A coalition of environmental groups is calling on participants to a Chilean conference on Antarctica to designate the continent as a world marine park . During the peak summer months, about 4,000 people inhabit Antarctica, and tourism is increasing rapidly. The environmentalists claim that Antarctica is being threatened by air pollution , tourist ships , threatened by mining and damaged by more than 76 scientific projects now underway on the continent . Tucker Scully , lead US negotiator for Antarctic rights , disagreed with the hands - off approach to the continent , calling it sticking one 's head in the sand . There is speculation that the Interior Department may urge President Bush to veto pending congressional legislation calling for the preservation of Antarctica
A coalition of environmental groups is calling on participants to a Chilean conference on Antarctica to designate the continent as a world marine park . The environmentalists claim that Antarctica is being threatened by air pollution , tourist ships , threatened by mining and damaged by more than 76 scientific projects now underway on the continent . Tucker Scully , lead US negotiator for Antarctic rights , disagreed with the hands - off approach to the continent , calling it sticking one 's head in the sand . There is speculation that the Interior Department may urge President Bush to veto pending congressional legislation calling for the preservation of Antarctica