III. ALTERNATIVES

A. No Action.

No ATVs would be used at Lake Hoare. Supplies and equipment would be manually hauled on sleds to areas of research on the ice.

B. Use an ATV exclusively on the lake ice on Lake Hoare to transport people and supplies to locations on the lake ice where drilling, coring, diving and other work in support of research is to occur.

An ATV would be used exclusively on the lake ice at Lake Hoare to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies to research locations on the lake ice. Use of the ATV off the ice would be prohibited. To collect engine drips, the ATV would be parked over a drip pan or fuel absorbent materials when stationary and during refueling and minor maintenance.

Use of the AV, limited to personnel in S-025 and S-042, and other personnel specifically approved by NSF, would continue until the completion of the S-025 and S-042 research projects, or until the ATV was no longer needed, whichever occurred first.

IV. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATING MEASURES

The environmental effects refer to Alternative B unless otherwise specified.

A. Physical Effects.

The ATV would make track marks across the lake ice. Track marks on the lake ice would disappear later in the season when there is partial melting from warmer temperatures and fresh water flows into the lake.

The vehicle would likely release minor drips of vehicle oils, lubricants, and fuels when operating and when parked. Drip pans, spill absorbent pads, or other suitable spill and leak prevention equipment would be placed under the ATV when parked, during refueling and the addition of vehicle fluids, and during minor maintenance. Substantial repairs and servicing of the ATV would be performed at McMurdo Station. Releases on the lake ice while the vehicle is operating should be minimal and would likely be less than the releases of petroleum fluids caused by helicopters passing through the area. Fueling of the ATV would be accomplished using properly fitting nozzles or funnels to minimize the potential for drips or spillage.

The Principal Investigator (PI) or his/her designee would be required to prepare a report at the end of the season showing where the ATV was used, the frequency of use, approximate distance traveled, the types and quantities of petroleum products used in refueling and maintaining the ATV, and reports of any releases of materials from the ATV whether minor drips during routine use or spills from mishaps, accidents, or problems during refueling. The report must be submitted to the NSF Environmental Officer within 30 days of closure of the camp at the end of the austral summer.

Under NSF waste regulations (45 CFR Part 671), all unpermitted releases must be reported to the Director of the Office of Polar Programs within 14 days. However, it is NSF policy that all spills, regardless of quantity, must be reported immediately to the Fire Station at McMurdo Station. Rapid reporting of spills is particularly important at Lake Hoare because of the sensitivity of the ongoing research at the site and the logistical requirements to get a clean-up crew to the site, if one is needed.

B. Air quality.

The ATV would be sling loaded on a helicopter and delivered to the surface ice on Lake Hoare. Depending upon the available capacity on flights transporting personnel and supplies to the site, this may require an additional helicopter trip, approximately three hours of flight time.

Air emissions from the ATV would be similar to emissions from generators which are already in use at the site and would constitute a negligible increase in background contaminants in the area.

C. Health and safety concerns.

Using an ATV would save time in addition to helping prevent injuries from manhandling equipment. Under Alternative A, the equipment would be manhandled into place which could lead to back strains and hand injuries, as well as injuries from falls on the rough areas of the ice surface.

There is an inherent risk associated with transporting, storing, and handling flammable petroleum products. Fueling the ATV would be done away from sources of ignition using precautions similar to those for fueling any vehicle in Antarctica as well as additional spill containment precautions outlined in this document.

D. Effects on other research.

ATV use on the lake ice on Lake Hoare is not anticipated to cause any adverse effects to other research in the area. Minor drips of fuel, oil, and lubricants from operation of the ATV would likely be of such small quantities that the drips would have negligible effects on the chemical characteristics of the lake ice and water. The creation of tire marks on the ice surface by the ATV would not have any known adverse effects on research in the area.

Should an accident or substantial mechanical failure occur resulting in a spill of fuel or other vehicle fluids, this could result in localized changes to the chemical characteristics of the lake ice, sediments, water, and/or soils near the edge, possibly affecting data being collected by other researchers. Materials ro respond to and clean up fuel spills would be part of the required field supplies for groups intending to use the ATV.

E. Short-term effects.

Using an ATV would reduce the time it takes to haul equipment, supplies, and personnel. This would contribute to the efficiency of the research being conducted at the site and improve personnel safety.

There would be noise pollution and air emissions during ATV operation, but this would be minimized as much as possible through periodic maintenance of the vehicle and factory-installed muffler. Alteration of the physical environment would occur from the tracks left along travel routes. As previously noted, these would disappear annually due to partial melting of the lake ice.

F. Long-term and cumulative effects.

ATV use would be confined to the lake ice. The environmental effects from use of the ATV would be monitored by personnel using and visiting the site which hosts other research including a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project. Since this site routinely receives visits by NSF representatives each season, opportunities exist to visually assess the effects of ATV use and discuss these issues with USAP personnel working at the site. NSF would perform a minimum of one inspection of the site and assess ATV use during the 1995-1996 season, and each subsequent season the ATV is in use. Should any problems be noted, use of the ATV would be modified or terminated, depending upon the nature of the issues which arise.

V. CONSULTATION WITH OTHERS

National Science Foundation/Office of Polar Programs:

Title/e-mail (INTERNET)/Tel.#

Mr. Bob Cunningham	Environmental Compliance Manager rcunning@nsf.gov Tel: (703)306-1031
Ms. Joyce Jatko	Environmental Officer jjatko@nsf.gov Tel: (703)306-1030
Mr. Peter Karasik	Associate Compliance Manager pkarasik@nsf.gov Tel: (703)306-1031
Dr. Polly Penhale	Program Manager, Polar Biology and Medicine ppenhale@nsf.gov Tel: (703)306-1033

Antarctic Support Associates:

Title/e-mail (INTERNET)/Tel: (303) 790-8606 or 1-800-688-8606

Ms. Vicki Kraus	Environmental Engineer krausvi.asa@asa.org
Ms. Kristin Larson	Supervisor of Laboratory Operations larsondl.asa@asa.org Tel: 1-800-688-8606

USAP Scientists Working at Lake Hoare

Dr. Andrew Fountain	Principal Investigator (PI) S-042/ andrew@pwavan.wr.usgs.gov
Dr. Berry Lyons	Co-PI S-042/ wlyons@lternet.edu
Dr. Diane McKnight	Co-PI S-042/ dmmcknig@usgs.gov
Dr. John Priscu	PI S-025, Co-PI S-042/ jpriscu@lternet.edu
Dr. Robert Wharton	McMurdo LTER Principal Investigator wharton@maxey.dri.edu

VI. REFERENCE

National Science Foundation. 1991. Environmental Action Memorandum, Use of an All-Terrain Vehicle for Science Support of DPP-88-20591 [S-025/] at Lake Bonney, July 16.

National Science Foundation. 1991. Environmental Action Memorandum, All-Terrain Vehicle Use at McMurdo Station, Antarctica and Its Environs, May 15.