Annex I of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requires that before any kind of activities are conducted in Antarctica, the possible environmental impacts are assessed.

The assessment process is at one of three levels, depending on the nature and scale of the activity:

1. Preliminary Environmental Evaluations (PEE)
   processed at the national level and required where impacts are likely to be less than minor or transitory;

2. Initial Environmental Evaluations (IEE)
   notified to the Antarctic Treaty Parties and required where impacts are likely to be minor or transitory; and

3. Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations (CEE)
   considered by the Antarctic Treaty Parties and required where impacts are likely to be more than minor or transitory.

Under the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act (which implements Annex I provisions), all activities organised in New Zealand or proceeding to Antarctica from New Zealand must complete an environmental evaluation in one of these categories.  The evaluation must be approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs before the activity can commence.  Antarctica New Zealand coordinates the provision of environmental evaluations to the Ministry for the activities it supports.  Proponents of activities not supported by Antarctica New Zealand should deal direcly with the Ministry.

Most activities, including most science events, complete a PEE and only two New Zealand CEEs have so far been undertaken (for the multi-national Cape Roberts Scientific Drilling Project and the multi-national ANDRILL project).

The CEE for the ANDRILL project can be downloaded here. IEEs have been completed for activities such as the removal of Vanda Station in the Wright Valley and for fuel storage upgrade and new constructions at Scott Base.