[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25521]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 14, 1994]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978, P.L. 95-541
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978, P.L. 95-541.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish
notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated
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 views with respect to these permit applications by November 19,
1994. Permit applications may be inspected by interested parties at the
Permit Office, address below.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755,
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) 306-1031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed
by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 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 Antarctica and designation of certain animals and
certain geographic areas requiring special protection. The regulations
establish such a permit system to designate Specially Protected Areas
and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The applications received are as follows:
1. Applicant--John L. Bengtson, National Marine Mammal Laboratory,
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E.,
Seattle, Washington 98115.
Permit Application No. 95-023.
Activity for Which Permit is Requested
Taking; Enter Sites of Special Scientific Interest; and, Import
Into and Export From the United States.
Pinniped research to be conducted consists of ship-supported
studies in the circumpolar pack ice zone and land-based studies at
selected sites around the continent, particularly in the region of the
Antarctic Peninsula. A primary objective is to study the feeding
ecology, reproduction, and population dynamics of Antarctic seals and
to examine their role in the marine ecosystem.
When logistically possible, time-depth recorders, radio
transmitters, and satellite-linked electronics will be deployed on
seals of various species to monitor their deeding and diving behavior.
Instruments will be fastened to the pelage on the backs of individuals
using cyanoacrylic glue and/or quick-setting epoxy, as has been
successfully used in previous seasons. Recorders will be retrieved from
seals up to 90 days after initial deployment. Those packages not
recovered will be shed from the seals' backs at their next molt. Shore-
based studies and surveys will investigate the numbers, behavior, and
activity patterns of Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals.
To facilitate the census work, temporary paint or bleach marks may be
applied to seals hauled out in the survey area. Selected individuals
may be tagged to assist identification and to monitor migrations.
Aerial surveys will be flown to assess the abundance and distribution
of pinnipeds in various habitats. In general, surveys will be flown
over altitudes of 500 feet or greater to minimize potential
disturbance. However, to allow greater flexibility in designing and
conducting surveys, flights may be made at lower altitudes (but not
less than 200 feet) when called for by conditions of survey design or
human safety. Handling of seals while restrained will include marking,
weighing, measuring, taking tissue samples (e.g., blubber, skin, blood,
hair).
Permission is requested to enter Cape Shirreff (SSSI #32) and Byers
Peninsula (SSSI #6) on Livingston Island to study pinnipeds and
seabirds. A comprehensive census of these populations was conducted
during the 1986-87 austral summer, and repeat censuses are being
planned for future seasons. In addition, studies of seabirds and
pinnipeds, as described above, may be undertaken at Cape Shirreff as
part of the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP). The applicant
wishes to conduct directed research and monitoring of fur seals and
seabirds at Cape Shirreff in accordance with CEMP recommendations.
There is a possibility of recently-established fur seal colonies within
the vicinity of the Byers Peninsula, and periodic censuses of the area
would be desirable. At both sites, care will be taken to minimize
disturbance to terrestrial habitats and lifeforms. All activities
conducted would comply with the approved SSSI management plans in force
for each area.
To optimize the use of specimen material previously collected from
Antarctic pennipeds, permission is requested to allow exchange of
specimen material among researchers in various nations. Specifically,
the applicant wishes to: (1) import Antarctic pinniped specimen
material into the U.S., and (2) export Antarctic pinniped specimen
material out of the U.S. to investigators collaborating in other
countries. Authorization is requested to import and export previously
collected specimen material from all six species of Antarctic pennipeds
between the U.S. and other nations who have acceded to the Antarctic
Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals.
Accession to these treaties will ensure that specimens collected by
foreign scientists will have been collected in compliance with the
provisions of these two conventions.
Location
Circumpolar pack ice areas and sites ashore, Antarctic Peninsula
region, South Shetland Islands vicinity; and Sites of Special
Scientific Interest--Cape Shirreff (SSSI #32) and Byers Peninsula (SSSI
#6), Livingston Island. Access will be by ship, boat, or helicopter
(overflights of rookeries will be avoided).
Dates
January 1, 1995-December 31, 1999.
2. Applicant--Thomas A. Day and James B. McGraw, Department of
Biology, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6057, Morgantown, West
Virginia 26506-6057.
Permit Application No. 95-024.
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Take; Enter Site of Special Scientific Interest; and Import Into
the United States.
