Antarctica: The Environmental Impact of the "Surge" Of Tourism Is Not Monitored
<p><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">According to the AGN, visitors to the region increased from 6,700 in 1993 to 28,531 in 2007. One unit, which until 2009 had only four employees, failed to centralize information on business permits and registration of movements of hazardous waste. The Directorate of the Antarctic, does not have a plan for responding to a possible fuel spill.</span></p>
The National Antarctic Directorate (DNA, for its acronym in Spanish) does not "monitor" the cumulative environmental impact on the sites for tourist use, caused by "exponential increase" in visits to the region. This was explained by a report from the General Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish), which detailed that the amount of tourists grew from 6,700 in the year 1993 to 28,531 in 2007.
The report, approved last year on data for the period 2004-2009, says some "projects traveled to Antarctica without completing the proper permits and assessments (environmental)". This is because "the information necessary to consider the environmental impact assessment was received irregularly."
In fact, the AGN adds that the Environmental Management Program and Tourism (PGAyT), which until 2009 had four employees, "failed to centralize environmental information (impact assessments, business permits and reports and registration of movements of hazardous waste), or guarantee that such data circulated and used in a timely manner."
On the other hand, explains that "the DNA does not have an action plan in response" to reduce damage resulting from spills of fuel, "that unifies the criteria to be adopted by all Argentine Antarctic bases".
Inconsistencies in the Management of Hazardous Waste
The Directorate of the Antarctic cannot "complete and timely mechanism transportation and disposal of hazardous waste." The Audit says that this is due to delays in the tendering and contracting process for handling these wastes that holds the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the orbit where the DNA works.
Furthermore, according to the report, since 2004 "the DNA does not have the Annual Environmental Certificate as a generator of hazardous waste, although it was formally requested" to the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Finally, through the visit of the audit team to the Jubany Base, "inconsistencies in the handling of hazardous waste" were detected, which in turn had been communicated earlier by the chief based on reports of environmental monitoring. However, the DNA "gave no solutions until the moment of the on-spot verification" of the AGN.
