Title : EAM-Weddell Sea Ice Camp
Type : Antarctic EAM
NSF Org: OD / OPP
Date : October 10, 1991
File : opp93035
DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
202/357-7766
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 10, 1991
From: Environmental Officer, DPP
Subject: Environmental Action Memorandum (Weddell Sea Ice Camp)
To: Polar Ocean Sciences Program Manager, DPP
Ocean Projects Manager, DPP
Field Projects Manager, DPP
Science Projects Manager, DPP
Files (S.7 - Environment)
REFS: Environmental Action Memorandum (Assessment of Soviet
Proposals for Systems for Management of Liquid and
Gaseous Wastes from the Drifting Station in the
Weddell Sea); Dated January 11, 1991.
National Science Foundation. 1991. Safety, Envi-
ronment and Health Officer, DPP, Memorandum: Weddell
Sea Ice Camp. May 17, 1991.
National Science Foundation. 1991. Ocean Projects
Manager, DPP, Memorandum: Environmental Issues for
the Drifting Ice Station. May 29, 1991.
National Science Foundation. 1991. U.S. and Soviet
Researchers Will Drift Together for Months in
Antarctica to Learn of Ice's Role in Climate Change.
NSF Press Release No. 91-65 (July 10, 1991).
Background
Ten U.S. scientists awarded funds by the Division of Polar
Programs will join 10 Soviet researchers during February 1992 on
a drifting antarctic ice floe. The science teams and about 12
support personnel will drift for approximately 5 months on the 10
foot thick, mile long, one-half mile wide, Weddell Sea ice floe.
They will conduct studies of how antarctic ice cover affects
ocean circulation and climate. The project is described in more
detail in the above referenced press release.
Early in the initial planning stages of the proposed effort, the
Environmental Officer reviewed the Soviet plan for handling and
managing the various wastes expected to be generated during the
effort (see the above referenced Environmental Action Memorandum.
During July 1991, the Environmental Officer posed a set of
questions relating to the proposed project, and to the
potentially affected environment, to the civilian contractor's
Environmentalist. These questions were responded to on July 10,
1991; the questions and responses are shown below:
Environmental Assessment Queries and Responses
LAND USE AND PLANNING
1. What is the specific purpose of the proposed activity?
The establishment of a remote 32-person research camp on an
ice floe in the western Weddell Sea. The project is a joint
effort being conducted between the United States and the
Soviet Union. The ice camp will be used for the purpose of
conducting oceanographic studies.
What alternatives has the contractor considered?
Two alternatives were considered: 1) conduct the research
within the region specified; and, 2) no action (i.e., do not
conduct the research project).
The USAP proposes to conduct the studies as a way of
capitalizing on a unique opportunity in internationally
collaborative antarctic oceanographic research.
2. What is the specific location of the proposed activity?
Approximately 72�S, 54�W in the western Weddell Sea. The
camp will drift some 300 nautical miles in a northerly
direction to approximately 68�S, 50�W (Figure 1).
What alternative locations have the national research teams
and the contractor considered?
No alternative locations have been considered.
3. Will potential aesthetic impacts to the area be handled? If
so, how?
Yes, such impacts have been addressed by the respective
national research teams and the USAP's civilian contractor.
For example, effort will be directed at conducting studies
in the area in an environmentally compatible manner. All
hazardous waste and materials, chemicals, batteries, plas-
tics and used fuel drums will be retrograded from the site.
No materials will be left at the site. See Environmental
Action Memorandum (Assessment of Soviet Proposals for Sys-
tems for Management of Liquid and Gaseous Wastes from the
Drifting Station in the Weddell Sea), Dated January 11,
1991.
Will the activity have any other indirect impacts on the
environment?
No, the proposed activity is not expected to have
environmental impacts that are of more than a minor or
transitory nature.
The national research teams (and the DPP and civilian
contractor managers) met at the Arctic and Antarctic
Research Institute in St. Petersburg between May 20-23,
1991. Included in the meeting's agenda were planning
discussions on "Environmental Safety Measures". Responsi-
bilities for environmental and safety management during the
effort were agreed upon.
4. Will the activity change the traditional use of the chosen
site?
No.
5. Are the physical or environmental characteristics of the
area suitable for the activity?
Yes.
POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
6. Has protection of the environment and human health from
unnecessary pollution been considered for the activity
(includes such considerations as pollution abatement or
mitigation, and waste management [e.g., of noise, dust, fuel
loss, disposition of one-time-use materials, construction
wastes])?
