FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF THE AFTAC SOUTHERN NETWORK
ANTARCTIC POWER SYSTEM
The proposed action is the acquisition of the AFTAC Southern Network (ASN) Antarctic Power Systems (APS) and their operation at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell, Antarctica. The APS is a new hybrid power system. Equipment at Lake Vanda consists of two diesel-fueled generators, each with its own fuel tank, one solar array consisting of two banks of photovoltaic cells, eight sealed lead-calcium batteries, and an automatic fire suppression system all installed into a new environmental shelter. Equipment at Mt. Newell consists of one diesel-fueled generator with fuel tank, one solar array consisting of two banks of photovoltaic cells, one wind generator, thirty-six sealed lead-calcium batteries, and an automatic fire suppression system. Fueling of the diesel tanks is not an anticipated problem since all measures required by Antarctic environmental regulations and National Science Foundation operating practices are followed.
The hybrid power systems replace the current propane-powered thermoelectric generators (TEGs) which have been very unreliable. The new systems will provide reliable hybrid (renewable energy and fossil-fueled sources) power to the ASN sites. The shelters for both sites were constructed of ozone-free insulated material. The prefabricated shelter will rest on steel skids, and the overall structure will be anchored into bedrock with standard rock anchors. During operation the systems will (a)provide energy from the source having adequate power to maintain a charge on the battery and (b)heat the shelters and equipment when required. Exhaust emissions due to fossil fuel consumption are decreased substantially by maximum use of renewable energy inputs. Generators and associated fuel tanks are mounted over fuel containment pans designed to contain 100% of all fuel within the facility in case of fuel leakage. Fuel tanks are double walled with leakage sensors in the inner wall to alarm the system controller in case of a leak. Batteries are sealed, have a flame arrestor valve, and are rated to Seismic Zone 4 standards. The fire suppression system utilizes carbon dioxide as the suppressing agent. The National Science Foundation’s Antarctic contractor monitors the operational status of both systems routinely. Maximum use of all possible safeguards is made to eliminate the possibility of accidental release of fuels, lubricants, or coolants.
Materials used in the power upgrade subsystem present very few environmental hazards as defined by current industry standards and applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations. The power subsystem upgrade is not a major federal action having a significant effect on the human environment, within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This action is not one which would have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, within the meaning of the National Science Foundation’s implementing regulations for the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Therefore, a finding of no significant impact has been determined.
APPROVED: ///SIGNED///
PAUL M. GUTTMAN, Colonel, USAF
INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
AFTAC SOUTHERN NETWORK
ANTARCTICA POWER SYSTEM
UPGRADE
DET 3 ASC
Date: 13 Nov 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3.1 Lake Vanda Site
3.2 Mt. Newell Repeater Site
4.1 Equipment Removed
4.2 Equipment Installed
4.3 Duration
6.1 Short-Term Effects
6.2 Long-Term Effects
The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) Southern Network (ASN) is a nine site Southern Hemisphere network, providing seismic data to the US Atomic Energy Detection System (USAEDS) which supplements data derived from other monitoring techniques. Each ASN site provides an area of coverage in the Southern Hemisphere not covered by other seismic systems. Although presently operated and maintained for AFTAC under a memorandum of agreement with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (ASL), the ASN is currently scheduled to be turned over to AFTAC by 31 December 1998.
The Vanda Antarctica station consists of the seismic station at Lake Vanda and a communications relay station at Mt. Newell. The seismometer station, referred to as the Vanda Seismic Station because of its location west of Lake Vanda at Bull Pass in the Wright Valley, was established in December 1985 through a collaboration between the US, including the USAF, USGS, and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and New Zealand. It is a critical component of a worldwide seismometer network used for both nuclear test ban monitoring and global scale seismological research. Data from this site flows to both the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the NSF-funded Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), and is available for seismological research through the IRIS database. The usefulness of the worldwide network depends critically on precisely located sites to provide complete geographic coverage.
The Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell stations are equipped with propane-fueled thermal electronic generators (TEGs) which have proven to be very unreliable. Since they were installed in 1985, one or both of these TEGs have broken down during each austral winter. A failure in either TEG results in a station outage, rendering the site unable to collect and relay critical seismic data. The primary cause of these failures has been the clogging of the TEG jets by propane residue from the extreme cold conditions. Due to the remoteness of these sites and the extreme winter weather conditions in the area, repairs are only possible during the following austral summer from about November through January. This has resulted in extended five to 10 month outages that, because of Vanda’s unique location, result in serious gaps in the capability of the United States to detect and locate seismic events in the Southern Hemisphere.
