Office of Polar Environment, Health and Safety (PEHS)

The Office Polar Environment, Health and Safety manages and oversees the environmental, safety, and health aspects of research and operations conducted in polar regions.

"Learn To Return" survival training for the 2005 TREC teachers, Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo by John Sode, TREC 2005, Courtesy of ARCUS)

ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND HEALTH LINKS

• Principles for Conduct of Research in the Arctic
  
  
• NSF Arctic Logistics and Support Resource Page
  
  
• VECO Polar Resources
  • Greenland Guide (living and working in Greenland)
  • Medical clearance information and forms for Greenland fieldwork
  • Summit Users Guide
  • Remote Medical Services and Kits
  • Field Safety and Medical Training
  • VECO Field Manual
  • Other Safety Information and Programs offered by VECO
    
    
• Permits for working in Alaska:
  • VECO Permit Information Page
  • Barrow Arctic Science Consortium Permit Information

The Antarctic Fire Department responds to a staged fuel spill, simulated by pouring water out of a truck’s tank, as the result of a vehicle accident during an emergency response exercise. All three U.S. Antarctic stations participate in simulated catastrophe drills. (NSF/USAP photo by Emily Stone, Raytheon Polar Services)

ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND HEALTH LINKS

• U.S. Antarctic Environmental Stewardship
  • List of Initial Environmental Evaluation/Environmental Assessments (IEE/EA), Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Related Environmental Documents (by year)
  • Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations
  • Antarctic Conservation Act (ACA) —a summary
  • Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-541) as amended by Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-227)
  • ACA application and permit form
  • U.S. Regulations Governing Meteorites
    
    
• U.S. Policy on Private Expeditions to Antarctica
  
  
• U.S. Antarctic Program Field Manual
  
  
• U.S. Antarctic Program Participant Guide (selected chapters):
  • Conservation, Permits, and Science Cargo
  • Working at U.S. Antarctic Program Facilities
    
    
• Deployment Information (Medical and Dental requirements and forms