Proper waste management will be carefully implemented at
the site through measures agreed to by the national research
teams and by USAP's civilian contractor. Human waste and
grey water will be discharged directly to the sea. The
relatively small amounts of these wastes generated will be
readily assimilated by the surrounding sea water. A toilet
facility has been designed by members of the Soviet team and
will be deployed to the site and set up for use (see the
attached drawings).
Some solid waste incineration is planned during the effort.
These wastes will be limited, however, to such domestic
wastes as paper and paper products, cardboard, scrap wood
and food wastes. No plastics, biological materials, medical
or petroleum wastes will be burned. These and any hazardous
wastes will be properly packaged and labeled for retrograde
from the site.
Fuel stored and used at the site will be properly
managed. Fuel drums at the fueling station will be placed
inside a portable berm having a lined bottom to catch any
fuel spilled during transfer from fuel supply drums to the
containers used to fuel equipment. Absorbent materials
(e.g., pads, pillows) will be staged to contain any spil-
lage. Fuel spilled on snow or ice will be immediately
cleaned up with any contaminated snow or ice placed in a
properly labeled waste retrograde drum.
7. Will the activity change ambient air quality at the site?
No, the proposed activity is not expected to have impacts on
air quality that are of more than a minor or transitory
nature.
8. Will the activity change water quality or flow (drainage),
at the site?
No, the proposed activity is not expected to have impacts on
water quality that are of more than a minor or transitory
nature. Although human waste and grey water will be
discharged directly to the sea, changes in water quality
will only be temporary. The sea will readily assimilate
this discharge through the processes of dilution, dispersion
and natural biodegradation.
9. Will the activity change waste generation or management at
the site?
Yes. Waste will be generated at the site. A waste manage-
ment plan as described above, however, will be implemented
resulting in no major or long-term impact to the areas
travelled through.
10. Will the activity change energy production or demand,
personnel and life support, or transportation requirements
at the site?
Energy, supplies, and equipment would be required at the
site to support staff and research activities. Helicopters
would be used on some occasions. It is not expected that
the use of these will create impacts that are more than
minor or transitory in nature.
11. Is the activity expected to adversely affect scientific
studies or locations of research interest (near and distant,
short-term and long-term)?
No. In fact, the proposed effort will demonstrate the types
of research that can be accomplished under existing
conditions and serve as a model for the management of
activities in an environmentally-benign manner.
12. Will the activity generate pollutants that might affect
marine, terrestrial, or freshwater ecosystems within the
environs of the floating ice station?
Yes. Fuels, chemicals, batteries and other materials will
be used at the site. Use of these materials will be care-
fully monitored and managed. Any pollutants generated at
the site that might affect the surrounding ecosystem will be
managed so as to eliminate or minimize their impact. All
materials and substances supporting the effort as well as
materials and substances retrograded will be entered into a
materials and waste management inventory by the civilian
contractor. This inventory will provide valuable informa-
tion for similar efforts in the future, as well as heighten
capabilities for managing the effort, overall.
13. Does the site of the activity serve as habitat for any
significant assemblages of antarctic wildlife?
Yes. The Weddell Sea is host to a variety of marine
organisms. Included are species whale, seals, fishes,
aquatic birds, bacterio-, phyto-, and zooplankton and
others.
HUMAN VALUES
14. Will the activity encroach upon any historical property of
the site?
No.
15. What other environmental concerns are potentially affected
by the activity at the site?
The potential environmental impacts associated with this
activity are primarily associated with proper and adequate
waste management. Contingency plans and waste management
strategies have been formulated to assure that environmental
contamination will be minimized. This will be done by
proper and safe materials handling, waste storage, packaging
and retrograde. The goal is to leave the site as undisturb-
ed as is possible.
Finding
Major goals of the effort are to discern rates of heat exchange
between the atmosphere and the ocean; the intervening role of the
sea-ice cover; and, the nature of ocean circulation beneath the
ice. The work has implications not only for advancing knowledge
of the antarctic environment but also for global climate change
phenomena. Strategies to prevent, minimize and mitigate environ-
mental impacts have been developed and will be implemented. It
is not expected that the effort will have impacts to the environ-
ment that are more than minor or transitory in nature. The Envi-
ronmental Officer believes that the proposed effort should be
conducted following the strategies noted in this document.
Sidney Draggan
cc: Terry Johnson, ASA
John Evans, ASA