The U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs Environmental Team (ENV) has the following responsibilities:
- Ensures that NSF U.S. Antarctic Program participants practice good environmental stewardship.
- Conducts the environmental impact assessment process for all USAP activities in Antarctica.
- Protects Antarctica’s unique environments and native species through the administration of a permitting system.
- Participates in consensus-based decision-making on the protection and conservation of the Antarctic environment through the Antarctic Treaty’s Committee for Environmental Protection.
U.S. Antarctic Environmental Stewardship
Protection of the environment is a high priority for the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and, therefore, the U.S. government. NSF produces and disseminates information to educate USAP about their environmental protection responsibilities and the penalties for noncompliance. Audiences include USAP participants, other U.S. agencies, and nongovernmental entities such as tourists, tour operators and adventurers.
The ATS protects native Antarctic wildlife and habitats and has set aside Antarctic Specially Protected Areas for conservation and scientific purposes. U.S. scientists and scientists at U.S. institutions must apply for permits to conduct research or educational activities involving these protected organisms and areas. For more information, visit the Antarctic Conservation Act and Permits web page. Special regulations also exist for meteorite collection. For more information, refer to the Code of Federal Regulations on Antarctic meteorites.
All activities within USAP undergo environmental review, must comply with ATS-mandated Antarctic environmental standards and are reported to ATS at large.
NSF operates the USAP in accordance with the following international treaties and U.S. laws:
- Antarctic Treaty (1959): sets aside Antarctica for peace and science, provides for information exchange and international cooperation and prohibits military fortifications, nuclear explosions, disposal of radioactive waste and testing of weapons.
- Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972): enhances protection for Antarctic seals.
- Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980): ensures that marine harvesting and research activities are conducted in accordance with the objectives of conservation and rational use.
- Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991): protects the environment through annexes on marine pollution, fauna and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management and protected areas and prohibits all activities related to mineral resources other than scientific research.
- The Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541, as amended by the Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-227, conserves and protects native mammals, birds, plants, and invertebrates of the Antarctic and the ecosystem upon which they depend and regulates the use or release of banned substances, designated pollutants or waste in Antarctica.