Receipt of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) Regarding Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica

Environmental Impact Assessments

When nongovernmental operators (including tour operators) plan to conduct expeditions to Antarctica, they are required to submit environmental documentation to EPA. The purpose of the documentation is to evaluate the potential environmental impact of their proposed activities.

This page contains a list of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) received by EPA regarding nongovernmental activities in Antarctica for the current austral summer season (October through March).  An EIA describes an activity’s purpose, location, duration and intensity, and considers alternatives and assesses impacts, including cumulative impacts, in light of existing and known proposed activities.

The three types of EIA documentation are Comprehensive Environmental Assessments (CEEs), Initial Environmental Evaluations (IEEs), and Preliminary Environmental Review Memorandums (PERMs).

• A CEE should be prepared for an activity that is likely to have more than a minor or transitory impact.
• An IEE should be prepared for an activity that is likely to have no more than a minor or transitory impact.
• A PERM should be prepared for an activity that is likely to have less than minor or transitory impacts.

The list for the 2026-2027 austral summer season includes IEEs.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of these documents or a list of previous austral summer season EIAs, please contact Julie Roemele or email Antarctica_EPA@epa.gov.

Steps for Prospective Nongovernmental Operators

• U.S.-based nongovernmental operators must submit an Advance Notification Form to the Department of State at least 3 months before traveling to the Antarctic Treaty Area. Tour operators can send their completed forms to Antarctica@state.gov for review. Visit the Department of State Antarctica Tourism webpage to obtain a copy of the Advance Notification Form.
• U.S.-based nongovernmental operators must also submit an environmental impact assessment to the EPA at Antarctica_EPA@epa.gov. The specific type of document will depend on the anticipated level of impact. An IEE should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expedition but please wait to submit the IEE until after the Department of State has reviewed the Advance Notification Form and issued a determination. Following EPA’s review, the agency will either issue the operator a letter stating the expedition meets the requirements or send an email with any requests for missing information or other revisions for the operator to incorporate into a revised document.
• Certain activities in Antarctica require an Antarctic Conservation Act (ACA) permit issued by the National Science Foundation. Visit their ACA webpage for more information about the permit application process. Information in the EIA and ACA permit should be consistent with one another.

2026-2027 Austral Season EIA Submissions

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on June 15, 2026, for the S/V Type Eau Voyage to the Antarctica Peninsula

France Harvey
2645 Railroad Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

Tel: 860/488-0244
Email: f_harvey@outlook.com

Supplemental Information submitted on July 21, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Scenic USA for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Peninsula Area

Scenic USA and the Scenic Group
4000 Hollywood Boulevard #625
Hollywood, Florida 33021

Contact: Jason Flesher
Tel: 855/517-1200
Email: Jason.Flesher@scenic.eu

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on July 27, 2026, by Textron Aviation for Flight to Antarctica

Textron Aviation
1 Cessna Boulevard
Wichita, Kansas 67215

Contact: Jim Hansen
Email: jhansen@txtav.com

Supplemental Information submitted on July 27, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Polar Latitudes Expeditions for Ship-Based Tourism to the Antarctic Peninsula on M/V Discoverer and M/V Ocean Nova

Polar Latitudes Expeditions
2206 Jericho Street
White River Junction, Vermont 05001

Contact: Hayley Shephard
Tel: 802/698-8497
Email: Hayley.s@polar-latitudes.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on July 30, 2026, by Dale Andersen for the Untersee Oasis Research Project

Dale Andersen
Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute
339 Bernardo Aveneue, Suite 200
Mountain View, California 94043

Tel: 650/961-6633

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 10, 2026, for the S/V Seal Voyage to the Antarctica Peninsula

Hamish Laird
PO Box 1225
Cordova, Alaska 99574

Tel: 907/831-6210
Email: expeditionsail@yahoo.com

Supplemental Information submitted on August 11, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Seabourn Cruise Line Limited for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Antarctic

Seabourn Cruise Line Limited
450 Third Avenue West
Seattle, Washington 98119

Contact: Diana Mihalache
Tel: 206/861-5827
Email: dmihalache@hollandamerica.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 13, 2026, by Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC for Activities in Antarctica

Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC
4741 South Commerce Drive
Murray, Utah 84107

Contact: David Rootes
Tel: 801/266-4876
Email: info@antarctic-logistics.com

Supplemental Information submitted on August 17, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Silversea Cruises Ltd. for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Peninsula Area

Silversea Cruises Ltd.
1050 Caribbean Way, 5th Floor
Miami, Florida 33132

Contact: Jaime Lemus
Tel: 754/971-0726
Email: jlemus@rccl.com

Supplemental Information submitted on August 24, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Holland America Line for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Antarctic

Holland America Line Limited
c/o Holland America Line Inc.
450 3rd Avenue West
Seattle, Washington 98119

Contact: Diana Mihalache
Tel: 206/861-5827
Email: dmialache@hollandamerica.com

Supplemental Information submitted on August 28, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Poseidon Expeditions Corp for Antarctic Peninsula Cruise Program

Poseidon Expeditions Corp
4300 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 203
Miami, Florida 33137

Contact: Angelica Vorea
Tel: 305/395-5656
Email: av@poseidonexpeditions.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 31, 2026, for the SV Guppy Antarctic Expedition

Prentice Brower
1230 Pherigo Street
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

