Title : Waste minimization, McMurdo Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : November 20, 1990 File : opp93012 DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: November 20, 1990 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Environmental Action Memorandum (Waste Minimization, Treatment and Disposal Program for McMurdo Station Including Preliminary Assessment and Site Investiga- tion Project) To: File S.7 (Environment) On September 4, 1990, the Environmental Engineer, DPP prepared and submitted the following information which forms the basis for this Environmental Action Memorandum: NAME OF PREPARER/TITLE/ORGANIZATION: I. Sam Higuchi, Jr.; Environmental Engineer; NSF-DPP-Polar Operations Section. RESPONSIBLE ENTITY FOR PROJECT: Argonne National Laboratory PROGRAM/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The program can be divided into two major projects: (1) waste minimization, treatment and disposal; and, (2) preliminary assessment and site investigation. This Memorandum will address only the second project. The purpose of the second project is to identify known, suspected and potential contamination that has or may have resulted from past operations. This will require site surveys, sampling (drilling, trenching, scraping, and digging) and analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING: The preliminary assessment and site investigation field activities will be limited to the substrates (i.e., soil, ice, snow) of the McMurdo area. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROJECT: The environmental impacts are limited to the sampling and analysis actions. The sampling activities may result in dust, noise, and potentially contaminat- ed soils and rocks being brought to the surface. Some chemical analysis will be done in the field and in the laboratory at McMurdo, and will result in the generation of chemical wastes which will be retrograded, when appropriate. MITIGATION MEASURES PROPOSED TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS: The project is designed to minimize impacts on the environment and is patterned after standard techniques used at Superfund sites in the United States. -2- o Dust will be minimized by constructing a housing device that will surround the bore hole during the drilling operations. o Machinery will only be operated during normal working hours to minimize the impact of noise. o Soils and rock will be placed back in the excavation from which they were obtained to minimize the spread of contamination that may be present. o Chemical wastes from screening activities shall be properly packaged and labelled and retrograded when appropriated. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT: o No action. This alternative is not a feasible option as the project's purpose is to determine the extent and magnitude of contamination in the McMurdo area requiring possible clean-up actions. CONCLUSION: Recommend the project be implemented as planned. Sidney Draggan cc: Safety, Environment and Health Officer, DPP Environmental Engineer, DPP