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

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

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 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 September 13,

1999. Permit applications may be inspected by interested parties at the

Permit Office, address below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755,

[[Page 44753]]

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) 306-1030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation, as directed

by the Antarctica 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: Steven D. Emslie, Department of Biological Sciences,

University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC 28403

[Permit Application No. 2000-001]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Take, Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Import Into the

U.S.A.

The applicant proposes to conduct surveys and excavations of modern

and abandoned penguin colonies by surveying ice-free areas to locate

evidence of a breeding colony (pebble and/or bone sconcentrations, and

rich vegetation). The sites will be sampled by placing a test pit, no

more than 1x1 meter in size, in the colony and excavating in 5-10 cm

level until bedrock or non-ornithogenic sediments are encountered. To

minimize impacts, test pits will be placed in areas with little or no

vegetation when possible. Upon completion of the excavation, test pits

will be refilled and any vegetation disturbed on the surface will be

replaced. Collected sediments will be taken to the laboratory for

processing. Sediments will be washed through fine-mesh screens; all

organic remains will be sorted from the sediments and preserved for

identification and analysis.

The applicant proposes to enter the following Antarctic Specially

Protected Areas to conduct surveys: ASPA 106--Cape Hallett, Victoria

Land; ASPA 113--Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor; ASPA 121--Cape Royds,

Ross Island; ASPA 124--Cape Crozier, Ross Island; ASPA 125--Fildes

Peninsula, King George Island; ASPA 128--Western shore of Admiralty

Bay, King George Island; ASPA 129--Rothera Point, Adelaide Island; ASPA

132--Potter Peninsula, King George Island; ASPA 139--Biscoe Point,

Anvers Island; and ASPA 151--Lions Rump, King George Island.

The applicant also wishes to salvage and import into the U.S. whole

remains of native Antarctic birds, or partial specimens, that are found

on beaches or at the colonies. The specimens will be shipped to the

University of North Carolina, Wilmington, for identification and

analysis. All specimens will remain at the University or other

appropriate universities or museums for permanent storage.

Results of the research will provide information on the former

distribution of penguins in Antarctica. These data will be compared to

the paleoclimatic record to investigate patterns in population

fluctuations of penguins in relation to climate change in the past.

This information, in addition to data on modern population changes with

global warming, will test hypotheses on how penguins respond to climate

change and will help develop predictive model for future responses by

these species to continued global warming.

Location

ASPA 106--Cape Hallett, Victoria Land;

ASPA 113--Litchfield Island, Arthur Harbor;

ASPA 121--Cape Royds, Ross Island

ASPA 124--Cape Crozier, Ross Island;

ASPA 125--Fildes Peninsula, King George Island;

ASPA 128--Western shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island;

ASPA 129--Rothera Point, Adelaide Island;

ASPA 132--Potter Peninsula, King George Island;

ASPA 139--Biscoe Point, Anvers Island; and

ASPA 151--Lions Rump, King George Island.

Dates

January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005

2. Applicant: Donald B. Siniff, Department of Ecology, Evolution and

Behavior, 100 Ecology Building, University of Minnesota, St. Paul,

Minnesota 55108

[Permit Application No. 2000-003]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking, Export from the U.S. and Import into the U.S.

The applicant proposes to tag and collect epidermal and adipose

tissue (0.5 cm by o.5 cm) from the rear flipper of several seal

species. Modern molecular genetic methods will be used to analyze the

DNA extracted from the tissue samples. The project is part of a large

international program studying Antarctic Pack Ice Seals (APIS). This

particular project is to address the genetic patterns among the four

species of Antarctic pack ice seals (Weddell, Leopard, Ross and

Crabeater seals). The project is investigating the patterns of

heterozygosity among the four species and relating these patterns to

their overall life history characteristics. The work will contribute to

the understanding of the evolutionary history of pack ice species with

respect to the origin of ecological separation. Samples collected by

other investigators will contribute to a continent-wide assessment of

the degree of genetic variation with populations of Antarctic phocids.

In addition, the applicant wishes to salvage any seal skulls that

are found. These samples will be cleaned and analyzed for age and

placed on permanent loan to the National Marine Mammal Lab or the

University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History and will be used

for educational purposes.

Location

Pack ice areas in the Ross Sea and Bellingshausen Sea

Dates

December 12, 1999 to February 15, 2000

3. Applicant: Paul J. Ponganis, CMBB/Scripps Institute of Oceanography,

University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0204

[Permit Application No. 2000-004]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking and Import Into the U.S.

The applicant proposes to capture up to 60 Emperor adults and equip

them with various depth recorders, physiological recorders, or a video

camera unit. These instruments will measure temperature change and

mechanisms of heat loss during diving. The video camera research will

document the frequency and techniques of prey capture, and relate

feeding events to temperature change.

