| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC November 7, 2006 Department of State Leads Interagency Inspection Team to AntarcticaFrom November 12 to December 1, 2006 the Department of State will lead an interagency team in an inspection of foreign stations, installations and equipment in Antarctica. The inspection will be conducted pursuant to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its environmental protocol. The U.S. team will review adherence of Treaty Parties to their obligations, including with respect to limiting environmental impacts and ensuring that Antarctica is used only for peaceful purposes and that Parties honor the prohibition on measures of a military nature. The team will also inspect the operations of tourist operators and their activities under the Treaty regime and domestic regulations. The inspection departs from Punta Arenas, Chile and will concentrate on operations in the Antarctic Peninsula. The team will be deployed via the National Science Foundation’s 230-foot polar class ice strengthened vessel, the Laurence M. Gould. The United States’ program of inspections helps emphasize that the Antarctic continent is open to access by all countries. 2006/1014
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