These procedures are designed to elicit and evaluate information that will inform the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the potential environmental consequences of proposed U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) actions, so that relevant environmental considerations are taken into account by decisionmakers before reaching final decisions on whether or how to proceed with proposed actions. These procedures are consistent with and implement the requirements of:

(a) Executive Order 12114 as it relates to NSF's Antarctic activities, and

(b) the environmental assessment provisions of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.