45880 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 168 / Friday, August 29, 1997 / Notices

participants. Visitors will be requested

to sign a visitor’s register. Visitors will

be requested to provide photo

identification (e.g., driver’s license) and

sign for a visitor’s badge from the

Goddard Space Flight Center Main Gate

Receptionist in Building 9.

Dated: August 25, 1997.

Leslie M. Nolan,

Advisory Committee Management Officer,

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.

[FR Doc. 97–23050 Filed 8–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–01–M

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (97–126)]

NASA Advisory Council, Advisory

Committee on the International Space

Station (ACISS); Meeting

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and

Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public

Law 92–463, as amended, the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration

announces a meeting of the NASA

Advisory Council, Advisory Committee

on the International Space Station.

DATES: Tuesday, September 9, 1997,

from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; and

Wednesday, September 10, 1997, from

8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from noon

to 1:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: SSPF Conference Room, 3rd

Floor, Space Station Processing Facility,

Industry Drive, Kennedy Space Center,

FL 32899.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. W. Michael Hawes, Code M–4,

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, Washington, DC 20546,

202/358–0242.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

meeting will be open to the public up

to the seating capacity of the room. The

agenda for the meeting is as follows:

—Extravehicular Activity/ISS Assembly

and Maintenance

—Sustaining Engineering

—Test and Verification

—Task Group Reports

It is imperative that the meeting be

held on these dates to accommodate the

scheduling priorities of the key

participants. Visitors will be requested

to sign a visitor’s register.

Dated: August 25, 1997.

Leslie M. Nolan,

Advisory Committee Management Officer,

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.

[FR Doc. 97–23051 Filed 8–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–01–M

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (97–124)]

NASA Advisory Council (NAC), Space

Science Advisory Committee (SScAC),

Structure and Evolution of the

Universe Advisory Subcommittee;

Meeting

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and

Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub.

L. 92–463, as amended, the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration

announces a forthcoming meeting of the

NASA Advisory Council, Space Science

Advisory Committee, Structure and

Evolution of the Universe

Subcommittee.

DATES: Monday, September 29, 1997,

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday,

September 30, 1997, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30

p.m.

ADDRESSES: NASA Headquarters,

Conference Room MIC 5–A/B West, 300

E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20546.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Alan N. Bunner, Code SA, National

Aeronautics and Space Administration,

Washington, DC 20546, 202/358–0364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

meeting will be open to the public up

to the capacity of the room. The agenda

for the meeting includes the following

topics:

—News from NASA Headquarters

—Summary Of Strategic Plan and

Budget Situation

—Report from SScAC and Other

Committees

—TGSAA Summary

—Update on OSS Missions

—Public Relations

—Long Duration Balloon Program

Update

It is imperative that the meeting be

held on these dates to accommodate the

scheduling priorities of the key

participants. Visitors will be requested

to sign a visitor’s register.

Dated: August 25, 1997.

Leslie M. Nolan,

Advisory Committee Management Officer,

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.

[FR Doc. 97–23049 Filed 8–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–01–M

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Notice of Permit Applications Received

Under the Antarctic Conservation Act

of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541)

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

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

reviews with respect to these permit

applications by September 23, 1997.

Permit applications may be inspected by

interested parties at the Permit Office,

address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

addressed to Permit Office, Room 775,

Office of Polar Programs, National

Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson

Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nadene G. Kennedy at the above

address or (703) 306–1033.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Science Foundation, as

directed by the Antarctica Conservation

Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), has

developed regulations that implement

the ‘‘Agreed Measures for the

Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and

Flora’’ for all United States citizens. The

Agreed Measures, developed by the

Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties,

recommended establishment of a permit

system for various activities in Antarctic

and designation of certain animals and

certain geographic areas requiring

special protection. The regulations

established such a permit system to

designate Specially Protected Areas and

Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The application received is as follows:

Permit Application No. 98–007

1. Applicant: Arthur L. DeVries,

Department of Physiology, 524 Burrill
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 168 / Friday, August 29, 1997 / Notices 45881

Hall, University of Illinois, 407 South

Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois

61801–3704

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Introduction of Nonindigenous Species into Antarctica.

