Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, 57238 [2015-23999]

Download as PDF 57238 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 183 / Tuesday, September 22, 2015 / Notices system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Application Details Permit Application: 2016–011 1. Applicant: Stephanie Jenourvrier, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02453. Activity for Which Permit is Requested: The applicant intends to collect a multi-scale and temporal baseline data set on the largest cluster of Adelie penguin breeding colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP). The area near the Danger Islands in the Weddell Sea (eastern AP) may account for half of the total breeding population of Adelie penguins in the AP, yet these colonies are little known. Penguin population shifts have been documented in the western AP and this study will help reduce uncertainty for the eastern AP populations. Should the weather preclude reaching the site, alternative study sites have been identified. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Filming: The applicant wishes to fly a small, battery operated, remotelycontrolled quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in order to photograph penguin colonies as part of a multiscale spatial survey of penguin colonies. The primary flight mode for the vehicles will be automatic take off, landing, and waypoint using ground station software. The secondary/emergency mode is remote control operation of the UAV by a trained pilot on the ground. In both flight modes the quadcopter will always be flown within visible sight of the pilot and designated observers. Operations will only be conducted inside the 10m/s maximum wind speed estimate. The UAV will only be flown in visual meteorological conditions. Flights will be flown between 50 and 200 ft. above the colonies in keeping with previous experience by other researcher engaged in similar UAV-based surveys of wildlife in the Antarctic. A risk analysis and mitigation measures should reduce the risk of loss the UAV. The UAV pilots will be trained to the standard of ground school training provide for a private pilot’s license and training on simulators and significant flight time with the UAVs will be conducted before deployment. The applicant is seeking a Waste Permit to cover any accidental releases that may result from flying a UAV. Remote Cameras: The applicant wishes to deploy a network of four solar-powered, satellite-linked remote cameras to examine penguin vital rates. The time-lapse cameras, specially designed for this application, have been field tested over the winter at other sites VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:39 Sep 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 in the Antarctica. The cameras will be mounted on a scaffold pole supported by an aluminum tripod. No malfunctions or adverse effects were seen in previous deployments. The instruments also record air temperature. The cameras are intended to remain in situ and operate remotely for five seasons. The units are completely weatherproof and are powered by batteries that are charged via a solar cell. Dates: 1 December 2015 through 1 January 2016. Nadene G. Kennedy, Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs. [FR Doc. 2015–24004 Filed 9–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 National Science Foundation Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95–541. AGENCY: ACTION: 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 at Title 45 Part 670 of 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 22, 2015. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit Office, address below. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Li Ling Hamady, ACA Permit Officer, at the above address or ACApermits@ nsf.gov or (703) 292–7149. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 certain geographic areas a requiring special protection. The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. APPLICATION DETAILS: 1. Applicant Brent S. Stewart, Ph.D., J.D., 3889 Creststone Place, San Diego, CA Permit Application: 2016–010 Activity for Which Permit Is Requested Take; Applicant desires to visit sites accessible by IAATTO registered tourist vessels and utilize a miniature (<1kg mass), multi-rotor (<20 cm rotor arm radius), remotely operated, battery powered (electric motor) UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) equipped with a small high resolution camera. The project will photo document Antarctic landscapes and the distribution and abundance of birds that occur at those sites. Bird species may include rockhopper, chinstrap, Adelie, and emperor penguins, and skuas, sheathbills, kelp gulls, and giant petrels, and birds may be roosting and/or breeding. ‘‘Take’’ would be unintended and unexpected incidental, brief, minor disturbance to 50 or less individual birds of each species (depending on the species, as noted in the application) during aerial vehicle flights at 25 to 60m in altitude, no further than 200m lateral distance away from the human operator, for no longer than 25 minutes in duration. The applicant has successfully deployed the equipment array over 75 times in various temperate, tropical and sub-polar environments, without wildlife disturbance. Location Various sites visited by IAATO registered vessels at Sub-Antarctic Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Dates October 15, 2015–October 14, 2020 Nadene G. Kennedy, Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs. [FR Doc. 2015–23999 Filed 9–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 National Science Foundation. Notice of Permit Modification Request Received and Permit Issued AGENCY: ACTION: E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 57238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23999]


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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 under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541.

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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 at Title 45 Part 670 
of 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 22, 2015. 
This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit 
Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, 
Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Li Ling Hamady, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address or ACApermits@nsf.gov or (703) 292-7149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 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 a requiring special protection. The 
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.
    APPLICATION DETAILS:

1. Applicant
    Brent S. Stewart, Ph.D., J.D., 3889 Creststone Place, San Diego, CA

    Permit Application: 2016-010

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Take; Applicant desires to visit sites accessible by IAATTO 
registered tourist vessels and utilize a miniature (<1kg mass), multi-
rotor (<20 cm rotor arm radius), remotely operated, battery powered 
(electric motor) UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) equipped with a small 
high resolution camera. The project will photo document Antarctic 
landscapes and the distribution and abundance of birds that occur at 
those sites. Bird species may include rockhopper, chinstrap, Adelie, 
and emperor penguins, and skuas, sheathbills, kelp gulls, and giant 
petrels, and birds may be roosting and/or breeding. ``Take'' would be 
unintended and unexpected incidental, brief, minor disturbance to 50 or 
less individual birds of each species (depending on the species, as 
noted in the application) during aerial vehicle flights at 25 to 60m in 
altitude, no further than 200m lateral distance away from the human 
operator, for no longer than 25 minutes in duration. The applicant has 
successfully deployed the equipment array over 75 times in various 
temperate, tropical and sub-polar environments, without wildlife 
disturbance.

Location

    Various sites visited by IAATO registered vessels at Sub-Antarctic 
Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, and the 
Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates

October 15, 2015-October 14, 2020

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-23999 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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