1792 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 12, 2022 / Notices 

Permit No. 2018–025 

Allison Kean, Quark Expeditions Inc. 

Erika N. Davis, 

Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00443 Filed 1–11–22; 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 February 11, 2022. 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: 

Polly Penhale, 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 (Pub. L. 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: 2022–028. 

1. Applicant: Jonathan Hong, COO 

XM2 Aerial Pty Ltd., 15143 Waterman 

Dr., Van Nuys CA 91406. 

Activity for Which Permit is 

Requested: Waste Management. The 

applicant seeks an Antarctic 

Conservation Act permit for waste 

management activities associated with 

the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems 

(UAS) in Antarctica. The applicant 

proposes using multiple UAS for 

commercial filmmaking purposes in 

areas surrounding the Antarctica 

Peninsula. UAS are only to be flown by 

pre-approved pilots with extensive 

flight experience. The applicant 

includes various mitigation measures to 

limit potential impacts to the 

environment. These measures include 

the following: Safety measures that 

minimize the risk of equipment failure, 

using observers to maintain visual line 

of sight with the aircraft and to aid in 

possible retrieval, not flying above any 

concentrations of wildlife and 

disinfecting UAVs after flight to prevent 

possible contamination between 

operation sites. The applicant seeks a 

waste permit to cover any accidental 

release that may result from UAS use. 

Location: Antarctic Peninsula Region. 

Dates of Permitted Activities: March 

1, 2022–February 28, 2023. 

Erika N. Davis, 

Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00445 Filed 1–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Notice of Permit Modification Received 

Under the Antarctic Conservation Act 

of 1978 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice of permit modification 

request received and permit issued. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) is required to publish 

a notice of requests to modify permits 

issued 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 a requested 

permit modification issued. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Polly Penhale, ACA Permit Officer, 

Office of Polar Programs, National 

Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower 

Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703– 

292–7420; email: ACApermits@nsf.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

National Science Foundation (NSF), as 

directed by the Antarctic Conservation 

Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 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. 

Description of Permit Modification 

Requested: The Foundation issued a 

permit (ACA 2018–015) to Polar 

Latitudes Inc. on November 2, 2017. The 

issued permit allows the applicant to 

conduct waste management activities 

associated with coastal camping and 

operating remotely piloted aircraft 

systems (RPAS) In the Antarctic 

Peninsula region. 

On October 5, 2021, NSF issued a 

permit modification authorizing waste 

management activities associated with 

planned operations for the 2021–2022 

field season. This modification included 

slight changes in operation. For the 

2021–2022 season, Polar Latitudes plans 

to operate the MS SEAVENTURE, which 

will carry 149 passengers and 15–20 

expedition staff. Polar Latitudes 

requested that the number of 

individuals permitted for coastal 

camping activities be increased from 30 

participants to 40 participants and four 

expedition guides, with increased 

equipment brought onshore to support a 

larger group. Now the applicant 

proposes a modification to his permit to 

increase the number of individuals 

permitted for coastal camping activities 

to be increased from 40 to 50 

participants for operator’s remaining 

2021–2022 season. 

The Environmental Officer has 

reviewed the modification request and 

has determined that the amendment is 

not a material change to the permit, and 

it will have a less than a minor or 

transitory impact. 

DATES: November 2, 2017–March 30, 

2022. 

The permit modification was issued on 

December 14, 2021. 

Erika N. Davis, 

Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00444 Filed 1–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Notice of Permit Modification Issued 

Under the Antarctic Conservation Act 

of 1978 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice of permit modification 

issued. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) is required to publish 

notice of permits issued under the 

Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. 

This is the required notice. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1