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, Pub. L. 95-541.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 April 15, 1997.

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) 306-1033.

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.

The application received is follows:

Permit Application: 98-001

1. Applicant

Ronald G. Koger, Project Director, Antaractic Support Associates,

461 Inverness Drive East, Suite 300, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5121

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking. The applicant proposes to remove antaractic animals from

the Palmer Station pier and other operational areas as is necessary for

operational safety and well being of the animals and U.S. Antarctic

Program participants. The affected animals include, but are not limited

to: Elephant Seas (Mirounga leonina), Fur Seals (Arctocephalus

gazella), Crabeater Seals (Lobodon carcinophagus), Adelie

[[Page 14449]]

Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua)

Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), and Brown Skua (Catharacta

loonbergi). Periodically, native seal, penguin and skua species enter

the station pier and other operational areas. Such invasions pose

operational safety concerns, as well as potential harm to the animals.

Removal activities will be conducted in a nonlethal and humane manner

in order to cause as little disturbance as possible. Herding and

reporting procedures have been developed to monitor removal activities.

Location

Palmer Station pier and all other station operational areas.

Dates

April 1, 1997 to April 1, 2000.

Nadene G. Kennedy,

Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs.

[FR Doc. 97-7706 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7555-01-M