Passage of H.R. 3060 will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to con- 

 tinue to be active in Antarctic affairs. 



We are encouraged by the consensus that exists on its early pas- 

 sage and pay tribute to the Science Committee for bringing our 

 shared objectives within reach. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Assistant Secretary Claussen fol- 

 lows:] 



TESTIMONY OF 



EILEEN CLAUSSEN 



ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL 

 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE 



BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE 



UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



APRIL 18, 1996 



Mr. Chairman: 



I am Eileen Claussen, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International 

 Environmental and Scientific Affairs. With me is R. Tucker Scully, Director of our 

 Office of Oceans Affairs. 



I am pleased to appear at this hearing of the Committee on Science to discuss 

 H.R. 3060, the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act of 1996, legislation to imple- 

 ment the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. We very 

 much appreciate that you. Congressman Brown, and members of the committee 

 have taken the initiative in introducing H.R. 3060 and moving expeditiously to 

 schedule this hearing. 



Early entry into force and implementation of the Protocol on Environmental Pro- 

 tection to the Antarctic Treaty is a priority objective of United States Antarctic pol- 

 icy. The Senate has given its advice and consent to ratification of the Protocol. En- 

 actment of implementing legislation to provide full legislative authority to imple- 

 ment its provisions is the remaining step required for the United States to deposit 

 its instrument of ratification. H.R. 3060 amends existing laws on Antarctica to pro- 

 vide such authority. It does so in a manner fully consistent with United States Ant- 

 arctic policy and we are particularly pleased at the bipartisan support reflected in 

 the co-sponsorship of H.R. 3060. 



Let me begin with a few words about United States Antarctic policy and the sig- 

 nificance of the Protocol in the broad policy context. 



The United States plays a key leadership role in Antarctic affairs. Our Antarctic 

 policy over the past four decades has reflected commitment to a consistent set of 

 objectives: 



• pursuit of the unique opportunities Antarctica offers as a laboratory for basic sci- 



entific research — research which provides insights essential to the understand- 

 ing of our planet; 



• ensuring the protection of the Antarctic environment and conservation of its re- 



sources; and 



• maintenance of Antarctica as an area of peaceful international cooperation, to 



which U.S. nationals have access for peaceful purposes. 



The achievement of these objectives, particularly in light of differences among na- 

 tions active in Antarctica over the assertion of territorial sovereignty there, depends 

 on the dynamic international legal framework provided by the Antarctic Treaty of 

 1959. The Treaty provides the indispensable mechanism through which we have and 

 continue to successfully pursue our Antarctic interests. The Protocol on Environ- 

 mental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty represents further enrichment of this im- 

 portant mechanism. 



The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties adopted the Protocol, including four an- 

 nexes, and opened it for signature on October 4, 1991, in Madrid. (The Antarctic 

 Treaty Consultative Parties are those Parties to the Antarctic Treaty carrying out 



