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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 62408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19468]

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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.

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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 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 11, 2023. 
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 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-8030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed 
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541, 45 CFR 
670), 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 as requiring special protection. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2024-008

1. Applicant Dr. Heather Lynch, Stony Brook University, IACS 163, Stony 
Brook, NY 11794

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

    Waste Management. The applicant seeks an Antarctic Conservation Act 
waste management permit for activities associated with penguin 
population surveys in the Western Antarctic Peninsula and the South 
Shetland Islands. The applicant proposes using battery-powered, 
quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to assist in the collection 
of imagery data for a multi-scale population census of penguin 
colonies. The UAV will only be flown by a pilot with extensive 
experience. Mitigation measures will be put in place to prevent loss of 
aircraft. These measures include UAVs being flown by a trained pilot in 
fair-weather conditions and having stationed observers maintain visual 
contact with the aircraft at all times. The applicant proposes various 
recovery methods in the unlikely event that an aircraft is lost over 
land or sea. These measures will limit any potential impacts on the 
Antarctic environment. The applicant seeks a waste permit to cover any 
accidental release that may result from UAV use.

Location

    King George Island, South Shetland Islands; Western Antarctic 
Peninsula

Dates of Permitted Activities

    December 1, 2023-March 1, 2024.

Kimiko S. Bowens-Knox,
Program Analyst, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-19468 Filed 9-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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