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

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic

Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit applications received under the Antarctic

Conservation Act of 1978, Pub. 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 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 applications received.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments,

or views with respect to these permit applications by October 6, 1995.

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 (Pub. L. 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 a 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, Thomas A. Day, Department of Botany, Box 871601, Arizona

State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1601, Permit Application No. 96-

017

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Take; Enter Specially Protected Area; Enter Site of Special

Scientific Interest, and Import into the United States. The applicant

requests permission to enter Litchfield Island (SPA #17) and Biscoe

Point (SSSI #20) to collect up to 100 seeds and/or reproductive

structures from the following vascular plants: Antarctic hairgrass

(Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus

quitensis). The Litchfield Island site is one of very few sites

containing both plant species. Collection of samples from Biscoe Point

is desirable since it is a relatively isolated site from others

containing plant species and the researchers wish to determine whether

the Biscoe populations are genetically similar to other antarctic plant

populations. The seeds will be imported into the United States,

propagated in growth chambers at Arizona State University, and used to

determine how these species are influenced by environmental factors

such as UV radiation and temperature.

Location

SPA #17--Litchfield Island, and SSSI #20--Biscoe Point, Anvers Island

Dates

December 1, 1995--April 30, 1997

2. Applicant, William D. Fraser, Biology Department, Montana State

University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, Permit Application No. 96-024

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Import into the United States. The applicant proposes to salvage,

for educational purposes, no more than 3 specimens of each species

annually, if encountered. The species which may be salvaged are listed

below:

Penguins: King (A. patagonicus), Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae), Chinstrap

(P. antarctica), Gentoo (P. papua), Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus),

and Rockhopper (E. chrysocome).

Albatrosses: Wandering (Diomedea exulans), Black-browed (D.

melanophris), Gray-headed (D. chrysostoma), Sooty (Phoebetria fusca),

and Light-mantled Sooty (P. palpebrata).

Fulmars, Prions and Petrels: Southern Giant Petrel (M. giganteus),

Antarctic Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides), Antarctic Petrel (Thalassoica

antarctical), Cape Petrel (Daption capense); Snow Petrel (Pagodroma

nivea), Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea), White-chinned Petrel

(Procellaria aequinoctialis), and Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila

desolata).

[[Page 55066]]

Storm Petrels: Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) and Black-

bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica).

Cormorants: Blue-eyed Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps).

Sheathbills: Greater Sheathbill (Chionis alba)

Skuas: South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki), and Brown Skua (C.

lonnbergi).

Gulls and Terns: Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), and Antarctic Tern

(Sterna vittata).

Location

Palmer Station vicinity and nearby islands accessible by zodiac.

Dates

October 1, 1995-May 31, 1998

3. Applicant, Rennie S. Holt, U.S. AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries

Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores

Drive, La Jolla, California 92038, Permit Application No. 96-025

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Taking. The applicant proposes to continue collection of data on

seabirds, in accordance with CCAMLR Protocols, that was begun at Seal

Island in 1986. A census of up to 15,000 birds from each of the

following species will be conducted: Chinstrap penguins, Macaaroni

penguins and Cape Petrels. In addition, the applicant will capture and

release up to 500 Chinstrap and Macaroni penguins each for purposes of

measuring, weighing and examining to gather data on seabird abundance

and growth to compare with data collected during previous years.

Location

South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninisula region.

Dates

January 1, 1996-April 1, 2001

4. Applicant, Rennie S. Holt, U.S. AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries

Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores

Drive, La Jolla, California 92038, Permit Application No. 96-026

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Taking and Enter Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The

applicant proposes to enter Byers Peninsula (SSSI #6) and Cape Shirreff

(SSSI #32) to study pinnipeds and seabirds. A comprehensive census of

these populations has been conducted periodically and repeat censuses

are needed. At both sites, care will be taken to minimize disturbance

to terrestrial habitats and lifeforms. All activities to be conducted

would comply with the approved SSSI management plans enforce for each

area.

The pinniped research to be conducted consists of ship-supported

and land-based studies in the region of the Antarctic Peninsula. The

U.S. AMLR Program will conduct a census of seals at various sites in

preparation of selecting a new study site. In following years, the AMLR

land-based site at Seal Island will be relocated to a suitable site.

The Seal Island study site will be occupied on a limited basis. Up

to 1,000 Fur seal pups will be weighed and released. These data will be

compared with previous data to examine the population dynamics of

Antarctic Fur seals. Obtaining information on the status of seals at

the present time is particularly important in light of the potential

development that is being considered for antarctic marine resources.

Location

SSSI #6-Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands; and

SSSI #32-Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.

Dates

January 1, 1996-April 1, 2001.

Nadene G. Kennedy,

Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.

[FR Doc. 95-26691 Filed 10-26-95; 8:45 am]

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