by the ICJ
Article 12, 13, 14:
deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among
involved nations
Other agreements:
more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings
and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for the
Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); Convention for the
Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation
of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources
agreement was signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; in 1991
the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was
signed and awaits ratification; this agreement provides for the
protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes
on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental impact
assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also prohibits
all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific
research; nine parties have ratified Protocol as of April 1994
Legal system:
US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US
nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction
of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For
example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et
seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following
activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: The taking of
native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and
animals; entry into specially protected or scientific areas; the
discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US
of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic
Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1
year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation,
and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541,
the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from
the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and
Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520,
which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic
Treaty. For more information contact Permit Office, Office of Polar
Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230
(703-306-1031).
Overview:
No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and
sm