Title : Installation of T-306 Antenna Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : November 27, 1992 File : opp93089 DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENT 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: November 27, 1992 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Environmental Action Memorandum (Installation of T-306 ALE Antenna at Black Island) To: Facilities Engineering Projects Manager, DPP Environmental Engineer, DPP Electronics Engineer, DPP Associate Manager (DOD). DPP Environmentalist, ASA This Environmental Action Memorandum describes the need for, and location of, proposed actions to install two high-frequency (HF) antennae as part of a one-year duration Automatic Link Establish- ment (ALE) experiment. The Environmental Officer posed a set of questions relating to the proposed project, and to the poten- tially affected environment. These questions were responded to by Antarctic Support Associates, Inc.'s (ASA) Environmental Engineer, Carol Andrews; and Supervisor of Information Systems, Dennis Tupick on November 18, 1992; the questions and responses as well as background information about the proposed project are shown below: Background Currently, personnel from U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Project T-306, the Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC), are looking in the McMurdo Station vicinity for a location to install two high- frequency (HF) antennae as part of a one-year duration automatic link establishment (ALE) experiment. This project would test state-of-the-art HF communications technology that automatically tunes radios to the best frequency for establishing contact at that particular time as derived by automatic soundings made with an ALE equipped radio at the distant end. Successful execution of this experiment and implementation of ALE would eliminate the need for radio operators to manually locate and coordinate use of the best frequency (this location and coordination takes time and decreases communication quality). The test would include links between McMurdo; Davis Station (Australian); Salisbury, South Australia; and, Christchurch, New Zealand. This test is coordin- ated with the Australian Antarctic program and the Australian defense establishment. If proven successful, ALE is expected to improve communications between base stations and field camps. Environmental Assessment Queries and Responses GENERAL 1. What is the specific purpose of the proposed activity? The purpose of the activity is to install two high-frequency antennae on an existing antenna tower. What alternatives to the proposed activity have the Program and the Contractor considered? Installation of two high-frequency antennae is required to complete the research project as proposed. Therefore two main alternatives, the proposed antenna installation and the "no-action" alternative, have been considered. A number of alternative locations have been discussed at length by the T-event, NSF and the Contractor (see question 2 below). Have probable impacts of all alternatives been considered by the Program and the Contractor? Please explain how. Yes. The activities that are required to install the system at Black Island include attaching the HF antennae to an existing rhombic antenna at Black Island, instal- ling four, removable pipes .90 meters into the ground to anchor four antenna wires, and installing a small quantity of associated equipment (125 watt output HF transceivers) in an existing building. The 30.5 centimeter-diameter holes required for the four anchors would be created using a jiffy drill. If no action is taken, i.e., the antenna is not installed as proposed, it may be impossible for NUWC to complete their research project. Should the chosen alternative involve potential impacts, how would these impacts be mitigated by the Program or the Contractor? Potential impacts on science and existing communications systems would be mitigated by scheduling a test to evalu- ate the potential for harmful electromagnetic interfer- ence to USAP and New Zealand Antarctic Program (NZAP) operational communications and scientific experiments. This would be accomplished by notifying all potentially affected parties of the intended test and startup times. If the transmissions interfere with existing systems the HF transmissions would be discontinued. Scott Base has been included in the consultation for this test. Have measures to assess the indirect costs of the proposed activity been identified or considered by the Program or the Contractor? Please explain how. Two people would do the installation work in less than one week's time. The T-event would supply some of the labor for installation of the antenna. ASA would supply transportation to the site, a rigger and other assistance as necessary. LAND USE AND PLANNING 2. Where would the proposed activity be located, specifically? The antenna would be attached to one of the existing Palmer rhombic antenna towers located on Black Island, south of the electronics shelter, helicopter landing pad, and conical monopole antenna. Have alternative locations been considered by the Program or the Contractor? If yes, which are they; if no, explain why. Yes. The following alternative sites have been considered: þ Near the Cosray facility, using an existing antenna tower, and placing the antenna cables either on the same side of the road as the Cosray building or elevated across the road; site rejected due to the level of noise (radio frequency interference) emitted by the high power HF transmitters at the Naval Support Force Antarctica (NSFA) Transmitter-Site, that would interfere with receiving for the T-306 experiment. þ NSFA Transmitter-Site: acceptable for transmitter but not for receiver, that must be in a radio frequency interference quiet area; þ Observation Hill plateau near the existing buildings: rejected because there is not enough room to erect an antenna tower; þ NSFA Receiver site: rejected because antenna would point across the explosives storage site and is also in close proximity to the Transmitter-Site which again causes unacceptable radio frequency interference; þ Other locations in McMurdo station: rejected because of geography (a clear "view" of Christchurch is required) and radio frequency interference resulting from the Transmitter-Site; þ Black Island: proposed and preferred location. 