In January 2004, the National Science Foundation prepared and published draft Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)/Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations (CEE) to assess the potential environmental impacts of two planned activities in Antarctica — "Project IceCube" and "Development and Implementation of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctica." These documents are prepared in accordance with the environmental impact assessment procedures set forth in the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the National Environmental Policy Act, as specified in the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996.

NSF has received comments concerning the Project IceCube Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation the Development and Implementation of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctica and has responded to these. Final CEEs have been prepared and are published below.

• Notice of the Availability of a Record of Decision Following a Final Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities (92 KB, PDF format) — Posted 13 January 2005
  
  
• Final CEE (posted 5 November 2004):
  • Project IceCube: Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (Full document with Appendices, 9,210 KB, PDF format)*
• Project IceCube: Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE only, 3,078 KB, PDF format)
• Appendices A through E (933 KB, PDF format)

• Notice of the Availability of a Record of Decision Following a Final Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities (91 KB, PDF format) — Posted 22 June 2005
  
  
• Final CEE (posted 18 January 2005):
  • Development and Implementataion of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctica Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (Full document with Appendices; 1,847 KB, PDF format)
  • Development and Implementataion of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctica Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation, Sections 1-5 (737 KB PDF format)
  • Development and Implementataion of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctica Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation, Sections 6-14 (535 KB PDF format)
  • Appendices A through D (1,205 KB; PDF format)

Questions about these documents should be sent to Dr. Polly A. Penhale, Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230, or via e-mail to ppenhale@nsf.gov.

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If you have trouble accessing the PDF files, please contact David Friscic, Office of Polar Programs, 703/292-8031 or e-mail, dfriscic@nsf.gov.

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