110 STAT. 3034
PUBLIC LAW 104-227—OCT. 2, 1996
Oct. 2, 1996
[H.R. 3060]
Public Law 104-227
104th Congress
An Act
To implement the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
Antarctic
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Science, Tourism,
and Conservation SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
16 USC 2401
'^^^ ^'^^ ^^y ^^ cited as the "Antarctic Science, Tourism,
note.
and Conservation Act of 1996".
TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO THE ANT-
ARCTIC CONSERVATION ACT OF 1978
SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS. —Section 2(a) of the Antarctic Conservation Act
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401(a)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs
(4) and (5) respectively, and inserting before paragraph (4),
as redesignated, the following:
"(1) for well over a quarter of a century, scientific investigation has been the principal activity of the Federal Government
and United States nationals in Antarctica;
"(2) more recently, interest of American tourists in Antarctica has increased;
"(3) as the lead civilian agency in Antarctica, the National
Science Foundation has long had responsibility for ensuring
that United States scientific activities and tourism, and their
supporting logistics operations, are conducted with an eye to
preserving the unique values of the Antarctic region;";
(2) by striking "the Agreed Measures for the Conservation
of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, adopted at the Third Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting, have established a firm foiuidation" in paragraph (4), as redesignated, and inserting "the
Protocol establish a firm foundation for the conservation of
Antarctic resources,";
(3) by striking paragraph (5), as redesignated, and inserting
the following:
"(5) the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol establish international mechanisms and create legal obligations necessary
for the maintenance of Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted
to peace and science.".
(b) PURPOSE.— Section 2(b) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 2401(b))
is amended by striking "Treaty, the Agreed Measures for the
Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, and Recommendation
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