Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, 814 [2016-00030]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / Notices
Application Details
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rebecca A. Womeldorf, Rules
Committee Secretary, Rules Committee
Support Office, Administrative Office of
the United States Courts, Washington,
DC 20544, telephone (202) 502–1820.
Dated: January 4, 2016.
Rebecca A. Womeldorf,
Rules Committee Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–00037 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 2210–55–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 671 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 February 8, 2016. 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:
Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
the above address or ACApermits@
nsf.gov.
SUMMARY:
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 a requiring
special protection. The regulations
establish such a permit system to
designate Antarctic Specially Protected
Areas.
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:32 Jan 06, 2016
Jkt 238001
1. Applicant Permit Application: 2016–
024
Ari S. Friedlaender, Ph.D., Marine
Mammal Institute, Oregon State
University, Hatfield Marine Science
Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive,
Newport, OR 97365
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Waste Permit. The applicant will
conduct research around the Antarctic
Peninsula to determine the ecological
role of baleen whales. Recently
developed sensor tags will be used to
collect data on the underwater
movement and behavior of the whales.
Over time, the applicant will be able to
determine how changes in the whales’
behavior correspond to changes in sea
ice, krill, and other critical aspects of
the Antarctic marine ecosystem that are
at risk from rapidly changing climates.
The applicant will also collect skin and
blubber biopsy samples to gain a better
understanding of the identity,
population structure, and health of the
whales. The applicant will collaborate
with Antarctic tour operators that will
provide platforms to the applicant’s
research team in order to gather data
during time periods that are
undersampled. The applicant is seeking
a waste permit to cover any accidental
releases that may occur if the biopsy
darts and/or tags are lost.
Multi-sensor, suction cup tags. The
tags contain electronic sensors that are
contained in a syntactic foam housing
(400g in weight). The tags also contain
a VHF radio beacon that aids in tag
retrieval via standard radio tracking
equipment. The tags remain on whales
for up to 24 hours via silicon suction
cups. When they are shed, they float
and are retrieved using radio telemetry
tracking tools. The applicant’s research
team remains in visual or radio contact
with the tag continuously while it is
deployed and until it is recovered.
While tag failure is rare, if the VHF
transmitter fails the tag would likely
remain floating until it became beachcast. In the applicant’s experience, VHF
failure occurs rarely, less than 1% of all
deployments. A lost tag would
constitute waste in the form of 300
grams of syntactic foam, 100 grams of
electronics and 20 grams of silicon
suction cups. The research teams are
comprised of experienced researchers
with many years of field time. By
employing personnel such as this, the
applicant minimizes the risk of
generating waste and losing any
equipment due to human error.
Biopsy darts. Biopsy sampling is done
with a crossbow firing a floating dart,
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
made of aluminum and carbon fiber,
that bounces off the whale’s body after
extracting a tiny plug of tissue. The
biopsy tips are a 40 mm stainless steel
barrel. The bolts also contain a 5x2cm
foam float that is used to aid in dart
retrieval. The bolts are highly visible
and remain at the surface for retrieval.
The applicant will only collect samples
when weather and light conditions are
good and offer the best chance at
retrieving the bolt. The applicant’s
research team generally takes samples at
a range of 10–30 meters that allows
them to maintain visual contact with the
bolt when it is in the water. During
biopsy sampling, the team has an
observer whose job is to maintain visual
contact with the bolt until retrieval. The
applicant’s research team has collected
over 500 biopsy samples in Antarctica
on various projects and has only failed
to retrieve two bolts to date. When bolts
are lost, it is likely that they would
remain floating for some time unless the
foam breaks in which case the bolt
would likely sink quickly.
Location
Antarctic Peninsula
Dates
February 23, 2016 to April 30, 2020
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of
Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016–00030 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permits Issued Under the
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978
National Science Foundation.
Notice of permits issued under
the Antarctic Conservation of 1978,
Public Law 95–541.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Science
Foundation (NSF) is required to publish
notice of permits issued under the
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.
This is the required notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer,
Division of Polar Programs, Rm. 755,
National Science Foundation, 4201
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.
Or by email: ACApermits@nsf.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
October 6, 2015 the National Science
Foundation published a notice in the
Federal Register of a permit
modification application received. The
permit modification was issued on
December 31, 2015 to:
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM
07JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00030]
=======================================================================
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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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 671
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 February 8, 2016.
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: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at
the above address or ACApermits@nsf.gov.
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 a requiring special protection. The
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic
Specially Protected Areas.
Application Details
1. Applicant Permit Application: 2016-024
Ari S. Friedlaender, Ph.D., Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State
University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science
Drive, Newport, OR 97365
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Waste Permit. The applicant will conduct research around the
Antarctic Peninsula to determine the ecological role of baleen whales.
Recently developed sensor tags will be used to collect data on the
underwater movement and behavior of the whales. Over time, the
applicant will be able to determine how changes in the whales' behavior
correspond to changes in sea ice, krill, and other critical aspects of
the Antarctic marine ecosystem that are at risk from rapidly changing
climates. The applicant will also collect skin and blubber biopsy
samples to gain a better understanding of the identity, population
structure, and health of the whales. The applicant will collaborate
with Antarctic tour operators that will provide platforms to the
applicant's research team in order to gather data during time periods
that are undersampled. The applicant is seeking a waste permit to cover
any accidental releases that may occur if the biopsy darts and/or tags
are lost.
Multi-sensor, suction cup tags. The tags contain electronic sensors
that are contained in a syntactic foam housing (400g in weight). The
tags also contain a VHF radio beacon that aids in tag retrieval via
standard radio tracking equipment. The tags remain on whales for up to
24 hours via silicon suction cups. When they are shed, they float and
are retrieved using radio telemetry tracking tools. The applicant's
research team remains in visual or radio contact with the tag
continuously while it is deployed and until it is recovered. While tag
failure is rare, if the VHF transmitter fails the tag would likely
remain floating until it became beach-cast. In the applicant's
experience, VHF failure occurs rarely, less than 1% of all deployments.
A lost tag would constitute waste in the form of 300 grams of syntactic
foam, 100 grams of electronics and 20 grams of silicon suction cups.
The research teams are comprised of experienced researchers with many
years of field time. By employing personnel such as this, the applicant
minimizes the risk of generating waste and losing any equipment due to
human error.
Biopsy darts. Biopsy sampling is done with a crossbow firing a
floating dart, made of aluminum and carbon fiber, that bounces off the
whale's body after extracting a tiny plug of tissue. The biopsy tips
are a 40 mm stainless steel barrel. The bolts also contain a 5x2cm foam
float that is used to aid in dart retrieval. The bolts are highly
visible and remain at the surface for retrieval. The applicant will
only collect samples when weather and light conditions are good and
offer the best chance at retrieving the bolt. The applicant's research
team generally takes samples at a range of 10-30 meters that allows
them to maintain visual contact with the bolt when it is in the water.
During biopsy sampling, the team has an observer whose job is to
maintain visual contact with the bolt until retrieval. The applicant's
research team has collected over 500 biopsy samples in Antarctica on
various projects and has only failed to retrieve two bolts to date.
When bolts are lost, it is likely that they would remain floating for
some time unless the foam breaks in which case the bolt would likely
sink quickly.
Location
Antarctic Peninsula
Dates
February 23, 2016 to April 30, 2020
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-00030 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P