E6-2885. Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of State gives notice of the availability of a draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) for activities proposed to be undertaken in Antarctica. Interested members of the public are invited to submit comments relative to this CEE.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to OES/OA, Room 5805; Department of State; Washington, DC 20520, or to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Fabio M. Saturni, Office of Oceans Affairs, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Article 3 of Annex I to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requires the preparation of a CEE for any proposed Antarctic activity likely to have more than a minor or transitory impact. Draft CEEs are to be made publicly available with a 90-day period for receipt of comments. This notice is published pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 2403a(h).

The Department of State has received a draft CEE submitted by Belgium entitled “Construction and operation of the new Belgian Research Station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica.” The document is available on the Internet at the following website: http://www.belspo.be/​belspo/​BePoles/​doc/​draft_​CEE.pdf.

The Department of State invites interested members of the public to provide written comments on this draft CEE.

Dated: February 23, 2006.

Raymond Arnaudo,

Deputy Director, Office of Oceans Affairs, Department of State.