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

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]

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