Past experience has clearly demonstrated that the TEGs will continue to fail each winter resulting in long seismic data outages. (A history of TEG failures at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell for 1991 through 1996 is at Appendix A). These failures will continue to have a detrimental impact on AFTAC’s ability to fully accomplish its nuclear treaty monitoring mission as required by Presidential directives. As a result, AFTAC proposes to procure, fabricate, test, and install two hybrid power systems with environmental enclosures to replace the aging and unreliable TEGs currently used for remote unattended operations. These systems will include JP8 (hereafter referred to as diesel) -fueled generators (gensets), battery banks, photovoltaic (solar) arrays, and a wind turbine that will greatly enhance the reliability of these sites, thus reducing or eliminating the gaps in collection and transmission of Southern Hemisphere seismic data to AFTAC.
3.1 Lake Vanda Site
The Lake Vanda seismic station is located along the northern edge of Wright Valley (77.5169S 161.8513E) near the entrance to Bull Pass. Currently, there are two shelters located at the site, the S-078 equipment shelter and a personnel shelter (see Appendix B). The area directly between the S-078 and personnel shelters is fairly level, comprised of exposed bedrock with small pockets of loose gravel, and contains adequate space for the proposed new equipment shelter (see Appendix C).
3.2 Mt. Newell Repeater Site
The Mt. Newell repeater site is located 20 kilometers to the east of Lake Vanda, situated on the easterly summit of the mountain at an elevation of 1951 meters. Currently, there are four separate equipment shelters plus one personnel shelter spread out in an East-West configuration along the ridge line (see Appendix D). Only two equipment shelters, S-078 and the NZ Telecom Repeater Shelter, are active with the other two standing vacant subject to removal. The personnel shelter is currently used for visiting operations and maintenance personnel and its continued presence is required. The area between the existing S-078 repeater shelter and the NZ Telecom Repeater Shelter has been selected for the proposed new equipment shelter (see Appendix E). It is on level terrain, consisting of one to four inches of loose surface soil over solid rock, with an unobstructed line-of-sight capability between McMurdo Sound and Lake Vanda.
4.1 Equipment Removed
The current power systems at both Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell consist of one propane-powered thermal electric generator, one propane tank, and one environmental shelter of frame and plywood construction. Each of these items will be removed and replaced under this power system upgrade program. The Contractor will determine the appropriate disposition for all equipment rendered obsolete, ship reusable items to the AFTAC Subsurface Depot Logistics Support (ASDLS) depot, and properly dispose of remaining items in accordance with applicable regulations.
4.2 Equipment Installed
Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell will each receive a new hybrid power system to replace removed equipment. Lake Vanda’s suite of equipment will consist of a new environmental shelter, two diesel-fueled generators, each with its own fuel tank, one solar array consisting of two banks of photovoltaic cells, one stack of eight lead calcium battery cells, and an automatic fire suppression subsystem. Mt. Newell’s power system will consist of a new environmental shelter, one diesel-fueled generator with fuel tank, one solar array consisting of two banks of photovoltaic cells, one wind generator, six stacks of lead calcium batteries (36 battery cells), and the automatic fire suppression subsystem. Details of each of these items and their environmental impact are listed below.
4.2.1 Environmental Shelter
Description: The modular environmental shelters to be placed at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell, built by Bally Building, Inc., are of similar construction. The shelter at Lake Vanda will be 25' long, 11'7" wide, and 10'10" high including the steel skid on which it is constructed. Mt. Newell's shelter will have similar dimensions except for length, which will be 37 feet. The deck frame will sit on anchor plates (12 at Lake Vanda, 16 at Mt. Newell) fastened to the outside, long-dimension beams. The anchor plates can be fastened directly to the bedrock with rock anchor bolts, two per plate, or have guy cables anchored to bedrock that extend over the top of the shelter to hold it in place. Where necessary, steel shims will be used for leveling. Each shelter will be equipped with an environmental system comprised of heating and ventilation subsystems. The heating subsystem will include air-to-air diesel-fired heaters, diesel-fired engine coolant heaters, backup electrical resistance heaters, and passive heat emitted by the electronics and battery banks. The ventilation subsystem will include active louvers and fans in both the partition wall and in the shelter end wall of the generator room. The louvers in the shelter end wall are designed to vent engine air exhaust, diesel exhaust, and shelter air exhaust to the surrounding atmosphere.
Environmental Impact: The building will be pre-fabricated on steel skids prior to delivery, thus minimizing construction residue at the site. The steel skid and vertical framework, both of which provide structural support, are designed to meet wind-loading requirements. The anchor plates and shims mentioned above will sit directly on rock surfaces. Because both Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell are subject to typical Antarctic weather conditions, good earth anchoring will necessitate drilling into the bedrock, regardless of which anchoring approach is chosen.
