Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, 75050-75051 [2020-25936]

Download as PDF 75050 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 24, 2020 / Notices whether the information will have practical utility. • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Agency: DOL–OWCP–DCMWC. Type of Review: Extension. Title of Collection: Report of Changes that May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits. Form: Report of Changes that May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits, CM– 929, CM–929P. OMB Control Number: 1240–0028. Affected Public: Individuals and Notfor-profit institutions. Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000. Frequency: Annually. Total Estimated Annual Responses: 12,000. Estimated Average Time per Response: 5–80 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,810 hours. Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.00. Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). Committee Act and implementing regulations. The meeting will be on January 27, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be a virtual meeting. See supplementary procedures below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert J. Skwirot, ISOO Senior Program Analyst by telephone at 202.357.5398 or by email at robert.skwirot@nara.gov. Please use the email contact method during the current COVID remote work situation. Contact ISOO at ISOO@ nara.gov. DATES: This virtual meeting is open to the public in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app 2) and implementing regulations at 41 CFR 101–6. The Committee will discuss matters relating to the classified national security information program for state, local, tribal, and private sector entities. Procedures: Please submit the name, email address, and telephone number of people planning to attend to Robert Skwirot at ISOO (contact information above) no later than Wednesday, January 20, 2021. We will provide meeting access information to those who register. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maureen MacDonald, Designated Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–25873 Filed 11–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7515–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Anjanette Suggs, Agency Clearance Officer. Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 [FR Doc. 2020–25874 Filed 11–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–CK–P National Science Foundation. Notice of permit applications received. AGENCY: ACTION: NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION [NARA–2021–008] State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Policy Advisory Committee (SLTPS– PAC); Meeting Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). ACTION: Notice of Federal advisory committee meeting. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: We are announcing an upcoming meeting of the State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Policy Advisory Committee (SLTPS–PAC) in accordance with the Federal Advisory SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:48 Nov 23, 2020 Jkt 253001 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. SUMMARY: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by December 24, 2020. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit Office, address below. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. ADDRESSES: Application Details Permit Application: 2021–006 1. Applicant: Ari S. Friedlaender, Institute for Marine Sciences, UC Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003 Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The applicant would conduct research around the Antarctic Peninsula to determine the ecological role of baleen whales. Sensor tags would be used to collect data on the underwater movement and behavior of the whales. Over time, the applicant would 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 would collect skin and blubber biopsy samples to gain a better understanding of the identity, population structure, and health of the whales. The applicant would operate unoccupied/remotely piloted aircraft systems (UAS, RPAS) to collect photographs of individual whales for health assessment purposes. The applicant would collaborate with Antarctic tour operators that would 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, tags, and/or remotely piloted aircraft are lost. The research teams would be comprised of experienced researchers and UAS/RPAS pilots. By employing personnel such as this, the applicant would minimize the risk of E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 24, 2020 / Notices generating waste and losing any equipment due to human error. The applicant would also conduct activities under conditions (weather, sea state, etc.) allowing the applicant and team to maintain visual contact with instrumentation and equipment as well as aid in retrieval as needed. Multi-sensor, suction cup tags would be attached to whales. When they are shed, they float and are retrieved using radio telemetry tracking tools. While tag failure is rare, 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. 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 bolt tips are a 40 mm stainless steel barrel and 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. An observer would maintain visual contact with the bolt until retrieval. The successful retrieval rate is very high (only 3 bolts lost in over 500 sampling events). The UAS/RPAS would be operated by experienced pilots according to protocols designed to ensure safe operations and to minimize the risk of loss. The commercial, off-theshelf aircraft are powered by lithium polymer batteries and do not require any fuels. Loss of aircraft would result in a minor amount of plastic and metal waste from the frame and camera as well as non-toxic (no lead or cadmium) lithium polymer batteries. Location: Antarctic Peninsula region. Dates of Permitted Activities: December 25, 2020–November 30, 2024. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. George A. Wilson, Director, Office of Enforcement. The Confirmatory Order became effective on November 19, 2020. In the Matter of Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland DATES: NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 05000170; NRC–2020–0258] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2020–25936 Filed 11–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Confirmatory order; issuance. AGENCY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an Order confirming commitments agreed upon during an Alternate Dispute Resolution mediation session with the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:48 Nov 23, 2020 Jkt 253001 ADDRESSES: Nicole Coleman, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–287–9007, email: Nicole.Coleman@ nrc.gov. In the Matter of Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES (AFRRI). The NRC determined that an apparent violation of NRC regulations, occurred as identified during an investigation completed on February 27, 2020, by the NRC’s Office of Investigations. The Order is effective on the date of issuance. Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2020–0258 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly available information related to this document using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2020–0258. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127; email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@ nrc.gov. Order EA–20–056, issued to AFRRI on November 19, 2020, is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML20303A211. • Attention: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies of public documents is currently closed. You may submit your request to the PDR via email at PDR.Resource@nrc.gov or call 1–800–397–4209 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Erika N. Davis, Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs. 75051 the Order is attached. Dated: November 19, 2020. PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The text of Attached—Confirmatory Order United States of America Nuclear Regulatory Commission Docket No.: 05000170; License No.: R– 84; EA–20–056 Confirmatory Order Modifying License Effective Upon Issuance I Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI or Licensee) is the holder of License No. R–84, issued by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) pursuant to Part 50 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). The license authorizes the operation of AFRRI Research Reactor (facility) in accordance with conditions specified therein. The facility is located on the Licensee’s site in Bethesda, Maryland. This Confirmatory Order (CO) is the result of an agreement reached during an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mediation session conducted on September 18, 2020, to address an apparent violation. II On February 27, 2020, the NRC’s Office of Investigations (OI), issued a report (1–2019–003) related to AFRRI. Based on the evidence developed during its investigation, the NRC identified an apparent violation of 10 CFR 50.7, ‘‘Employee protection.’’ The NRC determined that AFRRI placed an AFRRI employee on a 2-day suspension without pay on May 14, 2018, in part, for engaging in protected activity. By letter dated June 8, 2020, the NRC notified AFRRI of the results of the investigation with an opportunity to (1) attend a pre-decisional enforcement conference or (2) to participate in an ADR mediation session in an effort to resolve this concern. In response to the NRC’s offer, AFRRI requested the use of the NRC’s ADR process to attempt to resolve this issue with the NRC. On September 18, 2020, the NRC and AFRRI conducted an ADR session mediated by a professional mediator, arranged through Cornell University’s Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution. The ADR process is one in which a neutral mediator, with no decision-making authority, assists the parties in reaching an agreement to resolve any differences regarding the E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75050-75051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25936]


