2020-13795. Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978  

  • Start Preamble

    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 and permits issued 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 and permit issued.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-292-8224; email: ACApermits@nsf.gov.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The National Science Foundation (NSF), as directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541, 45 CFR part 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 a requiring special protection.

    NSF issued a permit (ACA 2018-010) to David J. Smith on October 26, 2017. The issued permit allows the applicant to introduce non-indigenous species into Antarctica. Dormant microbiological samples, pre-loaded into and remaining within a triple containment vessel, were brought to Antarctica to be launched into the Earth's stratosphere as part of NASA's Long Duration Balloon program (LDB). Details about the samples and the containment vessel are provided in the permit (attached). The microbiological samples, still contained within the vessel, will be returned to the USA and the home institution after recovery of the balloon payload.

    A recent modification to this permit, dated June 19, 2019, permitted the permit holder to continue to conduct permitted activities, under the original permit conditions, until March 31, 2023. Now, the permit holder proposes to include an additional species of microorganism to the next payload. The quantity and state (dormant) of the bacterial spores, as well as the sample and payload preparation methods, would be identical to the original permit. 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 of Permitted Activities: June 23, 2020 to March 31, 2023.

    Start Signature

    The permit modification was issued on June 23, 2020.

    Erika N. Davis,

    Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2020-13795 Filed 6-25-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7555-01-P