Cep) Cep Handbook
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Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) CEP HANDBOOK 2 Table of Contents (Click on a title to move to the text) PART A: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7 The Committee for Environmental Protection ....................................................... 7 CEP Meetings ........................................................................................................ 7 Functions of the CEP ............................................................................................. 8 PART B: KEY REFERENCES ................................................................................. 9 The Antarctic Treaty ............................................................................................ 13 The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty .................... 21 Annex I to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty ... 35 Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty .. 39 Annex III to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty . 43 Annex IV to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty . 48 Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty .. 52 Annex VI to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty . 58 PART C: CEP PROCEDURES AND AGREED GUIDELINES ......................... 67 Revised Rules of Procedure for the Committee for Environmental Protection (2011) ................................................................................................................... 71 ATCM Rules of Procedure (2011) ....................................................................... 79 GENERAL ................................................................................................................. 87 Procedures for the Submission, Translation and Distribution of Documents for the ATCM and the CEP ........................................................................................ 89 Subsidiary Group on Management Plans ............................................................ 95 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................ 99 Procedures for intersessional CEP consideration of draft CEEs ...................... 103 Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment in Antarctica ...................... 107 Environmental Impact Assessment: Circulation of Information ....................... 127 CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC FAUNA AND FLORA ........................................... 129 Guidelines for the Operation of Aircraft near Concentrations of Birds in Antarctica ........................................................................................................... 133 Guidelines for CEP Consideration of Proposals for New and Revised Designations of Antarctic Specially Protected Species under Annex II of the Protocol .............................................................................................................. 137 PREVENTION OF MARINE POLLUTION .................................................................. 141 Practical Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange in the Antarctic Treaty Area ............................................................................................................................ 145 AREA PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT .............................................................. 147 Guidelines for CEP Consideration of New and Revised Draft ASPA and ASMA Management Plans ............................................................................................. 151 Guide to the Preparation of Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas .................................................................................................................. 155 Guidelines for implementation of the Framework for Protected Areas set forth in Article 3, Annex V of the Environmental Protocol. ........................................... 183 Procedures for Forwarding draft Antarctic Specially Protected Area Management Plans to CCAMLR ........................................................................ 197 Guide to the presentation of Working Papers containing proposals for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, Antarctic Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments .................................................................................................. 201 3 Guidelines for Handling of Pre-1958 Historic Remains whose Existence or Present Location is Not Known ......................................................................... 207 Status of Antarctic Specially Protected Area and Antarctic Specially Managed Area Management Plans .................................................................................... 211 List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM .......................... 223 Guidelines for the designation and protection of Historic Sites and Monuments ............................................................................................................................ 243 Checklist to assist in the inspection of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas. .................................................................. 249 OTHER GUIDELINES .............................................................................................. 251 General Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic ............................................... 253 Practical Guidelines for Developing and Designing Environmental Monitoring Programmes in Antarctica ................................................................................. 257 PART D: OTHER REFERENCES ....................................................................... 279 List of Measures, Decisions and Resolutions Related to Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) Issues* .......................................................... 283 Status of the Antarctic Treaty and Status of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty ..................................................................... 289 4 PART A: Introduction 5 6 Introduction This Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) Handbook is a compilation of key references, for use by CEP representatives when attending meetings or undertaking CEP- related work. It contains the Antarctic Treaty System instruments that guide the Committee’s work, copies of procedures and approved guidelines that explain how the CEP conducts its business, other documents the CEP has produced or endorsed to help Treaty Parties protect the Antarctic environment, plus links to other useful references. This central resource is intended to assist CEP representatives to actively participate in the work of the Committee, but there are other sources of useful information. Most CEP-related documents, including this Handbook, are currently accessible via the CEP website (www.cep.aq). At the IX CEP Meeting the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat took the responsibility for maintaining and updating the Handbook with assistance of Members, as appropriate. Representatives should feel free to contact other Committee members to seek advice regarding CEP matters – the Handbook contains a list of email addresses for all National Contact Points. The CEP Chairperson, Dr Neil Gilbert, from New Zealand, is also very happy to respond to queries, and can be contacted at [email protected]. The Committee for Environmental Protection Environmental protection has always been a central theme of the cooperation between the Antarctic Treaty Parties. On 4 October 1991 this culminated in the signing of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Protocol), which, amongst other things, establishes the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP). The Protocol designates the Antarctic Treaty Area as 'a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science', and provides a framework for the 'comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems'. The six annexes to the Protocol are an integral component of this framework: Annex 1 outlines procedures for environmental impact assessment of all activities; Annex II establishes rules for the protection of Antarctic Flora and Fauna; Annex III deals with the management and disposal of wastes; Annex IV details measures for the prevention of marine pollution; Annex V describes a framework for the designation and management of special Antarctic areas; and Annex VI – when it enters into force – will establish a framework for liability arising from environmental emergencies. At the 18th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Kyoto, Japan, in 1994 the Treaty Parties established a Transitional Environmental Working Group (TEWG) to anticipate and prepare for the entry into force of the Protocol including, in particular, the establishment of the CEP. The TEWG also considered those items on the agenda of the ATCM which, under Article 12 of the Protocol, are now dealt with by the Committee for Environmental Protection (see below). The TEWG met three times in conjunction with ATCMs and was invaluable in laying the groundwork for the operation of the CEP. CEP Meetings The Protocol entered into force on 14 January 1998 following ratification by all Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties. The