82 FR 43258 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 177 (September 14, 2017)

Page Range		43258-43259
FR Document		2017-19505

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 in the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 177 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 177 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43258-43259]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19505]


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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.

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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 in 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 16, 2017. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Office 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]. Phone number: 703-292-8224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541, 45 CFR 
670), 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: 2018-013

1. Applicant: Linnea Pearson, California Polytechnic State University, 
Department of Biological Sciences, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo CA 
93407.

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA), Import Into USA. The 
applicant proposes to study the thermoregulatory strategies by which 
Weddell seal pups maintain euthermia in air and in water and examine 
the development of diving capability as the animals prepare for 
independent foraging. This study will take place in Erebus Bay, near 
McMurdo Station, and may require entry into ASPA 121, Cape Royds. Each 
year, ten pups will be handled at four time points between one and 
eight weeks of age. Protocols not requiring sedation (mass, 
morphometrics, core and surface temperatures, metabolic rates) and 
protocols requiring anesthesia (body composition, biopsies, blood 
volume analysis) will be conducted on five pups at all four time points 
under manual restraint. Metabolic and morphometric measurements will be 
conducted on a separate cohort of five pups at each of the four time 
points. The applicant will also conduct behavioral observations, 
imaging, and may disturb up to 350 Weddell seals. An additional seven 
Weddell seal pups, 15 Weddell seal adult females, and 20 crabeater 
seals may be disturbed during procedures on

[[Page 43259]]

study animals. Up to two pup mortalities are requested per year, not to 
exceed three over the course of two field seasons. The applicant also 
plans to collect tissues from Weddell seals (any age or gender) found 
dead from natural causes. The permit applicant has applied for a Marine 
Mammal Protection Act permit for the proposed activities.
    Location: Erebus Bay, McMurdo Sound; ASPA 121, Cape Royds.
    Dates: October 1, 2017-September 30, 2020.

Permit Application: 2018-012

2. Applicant: Jay J. Rotella, Ecology Department, Montana State 
University, Bozeman, Montana 59717
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, 
Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area, Import Into USA. The permit 
applicant plans to continue long-term studies of Weddell seal 
populations in Erebus Bay and the McMurdo Sound region to evaluate how 
temporal variation in the marine environment affects individual life 
histories and population dynamics of a long-lived mammal. These studies 
may require the applicant and agents to enter into ASPAs in the area 
including ASPA 137, 155, 121, 157, 158, and 161. Research involves 
capture and release of up to 675 Weddell seal pups at one to four days 
after birth for flipper tagging per year. Up to 150 of the pups would 
also receive a temperature recording flipper tag, be weighed, and have 
a skin biopsy taken during the initial tagging. These pups would be re-
captured at 20 days of age to be weighed, and again at weaning for 
weighing and removal of the temperature tags. The applicant proposes to 
capture up to 285 adult Weddell seals per year using a head-bagging 
technique to place or replace flipper tags. Skin biopsies would be 
taken from up to 100 previously tagged adult Weddell seals. Up to 75 
adult female Weddell seals would be photographed on the three occasions 
when their pups are weighed to obtain an estimate of body mass and 15 
females will be physically weighed during the initial pup tagging to 
validate the photogrammetry results. The applicant requests two Weddell 
seal unintentional mortalities, one pup and one adult, per year. The 
applicant also plans to collect tissues from adult Weddell seals found 
dead from natural causes. During the course of the study, the applicant 
anticipates incidental disturbance of Weddell seals and a limited 
number of crabeater seals and leopard seals. The permit applicant has 
applied for a Marine Mammal Protection Act permit for the proposed 
activities.
    Location: Erebus Bay, McMurdo Sound; ASPA 137, North-West White 
Island, McMurdo Sound; ASPA 155, Cape Evans; ASPA 121, Cape Royds; ASPA 
157, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross Island; ASPA 158, Hut Point, Ross 
Island; ASPA 161, Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea.
    Dates: October 1, 2017-September 30, 2022.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-19505 Filed 9-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

43258 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2017 / Notices

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The are actively growing or capable of application may be inspected by
National Science Foundation, as dispersing. All the microbes inside the interested parties at the Permit Office,
directed by the Antarctic Conservation payload are in triple containment and address below.
Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541, 45 CFR will remain attached to the substrate ADDRESSES: Comments should be
670), as amended by the Antarctic before, during and after the balloon addressed to Permit Office, Room 755,
Science, Tourism and Conservation Act flight. The E–MIST payload itself will Office of Polar Programs, National
of 1996, has developed regulations for be attached to the balloon gondola prior Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
the establishment of a permit system for to the launch of the balloon, will be Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
various activities in Antarctica and recovered along with the main balloon FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
designation of certain animals and payload, and will be returned to the Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
certain geographic areas requiring USA and the home institution. the above address or ACApermits@
special protection. The regulations Location: Ross Ice Shelf, Long nsf.gov. Phone number: 703–292–8224.
establish such a permit system to Duration Balloon program launch and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
designate Antarctic Specially Protected recovery sites, Antarctica.
Areas. Dates: October 1, 2017–March 31, National Science Foundation, as
2020. directed by the Antarctic Conservation
Application Details Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–541, 45 CFR
Permit Application: 2018–011 670), as amended by the Antarctic
Permit Application: 2018–008
3. Applicant: Kenneth Sims, Department Science, Tourism and Conservation Act
1. Applicant: Jill Mikucki, Department of 1996, has developed regulations for
of Geology and Geophysics, Dept
of Microbiology, University of the establishment of a permit system for
3006, 1000 E. University Ave,
Tennessee, Knoxville, TN various activities in Antarctica and
University of Wyoming, Laramie,
Activity for Which Permit Is WY 82071–2000 designation of certain animals and
Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially certain geographic areas a requiring
Protected Area (ASPA). The permit Activity for Which Permit Is
Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially special protection. The regulations
applicant proposes to enter ASPA 172, establish such a permit system to
Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, Protected Area (ASPA). The permit
applicant proposes to enter ASPA 124, designate Antarctic Specially Protected
as well as the Don Juan Pond restricted Areas.
zone, to perform non-destructive Cape Crozier, to collect volcanic rock
geophysical surveys and to collect and tephra samples. The applicant Application Details
surface samples of brines, salts, and would travel on foot within the ASPA
to at least three sampling locations. Permit Application: 2018–013
sediments. The applicant would use
best-practice protocols to ensure the Samples would be collected using a 1. Applicant: Linnea Pearson, California
protection of the values of the areas and rock hammer and hand trowels. Polytechnic State University,
would use sterile sampling techniques. Location: ASPA 124, Cape Crozier, Department of Biological Sciences,
The applicant also plans to fly over the Ross Island. 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo
areas with using helicopter-borne Dates: November 1–December 15, CA 93407.
electromagnetic survey technology to 2017. Activity for Which Permit is
map resistivity of these hydrological Nadene G. Kennedy, Requested: Take, Harmful Interference,
regions. Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area
Location: ASPA 172, Lower Taylor Programs. (ASPA), Import Into USA. The applicant
Glacier and Blood Falls, McMurdo Dry [FR Doc. 2017–19504 Filed 9–13–17; 8:45 am]
proposes to study the thermoregulatory
Valleys, Victoria Land; ASMA 2, strategies by which Weddell seal pups
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
McMurdo Dry Valleys, Southern maintain euthermia in air and in water
Victoria Land; Don Juan Pond. and examine the development of diving
Dates: October 1, 2017–February 28, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION capability as the animals prepare for
2019. independent foraging. This study will
Notice of Permit Applications Received take place in Erebus Bay, near McMurdo
Permit Application: 2018–010 Station, and may require entry into
Under the Antarctic Conservation Act
2. Applicant: David J. Smith, NASA of 1978 ASPA 121, Cape Royds. Each year, ten
Ames Research Center, M/S SCR– pups will be handled at four time points
261–3, Mofffett Field, CA 94035 AGENCY: National Science Foundation. between one and eight weeks of age.
Activity for Which Permit Is ACTION: Notice of permit applications Protocols not requiring sedation (mass,
Requested: Introduce Non-Indigenous received. morphometrics, core and surface
Species Into Antarctica. The permit temperatures, metabolic rates) and
applicant proposes to transport a SUMMARY: The National Science protocols requiring anesthesia (body
containment device pre-loaded with Foundation (NSF) is required to publish composition, biopsies, blood volume
dormant microbiological samples to a notice of permit applications received analysis) will be conducted on five pups
Antarctica to be launched into the to conduct activities regulated under the at all four time points under manual
Earth’s stratosphere as part of NASA’s Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. restraint. Metabolic and morphometric
NSF has published regulations under
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