4.2.2 Generator Subsystem (including fuel subsystem)
Description: The Mt. Newell generator subsystem will consist of a Lister-Petter model LPW2-58, two cylinder, direct injection, water-cooled diesel engine; a Marathon Electric 7kW generator; a 150-gallon diesel fuel tank; an Espar model D5W diesel-fueled engine block heater, and associated control mechanisms. This subsystem will act as a secondary (backup) power source at both stations. The generator will activate when the battery bank requires recharging and provide operational power during the recharging process. When the battery bank is fully recharged or the primary power system (wind or solar) generates sufficient energy to both recharge the batteries and provide operational power, the genset will shut off.
Environmental Impact: The water-cooled diesel generator set selected for this project was designed for cold weather starting, low fuel consumption, and low emission characteristics. The diesel engine is equipped with an internal crankcase breather designed to reduce exhaust emissions. The engine and generator will be close-coupled and mounted on a strong, fabricated steel base. This base will in turn be mounted to the top of a 150-gallon diesel fuel tank that has been designed to comply with all appropriate Antarctic environmental codes. The fuel tank is of double-walled steel construction to minimize the chances of fuel leakage and is equipped with a fuel leak alarm. Each fuel tank will be placed in a 14" x 66" x 78" fuel pan with the capacity to hold all 150 gallons of diesel fuel if a spillage of such magnitude should occur. Espar’s D5W coolant heater was selected because of its low fuel and power consumption characteristics and its capability to facilitate easier starts of the Lister-Petter diesel engine, thus reducing emissions from excessive idling. Fuel consumption, and therefore exhaust emissions, will also be substantially decreased by the use of renewable energy inputs and, in the case of Mt. Newell, the addition of National Science Foundation (NSF) electronic equipment one year after the power upgrade system has been installed. At Mt. Newell, the heat generated by the increased electronic load of NSF equipment will reduce fuel consumption required for heating from an estimated 178 to 58 gallons per year. With renewable energy input, the amount of fuel required for diesel charging of the battery banks or simply exercising the diesel will be reduced from 680 to 12 gallons per year. Lake Vanda will use approximately 103 gallons per year for heating and the use of renewable energy will reduce fuel consumption for diesel charging/exercising from 165 to 91 gallons per year. To ensure the serviceability of the supplies as well as to preclude any damage to the environment the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, adopted a set of standard operating procedures for placement, management, and removal of materials, including fuels, that are cached at field locations. These procedures apply to all activities associated with the United States Antarctic Program. These procedures are found in Appendix F.
4.2.3 Station Battery
Description: The Deka UNIGY II recyclable battery cells chosen for Mt. Newell and Lake Vanda are manufactured by East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. and designed to meet Seismic Zone 4 standards. The Lake Vanda system will consist of eight battery modules in one stack. The Mt. Newell system will consist of 36 modules in six stacks. The primary purpose of the battery banks is to maintain mission operations during periods of low light and windless conditions. The Lake Vanda battery bank is sized to provide a minimum of ten continuous days of power, with summer loading, before requiring a recharge. Mt. Newell’s battery bank has been sized for six continuous days of power.
Environmental Impact: The positive plates of these cells, constructed of a lead-tin alloy, are designed to exhibit slower plate growth than calcium alloys. East Penn couples this feature with a collapsible element support beneath the plate groups in the bottom of a cell to accommodate plate expansion as the battery ages. This design minimizes the risk of cell leakage by allowing expansion without damage to plates, covers, jar-to-cover seal, or post seals. It also helps prevent shock damage to the cell during transport and installation. Post seals have been tested to 176 F (80 C) for 1000 hours to guarantee seal integrity against leaks. Tests are conducted on 100% of the seals prior to release from the factory by submerging the cells in liquid and applying internal pressure to the seals. The safety valve has been equipped with a flame arrestor to prevent the possibility of external sparks entering the cell. The battery banks will be used in a "cycle charge" configuration which should result in an approximate 10 year life expectancy.
4.2.4 Solar Subsystem
Description: The solar arrays installed at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell will use 50-55 watt solar modules manufactured by Siemons Solar Industries. They will, along with the wind generator at Mt. Newell, be the primary source of power during summer months for the operational equipment and for charging the battery bank. The expected service life of these modules is over 20 years.
