Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment, 22718-22719 [05-8690]

Download as PDF 22718 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 83 / Monday, May 2, 2005 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nadene G. Kennedy at the above address or (703) 292–7405. 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 requiring special protection. The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The applications received are as follows: Permit Application No. 2006–009. 1. Applicant: Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center, New York State, Department of health, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12202–0509. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Introduce non-indigenous species into Antarctica. The applicant plans to use brine shrimp hatchings (Artemia sp.) as food for foraminiferan protests. Specimens of foraminifera will be incubated with Artemia for 24–48 hours in isolated culture chambers, and the number of prey captured by the foraminifera will be assessed by direct observation using a stereomicroscope. The purpose of the study is to determine the phylogenetic extent of metazoan carnivory by basal foraminiferan protests. The samples will be chemically sterilized before disposal with hazmat. Location: Crary Science and Engineering Center, McMurdo Station, and Explorers Cove field camp, New Harbor. Dates: October 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006. Permit Application No. 2006–020. 2. Applicant: David Ainley, HT Harvey & Associates, 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 145, San Jose, CA 95118. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area. The applicant plans to enter Cape Crozier (ASPA #124), Cape Royds (ASPA #121), Beaufort Island (ASPA #105), and Cape Bird to conduct studies of Adelie penguins. The applicant plans to capture up to 2,800 Adelie chicks, fledglings, and adults for weighing, measuring, tagging with RFID taps or flipper bands, applying and removing special instruments (TDRs, SPOT satellite tags, GLS tags) to study VerDate jul<14>2003 19:05 Apr 29, 2005 Jkt 205001 their foraging efforts and colony productivity. This is an international collaborative investigation of geographic structuring, founding of new colonies, and population change of Adelie penguins nesting on Ross Island and Beaufor Island. Location: Cape Crozier (ASPA #123), Cape Royds (ASPA #121), Beaufort Island (ASPA #105), and Cape Bird. Dates: November 1, 2005 to February 15, 2010. Permit Application No. 2006–011. 3. Applicant: Thomas W. Yelvington, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, Polar Services, 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial CO 80112– 3938. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take. The applicant plans to hered, relocate or remove seals, penguins or other seabirds from station operational areas for the protection of the animals and safety of station personnel and equipment. Location: Palmer Station, Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Dates: May 1, 2005 to August 31, 2010. Permit Application No. 2006–005. 4. Applicant: Rae Natalie Prosser Goodall, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take. The applicant plans to salvage bones of dead animals (seals, penguins, dolphins, whales or seabirds) opportunistically found on the beaches in the Antarctic Peninsula Region. Salvaged materials will be cleaned, numbered and deposited in a collection housed in the Museo Actushun de Aves y Mamiferos Marinos Australes at Harberton Station, Tierra del Fuego. The skeletons from Antarctic waters are especially useful in a comparison study with skeletal collections from southernmost South America. Specimens are also available to other scientists for study. Location: Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and adjacent islands. Dates: October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2010. Permit Application No. 2006–006. 5. Applicant: Thomas W. Yelvington, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, Polar Services, 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112– 3938. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctica Specially Protected Area. The applicant plans to enter Cape Crozier (ASPA #124) to complete remediation of an old camp PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 site that burned at the site years ago. Recent snow melt has revealed additional debris that needs to be removed. The applicant plans to remove the debris in early October to avoid the arrival of the penguins. Location: Cape Crozier (ASPA #124). Dates: October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2010. Permit Application No. 2006–012. 6. Applicant: Thomas W. Yelvington, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, Polar Services, 7400 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112– 3938. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area. The applicant plans to enter Cape Royds (ASPA #121) for the purpose of conducting an environmental audit of the Long Term Ecological Research Camp and project site near Pony Lake at Cape Royds. The audit process provides the necessary data for evaluating how closely management practices are being followed consistent with the Master Permit and that any existing mitigating measures listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment documents are implemented in the field. Location: Cape Royds (ASPA #121). Dates: October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2010. Permit Application No. 2006–013. 