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

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

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

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 a requested permit modification.

DATES:

Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by October 7, 2004. 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) 292-7405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Science Foundation, as directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541), as amended by the Antarctic Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, has developed regulations for the 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 Antarctic Specially Protected Areas.

Description of Permit Modification Requested

The Foundation issued a permit (2001-011- to Dr. Wayne Z. Trivelpiece on September 28, 2000. The issued permit allows the applicant to capture and release up to 1,000 Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap penguins, and other various seabirds for banding, weighing, blood sampling, stomach pumping and attaching radio Txs, PTTs and TDRs. The collection of samples and data will be used to study the behavioral ecology and population biology of the penguins and the interaction among these species and their principal seabird predators.

The applicant requests a modification to his permit to allow access to Lion's Rump, Antarctic Specially Protected Area #151, for the purpose of surveying and checking the bands of the breeding and non-breeding skua population, as well as the Adelie, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin population.

Location

ASPA 151—Lions Rump, King George Island.

Dates

October 1, 2004 to April 1, 2005.