The applicant also proposes to capture up to 40 Emperor chicks to

biopsy muscle samples. This will allow examination of myoglobin mRNA

content in relation to myoglobin concentration in both adults and

developing chicks. The chicks will be biopsied over several months to

sample different age groups. In addition, a

[[Page 44754]]

group of approximately 15 Emperor chicks will be transported to McMurdo

and maintained there for about a month in order to obtain samples in

older (post-fledge) chicks. All birds will be released back into the

wild at the end of the study.

The applicant also wishes to salvage up to 10 Emperor carcasses per

year and transport them back to the U.S. for anatomical studies at

Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Location

McMurdo Sound sea ice, Cape Washington and McMurdo Station

Dates

September 1, 1999 to February 28, 2002

4. Applicant: Michael A. Castellini, Institute of Marine Science,

University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

[Permit Application No. 2000-005]

Activity for which Permit is Requested

Taking and Import into the United States

The applicant is a participant in a multi-institutional program to

study Antarctic Pack Ice Seals (APIS). As a component of this project,

the applicant proposes to capture up to 200 Weddell, Crabeater and

Leopard seals each, and up to 10 each of Ross, Fur and Elephant seals.

Blood and biopsy samples of blubber will be collected. The blood and

biopsy samples, along with a suite of morphometric analyses, will be

collected from all seals to assess a suite of bio-indicators of health.

Data will be taken along with other program components which will

provide medical examinations of each seal, acoustic and behavioral

studies, oceanographic, ice and weather observation and capture of prey

items. The combined results will provide the most detailed model of the

link between ice seals and their environment.

Location

Sea Ice areas of the Ross and Amunden Seas

Dates

December 15, 1999 to April 1, 2001

5. Applicant: Wayne Z. Trivelpiece, P.O. Box 271, Antarctic Ecosytsem

Research, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92038

[Permit Application No. 2000-006]

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Take and Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area.

The applicant is continuing a study of the behavioral ecology and

population biology of the Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins and

the interactions among these species and their principal avian

pedators: skuas, gulls, sheathbills, and giant petrels. The applicant

proposes to band 1000 Adelie and Gentoo penguin chicks, plus adults of

all three penguin species, as needed (not greater than 150 per

species), to fulfill research goals. In addition, bands will be applied

to adults and chicks of the avian predator species as necessary. The

applicant will continue a study of the penguins' foraging habits which

involves the application of radio-transmitters (Txs), satellite tags

(PTTs), and time-depth recorders (TDRs) to a maximum of 50 adult

penguins per species. The study of foraging habits also involves the

stomach pumping of a maximumn of 40 adult penguins per species. Finally

the applicant will collect one (1) milliliter blood samples from a

maximum of 20 breeding adults of each penguins species for use in DNA

analysis.

Location

Admiralty Bay (ASPA #128 King George Island, South Shetland Islands

Dates

October 1, 1999 to April 2000

6. Applicant: David Ainley, H.T. Harvey & Associates, P.O. Box 1180,

Alviso, CA 95002

[Permit Application No. 2000-007]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking and Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Areas

The applicant is conducting research to attempt to explain why

penguin populations have been increasing in the Ross Sea, by intensive

studies at colonies on Ross Island. This work will be incorporated into

the long-term study of populations dynamics mentioned in the Royds

management plan. The applicant proposes to enter Cape Crozier (ASP

#124) and Cape Bird for purposes of banding up to 1,000 chicks at each

site. Furthermore the applicant proposes to band up to 400 chicks each

at Cape Royds (ASPA # 121) and Beaufort Island (ASPA

105). Approximately 150 adults will be banded at

these four sites. The banding of chicks at Beaufort Island is necessary

to test the theory that the Adelie Penguin Colony at Beaufort could be

a ``source'' colony for emigrants that eventually breed at other Ross

Island colonies. It is believed Beaufort is a source colony because

there is very little availability of additional nesting sites. Banding

a sample of chicks and looking for them at nearby colonies in

subsequent years would test this theory.

Approximately, 15 adult Adelies per year at Royds, Bird and

Crozier, and 7 at Beaufort Island will be fitted with radio

transmitters to be worn for 2-3 weeks during January and then removed.

The radio transmitters will provide information on the penguins

foraging area offshore. Additionally, 25 adult Adelies at Cape Bird and

Cape Crozier and 15 adults at Cape Royds will be fitted with time-

depth-recorders (TDRs). The TDR's will record swimming depth, frequency

of dives and number of dives per foraging trip. PIT tags (Passively

Interrogated Transponder) will also be fitted to 10-20 adults each year

at Capes Bird, Royds and Crozier. The goal is to have 70 tagged birds

at each colony each year; thus, new birds given the tags each year

replace only those that did not reappear one year to the next.

