Title : Black Island telecommunications upgrade Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : July 22, 1993 File : opp93107 OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS ENVIRONMENT SECTION 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: July 22, 1993 From: Acting Environmental Officer Subject: Environmental Action Memorandum (Black Island Telecommunications Facility Upgrade) To: Director, Office of Polar Programs Manager, Polar Operations Section Safety and Health Officer Electronics Engineer Facilities Engineering Projects Manager Environmental Engineer Environmentalist, ASA REF: Environmental Action Memorandum (Black Island Telecommunications Facility Upgrade) April 1, Environmental Action Memorandum (Installation of a Transportable Earth Station ("STARS") at the Black Island Telecommunications Facility Near McMurdo Station, Antarctica) December 31, 1991 Environmental Action Memorandum (Addendum to Environmental Action Memorandum on Black Island Telecommunications Facility Upgrade - Dated April 1, 1991) January 13, 1992 This Environmental Action Memorandum describes the need for upgrading the Black Island telecommunications facility. The action proposed is to expand and install satellite earth station equipment for an international satellite (INTELSAT) telecommunications facility, including upgrading the present power system. The Acting Environmental Officer posed a set of questions relating to the proposed actions, and to the poten- tially affected environment. These questions were responded to by Antarctic Support Associates' Terry Johnson, Environmentalist; Carol Andrews, Environmental Engineer; Ken Schei, Project Engineer; and Bob Jungk, Project Engineer Environmental Engineer. Carol Andrews on June 14, 1993; background information about the proposed relocation action as well as the questions and responses are shown below: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT QUERY AND RESPONSES Background Upgrades to the telecommunications facility located at Black Island are occurring. Three previous Environmental Action Memoranda (referenced above) were prepared to address potential environmental impacts associated with construction activities described in each. An EAM was approved on April 1, 1991, covering the early stages of the construction activities needed to install the satellite earth station equipment and a number of site facility upgrades, including installation of two new fuel tanks in a bermed, lined containment area. A second EAM was approved on December 31, 1991, covering construction of a 6.1 meter antenna to support enhanced communications capabilities provided by a transportable earth station (i.e., STARS). A third EAM was approved on January 13, 1992, covering construction of an above surface system for treating and evaporating grey water and urine generated at the site. That system is presently used only for treating grey water. The EAM also covered the installation of one high-frequency, log-periodic antenna and the relocation of the helicopter pad. The purpose of this addendum to the original Environmental Action Memorandum is to consider the potential impacts of all remaining activities scheduled to take place to complete the Black Island telecommunications upgrade. The form accompanies a Black Island Master Plan which has been prepared by ASA Engineering and Information Systems and the draft submitted to NSF for review. The Black Island project is scheduled to be completed by the close of the 94-95 season. GENERAL 1.What is the specific purpose of the proposed activities? The purpose of the proposed activity is to expand and install satellite earth station equipment for an international satellite (INTELSAT) telecommunications facility, including upgrading the present power system. Some of these activities have taken place and were covered under separate EAMs. Activities which remain to take place will be covered under this EAM and include: 93-94 Season Ground preparation work for foundation for the Unattended Satellite Earth Station (USES) radome and antenna 94-95 Season Construction of USES radome and antenna What alternatives to the proposed activities have the Program and the Contractor considered? One USES radome would be completed during the 94-95 season. Additional radomes may be proposed to support USES in the event the project expands in the future. There are no plans for this happening at present. Ground preparation work for the first USES radome would occur during the 93-94 season. The only alternative to the proposed use of radomes is no action. This would leave the Black Island telecommunications facility in its present state which involves dismantling the unprotected antennae at the end of each summer season. This significantly reduces telecommunications capabilities during the winter months. Have probable impacts of all alternatives been considered by the Program and the Contractor? Please explain how. Yes. Construction of Radomes: The only alternative considered was the no action alternative. This alternative has the least environmental impacts, but was rejected in order to meet the ever growing telecommunications demands required by the USAP. Should the chosen alternatives involve potential impacts, how would these impacts be mitigated by the Program or the Contractor? Construction of Radomes: The construction of the radomes would have the greatest environmental impact on Black Island. Approximately 172 cubic meters of fill material will be required to bring the area to be used for the USES radome to the proper grade. An area of approximately 1,400 square meters will be required to be scraped to a depth of 12 centimeters in order to provide the required material. Construction activities would have potential environmental impacts. Such impacts would be increased dust and exhaust emissions due to vehicular activity, increased human sewage and grey water output