Title : Addt'l. Earth Fill-McMurdo Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : January 10, 1991 File : opp93015 DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: January 10, 1991 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Environmental Action Memorandum (Assessment of Additional Earth Fill Materials Available at McMurdo Station, Antarctica) To: File S.7 (Environment) REFS: Environmental Action Memorandum (Blasting for, and Placement of, Fill Rock at McMurdo Station, Antarctica During the 1990-1991 Season); Dated October 2, 1990. Safety, Environment and Health Program Policy Memorandum 90-2. Subject: Authorization and Reporting Procedures for, Gathering and Use of Fill and Associated Activity, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica; Dated October 1, 1990. The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) has developed a policy, and implementing procedures, to minimize the potential environmental and aesthetic impacts associated with gathering of local fill. The policy recognizes that the collection and use of local antarctic fill materials for use in construction and other purposes poses potential environmental and aesthetic impacts and is controversial. Nonetheless, the USAP recognizes that there is a genuine need for such material in construction and other purposes and believes that the collection and use of this natural resource can be managed with the goal of minimizing such impacts. The policy's goal is being achieved through: 1) a system for considering, authorizing and reporting all instances of fill gathering (including such activities as use of explosives to facilitate fill gathering, and grading); 2) evaluation and utilization of other materials, approaches or technologies that lead to minimization of fill gathering; and, 3) collection and maintenance of information on collection of fill and associated activities at McMurdo Station. Background This Environmental Action Memorandum (EAM) is intended to reassess the abovementioned policy in light of new information about the characteristics of some earth fill materials available near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Since the beginning of the 1990-1991 season, Antarctic Support Associates (ASA) has been gathering fill material from a USAP approved location to be used for road and ice pier maintenance and as needed for various construction purposes at McMurdo Station. One of ASA's Field Engineers (with experience in geotechnical engineering) has reported that the earth fill materials obtained from the area are often unsuitable as aggregate for construction and maintenance projects. Much of this material consists of poorly graded cinders and tends to ravel off the surface once in place. This requires unacceptable, repeated applications to maintain a suitable surface for various construction and maintenance projects at McMurdo Station. The Field Engineer has identified another area that contains aggregate much more suitable for McMurdo Station's construction and maintenance projects. The aggregate at this newly-identified area is well graded, and when wetted, exhibits a cementing quality which sets up as a hard surface which requires much less frequent replacement. In light of USAP's abovementioned policy, these characteristics make the newly-identified aggregate more suitable for use at McMurdo Station as repeated applications will be reduced. The location of this material is, however, outside the currently approved earth fill materials collection area. Analysis ASA has requested permission to gather this well graded material. ASA has provided the following information to assist USAP in deciding the potential environmental and aesthetic impacts associated with this earth fill materials collection at the newly-identified area. Area to be affected: The area where suitable material has been found is located near the area being considered as the new location for the explosives storage area. It includes portions of an area which has been previously identified as a possible location for gathering fill material. Nature of disturbance that the area has experienced in the past: This area has been scraped for fill material in the past (i.e., before implementation of the Safety, Environment and Health Initiative). This disturbance is evidenced by the "hummocky" topography, and has been verified by ASA personnel with knowledge of the area's past history. Indications of inhabitation of Antarctic wildlife in the area: There are no major assemblages, or indications, of antarctic wildlife inhabiting the area. Skuas may occasionally alight in the area, and no skua pairs have been observed nesting in or near the area. There are no visible lichen or moss communities in the area. Justification: The purpose is to obtain fill material suitable for its intended use. The currently approved site contains material that is too poorly graded to effect long-term integrity. By obtaining and using fill material suitable for its intended use, USAP and ASA can reduce the impact on the local environment by reducing the number of times fill material needs to be col- lected for replacement purposes. In addition, the area currently being used to gather fill material will be re-landscaped when not in use. Material will be removed from this area only when its physical characteristics are more appropriate for the intended use. These environmental impact reductions are in accordance with Paragraph 2.1.3 of the Safety, Environment and Health Program Policy Memorandum 90-2. Alternatives considered: No alternatives to the proposed practice are available. Importation of non-local fill materials is not feasible due to prohibitive cost, logistics and possible violations of the Antarctic Treaty (i.e., introductions of non- indigenous species). No other previously disturbed areas containing like materials have been found. Amount of fill material to be collected: It is estimated that the area contains approximately 3000 cubic yards of fill material that will be used as needed. Work plan: The area will be scraped using heavy equipment. Collected fill material will be temporarily stockpiled until used for its intended purpose. No long-term stockpiling is intended. The area to be used, including the originally identified collection area, will be re-landscaped to eliminate any ridges or furrows, returning them to as natural a condition as possible. FINDING; The background statement and analysis provided above indicates that the proposal to collect earth fill materials from the newly-identified area advances the goals of USAP's Safety, Environment and Health Program Policy Memorandum 90-2. The Environmental Officer believes that ASA has, in this instance, carefully evaluated what is identified in the memorandum as "...other materials, approaches or technologies that lead to minimization of fill gathering.". Approval for collection of earth fill materials (as governed by the abovementioned memorandum) at the newly-identified location is granted. Sidney Draggan cc: Safety, Environment and Health Officer, DPP Acting Manager, Polar Operations Section, DPP Head, Safety, Environment and Health Implementation Team, DPP Environmental Engineer, DPP Operations Research Analyst, DPP