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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 December 24, 2020. 
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: 2021-006

1. Applicant: Ari S. Friedlaender, Institute for Marine Sciences, UC 
Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003

    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Waste Management. The 
applicant would conduct research around the Antarctic Peninsula to 
determine the ecological role of baleen whales. Sensor tags would be 
used to collect data on the underwater movement and behavior of the 
whales. Over time, the applicant would 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 would collect skin 
and blubber biopsy samples to gain a better understanding of the 
identity, population structure, and health of the whales. The applicant 
would operate unoccupied/remotely piloted aircraft systems (UAS, RPAS) 
to collect photographs of individual whales for health assessment 
purposes. The applicant would collaborate with Antarctic tour operators 
that would 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, tags, and/or remotely piloted aircraft are 
lost. The research teams would be comprised of experienced researchers 
and UAS/RPAS pilots. By employing personnel such as this, the applicant 
would minimize the risk of

[[Page 75051]]

generating waste and losing any equipment due to human error. The 
applicant would also conduct activities under conditions (weather, sea 
state, etc.) allowing the applicant and team to maintain visual contact 
with instrumentation and equipment as well as aid in retrieval as 
needed.
    Multi-sensor, suction cup tags would be attached to whales. When 
they are shed, they float and are retrieved using radio telemetry 
tracking tools. While tag failure is rare, 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. 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 bolt tips are a 40 mm stainless steel barrel 
and 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. An observer would maintain visual contact with the bolt 
until retrieval. The successful retrieval rate is very high (only 3 
bolts lost in over 500 sampling events). The UAS/RPAS would be operated 
by experienced pilots according to protocols designed to ensure safe 
operations and to minimize the risk of loss. The commercial, off-the-
shelf aircraft are powered by lithium polymer batteries and do not 
require any fuels. Loss of aircraft would result in a minor amount of 
plastic and metal waste from the frame and camera as well as non-toxic 
(no lead or cadmium) lithium polymer batteries.
    Location: Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: December 25, 2020-November 30, 2024.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-25936 Filed 11-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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