The Department of the Interior and several of its agencies—notably the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Minerals Management Service— will be primary participating agencies in International Polar Year.

“Changes in our polar conditions affect biological, atmospheric and human systems around the world. In short, polar regions matter.”

Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett participated in a panel discussion about the many studies that will take place and methods used. USGS Director Mark Myers says his bureau will continue to bring cutting edge technology to the task at hand.

“We look forward to this year with respect to gathering new data, both insitu and remote sensing, we have to have the right mix of that data in order to be effective. And finally, we need to integrate the biological, geological and atmospheric sciences together I think in a unique way maybe that has never been accomplished before.”

The International Polar Year will run through March 2009 to allow each pole to run through a full summer and winter. Ron Tull, Interior Department Radio News Service, Washington.