Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, 46195 [2018-19824]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices Evening briefing to discuss the Expeditions award and forthcoming site visit. Thursday, September 13, 2018 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Open Presentations by Awardee Institution, faculty staff and students, to Site Team and NSF Staff. Discussions, question and answer sessions. 1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Closed NSF Staff and Panelists deliberation. 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.: Open Continued presentations by Awardee Institution. Response and feedback to presentations by Site Team and NSF Staff. Discussions, question and answer sessions. Draft report on education and research activities. Complete written site visit report with preliminary recommendations. 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.: Closed NSF Staff and Panelists working dinner. Friday, September 14, 2018 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.: Open Expeditions PIs responses to issues raised by panelists. 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.: Closed Panelists prepare site visit report. 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Open Presentation of site visit report to Expeditions leadership team. Reason For Closing: Topics to be discussed and evaluated during closed portions of the site review will include information of a proprietary or confidential nature, including technical information; and information on personnel. These matters are exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6) of the Government in the Sunshine Act. Dated: September 6, 2018. Crystal Robinson, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–19780 Filed 9–11–18; 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. 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 in the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Sep 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 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 ACApermits@nsf.gov. 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. DATES: 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 vesselsupported 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. PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 46195 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 Ronge´ 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, Ronge´ 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 E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 46195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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.

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

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
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