This research project will attempt to determine whether UV-B,
particularly UV-B associated with ozone hole events, affects
photosynthesis, growth, and reproductive performance of Antarctic
vascular plants. they will assess the relative magnitude of this
limitation by using experimental field treatments to compare UV-B to
other potential limitations such as UV-A (ultraviolet-A radiation; 320-
400nm), water stress, and nutrient stress. The applicant proposes enter
Biscoe Point, Anvers Island (SSSI #20) to collect up to 50 green
tillers or shoots with root system of Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia
antarctica), and up to 20 seeds (filled seeds if found) of Antarctic
pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis). These samples will be transported to
West Virginia University where they will be propagated and grown in
growth cambers and a greenhouse. These plants will be exposed to
various UV treatments and underlying physiological mechanisms
responsible for their response to UV will be identified. Equipment,
techniques, and facilities necessary for these investigations are not
available at Palmer Station.
Access to the site will be by zodiac from the ship. Plant material
will be collected by hand and/or trowel.
Location
Biscoe Point, Anvers Island--Sites of Special Scientific Interest
#20.
Dates
February 10-17, 1995.
3. Applicant--Donal T. Manahan, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089.
Permit Application No. 95-025.
Activity for Which Permit Is Requested
Export from the United States and Introduce Non-indigenous Species
into Antarctica. The applicant and four faculty members will offer a
four-week course at the McMurdo Station Crary Science and Engineering
Center for 16 students from major international research institutions.
This second year of the course will emphasize four themes: 1) evolution
of structure-function in cold-adapted proteins and biology of
antifreeze strategies in antarctic fishes, 2) molecular evolution and
UV-photobiology of antarctic algae, 3) comparative studies of protein
and membrane adaptations to cold in marine invertebrates and fish, and
4) physiology and biochemistry of larval development of antarctic
invertebrates. As part of the course, the applicant will need to
culture species of unicellular algae in aseptic conditions. For this
purpose, it is requested to export from the U.S. approximately 10ml of
algae culture per species originally isolated in Antarctica. These
cultures will be used for investigations of the effects of UV on the
biology of algae (DNA damage, etc.) The algae species now in culture in
the U.S., that were originally isolated in Antarctica, and to be
exported from the U.S. are:
Acrochaetium sp.
Acrosiphonia sp.
Bangia sp.
Chaeoceros flexuosum
Desmarestia antarctica
Halochorococcum sp.
Halococcus sp.
Nitzchia curta
Phaeocystis sp.
Phyllophora antarctica
Porosira glacialis
Porphyra cf. plocamienstris
Rhodochorton purpureum
Thallassiosira antarctica
Urospora sp.
In addition, the applicant proposes to introduce algal species that
are not of Antarctic origin for use as food for antarctic larval forms
(sea urchins) that will be reared at McMurdo Station during the period
of the course study. The non-indigenous algal species to be introduced
into Antarctica are:
Dunaliella teriolecta
Isochrysis galbana
Skeletonema costatum
Thalassiosira pseudonana
Rhodomonas sp.
After use, all algae and seawater containing algae will be
autoclaved to kill the algal cells.
Location
McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Dates
December 18, 1994-February 7, 1995.
4. Applicant--Ronald G. Koger, Project Director, Antarctic Support
Associates, 61 Inverness Drive East, Suite 300, Englewood, Colorado
80112.
Permit Application No. 95-026.
Activities for Which Permit Is Requested
Taking.
The applicant proposes to conduct operations at Cape Hallett in an
effort to cleanup remnants of past operations. The location of the
proposed work lies within a penguin rookery with a population of
approximately 80,000 Adelie penguins. The proposed work involves
delivering drums and overpacks to the site; transferring fuel, oil,
solvent and antifreeze to the drums; and returning the materials to
McMurdo Station. The cleanup will be accomplished in stages over a
period of several years. Each phase has the potential of disturbing the
local penguin population. The work is justified by the fact that the
cleanup operation is an effort to eliminate a potentially hazardous
situation which poses a threat to the health and well being of the
penguin population should the old containers leak their contents due to
corrosion. Disturbances would come from noise associated with the
activity of personnel on site, use of equipment, and transportation to
and from the site. Every effort will be taken to schedule activities at
times when the penguins are least susceptible to these disturbances,
for example, during times when the birds are not mating, breeding, or
nesting.
Location
Seabee Hook, Cape Hallet, Victoria Land, Antarctica.
Dates
November 1, 1994-March 1, 1995.
Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-25521 Filed 10-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M
