Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices 86843 

Dates of Permitted Activities: 

December 1, 2024–November 30, 2029. 

Alina Pavao, 

Administrative Assistant, Office of Polar 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25351 Filed 10–30–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

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 2, 2024. 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 

ACApermits@nsf.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Andrew Titmus, ACA Permit Officer, at 

the above address, 703–292–4479. 

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 as requiring 

special protection. The regulations 

establish such a permit system to 

designate Antarctic Specially Protected 

Areas. 

Application Details 

Permit Application: 2025–021 

1. Applicant: Sujatha Bagal, National 

Geographic Society, 1145 17th 

Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 

Activity for Which Permit is 

Requested: Waste Management. The 

applicant seeks an Antarctic 

Conservation Act permit in association 

with Waste Management activities in 

Antarctica. The applicant proposes to 

conduct a multidisciplinary research 

project in the Weddell Sea involving the 

use of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft 

System (RPAS), a Remotely Operated 

Vehicle (ROV), and a benthic camera 

(drop cam). For RPAS use, flights will 

only occur under fair weather 

conditions and be operated by an 

experienced pilot. No flights would 

occur in the vicinity of wildlife, and no 

flights would occur over Antarctic 

Specially Protected Areas or Historic 

Sites and Monuments. The dropcam 

would be deployed to a max depth of 

3,500 m for up to four hours. A 

biodegradable anchor would be released 

to the environment with each camera 

deployment. All visits ashore would 

follow Visitor Site Guidelines where 

applicable. 

Location: Weddell Sea, Antarctica. 

Dates of Permitted Activities: 

December 14, 2024–January 4, 2025. 

Permit Application: 2025–020 

2. 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 proposes to conduct research 

around the Antarctic Peninsula to 

determine the ecological role of 

cetaceans. Sensor tags would be used to 

collect data on the underwater 

movement and behavior of the whales. 

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 

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems 

(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 RPAS 

pilots. The applicant would minimize 

the risk of 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. Multisensor, 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 1, 2024–November 30, 2029. 

Alina Pavao, 

Administrative Assistant, Office of Polar 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25350 Filed 10–30–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

[Docket Nos. MC2025–151 and K2025–149; 

MC2025–152 and K2025–150; MC2025–153 

and K2025–151; MC2025–154 and K2025– 

152; MC2025–155 and K2025–153; MC2025– 

156 and K2025–154; MC2025–157 and 

K2025–155; MC2025–158 and K2025–156] 

New Postal Products 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a 

recent Postal Service filing for the 

Commission’s consideration concerning 

a negotiated service agreement. This 

notice informs the public of the filing, 

invites public comment, and takes other 

administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: November 1, 

2024. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
86844 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 211 / Thursday, October 31, 2024 / Notices 

1See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting 

Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, 

June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 

4679). 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

electronically via the Commission’s 

Filing Online system at http://

www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 

comments electronically should contact 

the person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section by 

telephone for advice on filing 

alternatives. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 

202–789–6820. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

II. Public Proceeding(s) 

III. Summary Proceeding(s) 

I. Introduction 

Pursuant to 39 CFR 3041.405, the 

Commission gives notice that the Postal 

Service filed request(s) for the 

Commission to consider matters related 

to Competitive negotiated service 

agreement(s). The request(s) may 

propose the addition of a negotiated 

service agreement from the Competitive 

product list or the modification of an 

existing product currently appearing on 

the Competitive product list. 

The public portions of the Postal 

Service’s request(s) can be accessed via 

the Commission’s website (http://

www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of 

the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, 

can be accessed through compliance 

with the requirements of 39 CFR 

3011.301.1

Section II identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, if any, that will be 

reviewed in a public proceeding as 

defined by 39 CFR 3010.101(p), the title 

of each such request, the request’s 

acceptance date, and the authority cited 

by the Postal Service for each request. 

For each such request, the Commission 

appoints an officer of the Commission to 

represent the interests of the general 

public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 

U.S.C. 505 and 39 CFR 3000.114 (Public 

Representative). Section II also 

establishes comment deadline(s) 

pertaining to each such request. 

The Commission invites comments on 

whether the Postal Service’s request(s) 

identified in Section II, if any, are 

consistent with the policies of title 39. 

Applicable statutory and regulatory 

requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 

U.S.C. 3633, 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 

part 3035, and 39 CFR part 3041. 

Comment deadline(s) for each such 

request, if any, appear in Section II. 

Section III identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, if any, to add a 

standardized distinct product to the 

Competitive product list or to amend a 

standardized distinct product, the title 

of each such request, the request’s 

acceptance date, and the authority cited 

by the Postal Service for each request. 

Standardized distinct products are 

negotiated service agreements that are 

variations of one or more Competitive 

products, and for which financial 

models, minimum rates, and 

classification criteria have undergone 

advance Commission review. See 39 

CFR 3041.110(n); 39 CFR 3041.205(a). 

Such requests are reviewed in summary 

proceedings pursuant to 39 CFR 

3041.325(c)(2) and 39 CFR 

3041.505(f)(1). Pursuant to 39 CFR 

3041.405(c)–(d), the Commission does 

not appoint a Public Representative or 

request public comment in proceedings 

to review such requests. 

II. Public Proceeding(s) 

1. Docket No(s).: MC2025–151 and 

K2025–149; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 529 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Elsie Lee-Robbins; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

2. Docket No(s).: MC2025–152 and 

K2025–150; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 530 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Maxine Bradley; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

3. Docket No(s).: MC2025–153 and 

K2025–151; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 531 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Jennaca Upperman; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

4. Docket No(s).: MC2025–154 and 

K2025–152; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail & USPS Ground 

Advantage Contract 408 to the 

Competitive Product List and Notice of 

Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing 

Acceptance Date: October 24, 2024; 

Filing Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 

3035.105, and 39 CFR 3041.310; Public 

Representative: Katalin Clendenin; 

Comments Due: November 1, 2024. 

5. Docket No(s).: MC2025–155 and 

K2025–153; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 532 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Katalin Clendenin; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

6. Docket No(s).: MC2025–156 and 

K2025–154; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 533 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Gregory Stanton; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

7. Docket No(s).: MC2025–157 and 

K2025–155; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 534 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Gregory Stanton; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

8. Docket No(s).: MC2025–158 and 

K2025–156; Filing Title: USPS Request 

to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority 

Mail & USPS Ground Advantage 

Contract 535 to the Competitive Product 

List and Notice of Filing Materials 

Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: 

October 24, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 

U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3035.105, and 39 

CFR 3041.310; Public Representative: 

Gregory Stanton; Comments Due: 

November 1, 2024. 

III. Summary Proceeding(s) 

None. See Section II for public 

proceedings. 

This Notice will be published in the 

Federal Register. 

Jennie L. Jbara, 

Primary Certifying Official. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25330 Filed 10–30–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P 


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