kennedy, Regulations. This is the required notice releases that may occur if the biopsy Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of of permit applications received. darts and/or tags are lost. Polar Programs. DATES: Interested parties are invited to Multi-sensor, suction cup tags. The [FR Doc. 2016–00030 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am] submit written data, comments, or tags contain electronic sensors that are BILLING CODE 7555–01–P views with respect to this permit contained in a syntactic foam housing application by February 8, 2016. This (400g in weight). The tags also contain application may be inspected by a VHF radio beacon that aids in tag NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION interested parties at the Permit Office, retrieval via standard radio tracking address below. equipment. The tags remain on whales Notice of Permits Issued Under the ADDRESSES: Comments should be for up to 24 hours via silicon suction Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, cups. When they are shed, they float AGENCY: National Science Foundation. Division of Polar Programs, National and are retrieved using radio telemetry tracking tools. The applicant’s research ACTION: Notice of permits issued under Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson team remains in visual or radio contact the Antarctic Conservation of 1978, Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. with the tag continuously while it is Public Law 95–541. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: deployed and until it is recovered. Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at SUMMARY: The National Science While tag failure is rare, if the VHF the above address or ACApermits@ Foundation (NSF) is required to publish transmitter fails the tag would likely nsf.gov. notice of permits issued under the remain floating until it became beach- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. cast. In the applicant’s experience, VHF National Science Foundation, as This is the required notice. failure occurs rarely, less than 1% of all directed by the Antarctic Conservation deployments. A lost tag would FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), as constitute waste in the form of 300 Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, amended by the Antarctic Science, grams of syntactic foam, 100 grams of Division of Polar Programs, Rm. 755, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, electronics and 20 grams of silicon National Science Foundation, 4201 has developed regulations for the suction cups. The research teams are Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230. establishment of a permit system for comprised of experienced researchers Or by email: ACApermits@nsf.gov. rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES various activities in Antarctica and with many years of field time. By SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On designation of certain animals and employing personnel such as this, the October 6, 2015 the National Science certain geographic areas a requiring applicant minimizes the risk of Foundation published a notice in the special protection. The regulations generating waste and losing any Federal Register of a permit establish such a permit system to equipment due to human error. modification application received. The designate Antarctic Specially Protected Biopsy darts. Biopsy sampling is done permit modification was issued on Areas. with a crossbow firing a floating dart, December 31, 2015 to: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:32 Jan 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1


Document Created: 2016-01-07 00:13:14
Document Modified: 2016-01-07 00:13:14
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541.
DatesInterested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by February 8, 2016. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit
ContactNature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
FR Citation81 FR 814 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR