82 FR 49231 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 204 (October 24, 2017)

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, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49231-49232]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22981]


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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 November 24, 2017. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Office of 
Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-8030, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541, 45 CFR 671), 
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: 2018-019

1. Applicant: Cedar Wright, Expedition Leader, The North Face, 2660 
Juniper Ave, Boulder, CO 80304.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant is seeking a waste management permit for activities related 
to climbing and skiing mountain peaks in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. 
The applicant proposed to establish a base camp near the Ulvetanna 
peak. All waste generated would be removed from Antarctica with the 
exception of urine and grey water. Any climbing

[[Page 49232]]

equipment used would be removed to the extent practicable. The 
applicant would use best practices to minimize the risks of spills of 
designated pollutants. The applicant proposes to operate a small, 
battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) consisting, in 
part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to collect footage of the 
expedition. The quadcopter would not be flown over concentrations of 
birds or mammals, or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The RPAS 
would only be operated by a certified pilot with extensive experience. 
Several measures would be taken to prevent loss of the quadcopter 
including maintaining visual line of sight, limiting flight time to no 
more that 20 minutes, having a return home feature, operating only 
under calm weather conditions with good visibility, and not operating 
in areas where retrieving the quadcopter would not be possible.
    Location: Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
    Dates: November 23--December 20, 2017.

Permit Application: 2018-020

2. Applicant: Dierk M. Reuter, Liton Services Inc, 180 E Pearson St, 
Apt 4505, Chicago, IL 60611.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant is seeking a waste management permit for activities related 
to a proposed flight to King George Island and over the Antarctic 
Peninsula aboard a TBM 850 aircraft. The plane and crew will depart 
Punta Arenas, Chile and stop at the King George Island airfield prior 
to and following a non-stop flight over the Antarctic Peninsula, with a 
turnaround point at approximately 75 degrees South, 71 degrees West. 
The applicant proposes to overnight at King George Island before 
returning to Punta Arenas, Chile. All gear; emergency equipment and 
supplies; foodstuffs; garbage; and human waste would be stored in the 
aircraft removed from Antarctica upon departure. Gear would be new and/
or de-contaminated before use in Antarctica. Emissions from the 
aircraft would be minimized through proper engine maintenance.
    Location: King George Island; West Antarctic Peninsula.
    Dates: December 20, 2017--January 31, 2018.

Permit Application: 2018-021

3. Applicant: Lars Maltha Rasmussen, Albatros Expeditions US Ltd, 4770 
Biscayne Boulevard PHR, Miami, FL 33137.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant proposes to operate small, battery-operated RPAS consisting, 
in part, of a quadcopter equipped with cameras to collect commercial 
and educational footage of the Antarctic. The quadcopter would not be 
flown over concentrations of birds or mammals, or over Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments. The RPAS 
would only be operated by pilots with proficiency and experience, who 
are pre-approved by the Captain and Expedition Leader. Several measures 
would be taken to prevent loss of the quadcopter including only flying 
when the wind is less than 25 knots; total flight times in accordance 
with manufacturer specifications and appropriate to the cold 
conditions; having an automatic return 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 quadcopter does not exceed an operational 
range beyond visual contact. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to 
cover any accidental releases that may result from operating the RPAS.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates: December 5, 2017-March 31, 2018.

Permit Application: 2018-025

    4. Applicant: Bill Davis, VP Operations, Quark Expeditions, 3131 
Elliot Avenue, Suite 250, Seattle, WA 98121.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant is seeking a waste management permit associated with the 
operation of multiple tour vessels in the Antarctic Peninsula region. 
Each vessel will complete multiple cruises and multiple landings per 
cruise. Maximum passengers taken ashore at any one time will be limited 
to 100 persons. On selected voyages Quark would offer activities 
including shore excursions by Zodiac, kayaking, day paddling, stand-up 
paddle boarding, polar plunges, cross-country skiing, ice climbing and 
mountaineering, downhill skiing, and vessel-supported short overnight 
stays (camping). The applicant also proposes to operate a small, 
battery-operated remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) consisting, in 
part, of a quadcopter equipped with a camera to collect footage for 
commercial and educational purposes. Mitigation measures would be in 
place to reduce the risk of non-native species introductions and the 
risk of spills or releases to the environment. Waste generated during 
small boat and shore-based activities would be returned to the vessels 
for proper disposal.
    For vessel-supported short overnight stays (camping): Camping would 
be away from vegetated sites and at least 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, other than 
emergency rations, would be brought onshore and all wastes, including 
human waste, would be collected and returned to the ship for proper 
disposal. Campers would be limited to 30 passengers plus staff, except 
at the following sites where campers are limited to 60 passengers plus 
staff: Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Pleneau Island, Leith 
Cove, and Rong[eacute] Island. The ratio of staff to passengers would 
be 1:10. Camping would include overnight stays of any duration, but in 
accordance with the visitor site guidelines for each site.
    For remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operation: The 
quadcopter would not be flown over concentrations of birds or mammals, 
or over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas or Historic Sites and 
Monuments. The RPAS would only be operated by pilots with adequate 
experience. Several measures would be taken to prevent against loss of 
the quadcopter including painting the them a highly visible color; only 
flying when the wind is calm; flying for only 15 minutes at a time to 
maintain adequate battery charge; having a flotation device for 
operations over water, and an ``auto 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 quadcopter does not exceed a maximum distance 
of 300 meters.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region. For camping: Damoy Point/
Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Rong[eacute] Island, Errera Channel, Paradise 
Bay, Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, Argentine Islands (Winter Island by 
Wordie House), Hovgaard Island, Orne Harbour, Leith Cove, Prospect 
Point, Portal Point, Almirante Brown, Skontorp Cove, Neko Harbour, 
Cuverville, Port Charcot, Jougla Point, Horseshoe Island, Stony Point, 
Lefevre-Utile, the Naze, Yalour Islands.
    Dates: October 25, 2017-March 31, 2022.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-22981 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P