Tel: 843/368-2849

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 31, 2026, by 60 South for proposed Antarctic Peninsula Cruises

60 South Limited
1498 Paradise Point Road
Oakland, Maryland 21550

Contact: Laura Smith 
Tel: 240/619-0129 
Email: info@60-south.com

Supplemental Information submitted on August 31, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by EYOS Vessels to the South Orkneys, South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

EYOS Expeditions Ltd.
PO Box 2535
Vashon, Washington 98070

Contact: Sarah Merkel
Email: sarah@eyos.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 31, 2026, by Polar Latitudes Expeditions for Ship-Based Tourism to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands on the M/V Ocean Albatross and the M/V Ocean Victory

Polar Latitudes Expeditions
PO Box 1227
White River Junction, White River, Vermont 05001

Contact: John Mckeon
Tel: 802/760-6789
Email: john.m@polar-latitudes.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on August 31, 2026, by Swan Hellenic for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Antarctica Peninsula Area

Swan Hellenic Cruises
1010 S Federal Highway, 14th Floor
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

Contact: Bill Spaeth
Email: bill.spaeth@swanhellenic.com

Supplemental Information submitted on September 7, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Oceanwide Sail Expeditions Inc. for Ship-Based Tourism to the Antarctic Peninsula

Oceanwide Sail Expeditions Inc.
222 Pennbirght Drive, Suite 109A
Houston, Texas 77090

Contact: Ricardo Kramer
Tel: 713/628-8917
Email: rekmarine@aol.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on September 14, 2026, by Lindblad Expeditions LLC. for Ship-Based Tourism in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands

Lindblad Expeditions LLC.
11 West 42nd Street, Suite 22B3
New York, New York 10036

Contact: Laura Macfarlane
Tel: 646/468-0545
Email: lauram@expeditions.com

Supplemental Information submitted on September 16, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Ari Friedlaender for Antarctic Site Inventory

Ari Friedlaender
Institute for Marine Science
University of California Santa Cruz

Tel: 919/672-0103
Email: ari.friedlaender@ucsc.edu

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on September 17, 2026, by Atlas Ocean Voyages for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Peninsula Area

Atlas Ocean Voyages
1 East Broward Blvd, Suite 800
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Contact: David Sagrista
Email: David.sagrista@mysticcruises.com

Supplemental Information submitted on September 17, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC & Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Peninsula Area

Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC
1010 South Federal
Highway Onyx Tower, Suite #1500
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

Contact: Stefan Kredel
Email: SKredel@abercrombiekent.com

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris
10947 Potrero Rd
PO Box 304
Moss Landing, CA 95039

Contact: Krista Hanni
Email: krista.hanni@cheesemans.com

Supplemental Information submitted on September 22, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Oceanites, Inc. for Antarctic Site Inventory Activities in the Peninsula Area

Oceanites, Inc.
PO Box 15259
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20825

Contact: Ron Naveen
Tel: 202/302-4211
Email: oceanites@icould.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on September 22, 2026, by Austin Carter for Project BluePRINT Expedition to Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Austin Carter
Department of Geosciences
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey 08544

Tel: 248/778-7441
Email: ac2889@princeton.edu

Supplemental Information submitted on September 23, 2026, for the Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation by Quark Expeditions, Inc for Ship-Based Expeditions in the Peninsula Area

Quark Expeditions, Inc.
3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 250
Seattle, Washington 98121

Contact: Ben Bradley
Tel: 203/852-5580
Email: enquiry@quarkexpeditions.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on September 25, 2026, for the SV Merlin Voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula

Gene Joseph Mack II
1715 Mayflower Drive
Irving, Texas 75061

Email: genejmack@gmail.com

Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on September 30, 2026, by Terra Nova Expeditions for Ship-Based Tourism in the Antarctica Peninsula Area

Terra Nova Expeditions LLC.
16192 Coastal Highway
Lewes, Delaware 19958

Contact: Amanda Hunter
Tel: 302/217-6942
Email: amanda@terranova-expeditions.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on October 5, 2026, by Royal Caribbean Group for Cruise Only Sailings to Antarctica

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd
1050 Royal Caribbean Way
Miami, Florida 33132

Contact: Eidan (Eddie) Segev
Tel: 786/282-9533
Email: esegev@rccl.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted on October 7, 2026, by Susana Caballero for the Antarctic Research Project Genes, Genomes and People: Connecting Science and People in Antarctica

Susana Caballero
Marine and Environmental Sciences Department
Nova Southeastern University
Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Email: scaball1@nova.edu

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted October 9, 2026, for the SY Hortense Voyage to the Antarctica Peninsula

MCM Yacht Management
555 Thames Street
Newport, Rhode Island 02840

Collin Cunningham
Email: ccunningham@mcmnewport.com

Initial Environmental Evaluation submitted October 15, 2026, for the S/V IONA Voyage to the Antarctica Peninsula

John Verbeck
105 Laurel Springs Road
Newport, Virginia 24128

Tel: 540/808-8881
Email: johnnysarverb@gmail.com

Contacts

For additional information on EPA's work in Antarctica, contact:
Julie Roemele
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Policy and Regulatory Management
Federal Activities Division
NEPA Compliance Branch
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: roemele.julie@epa.gov or antarctica_EPA@epa.gov
(202) 564-5632