due to construction crews on site, increased amounts of solid and human waste to be retrograded and increased disturbances to the areas requiring grading and areas from which fill material will be gathered. In addition to the on-site impacts, there would be impacts to the sea ice associated with the traverses required to transport personnel and materials to Black Island. Every effort would be made to mitigate these impacts. To reduce the environmental impacts caused by gathering fill material, only areas which have been significantly affected by previous activities would be used. All human and solid waste would be handled according to USAP approved waste management practices and retrograded to McMurdo for preparation for disposal. Unnecessary use of vehicles would be prohibited to keep dust and exhaust emissions at a minimum. To further reduce dust emissions, work would be limited to indoor activities during high wind days. Ground preparation work such as grading would be restricted so as not to extend unnecessarily beyond the construction area. Have measures to assess the indirect costs of the proposed activities been identified or considered by the Program or the Contractor? Please explain how. Yes. Indirect costs for maintaining the new facilities would be factored in to the annual budgets. LAND USE AND PLANNING 2. What are the specific locations of the proposed activities? Black Island is located at E166 degrees 15' 00" Latitude, S78 degrees 07' 00" Longitude. See attached site plan. Have alternative locations been considered by the Program or the Contractor? If yes, which are they; if no, explain why. The location for the proposed activity was carefully chosen to provide for the most efficient layout possible within the confines of the existing structures. 3. How would any aesthetic impacts to the area from the proposed activities be handled by the Program or the Contractor? Aesthetic impacts would be taken into account. Cables would be located underground. This is done primarily to prevent damage from high winds, however, locating cables underground also provides a cleaner look. All waste would be contained and handled to prevent litter from blowing. Litter control would be strictly enforced by reprimanding individuals who do not ensure that materials are secured and waste properly handled. Areas from which fill material was taken would be groomed to remove, to the extent feasible, all indications of disturbance. All hazardous materials would be stored in milvans to avoid storage in work places or outdoors. 4. Would the proposed activities have any other indirect impacts on the environment? If yes, what are they; if no, explain why none are expected. There would be indirect impacts associated with the activities. Increased construction activity increases the amount of dust generated which is deposited on the nearby snow and ice. This can alter the solar gain and contribute to accelerated melting. Increased waste generation at the site would impact waste handling facilities at McMurdo Station. Traverses would increase emissions from vehicles. These traverses also have the potential to impact science occurring in Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) #17, a corner of which must be crossed to access Black Island. However, based on past experience with past traverses through the SSSI it appears doubtful that traverses adversely affect the SSSI. 5. Would the proposed activities change the traditional use(s) of the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? No. Black Island has been used as a site for telecommunications equipment since 1984. 6. Are the physical and environmental characteristics of the neighboring environment suitable for the proposed activities? If yes, explain why; if no, explain why. Yes. Because of its extreme environment, i.e. high winds, Black Island does not have any significant animal or plant life making it a suitable site for telecommunications equipment. IMPACT AND POLLUTION POTENTIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 7. How has protection of the environment and human health from unnecessary pollution been considered for the proposed activities (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])? Yes. The mitigative measures to be taken to assure protection of the environment have been described in earlier sections of this document and preceding EAMs. 8. Would the proposed activities change ambient air quality at the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? Yes. Temporary changes in ambient air quality would be experienced due to dust and exhaust emissions from construction equipment and in providing increased power to support construction activities. 9. Would the proposed activities change water quality or flow (drainage), at the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? No significant changes in water quality or flow would occur than those identified in previous EAMs. Some alteration of water drainage may occur as a result of gathering fill material, however, the areas where this material is taken would be groomed to limit this as much as possible. 10. Would the proposed activities change waste generation or management at the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? Waste generation and management would change during the construction activities. Disposal of grey water was addressed in an earlier EAM. However, the present grey water evaporation pond has not proven to operate effectively. The ASA Engineering Division is currently researching a more effective, passive solar, grey water evaporation system to replace the existing one. Solid and human waste would be retrograded to McMurdo. Hazardous materials and hazardous waste would be stored in milvans and inspected as required for compliance with the Antarctic Conservation Act. Once construction activities cease, waste generation and management would return to a level similar with activities at the present level. 