Fifteen (15) specimens of New

Zealand black cod, Notothenia

angustata, will be cold acclimated in a

closed seawater system in the aquarium

at McMurdo Station. The cold

acclimated specimens will be used in

experiments to determine the role of the

antifreeze glycopeptides in freezing

avoidance, and for isolating DNA. The

DNA will be screened for the presence

of an ‘‘unexpressed’’ antifreeze

glycopeptide gene. Sensitive blood

serum freezing habit tests suggest cold

acclimated black cod synthesize small

amounts of antifreeze glycopeptide after

acclimation to +4°C for 6 weeks.

Some specimens will be injected with

purified antifreeze glycopeptides to

determine if the presence of the

antifreeze glycopeptides in the

circulation is sufficient to provide

avoidance of freezing or if it needs to be

integrated into the membranes of

protected cells by synthetic ice crystals

and the fate of the ice is determined.

The integument of the cod will also be

used in experiments to determine

whether it is a barrier to ice propagation

due to its physical properties or whether

antifreeze glycopeptides provide a

physioco-chemical barrier in

conjunction with the integument. Brain

lipids will also be analyzed to

determine the degree of unsaturation of

the phospholipid fatty acids.

Upon completion of experiments, the

black cod will be sacrificed and

preserved in 10% formalin.

Location: McMurdo Station, Ross

Island, Antarctica.

Dates: October 1, 1996–March 31,

1997.

Permit Application: 98–008

2. Applicant: Ian Whillans, Department

of Ecological Sciences, Ohio State

University, 125 South Oval Mall,

Columbus, OH 43210

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Enter Specially Protected

Area.

The applicant proposes to enter

Beaufort Island, Specially Protected

Area No. 5, to measure the motion of the

island with respect to the Transantarctic

Mountains due to mountain building

activity and related processes. Access to

the area will be by twin otter or

helicopter to an area above sea level to

install GPS receivers. The GPS will

operate for 5 days or less and then be

removed. Small markers will be left

behind for reoccupation in 1998/99 and

again 10 years later. Every effort will be

made to avoid disturbance to wildlife.

Location: Beaufort Island, Specially

Protected Area No. 5, Ross Sea.

Dates: November 1, 1997–February

25, 1998.

Permit Application: 98–009

3. Applicant: Thomas A. Day,

Department of Botany, Arizona State

University, Box 871601, Tempe, AZ

85287–1601

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Taking, Enter Specially

Protected Areas and Sites of Special

Scientific Interest, and Import into the

U.S. Strong evidence indicates the

climate of the Antarctic Peninsula has

changed appreciably this century. In

addition, springtime ozone depletion

events have resulted in welldocumented increases in UV–B

radiation levels. The applicant’s

previous work with two plant species

collected near Palmer Station, indicate

both species are sensitive to higher air

temperatures and limited in ability to

acclimate photosynthethically to

warmer temperatures. The applicant

proposes to enter Biscoe Point (SSSI

#20) and Admiralty Bay (SSSI #8) to

collect up to 50 shoots and up to 500

seeds of antarctic grass hair

(Deschampsia antarctica) of antarctic

perlwort (Colobanthus guitensis). Both

plant species will be grown in the lab

to examine changes in photosynthesis,

growth and reduction following

warming or exclusion of different UV

components. The species collected from

the Specially Protected areas will be

used to determine whether different

populations from contrasting weather

regimes differ in their acclimation

abilities. In addition, the applicant

plans to visit Litchfield Island (SPA #17)

on a site visit to assess animal damage

to plant communities. The need for both

shoots and seeds of each species is that

in all but very favorable growing

seasons, the vast majority of seeds

produced by these plants are not viable.

If seeds are not viable, plants must be

propagated from shoots.

