EP241217a: Gemini-North detection of the likely optical counterpart

We obtained observations of EP241217a (Zhou et al., GCN 38586) with the GMOS instrument on the Gemini North telescope. Observations in the z band began at 08:04 UT, approximately 2.5 hr after the EP-WXT detection. Within the EP-FXT error circle (Zhou et al., GCN 38586) we clearly identify a new source, not present in the Pan-STARRS imaging of the field, with an approximate magnitude of z ~ 19.9 and a position of RA(J2000) = 03:07:46.20 DEC(J2000) = +30:55:45.9 with an uncertainty of <0.5". We suggest this is the optical counterpart of EP241217a. We thank the staff of Gemini for rapidly obtaining these observations.