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)

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, 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