Long Duration Balloon program. The measurements will be conducted on a
Exposing Microorganisms in the the Antarctic Conservation Act in the separate cohort of five pups at each of
Stratosphere (E–MIST) payload contains Code of Federal Regulations. This is the the four time points. The applicant will
five microbial strains: Bacillus pumilis required notice of permit applications also conduct behavioral observations,
SAFR032 (wild type), Bacillus pumilis received. imaging, and may disturb up to 350
SAFR032 (ISS flown), Acinetobacter DATES: Interested parties are invited to Weddell seals. An additional seven
pitti, Paenibacillus xerothermodurans, submit written data, comments, or Weddell seal pups, 15 Weddell seal
and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The views with respect to this permit adult females, and 20 crabeater seals
strains are all glued on in stasis; none application by October 16, 2017. This may be disturbed during procedures on

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2017 / Notices 43259

study animals. Up to two pup Marine Mammal Protection Act permit currently appearing on the market
mortalities are requested per year, not to for the proposed activities. dominant or the competitive product
exceed three over the course of two field Location: Erebus Bay, McMurdo list.
seasons. The applicant also plans to Sound; ASPA 137, North-West White Section II identifies the docket
collect tissues from Weddell seals (any Island, McMurdo Sound; ASPA 155, number(s) associated with each Postal
age or gender) found dead from natural Cape Evans; ASPA 121, Cape Royds; Service request, the title of each Postal
causes. The permit applicant has ASPA 157, Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Service request, the request’s acceptance
applied for a Marine Mammal Ross Island; ASPA 158, Hut Point, Ross date, and the authority cited by the
Protection Act permit for the proposed Island; ASPA 161, Terra Nova Bay, Ross Postal Service for each request. For each
activities. Sea. request, the Commission appoints an
Location: Erebus Bay, McMurdo Dates: October 1, 2017–September 30, officer of the Commission to represent
Sound; ASPA 121, Cape Royds. 2022. the interests of the general public in the
Dates: October 1, 2017–September 30, proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505
2020. Nadene G. Kennedy,
(Public Representative). Section II also
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar establishes comment deadline(s)
Permit Application: 2018–012 Programs.
pertaining to each request.
2. Applicant: Jay J. Rotella, Ecology [FR Doc. 2017–19505 Filed 9–13–17; 8:45 am] The public portions of the Postal
Department, Montana State BILLING CODE 7555–01–P Service’s request(s) can be accessed via
University, Bozeman, Montana the Commission’s Web site (http://
59717 www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of
Activity for Which Permit is POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION the Postal Service’s request(s), if any,
Requested: Take, Harmful Interference, can be accessed through compliance
Enter Antarctic Specially Protected [Docket Nos. MC2017–194 and CP2017–295;
MC2017–195 and CP2017–296; MC2017–196 with the requirements of 39 CFR
Area, Import Into USA. The permit 3007.40.
and CP2017–297; MC2017–197 and CP2017–
applicant plans to continue long-term 298; MC2017–198 and CP2017–299; The Commission invites comments on
studies of Weddell seal populations in CP2017–300] whether the Postal Service’s request(s)
Erebus Bay and the McMurdo Sound in the captioned docket(s) are consistent
region to evaluate how temporal New Postal Products with the policies of title 39. For
variation in the marine environment request(s) that the Postal Service states
affects individual life histories and AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
concern market dominant product(s),
population dynamics of a long-lived ACTION: Notice. applicable statutory and regulatory
mammal. These studies may require the requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a
applicant and agents to enter into U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3010, and 39
recent Postal Service filing for the
