Although the Protocol is not yet in force, NSF already conducts 

 Antarctic activities in a manner consistent with the Protocol's re- 

 quirements. For example, we issued Antarctic waste management 

 regulations in 1993 which implemented the Protocol's comprehen- 

 sive waste management requirements. 



NSF also removes virtually all of its waste from Antarctica. This 

 aggressive level of waste minimization, segregation, and recycling 

 is without precedent. Nearly 70 percent of the waste removed for 

 disposal is reused or recycled. That is twice the rate of any U.S. 

 city. 



NSF has also issued environmental assessment research in com- 

 pliance with the Protocol. An environmental review is conducted for 

 all planned activities and appropriate documentation is prepared 

 consistent with both the Protocol and in the National Environ- 

 mental Policy Act. 



To enforce its management and stewardship responsibilities, the 

 NSF has appointed and trained Antarctic Conservation Act En- 

 forcement Officers to ensure compliance and to educate citizens 

 working in or visiting the Antarctic. 



A U.S. Antarctic Treaty inspection team recently visited eight 

 nations at their research stations across the Antarctic continent 

 and in their report, the inspection team concluded that McMurdo 

 Station, the U.S. Antarctic Program's largest research station, 

 meets the highest standards in both the science it supports and in 

 the environmental practice that it observes. 



I might add as a sidelight that the US Antarctic Program re- 

 ceived a Gold Medal Clean Seas International Award in recognition 

 of its role in organizing an emergency spill response team com- 

 prised of experts from the Navy, NOAA, Coast Guard and private 

 contractors to clean up the Bahia Paraiso oil spill. 



Mr. Chairman, NSF beheves that H.R. 3060 fully and effectively 

 implements the Protocol. We strongly support passage of the bill 

 because it achieves an appropriate balance between sound environ- 

 mental practices and unique scientific research in the Antarctic. It 

 builds upon NSF's many years of experience in managing the Ant- 

 arctic Program and in administering the Antarctic Conservation 

 Act. 



And it authorizes NSF to put in place regulations necessary and 

 appropriate to implement the provisions of the Protocol generally, 

 thereby allowing NSF to address new environmental issues as they 

 arise. 



And it relies upon the expertise of other agencies, such as the 

 State Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Na- 

 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Coast 

 Guard. 



NSF anticipates a productive and a cooperative working relation- 

 ship with these agencies as together we fully implement the re- 

 quirements of the Protocol. 



I wish to thank the Committee for its hard work in developing 

 this bill, the strong bipartisan support and helping to obtain the 

 unanimous support of the legislation, the environmental commu- 

 nity, the scientific community, and the relevant federal agencies. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[The prepared statement of Dr. Lane follows:] 