To obtain an index on chick condition, between 30-50 chicks will be

measured and weighed weekly for a month at Capes Royds, Bird and

Crozier. Only 30 chicks will be weighed and measured at the Beaufort

Island colony on one of two trips to the site during the season. The

applicant proposes to conduct studies of the foraging energetic of

Adelie Penguins on Ross Island. This involves the capturing of up to 25

birds each at Cape Crozier and Cape Bird and possibly Cape Royds. The

birds will be weighed, a 3 cc blood sample drawn and then injected with

0.6 cc's of double-labeled water. The birds will be held for 3 hours to

allow the injected water to equilibrate, then a second blood sample

will be drawn. The doubly labeled water studies will provide

information on the energetics of foraging, and specifically, if longer

foraging trips are more energy demanding than shorter ones for penguins

at Cape Bird or Cape Royds.

Samples collected in the field will be returned to the U.S. for

complete analysis.

Location

Cape Crozier (ASPA #124), Cape Royds (ASPA #121) and Cape Bird, Ross

Island, and Beaufort Island (ASPA 105), Ross Sea.

Dates

December 1, 1999 to February 15, 2002

7. Applicant: W. Berry Lyons, Department of Geology, University of

Alabama, Box 870338, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0338

[[Page 44755]]

[Permit Application No. 2000-008]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area

The applicant proposes to enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area

(ASPA #131), Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, for purposes

of conducting studies under the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)

Program. The applicant proposes to enter the site to conduct

maintenance on the previously installed continuously recording stream

gage station that provides one of the longest records of discharge in

the Taylor Valley. In addition, the applicant proposes to collect water

quality samples of the meltwater coming off the Canada Glacier and

along the length of the stream to study in-stream biogeochemical

processes. Samples of the microbial mats may also be collected once per

summer field season.

The applicant also proposes to enter the Antarctic Specially

Protected Area to study the site's unique soil content. The Canada

stream has occasional algal blooms, and the system is of interest

because of its relatively high primary production unlike the typical

dry valley soils. The LTER team plans to collect soil samples on a

transect starting in the stream channel and working eastward

perpendicular to the stream channel.

The Canada Glacier is the most intensively studied glacier in the

LTER study program. One particularly import aspect of the glacier mass

balance study is the calving and melting of ice from the glacier walls.

Therefore, the applicant requests access to the glacier wall twice

during each field season to take measurements.

Location

Antarctic Specially Protected Area #131: Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell,

Taylor Valley, Victoria Land

Dates

October 1, 1999 to February 2005

8. Applicant: John E. Carlstrom, Center for Astrophysical Research in

Antarctica (CARA), Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University

of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637

[Permit Application No. 2000-010]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Introduce a non-indigenous species into Antarctica

The applicant plans to ship 200 pounds of active dry baking yeast

(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station as part

of an educational outreach project in conjunction with NASA and their

new thrust in astrobiology and extremophiles. The commercial packaging

consists of strips of 3-quarter ounce packages. The yeast will remain

in the commercial packaging, in plastic bags, in a container while in

Antarctica. The containerized yeast will be exposed to the extreme

climate of the South Pole during the summer and winter months. Middle

and elementary school students will be able to follow the deployment of

the yeast, and the weather conditions at the Pole via a web site. The

web site will have many facets such as a question and answer section, a

travel log of the deployment, weather conditions, digital images of the

trip and the yeast container as the season progresses. The goal of the

project is to motivate students to try hands-on experiments to learn

more about Antarctica and the scientific research conducted there.

After a year, the yeast container will be shipped back to the States

where the yeast packages will be distributed nationally to

schoolchildren. The students will conduct experiments to look for

changes in the yeast's metabolic activity and volume of carbon dioxide

production, under given conditions, after being exposed to months of

extreme cold temperatures.

Location

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

Dates

October 1, 1999 to January 1, 2002

9. Applicant: Brent S. Stewart, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute,

2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109

[Permit Application: 2000-011]

Activity for Which Permit is Requested

Taking and Import Into the United States

The applicant is a participant in a multidisciplinary research

program to study the foraging ecology, reproduction, demography,

disease and pathology, and population and immunogenetics of Antarctic

seals in the circumpolar pack ice zone. The applicant proposes to

capture, collect samples, and release up to 800 Crabeater seals, 400

Leopard and Weddell seals, and 75 Ross, Antarctic Fur and Elephant

seals. Physical exams will be performed to evaluate the musculoskeletal

system, cardiovascular system, integument, eyes, ears, nares and oral

cavity. Blood will be collected from the extradural vein or

interdigital vein of phocids and from the caudal gluteal vein of

otariids. Approximately 40-60 ml will be collected from each seal for

evaluation of petroleum hydrocarbon and pollutant exposure, hematology,

serum biochemistry, disease exposure, genetics, nutritional status, and

reproductive endocinology. Ocular, nasal, vaginal, and rectal

microbiological samples will be collected. Ectoparasites will be

collected when encountered. Urine will be collected opportunistically.

