[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 67969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26769]


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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.

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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 January 13, 2020. 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, at 
the above address, 703-292-8030, or [email protected].

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 a requiring special protection. 
The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic 
Specially Protected Areas.

Application Details

Permit Application: 2020-023

1. Applicant: Red Rock Films, 625 Sligo Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Activity for Which Permit is Requested: Take; Harmful Interference. 
The applicant proposes to film whales in the Antarctic Peninsula 
region. The applicant and agents would film from a chartered vessel, 
using remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), and underwater via pole 
camera and scuba diving. The filming could result in take or harmful 
interference (disturbance) of humpback whales, killer whales, minke 
whales, crabeater seals, Weddell seals, southern elephant seals, Ross 
seals, Antarctic fur seals, and leopard seals. The applicant would 
maintain a distance of 30 m between whales or seals and the vessel, the 
RPAS, and equipment or divers underwater. The maximum number of 
approaches for a single animal per day would be three and no more than 
five over the course of two consecutive days. The RPAS would be 
operated by an qualified and certified pilot with substantial 
experience including operations filming whales. The vessel operator 
would also be experienced with operations in proximity to whales.
    Location: Gerlache Strait; Antarctic Peninsula region.
    Dates of Permitted Activities: January 15-February 28, 2020.

Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2019-26769 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P