Location: Biscoe Point (SSSI #20),

Admiralty Bay (SSSI #8), and Litchfield

Island (SPA #17), Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates: October 15, 1997 to April 30,

1999.

Permit Application No. 98–010

4. Applicant: Donald Croll, Institute of

Marine Science, University of

California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Taking; Import into the U.S.;

and, Enter Site of Special Scientific

Interest.

The applicant proposes to collect

blood, tracheal swabs, and coacal swab

samples from 125 adult Adelie penguins

per colony (10 colonies total) for

analysis of antibody presence.

Additional blood will be taken from 10

Adelies per colony to test for the

presence of trace metal or trace organic

contamination. The objectives of this

study are to test the hypothesis that

introduced avian diseases are more

likely to be present in penguins whose

rookeries are located in areas of high

human use than those located in areas

of low human use. A second hypothesis

will be tested predicting penguins in

high human use colonies will have

higher contaminate levels than those in

lower human use colonies. While

visiting the colonies, the applicant also

proposes to collect up to 30 adult Adelie

carcasses and 15 South Polar Skua

carcasses, if found, for contaminant

analysis and archival storage for future

research needs.

Location: From 5 of the six high

human contact colonies and 5 of the

eight low human contact colonies listed

below:

High Human Contact: Pt. Thomas,

King George Island, Lions Rump (SSSI

#34), King George Island, Arthur Harbor,

Anvers Island, Hope Bay, Trinity

Peninsula, Paulet Island, Petermann

Island

Low Human contact: Cone Island,

Margueritte Bay, Barcroft Island, Fish

Island, Grandidier Channel, Avian

Island, Margueritte Bay, Andressen

Island, Crystal Sound, North Pitt Island,

Grandidier Channel, Danger Island,

Three Sisters Point, King George Island

Dates: December 1, 1997—March 1,

1999.

Permit Application No. 98–011

5. Applicant: Bill J. Baker, Department

of Chemistry, Florida Institute of

Technology, Melbourne FL 32901

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Introduce Non-indigenous

species into Antarctica.

The applicant proposes to introduce 2

slants each of the following species;

Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis,

Escherichia coli, Microccoccus luteus,

Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus

niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

These eight species of non-pathogenic

microorganisms will be used for

bioassay of marine invertebrate extracts.

The microorganisms will be propagated

for each bioassay, then disposed of by

sterilization at the conclusion of the

field season. Sterile techniques will be

used to handle the microbes to ensure

they remain contained.
45882 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 168 / Friday, August 29, 1997 / Notices

Location: Crary Lab, McMurdo

Station, Antarctica.

Dates: October 1, 1997–December 31,

1997.

Permit Application No. 98–012

6. Applicant: Donald B. Siniff, Dept. of

Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 100

Ecology Building, University of

Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Taking. Import into the U.S.

The applicant plans to tag and release

approximately 350 Weddell adult seals

and approximately 550 Weddell pups as

part of a continuing investigation of the

McMurdo Sound Weddell seal

population, which was begun in the

early 1960’s and has continued to the

present. In addition, blood and tissue

samples will be taken from up to 300

individuals and imported to the U.S. for

DNA extraction and toxins analysis.

These samples are primarily to

supplement future research into the

paternity and genetic characteristics of

the McMurdo populations specifically

and Antarctic seals in general. Aspects

of this research are: (1) To continue the

long-term tagging studies by tagging all

pups born into the McMurdo Sound

population and to replace tags on

previously tagged individuals so they

will not be lost from the tagged

population; (2) to update estimates of

population parameters annually, using

mark-recapture surveys, to continue the

analyses and test of hypotheses

associated with this data base; (3)

collect blood and tissue samples for

research examining the social structure

and behavioral ecology of Weddell

seals. The samples will be analyzed at

the Universities of Minnesota and

Alberta for DNA fingerprinting; (4)

Previous research of stomach samples

from harvested seals indicated that

Antarctic silver fish is the major prey

constituent during the austral summer.

Since stomach content is no longer a

viable option, and otoliths from fecal

samples are often too eroded for

accurate age estimation, lavage

techniques (performed under

supervision of a marine mammal

veterinarian) offer a non-lethal

technique of obtaining this data; and (5)

VHF radio transmitters will be used to

monitor the activity of territorial males

during the breeding season in

conjunction with the studies of

behavioral ecology and paternity. The

radio transmitters will be attached with

marine epoxy and removed after use. If

animals cannot be recaptured, the radios

will fall off during their annual molt.

Location: McMurdo Sound vicinity,

Antarctica.

Dates: October 1, 1997–September 30,

1998.

Permit Application No. 98–013

7. Applicant: Donald B. Siniff, Dept. of

Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 100

Ecology Building, University of

Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

Activity for Which Permit is

Requested: Take. Import into the U.S.

Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The applicant proposes the enter the

White Island Site of Special Scientific

Interest (SSSI#18) to tag up to 15 adult

Weddell seals, and tag and draw blood

samples from approximately 5–8

Weddell pups, as part of a continuing

population biology study. The White

Island seal population has been a focus

of interest dating to the early 1960’s.

This group of seals represents an

isolated population that is very small

and the evidence suggests it has very

limited exchange of individuals with

the McMurdo Sound population. Since

intensive censusing was begun in the

late 1980’s, no new (tagged) adults have

appeared in the population. Thus, the

genetics of this population is of interest

because it will increase understanding

of such concepts as inbreeding

depression and genetic drift.

Location: SSSI#18—North-west White

Island, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

Dates: October 1, 1997–September 30,

1998.

Nadene G. Kennedy,

Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.

[FR Doc. 97–22985 Filed 8–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7555–01–M

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50–266 and 50–301]

Wisconsin Electric Power Company;

Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and

2, Environmental Assessment and

Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of amendments to

Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR–

24 and DPR–27, issued to Wisconsin

Electric Power Company, (the licensee),

for operation of the Point Beach Nuclear

Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in

Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

By letter dated January 21, 1997, the

licensee proposed to change Technical

Specification (TS) 15.6.11, ‘‘Radiation

Protection Program’’ by revising all

references to 10 CFR part 20, section

20.203 to section 20.1601, and by

revising the footnote associated with

this TS to indicate dose rates are those

measured at no more than 30

centimeters from the source of

radioactivity in accordance with 10 CFR

20.1601(a)(1).

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action is needed for the

licensee to be consistent with 10 CFR

part 50, Appendix I, in implementing

the revised 10 CFR part 20.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed

Action

The Commission has completed its

evaluation of the proposed revision to

the TS and concludes that the

administrative changes associated with

updating the references to 10 CFR part

20 will not increase the types or

amounts of effluents that may be

released offsite, nor increase individual

or cumulative occupational radiation

exposure. Accordingly, the Commission

concludes that this proposed action

would result in no significant

radiological environmental impact.

The change will not increase the

probability or consequences of

accidents, no changes are being made in

the types of any effluents that may be

released offsite, no changes are being

made to the authorized power level, and

there is no significant increase in the

allowable individual or cumulative

occupational radiation exposure.

Accordingly, the Commission concludes

that there are no significant radiological

environmental impacts associated with

the proposed action.

With regard to potential

nonradiological impacts, the proposed

action does involve features located

entirely within the restricted area as

defined in 10 CFR part 20. It does not

affect nonradiological plant effluents

and has no other environmental impact.

Accordingly, the Commission concludes

that there are no significant

nonradiological environmental impacts

associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

Since the Commission has concluded

there is no measurable environmental

impact associated with the proposed

action, any alternatives with equal or

greater environmental impact need not

be evaluated. As an alternative to the

proposed action, the staff considered

denial of the proposed action. Denial of

the application would result in no

change in current environmental

impacts. The environmental impacts of

the proposed action and the alternative

action are similar.