Skin scrapings and cultures will be made when lesions are observed and

to provide normal control samples. Hair, skin and blubber samples will

also be collected. All collections of samples will be coordinated

directly with other components of the multidisciplinary research

program to prevent duplicate takings and to maximize use of collected

materials.

The applicant plans to import collected samples into the United

States for further scientific study. In addition, the applicant wishes

to export samples from the U.S. and share them with investigators

collaborating in other countries.

Location

Circumpolar pack ice and sites ashore

Dates

September 1, 1999 to August 30, 2004

10. Applicant: Ron Naveen, Oceanities, Inc., P.O. Box 15259, Chevy

Chase, MD 20825

[Permit Application: 2000-012]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking; and Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area

The applicant plans to continue data collection under the Antarctic

Site Inventory Project. Various sites will be regularly surveyed and

censused in the Antarctic Peninsula/South Shetland Islands region, with

a concentration of visits expected at heavily visited tourist sites.

The applicant wishes to enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area #128,

Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, to coordinate the Site Inventory

Project with the researchers working within the site.

Location

Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Island sites, and ASPA #128,

Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island

Dates

September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2000

11. Applicant: Norbert Wu, Norbert Wu Productions, 1065 Sinex Avenue,

Pacific Grove, CA 93950

[[Page 44756]]

[Permit Application: 2000-013]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Enter Antarctic Specially Protected Area

The applicant is a participant in the U.S. Antarctic Program's

Artists and Writers Program and is continuing work on ``A Photographic

Survey of Antarctic Marine Species'' and producing a film entitled

``Under Antarctic Ice.'' The applicant proposes visit and camp at Cape

Crozier during two different time periods to ensure filming success.

The applicant proposes to conduct general photography and filming

of Adelie penguins, Emperor penguins, Leopard seals, Orcas, and Minke

whales. Some of the work will involve underwater photography. Visit to

the site will be selected to target Adelie penguin events (nesting, egg

tending, and hatching), such as population peak in the rookery. The

applicant plans to skirt the edges of the Adelie and Emperor rookeries

and will not enter into the midst of the nesting penguins.

The applicant plans to camp near the East Colony outside the

Specially Protected Area for easier access to the water and ease the

encumbrance of hauling heavy photography and dive equipment.

Location

Antarctic Specially Protected Area #124, Cape Crozier, Ross Island

Dates

November 1, 1999 to February 28, 2000

12. Applicant: Gary miller, Biology Department, University of New

Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

[Permit Application: 2000-014]

Activity for Which Permit Is Requested

Taking and Import into the United States

The applicant plans to continue his analysis of the phylogenetic

relationships and population genetics of 2 major genera of penguins. He

will collect blood and tissues samples from Magellanic (S.

magellanicus), Adelie (P. adeliae), Chinstrap (P. antarctica), Gentoo

(P. papua), Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysalophus), and Emperor (Aptenodytes

forsteri) penguins throughout their distribution. The Macaroni and

Emperor samples are to be used as out-groups to help elucidate the

relationships of the other species. Using a combination of Cytochrome b

and microsatellite markers, he will investigate their genetic variation

on a variety of geographic scales.

The applicant will travel onboard tour ships as a lecturer and will

repeatedly visit many sites during the next two Antarctic summer

season. He plans to collect 1.0-1.5 ml of whole blood from live

penguins and collect tissue samples from penguin carcasses. No more

than 15 samples will be collected from any given site. Blood samples

will be stored in a lysis buffer, and tissue samples will be

homogenized into a buffer solution to stabilize the DNA. Samples will

be returned to either the University of Western Australia or to the

University of New Mexico for processing.

In addition, the applicant will work in collaboration with a

research team from the University of Western Australia who will

investigate the diseases of penguins and skuas around Australia's Davis

Station. Blood samples and swabs from the throat and cloaca of each

bird will be collected. Blood samples will be spun down to separate the

plasma and then preserved for later laboratory work. The Australian

research team will secure all necessary permits for this project.

Location

Antarctic Peninsula and associated islands, South Shetland Islands,

South Orkney Islands, East Antarctica and the Ross Sea region

Dates

October 1, 1999 to April 1, 2001

Nadene G. Kennedy,

Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-21204 Filed 8-16-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7555-01-M