[Federal Register: December 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 246)]
[Notices]               
[Page 72109-72110]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de99-113]                         

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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 Modification 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 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 permit modifications requested.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, 
or views with respect to these permit applications by January 14, 2000. 
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

[[Page 72110]]

Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nadene G. Kennedy at the above address 
or (703) 306-1030.

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 as requiring special protection. The 
regulations establish such a permit system to designate Specially 
Protected Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
    Description of Permit Modification Requested:
    1. The Foundation issued a permit (99-010) to Dr. Rennie S. Holt on 
September 25, 1998. The issued permit allows for the censuring, 
capture, handling and release of up to 80 adult and 1500 Antarctic fur 
seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups. In addition, up to 40 female/pup 
pairs would be captured for measurements of energy expenditure, foot 
intake, dive depth, duration, time of day and dive frequency, swim 
speed and foraging location, as well as attendance-related factors of 
pup growth using milk extraction and gastric lavage. The permit holder 
requests to modify his permit to include teeth extractions for age 
determinations, involving up to 100 adults per annum. To minimize the 
number of takes, effort will be made such that the majority of tooth 
extractions will be from animals already captured for other permitted 
procedures. Also, specimens may be collected opportunistically; animals 
will not be killed for any collection purposes (i.e.: samples may be 
collected from dead animals found on the beach or washed ashore). A 
further modification request is for import of samples collected 
opportunistically from cetacean species found dead. All specimens will 
be imported to the United States and inventoried with the Antarctic 
Marine Living Resources Program in La Jolla, CA.

Location

    Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island (SSSI #32), Byers Peninsula (SSSI 
#6), South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula.

Dates

    January 10, 2000 to April 2, 2001.
Nadene G. Kennedy
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-33270 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M