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GCIL HOME   HIGHLIGHTS AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE MONUMENT R.M.S. TITANIC SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS SUBJECT AREAS Antarctic Arctic Biological Diversity Climate Change Environment and Trade Extraterritorial Appl. of Laws Fisheries Heritage Marine Debris Marine Mammals Marine Pollution Marine Protected Areas Marine Turtles Marine Scientific Research Seabed Management Seabirds Ships, Regulation of Survey and Charting Treaties Underwater Sound Zones and Boundaries ACRONYMS REFERENCES

ANTARCTIC ISSUES The Office of General Counsel for International Law Under the Antarctic Treaty System (Antarctic Treaty and related agreements) Antarctica has been set aside for peaceful purposes including scientific research and environmental protection. The international cooperation on implementation of this system is done through the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM). The Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP) implements the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and usually has a meeting that runs concurrent with the ATCM. ATCM XXXII and CEP XII, hosted by the United States in Baltimore, Maryland, April 6-17, 2009, coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. On April 2, 2009, President Obama transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification Annex VI on Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Annex VI). The Treaty Transmittal package has been referred to the Foreign Relations Committee for its consideration (Senate Treaty No. 111-2). Additional reference information: Antarctic Treaty Transmittal Package (86th Cong., 2d Sess., Senate Doc file Executive B) (February 15, 1960) Antarctic Treaty Environmental Liability Annex Treaty Transmittal Package (Senate Treaty No. 111-2) (April 2, 2009) White House News Release on President's Transmittal of Antarctic Treaty Environmental Liability Annex to U.S. Senate (April 3, 2009). Available for download. Remarks of DOS Secretary Clinton at Joint Session of ATCM and Arctic Council (April 6, 2009) Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Press Teleconference (April 17, 2009) U.S. State Department web page on Antarctica U.S. State Department Handbook on Antarctic Treaty Series Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty Related agreements include the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) web portal.