11. Would the proposed activities change energy production or demand, personnel and life support, or transportation requirements at the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? During the construction phase, energy production and demand, personnel and life support and transportation would all significantly increase. Energy production and demand would also permanently increase once construction is complete as the new facility would have a larger energy requirement to maintain operations. 12. Are the proposed activities expected to adversely affect scientific studies or locations of research interest (near and distant, short-term and long-term)? If yes, how; if no, why? No. Although increased number of traverses has the potential to impact science conducted in SSSI #17, historically there has never been a sighting of any wildlife in the area through which the flagged route runs. Personnel traversing the area are informed of the importance of the area, and are instructed not to disturb the native wildlife. Should wildlife be sighted, personnel would be instructed to scout an alternate route to avoid any disturbance. Any alternate route must first be considered safe for travel before being used. During the 1994 austral winter season Contractor personnel researched potential alternative traverse routes to the Black Island telecommunications facility. An attempt was made to identify a route to the "front" (north) side of the island which would satisfy a number of goals, including eliminating the traverse section through the SSSI, greatly reducing the length of the traverse, and eliminating the section which passes through a "radio blackout" zone. Due to the very rough ice terrain in front of the island, it was determined that an alternative route is not currently available. 13. Would the proposed activities 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? Yes. Some hazardous materials would be used and stored at the site. These would be stored in milvans to avoid keeping them in work areas or outdoors. Fuel would be stored in a contained area and the grey water system would be maintained to prevent wastewater from escaping from the impoundment. 14. Does the site of the proposed activities serve as habitat for any significant assemblages of Antarctic wildlife (for example, mosses, lichens, antarctic birds or marine animals)? To date, the site of the proposed activity has not exhibited any significant assemblage of antarctic wildlife. HUMAN VALUES 15. Would the proposed activities encroach upon any historical property of the proposed or chosen site? If yes, how; if no, why? No. There are no historical sites located on or near Black Island. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 16. What other environmental considerations may be potentially affected by the proposed activities at the proposed or chosen site? For example, have impacts associated with decommissioning of the activity been considered (and how)? All structures, except for anchor rods used to secure antennae, can be decommissioned and removed from Black Island. This includes the grey-water system and helicopter pad. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERNS 17. What occupational, safety and health related issues may have to be addressed during this activity (for example, OSHA standards or consensus standards)? If none, explain why. Housing presents a problem due to inadequate berthing and sanitary facilities for a population in excess of 11 people. What steps could be taken to eliminate any problems, risks or hazards associated with those issues? If none, explain why. An additional Jamesway would eleminate the berthing problem. Additional containers would be provided to collect human waste and other solid wastes for retrograde to deal with sanitation problems. 18. Are staff or participants aware of the potential safety and health issues or problems; and, are they prepared to deal with them effectively? If yes, explain how. If no, why not? Yes. Employees would attend a pre-construction meeting where all hazards relative to the project and safety procedures are discussed and understood. 19. Identify all potentially hazardous materials, chemicals or equipment that are proposed for use. None would be used at the site. 20. If any physical hazards would be present, how would they be controlled. Physical hazards would be: High winds which would create hazards concerning eye protection from airborne particulates, reduced visibility, work in elevated areas requiring the use of scaffolds and bodily injury from potential airborne materials. Uneven surfaces create problems for equipment and scaffold stabilization. Traverses create safety concerns due to ice cracks and melt ponds and equipment failures which could result in extreme personal hardship or loss of life. These hazards can be controlled by: Providing proper eye protection and requiring it to be worn at all times (e.g. goggles). Providing proper fall protection equipment and training in its use (e.g. body harnesses, ropes). Requiring that all materials be properly secured in a manner to prevent them from becoming airborne due to severe winds. Requiring that all mechanical equipment be stabilized by the operator to compensate for grade variations. Ensuring that all traverse routes and alternate routes be evaluated by field safety teams prior to their being used. Finding The Environmental Officer, after reviewing the information provided above, believes that the proposed activity will pose less than minor and less than transitory impacts to the environment at Black Island. The proposed activity is expected to have beneficial impacts with respect to improved and expanded telecommunications capabilities. The Program and the Contractor are authorized to undertake the proposed actions. Jane Dionne ATTACHMENTS Unattended Satellite Earth Station Site Plan