3. How would any aesthetic impacts to the area from the proposed activity be handled by the Program or the Contractor? Any rock debris generated by installing the antenna wire anchors would be removed and used elsewhere or smoothed around the immediate area of the holes. The site would be left with only the addition of the antenna, wires, and anchors. All waste generated during installation, including packing materials, would be carefully handled to prevent blowing litter and retrograded in accordance with USAP policy for all field sites. After the project is complete, if the antenna will no longer be used it would be removed from the site. At that time the anchors would also be removed and the holes filled. 4. Would the proposed activity have any other indirect impacts on the environment? If yes, what are they; if no, explain why none are expected. Two people would do the installation work in less than one week's time. Outside of installation and equipment recovery time, the population at Black Island would be unaffected because the experiment is unmanned. The power requirement of the transceiver equipment is relatively small and would be supplied by the existing hybrid power system (i.e., solar, wind and stand-by fossil fuel). 5. Would the proposed activity change the traditional use(s) of the proposed (or chosen) site? If yes, how; if no, why. No. Numerous antennas are already in place at Black Island. The proposed additional antenna would be attached to an existing tower. 6. Are the physical and environmental characteristics of the neighboring environment suitable for the proposed activity? If yes, explain why; if no, explain why. Yes. The location provides a geographically clear "view" for the antenna and an area that is free of radio frequen- cies that would interfere with the project. The high winds characteristic of Black Island are not expected to adversely affect the project. IMPACT AND POLLUTION POTENTIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: 7. How has protection of the environment and human health from unnecessary pollution or impact been considered for the proposed 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])? Removable pipe anchors would be used rather than anchors that are difficult or impossible to remove, making the entire installation removable after the one-year experi- mental period is complete. After holes for the anchors are drilled the project would not generate any noise. The existing site power system would be used, so no fuel would be required for the project. 8. Would the proposed activity change ambient air quality at the proposed (or chosen) site? If yes, how; if no, why. No. The project equipment is electronic in nature. Power would be provided via the existing power system. The equipment would be operated remotely from McMurdo Station. The very minor (approximately 150 watts) power requirement is negligible with respect to the power demand for the existing equipment (approximately 4000 watts). Air pol- lutants associated with power generation, therefore, would not be produced. Drilling of anchor holes may create dust, temporarily. 9. Would the proposed activity change water quality or flow (drainage), at the proposed (or chosen) site? If yes, how; if no, why. No. The installation is not expected to affect the current drainage of the site nor would it emit water pollutants. 10. Would the proposed activity change waste generation or management at the proposed (or chosen) site? If yes, how; if no, why. No. The project would not generate any waste during operation. A temporary (one week) small increase in station population (two people) would slightly increase waste generation during the installation. 11. Would the proposed activity change energy production or demand, personnel and life support, or transportation requirements at the site? If yes, how; if no, why. Very minor and temporary increases in power demand and personnel would occur. 12. Is the proposed activity expected to adversely affect scientific studies or locations of research interest (near and distant, in the short-term and in the long-term)? If yes, how; if no, why. No. By placing the antenna at Black Island, impacts on science projects in McMurdo such as those at Cosray and Arrival Heights would be avoided. The project would not interfere with the C-Band satellite telecommunications earth station being installed. The only potential impact would be on the operational HF monitoring receivers to be installed by the end of the 1992-1993 season; and, this would be a central focus of the aforementioned electromagnetic compatibility test. However, it is anticipated that harmful interference will be non-existent to negligible. The HF ALE frequency selection has been coordinated so as to prevent unnecessary interference with USAP and NZAP operational circuits. The high-frequency antenna would operate at ten different frequencies between 5 and 26 megahertz and require 125 watts. 13. Would the proposed activity generate pollutants that might affect terrestrial, marine or freshwater ecosystems within the environs of the station or inland camp? If yes, how; if no, why. No. After installation the antennae would not generate air or water pollutants. During installation the slight amount of dust that may be created during drilling is not expected to exceed the amount of dust generated by other typical station activities. 14. Does the site of the proposed activity serve as habitat for any significant assemblages of Antarctic wildlife (for example, mosses or lichens, or antarctic birds or marine mammals)? Yes, there are freshwater algae that inhabit a meltwater pond near the site. There is no expectation that the proposed activity would affect these algae in any manner. HUMAN VALUES: 15. Would the proposed activity encroach upon any historical property of the site? If yes, how; if no, why. No. There is no historical property at Black Island. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 16. What other environmental considerations may be potentially affected by the proposed activity at the proposed (or chosen) site? For example, have impacts associated with decommissioning of the activity been considered (and how). After the experiment is complete, in approximately one year, all equipment and materials relating to the project would be dismantled and the area would be restored to its prior condition. The impacts associated with the decommissioning are comparable to those of the installation, although no hole boring would be required, so that the disruption to the surface and dust generation should be less. Finding The Environmental Officer, after reviewing the information presented above, believes that the proposed experimental activity poses neither potentially minor nor transitory impacts to the antarctic environment near Black Island. The contractor, and Project T-306 are authorized to proceed with the proposed activity. Sidney Draggan