Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide

Environmental Evaluation (Impact) Assessment

Annex 1 to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requires the prior environmental assessment of all activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area. Unless it has been determined that an activity will have less than a minor or transitory impact, an Initial Environmental Evaluation shall be prepared. This evaluation must contain sufficient detail to assess whether a proposed activity may have any likely environmental impacts, and shall include:

-A description of the proposed activity including its purpose, location, duration and intensity

-The consideration of alternatives to the proposed activity and any impacts that the activity may have, including consideration of cumulative impacts in the light of existing and known planned activities

ENEA- Antarctic Technical Unit is asked to collect information about the supported activities and then work with the proponent to activate measures to mitigate likely impacts, or where necessary, undertake further evaluation. If the environmental evaluation indicates that the activity will have an impact “less than a minor or transitory”, the activity will be able to proceed.

You are kindly requested to return as soon as possible to the following form with all the required information

General Information

1. Title of the project and main purpose of the activity
2. Principal Investigator, Field Leader and external collaborators/contractors
3. Geographical coordinates of operation sites, location of remote camps
4. Description of the proposed activity
References:
5. Description of the area
6. Duration and intensity of the proposed activity (number of days, number of persons, remote camp)
7. Description of the installation

Identification of potential impacts

Activities that may be harmful or interfere with fauna and flora

Activity (if answering yes, you are requested to give detailed information on the activity in the line under) / YES / NO
Fly over with aircrafts/helicopters
Landing
Use of vehicles, vessels, boats of every type
Use of explosives
Use of weapons
Approach by foot
Disturb of nesting or molting birds
Activities that may produce habitat modification of any native species
Sampling of living fauna and/or flora (specify whether protected)
Introduction of non native species
Sampling of rock, soil or fossil samples
Diving
Drilling

Remote camps

Land occupation
Fuel storage (include quantity) .
Waste production
Hazardous substances, radioactive material or stable isotopes to be used

Estimated impacts

Any likely impact on flora or fauna, waste, fuel or chemical handling and storage, energy production, and possible release into the environment ecc…

Effects on air
Effects on water
Effects on soil
.
Effects on fauna and flora
Effects on landscape
Cumulative effects

Interferences with other activities

Consideration of alternatives, advantages of this activity

Waste management and disposal procedures

Mitigation measures

Activity / Mitigating measures
Helicopters activity
Camp installation
Operation of generators
Oil spill
Approaching wildlife

Date: , 2012

Signature of the Principal Investigator or Field Leader:

For PNRA:

The activity is estimated to have less than a minor or transitory impact and will be able to proceed

The activity is estimated to have more than a minor or transitory impact and further environmental evaluation is needed

The PNRA Environmental Officer: