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1018T CONGRESS

2D SESSION

H. R. 4514

To require action to protect Antarctica by directing the Secretary of the Interior

to prepare a plan for establishing an Antarctica World Park, to require interim protection of Antarctica, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 4, 1990 Mr. VENTO (for himself, Mr. UDALL, Mr. FASCELL, Mr. MILLER of California,

Mr. RAHALL, Mr. DE LUGO, Mr. LAGOMARSINO, Mr. KosTMAYER, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. OWENS of Utah, Mr. GEJDENSON, and Mr. LEACH of Iowa). introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Science, Space, and Technology, and Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To require action to protect Antarctica by directing the Secre

tary of the Interior to prepare a plan for establishing an Antarctica World Park, to require interim protection of Antarctica, and for other purposes.

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND FINDINGS.

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(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the “Ant

5 arctica World Park and Protection Act of 1990".

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(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares that,

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(1) the Antarctic Continent is recognized as the

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last continent on Earth generally unaffected by man's

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activities and is a critical and irreplaceable "labora

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tory” for the collection of meteorological data and the

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observation of changes in or damage to the Earth's at

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mosphere, as well as other aspects of climatology,

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oceanography, and other sciences;

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(2) Antarctica contains unknown quantities of un

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disturbed geological and archeological materials of potentially immense cultural and scientific value to all

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nations of the world;

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(3) Antarctica has unique historic values related

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to some of man's most historic explorations and affords

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an opportunity for adventure that, properly managed, can be compatible with the protection of this unique

(4) Antarctica contains 90 per centum of Earth's

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ice and 70 per centum of its fresh water, as well as some of the world's most spectacular natural wonders,

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and is a fragile ecosystem crucial to many species of

(5) Antarctica plays an essential role in moderat

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(6) Antarctica's valuable historic, cultural, natu

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ral, ecological, environmental, scientific, scenic,

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marine, wilderness, wildlife, and other values are in

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danger of impairment or destruction as a result of inad

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equately controlled human activities, including experimentation and other research activities; increasing

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tourism; accumulations of solid and other wastes; spills

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of oil and other substances; new technology; and increasing interest in the exploitation of Antarctica's

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minerals and its other living and nonliving natural

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(7) the planned 1990 special consultative meeting of parties to the Antarctic Treaty and the imminence of the thirtieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty provide an opportunity for the

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United States to exercise leadership toward protection

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and sound management of Antarctica; and

(8) the national policy of the United States should be to take all steps necessary to ensure that Antarctica's lands and resources are managed and protected in a manner that preserves Antarctica's unique re

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sources, values, and environment, as well as its value

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for scientific research, for the benefit of present and

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future generations of people of all nations.

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1 SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS.

2 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to further the 3 protection of Antarctica by directing the Secretary of the In

4 terior to lead actions of the United States toward preserva

5 tion of the wilderness, scenic, wildlife, marine, historic, scien

6 tific, ecological, environmental, cultural, and other values of

7 the Antarctic Continent and the establishment of an Antarc

8 tica World Park dedicated to scientific research and public

9 enjoyment compatible with the preservation of such values.

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(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this Act, the following

11 terms shall have the following meanings:

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(1) The term “the Secretary” means the Secre

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(2) The term "Antarctica" means lands, waters,

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ice, and all associated natural, cultural, environmental,

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ecological, scientific, historic, and other resources and values of the Antarctic Continent, including the continental shelf thereof, and areas within the "Antarctic

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convergence”, as such term is defined in existing law

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(3) The term “locatable mineral” means any min

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eral not subject to disposition under

(A) the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 and following);

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(B) the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30

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(C) the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly

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known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C.

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(4) The term “mining laws" means laws relating

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to disposition of mineral resources owned by the

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United States, including those Acts which generally

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comprise 30 U.S.C. chapters 2, 12A, and 16, and sec

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tions 161 and 162, as well as the Act of July 23, 1955, entitled “An Act to amend the Act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 681) and the mining laws to provide for multiple use of the surface of the same tracts of the public lands, and for other purposes.” (30 U.S.C. 601

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and following).

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(5) The term "Environmental and Historic Pres

al, historic, scientific, recreational, wilderness, fish and

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wildlife, marine, and other resources and values, in

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cluding but not limited to the Wilderness Act; the Na

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tional Historic Preservation Act; the Archeological Re

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sources Protection Act; the National Environmental

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Policy Act of 1969; and the Endangered Species Act, including all amendments heretofore and hereafter

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made to any and all such provisions of law.