7. Applicant: Douglas R. MacAyeal, Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area. The applicant currently operates an automatic ‘‘Web cam’’ on the cliff of iceberg B15k that looks down at the Beaufort Island Emperor penguin colony. The applicant proposes to enter Beaufort Island (ASPA #105) should the Web cam fall off its perch and needs recovery. Location: Beaufort Island (ASPA #105). Dates: October 15, 2005 to November 25, 2005. Nadene G. Kennedy, Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs. [FR Doc. 05–8689 Filed 4–29–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7550–01–M NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM National Science Foundation. 02MYN1 22719 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 83 / Monday, May 2, 2005 / Notices Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed activities in the Arctic. ACTION: SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed activities in the Arctic. The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has prepared an Environmental Assessment of a Biocomplexity Study of the Response of Tundra Carbon Balance to Warming and Drying Across Multiple Time Scales, 2005–2008. Given the United States Arctic Program’s mission to support polar research, the proposed action is expected to result in substantial benefits to science. The draft Environmental Assessment is available for public review for a 30-day period. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2005. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292–8033. Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment are available upon request from Dr. Penhale, or at the Web site: https:// www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/ tundra_ea.pdf. This project will examine how biological and physical processes interact to control carbon uptake, storage and release in Arctic tundra ecosystems using an experimental approach to manipulate tundra moisture. Approximately 25% of the world’s soil organic soil organic carbon reservoir is stored at high northern latitudes in permafrost and seasonally-thawed soils in the Arctic, a region that is currently undergoing unprecedented warming and drying, as well as dramatic changes in human land use. The objective of this study is to quantify linkages between soil moisture and carbon uptake, storage and release over multiple spatial (microbial to landscape) and temporal (minutes to decades) scales. Understanding how changes in annual and inter-annual ecosystem productivity interact and potentially offset the balance and stability of the Arctic soil carbon reservoir is of utmost importance to global climate change science. The project is focused on a soil moisture manipulation involving a 60hectare tundra flooding/draining experiment near Barrow, Alaska on the Arctic Coastal Plain. The project is located within the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO). The BEO is 7,446 acres of land owned by the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate jul<14>2003 19:05 Apr 29, 2005 Jkt 205001 Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation (UIC) in a designated Conservation District that has been zoned as a scientific research district for long-term, experimental studies, such as this. A permit has been acquired by the project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. ACOE) for the manipulation of wetland tundra. The National Science Foundation has received a Biological Opinion finding of non-jeopardy through the Section 7 Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service required by the Endangered Species Act regarding the two threatened species that may be encountered or displaced by the project, Steller’s elders and spectacled eiders. The potential impacts of the project were considered thoroughly during project planning and are anticipated to have no significant impact on the environment with the implementation of the associated mitigating measures defined in environmental assessment and the U.S. ACOE permit. Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment titled, an Environmental Assessment of a Biocomplexity Study of the Response of Tundra Carbon Balance to Warming and Drying Across Multiple Time Scales, 2005–2008, are available upon request from: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (301) 292–8033 or at the agency’s Web site at: https:// www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_envir/ tundra_ea.pdf. The National Science Foundation invites interested members of the public to provide written comments on this draft Environmental Assessment. Polly A. Penhale, Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 05–8690 Filed 4–29–05; 8:45 am] Contact Person: James Colby, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 292–5331. If you are attending the meeting and need access to the NSF please contact the individual listed above so your name may be added to the building access list. Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice with respect to the Foundation’s education and human resources programming. Agenda: MAY 11, 2005 Time Activity 8 a.m ...... 8:30 a.m Assemble in Conference Room. Introductions, Opening Presentation. Discussion with Acting Assistant Director, EHR. Break. Programmatic Planning • Focus on Undergraduate. • Focus on K–12. • Focus on Research. Lunch (TBD). Updated on Division/Office Activities. Break. COV Reports and Discussion. Focus on Program/Project Evaluation. Recess. 9 a.m ...... 10 a.m .... 10:15 a.m Noon ...... 1:30 p.m 2:30 p.m 2:45 p.m 4 p.m ...... 5 p.m ...... MAY 12, 2005 Time 8 a.m ...... 8:30 a.m 9:30 a.m 10:15 a.m 10:30 a.m 11:30 a.m Noon ...... Activity Assemble in Conference Room. Discussion w/Arden Bement. Review of Day 1, Next Steps. Break. Next Steps, Continued. Closing Remarks. Adjourn. Dated: April 27, 2005. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 05–8688 Filed 4–29–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–M BILLING CODE 7555–01–M NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources; Notice of Meeting [IA–05–021] In accordance with Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, as amended), the National Science Foundation announces the following meeting Name: Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources (#1119). Date/Time: May 11, 2005; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12, 2005; 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Place: Holiday Inn Arlington, 4610 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington and Clarendon Ballrooms. Arlington VA 22203. Type of Meeting: Open. PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 In the Matter of Andrew Siemaszko; Order Prohibiting Involvement in NRCLicensed Activities Mr. Andrew Siemaszko was previously employed as a system engineer at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station (Davis-Besse) operated by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC or Licensee). The Licensee holds License No. NPF–3 which was issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22718-22719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8690]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

[[Page 22719]]


ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for 
proposed activities in the Arctic.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the 
availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for proposed 
activities in the Arctic.
    The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has prepared an Environmental 
Assessment of a Biocomplexity Study of the Response of Tundra Carbon 
Balance to Warming and Drying Across Multiple Time Scales, 2005-2008. 
Given the United States Arctic Program's mission to support polar 
research, the proposed action is expected to result in substantial 
benefits to science. The draft Environmental Assessment is available 
for public review for a 30-day period.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Dr. Polly A. Penhale, 
National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson 
Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8033. 
Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment are available upon request 
from Dr. Penhale, or at the Web site: https://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/
arc_envir/tundra_ea.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This project will examine how biological and 
physical processes interact to control carbon uptake, storage and 
release in Arctic tundra ecosystems using an experimental approach to 
manipulate tundra moisture. Approximately 25% of the world's soil 
organic soil organic carbon reservoir is stored at high northern 
latitudes in permafrost and seasonally-thawed soils in the Arctic, a 
region that is currently undergoing unprecedented warming and drying, 
as well as dramatic changes in human land use. The objective of this 
study is to quantify linkages between soil moisture and carbon uptake, 
storage and release over multiple spatial (microbial to landscape) and 
temporal (minutes to decades) scales. Understanding how changes in 
annual and inter-annual ecosystem productivity interact and potentially 
offset the balance and stability of the Arctic soil carbon reservoir is 
of utmost importance to global climate change science.
    The project is focused on a soil moisture manipulation involving a 
60-hectare tundra flooding/draining experiment near Barrow, Alaska on 
the Arctic Coastal Plain. The project is located within the Barrow 
Environmental Observatory (BEO). The BEO is 7,446 acres of land owned 
by the Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation (UIC) in a designated Conservation 
District that has been zoned as a scientific research district for 
long-term, experimental studies, such as this.
    A permit has been acquired by the project from the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (U.S. ACOE) for the manipulation of wetland tundra. The 
National Science Foundation has received a Biological Opinion finding 
of non-jeopardy through the Section 7 Consultation with U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service required by the Endangered Species Act regarding the 
two threatened species that may be encountered or displaced by the 
project, Steller's elders and spectacled eiders. The potential impacts 
of the project were considered thoroughly during project planning and 
are anticipated to have no significant impact on the environment with 
the implementation of the associated mitigating measures defined in 
environmental assessment and the U.S. ACOE permit.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment titled, an 
Environmental Assessment of a Biocomplexity Study of the Response of 
Tundra Carbon Balance to Warming and Drying Across Multiple Time 
Scales, 2005-2008, are available upon request from: Dr. Polly A. 
Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 
Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (301) 292-8033 
or at the agency's Web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/arc_
envir/tundra_ea.pdf. The National Science Foundation invites 
interested members of the public to provide written comments on this 
draft Environmental Assessment.

Polly A. Penhale,
Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science 
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-8690 Filed 4-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M
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