ASPAs in the area including ASPA 137, CFR part 3020, subpart B. For request(s)
Commission’s consideration concerning
155, 121, 157, 158, and 161. Research that the Postal Service states concern
negotiated service agreements. This
involves capture and release of up to competitive product(s), applicable
675 Weddell seal pups at one to four notice informs the public of the filing,
invites public comment, and takes other statutory and regulatory requirements
days after birth for flipper tagging per include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633,
year. Up to 150 of the pups would also administrative steps.
39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and
receive a temperature recording flipper DATES: Comments are due: September
39 CFR part 3020, subpart B. Comment
tag, be weighed, and have a skin biopsy 20, 2017.
deadline(s) for each request appear in
taken during the initial tagging. These ADDRESSES: Submit comments
section II.
pups would be re-captured at 20 days of electronically via the Commission’s
age to be weighed, and again at weaning Filing Online system at http:// II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
for weighing and removal of the www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 1. Docket No(s).: MC2017–194 and
temperature tags. The applicant comments electronically should contact CP2017–295; Filing Title: Request of the
proposes to capture up to 285 adult the person identified in the FOR FURTHER United States Postal Service to Add
Weddell seals per year using a head- INFORMATION CONTACT section by First-Class Package Service Contract 80
bagging technique to place or replace telephone for advice on filing to Competitive Product List and Notice
flipper tags. Skin biopsies would be alternatives. of Filing (Under Seal) of Unredacted
taken from up to 100 previously tagged FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Governors’ Decision, Contract, and
adult Weddell seals. Up to 75 adult David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at Supporting Data; Filing Acceptance
female Weddell seals would be 202–789–6820. Date: September 8, 2017; Filing
photographed on the three occasions SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
when their pups are weighed to obtain 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
an estimate of body mass and 15 females Table of Contents Curtis E. Kidd; Comments Due:
will be physically weighed during the I. Introduction September 20, 2017.
initial pup tagging to validate the II. Docketed Proceeding(s) 2. Docket No(s).: MC2017–195 and
photogrammetry results. The applicant CP2017–296; Filing Title: Request of the
requests two Weddell seal unintentional I. Introduction United States Postal Service to Add
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

mortalities, one pup and one adult, per The Commission gives notice that the Priority Mail & First-Class Package
year. The applicant also plans to collect Postal Service filed request(s) for the Service Contract 55 to Competitive
tissues from adult Weddell seals found Commission to consider matters related Product List and Notice of Filing (Under
dead from natural causes. During the to negotiated service agreement(s). The Seal) of Unredacted Governors’
course of the study, the applicant request(s) may propose the addition or Decision, Contract, and Supporting
anticipates incidental disturbance of removal of a negotiated service Data; Filing Acceptance Date:
Weddell seals and a limited number of agreement from the market dominant or September 8, 2017; Filing Authority: 39
crabeater seals and leopard seals. The the competitive product list, or the U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq.;
permit applicant has applied for a modification of an existing product Public Representative: Christopher C.

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Document Created: 2017-09-13 23:48:55
Document Modified: 2017-09-13 23:48:55

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.
Dates		Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by October 16, 2017. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit
Contact		Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
FR Citation		82 FR 43258