83 FR 46195 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 177 (September 12, 2018)

Page Range		46195-46195
FR Document		2018-19824

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 83 Issue 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 46195]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19824]


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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 12, 2018. 
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: 2019-005

1. 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 the i/b Kapitan Khlebnikov in the Antarctic Peninsula 
region. The vessel will complete multiple cruises and multiple landings 
per cruise. Maximum passengers taken ashore at any one time will be 
limited to 100 persons. Quark would offer activities including shore 
excursions by Zodiac or helicopter, sightseeing by helicopter, visits 
to the Snow Hill emperor penguin colony, polar plunges, 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 wildlife, 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: Snow Hill Island; 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, Skontorp Cove, Horseshoe 
Island, Stony Point, Lefevre-Utile, the Naze.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: October 1, 2018-March 31, 2019.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-19824 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices 46195

Evening briefing to discuss the DATES: Interested parties are invited to For vessel-supported short overnight
Expeditions award and forthcoming submit written data, comments, or stays (camping): Camping would be
site visit. views with respect to this permit away from vegetated sites and at least
application by October 12, 2018. This 150m from wildlife concentrations or
Thursday, September 13, 2018
application may be inspected by lakes, protected areas, historical sites,
8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Open interested parties at the Permit Office, and scientific stations. Tents would be
Presentations by Awardee Institution, address below. pitched on snow, ice, or bare smooth
faculty staff and students, to Site ADDRESSES: Comments should be rock, at least 15m from the high-water
Team and NSF Staff. Discussions, addressed to Permit Office, Office of line. No food, other than emergency
question and answer sessions. Polar Programs, National Science
1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Closed rations, would be brought onshore and
Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, all wastes, including human waste,
NSF Staff and Panelists deliberation.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314. would be collected and returned to the
2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.: Open
Continued presentations by Awardee FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ship for proper disposal. Campers
Institution. Response and feedback Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at would be limited to 30 passengers plus
to presentations by Site Team and the above address, 703–292–8030, or staff, except at the following sites where
NSF Staff. Discussions, question ACApermits@nsf.gov. campers are limited to 60 passengers
and answer sessions. Draft report on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plus staff: Damoy Point/Dorian Bay,
education and research activities. National Science Foundation, as Danco Island, Pleneau Island, Leith
Complete written site visit report directed by the Antarctic Conservation Cove, and Rongé Island. The ratio of
with preliminary recommendations. Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541, 45 CFR staff to passengers would be 1:10.
6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.: Closed 671), as amended by the Antarctic Camping would include overnight stays
NSF Staff and Panelists working dinner. Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of any duration, but in accordance with
Friday, September 14, 2018 of 1996, has developed regulations for the visitor site guidelines for each site.
the establishment of a permit system for
8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.: Open For remotely piloted aircraft systems
various activities in Antarctica and
Expeditions PIs responses to issues (RPAS) operation: The quadcopter
designation of certain animals and
raised by panelists. certain geographic areas a requiring would not be flown over wildlife, or
10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.: Closed special protection. The regulations over Antarctic Specially Protected Areas
Panelists prepare site visit report. establish such a permit system to or Historic Sites and Monuments. The
2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Open designate Antarctic Specially Protected RPAS would only be operated by pilots
Presentation of site visit report to with adequate experience. Several
Areas.
Expeditions leadership team. measures would be taken to prevent
Reason For Closing: Topics to be Application Details against loss of the quadcopter including
discussed and evaluated during closed Permit Application: 2019–005 painting the them a highly visible color;
portions of the site review will include only flying when the wind is calm;
information of a proprietary or 1. Applicant: Bill Davis, VP Operations,
flying for only 15 minutes at a time to
confidential nature, including technical Quark Expeditions, 3131 Elliot
maintain adequate battery charge;
information; and information on Avenue, Suite 250, Seattle, WA
98121. having a flotation device for operations
personnel. These matters are exempt over water, and an ‘‘auto go home’’
under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6) of the Activity for Which Permit is
Requested: Waste Management. The feature in case of loss of control link or
Government in the Sunshine Act. low battery; having an observer on the
applicant is seeking a waste
Dated: September 6, 2018. lookout for wildlife, people, and other
management permit associated with the
Crystal Robinson, operation of the i/b Kapitan Khlebnikov hazards; and ensuring that the
Committee Management Officer. in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The separation between the operator and
[FR Doc. 2018–19780 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am] vessel will complete multiple cruises quadcopter does not exceed a maximum
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P and multiple landings per cruise. distance of 300 meters.
Maximum passengers taken ashore at Location: Snow Hill Island; Antarctic
any one time will be limited to 100 Peninsula region. For camping: Damoy
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION persons. Quark would offer activities Point/Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Rongé
including shore excursions by Zodiac or Island, Errera Channel, Paradise Bay,
Notice of Permit Applications Received helicopter, sightseeing by helicopter,
Under the Antarctic Conservation Act Andvord Bay, Pleneau Island, Argentine
visits to the Snow Hill emperor penguin Islands (Winter Island by Wordie
of 1978 colony, polar plunges, and vessel- House), Hovgaard Island, Orne Harbour,
AGENCY: National Science Foundation. supported short overnight stays
Leith Cove, Prospect Point, Portal Point,
ACTION: Notice of permit applications (camping). The applicant also proposes
Skontorp Cove, Horseshoe Island, Stony
received. to operate a small, battery-operated
Point, Lefevre-Utile, the Naze.
remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)
SUMMARY: The National Science consisting, in part, of a quadcopter Dates of Permitted Activities: October
Foundation (NSF) is required to publish equipped with a camera to collect 1, 2018–March 31, 2019.
a notice of permit applications received footage for commercial and educational
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
to conduct activities regulated under the purposes. Mitigation measures would be
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. in place to reduce the risk of non-native Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
NSF has published regulations under species introductions and the risk of
the Antarctic Conservation Act in the spills or releases to the environment. [FR Doc. 2018–19824 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am]
Code of Federal Regulations. This is the Waste generated during small boat and BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
required notice of permit applications shore-based activities would be returned
received. to the vessels for proper disposal.

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Document Created: 2018-09-12 02:07:12
Document Modified: 2018-09-12 02:07:12

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 12, 2018. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit
Contact		Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
FR Citation		83 FR 46195