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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 3060 (104th)

Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

12 March 1996

Last action

2 October 1996 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-227.

Sponsors

Rep. Walker, Robert S. [R-PA-16], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-36], Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8], Rep. Schiff, Steven [R-NM-1], DANA ROHRABACHER, Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5], Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11], Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3], Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-25], Rep. Weldon, Curt [R-PA-7], Rep. Seastrand, Andrea H. [R-CA-22], ALCEE HASTINGS, Zoe Lofgren, Rep. McHale, Paul [D-PA-15], EDDIE JOHNSON, Rep. Minge, David [D-MN-2], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], Rep. Rivers, Lynn N. [D-MI-13], Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Baker, Bill [R-CA-10], Ken Calvert, Rep. Foley, Mark [R-FL-16], Rep. Gutknecht, Gil [R-MN-1], MIKE DOYLE, F. SENSENBRENNER, Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6], Rep. Weldon, Dave [R-FL-15], Rep. Fawell, Harris W. [R-IL-13], Rep. Porter, John Edward [R-IL-10]

Subjects

Environment

Source updated

7 April 2025

Environment

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Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 Title II: Amendments to Antarctic Protection Act of 1990 Title III: Amendments to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships Antarctic Environmental Protection Act of 1996 - Title I: Amendments to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 - Amends the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to restate findings and purposes of the Act regarding the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Treaty and implementation of the Protocol. (Sec. 103) Revises provisions concerning prohibited acts by any person (currently, U.S. citizens) to modify the prohibitions, in accordance with the Protocol, and make unlawful the following activities in or respecting Antarctica: (1) introduction of any prohibited product onto land or ice shelves or into water; (2) disposal of any waste onto ice-free land areas or into fresh water systems or of any prohibited waste; (3) engaging in open burning of waste; (4) transporting passengers by any seagoing vessel not required to comply with the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, except by agreement under which the vessel owner or operator must comply with Annex IV; (5) failure of an organizer or operator to notify members of an expedition of the environmental protection obligations of this Act and means of compliance by participants; (6) damage to historic sites or monuments; (7) refusal of permission to any authorized U.S. officer or employee to board a U.S. vessel, vehicle, or aircraft for purposes of search or inspection in connection with enforcement of this Act and forcible assault of or other interference with an authorized U.S. officer or employee in the conduct of such activities; (8) resisting lawful arrest or detention for a prohibited act; (9) interference with the apprehension, arrest, or detention of another person, knowing that the other person has committed a prohibited act; (10) violation of any regulation, or a term or condition of a permit, issued pursuant to this Act; and (11) attempting to commit or cause to be committed any prohibited act. Prohibits specified other activities in Antarctica (including disposal of waste and introducing any member of a nonnative species) except as authorized by permit. Exempts from prohibitions these activities and certain of those enumerated above under defined emergency circumstances. (Sec. 104) Provides standards and procedures for the environmental impact assessment of Federal agency activities in Antarctica (which shall be the sole and exclusive obligations regarding such assessment) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, allowing an activity to proceed after an initial evaluation if it is determined that the activity is likely to have no more than a minor or transitory impact. Excepts from these procedures activities conducted jointly or in cooperation with foreign signatory governments where it is determined that the major part of the activity is being conducted by one or more other governments and another government is coordinating environmental assessment procedures. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations regarding environmental assessment of certain nongovernmental activities. Conditions decisions to proceed with a comprehensively evaluated activity upon consideration of the draft evaluation at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Provides exceptions from this Act's environmental assessment requirements under emergency circumstances. (Sec. 105) Revises requirements for the issuance of permits authorizing takings and harmful interferences or entry into Specially Protected Areas. (Sec. 106) Revises requirements for the issuance of regulations by the Director of the National Science Foundation. Removes general consultation requirements. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations to implement certain provisions of the Protocol and this Act regarding vessels. Title II: Amendments to Antarctic Protection Act of 1990 - Amends the Antarctic Protection Act of 1990 to revise its findings to state that the Protocol prohibits indefinitely Antarctic mineral resource activities and to state as its purpose to provide legislative authority to implement the Protocol. (Sec. 202) States the indefinite prohibition on Antarctic mineral resource activities, eliminating references to further agreements. Title III: Amendments to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships - Amends the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships to apply the requirements of Annex IV to the Protocol, for purposes of such Act, to all vessels in Antarctica over which the United States has jurisdiction. Applies the Act to vessel activities regulated under the Protocol and provides authority to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to administer and enforce Annex IV to the Protocol (including the Protocol in provisions concerning violations, penalties, and the promulgation of regulations).

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 12 March 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on International Relations, and Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 12 March 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on International Relations, and Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 12 March 1996

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 12 March 1996

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 14 March 1996

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, State, EPA.

    Source: Committee

  6. 25 March 1996

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.

    Source: Committee

  7. 18 April 1996

    Committee

    Committee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  8. 24 April 1996

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  9. 24 April 1996

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  10. 23 May 1996

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 293.

    Source: Calendars

  11. 23 May 1996

    Discharge

    Committee on International Relations discharged.

    Source: Discharge

  12. 23 May 1996

    Committee

    Committee on International Relations discharged.

    Source: Committee

  13. 23 May 1996

    Introduced

    House Committee on International Relations Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than May 23, 1996.

    Source: IntroReferral

  14. 23 May 1996

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 104-593, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  15. 23 May 1996

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 104-593, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  16. 10 June 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  17. 10 June 1996

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 4 (Roll no. 224).

    Source: Floor

  18. 10 June 1996

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 4 (Roll no. 224).

    Source: Floor

  19. 10 June 1996

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6084-6089, H6091-6092)

    Source: Floor

  20. 10 June 1996

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  21. 10 June 1996

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  22. 10 June 1996

    Floor

    Mr. Walker moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  23. 11 June 1996

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate.

    Source: IntroReferral

  24. 19 June 1996

    Introduced

    Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 445.

    Source: Calendars

  25. 4 September 1996

    Floor

    Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1645 amended.

    Source: Floor

  26. 4 September 1996

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1645 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  27. 5 September 1996

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  28. 10 September 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  29. 10 September 1996

    Passed

    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10144)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  30. 10 September 1996

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(consideration: CR H10144)

    Source: NotUsed

  31. 10 September 1996

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  32. 10 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Walker moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  33. 20 September 1996

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  34. 20 September 1996

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  35. 2 October 1996

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 104-227.

    Source: President

  36. 2 October 1996

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  37. 2 October 1996

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

16 official files

Public Law (text)

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Sponsors

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Sources

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