# Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
The Department of State gives notice of the availability of a draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) for activities proposed to be undertaken in Antarctica. Interested members of the public are invited to submit comments relative to this CEE.
**DATES:**
Comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2006.
**ADDRESSES:**
Send comments to OES/OA, Room 5805; Department of State; Washington, DC 20520, or to *[email protected]* .
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Fabio M. Saturni, Office of Oceans Affairs, (202) 647-0237.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
Article 3 of Annex I to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requires the preparation of a CEE for any proposed Antarctic activity likely to have more than a minor or transitory impact. Draft CEEs are to be made publicly available with a 90-day period for receipt of comments. This notice is published pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 2403a(h).
The Department of State has received a draft CEE submitted by Belgium entitled “Construction and operation of the new Belgian Research Station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica.” The document is available on the Internet at the following website: *http://www.belspo.be/belspo/BePoles/doc/draft_CEE.pdf.*
The Department of State invites interested members of the public to provide written comments on this draft CEE.
Dated: February 23, 2006.
Raymond Arnaudo,
Deputy Director, Office of Oceans Affairs, Department of State.