03-22428. Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-541)

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice of Permit Modification Received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, P.L. 95-541.

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 at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of a requested permit modification.

DATES:

Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by October 3, 2003. 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 [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Science Foundation, as directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541), 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.

Description of Permit Modification Requested: The Foundation issued a permit (2001-011) to Dr. Wayne Z. Trivelpiece on September 28, 2000. The issued permit allows the applicant to capture and release up to 1,000 Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap penguins, and other various seabirds for banding, weighing, blood sampling, stomach pumping and attaching radio Txs, PTTs, and TDRs. The collection of samples and data will be used to study the behavioral ecology and population biology of the penguins and the interaction among these species and their principal seabird predators.

The applicant requests a modification to his permit to allow: capture and release of 10 individuals each of Brown and South Polar Skuas; collect tissue samples from dead individuals of all species of birds; collect up to 12 uropygial gland oil from 3 species of penguin; and, collect up to 12 eggs each from 3 species of penguins (1 egg per nest) for egg yolk lipid analysis.

Location: ASPA 128—Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island.

Dates: October 1, 2003 to April 1, 2005.

Nadene G. Kennedy,

Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.