Environmental Impact: Mt. Newell and Lake Vanda will be equipped with solar arrays for the purpose of augmenting the power generation capability of the fossil-fueled genset. As such, by reducing the operating time of the diesel genset and thus the venting of diesel exhaust gasses to the atmosphere, this project’s use of solar energy will significantly diminish any negative environmental impact from exhaust emissions.
4.2.5 Wind Turbine
Description: The North Wind HR3 wind turbine to be installed at Mt. Newell is designed to supply up to 1000 watts of continuous power when wind speeds average at least 14-15 mph. This subsystem will be the primary source of power during the winter months. North Wind systems have a proven track record of success in extreme climates, having been in use since 1985 by the NSF at Black Island, Antarctica. Design life of the HR3 subsystem is 25 years.
Environmental Impact: The addition of wind-generated electrical power to this system will, in combination with the use of solar energy, result in a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels at Mt. Newell. The North Wind HR3 wind turbine is specifically designed to complement photovoltaic arrays and fossil-fueled generators at sites where installation, fueling, operation, and maintenance costs of alternative sources of power are high. Rock anchoring will be used to fasten the wind turbine tower to bedrock. The base plate of the tower will sit on a rock anchor pin to keep it from moving, and guy wires will radiate to three rock anchors 120 apart, at least 32 feet from the center pin.
4.2.6 Fire Suppression Subsystem
Description: Mt. Newell and Lake Vanda will be equipped with automated carbon dioxide fire suppression systems manufactured by Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.
Environmental Impact: The carbon dioxide will be stored in steel cylinders as a liquid under pressure. When applied to a fire, it will provide a blanket of heavy gas to reduce the oxygen content of the atmosphere to a point where combustion becomes impossible. The expended gas will dissipate into the atmosphere and leave no residue. The gas storage cylinders also have passed 5000 psi and leakage tests and 500 cycle operation tests.
4.3 Duration
Due to the remote locations and extreme weather of Mt. Newell and Lake Vanda, the power systems must achieve the highest possible levels of reliability and maintainability. As a result, the power system upgrade described in this assessment is designed to operate continuously throughout its projected twenty year system life.
5.1 Site Deactivation
The Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell seismic data collection and communications relay sites are pre-existing components of the AFTAC Southern Network and were precisely geolocated for Southern Hemisphere coverage. For both seismological research and monitoring purposes, the ideal situation for global coverage would mean one station every 4x106 km^2 which translates to a mean station spacing of about 8 of arc. This kind of coverage is not possible in the Southern Hemisphere because of the greater area of ocean relative to land. Possible sites in the Antarctic are limited further because of the extreme cold weather conditions, logistical difficulties, and general lack of support infrastructure. These circumstances mean that all pre-existing stations in the Antarctic, including Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell, are essential as seismometer sites in order to maintain adequate U.S. nuclear treaty monitoring mission coverage of the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, this is not an acceptable option.
5.2 Replacement with Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG)
Current Antarctic Treaty Regulations prohibit the introduction of any additional RTG type power generating sources in the Antarctic.
5.3 No Action
The propane-fueled Thermoelectric Generators will continue to fail each winter resulting in long seismic data outages. (A history of TEG failures at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell for 1991 through 1996 is at Appendix A). These failures will continue to have a detrimental impact on AFTAC’s ability to fully accomplish its nuclear treaty monitoring mission as required by Presidential directives.
5.4 Alternatives Summary
There is no acceptable alternative to replacing the existing power systems at Lake Vanda and Mt. Newell with new hybrid systems in the same locations. Failure to do so will result in continued extended outages from power failures. The resulting gaps in the ability to detect and locate seismic events in the Southern Hemisphere will have a serious impact on the U.S. nuclear treaty monitoring mission.
6.1 Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects from this project are expected to be associated with the actual construction process. This includes the generation of dust from the drilling of bedrock for earth anchoring as well as helicopter deliveries. The Contractor will be required to remove all construction materials at the conclusion of the construction process.
6.2 Long-Term Effects
The Long-term effects resulting from this program are associated primarily with the benefits to the U.S. nuclear treaty monitoring mission derived from minimizing station outages. The integrity of the environmental shelter will be checked frequently and repaired as necessary to prevent deterioration and subsequent wind-blown releases to the environment. No negative long-term impacts are anticipated.
The majority of the work under this program will be accomplished by the ASDLS subcontractor, Northern Power Systems, Inc. They are responsible for the fabrication, systems engineering, integration, and testing of the two power systems. This company is highly experienced in delivering reliable hybrid power systems for remote high latitude locations.
Materials used in the power upgrade system present few, if any, environmental hazards as defined by current industry standards and applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations.
The proposed alternative power system will not utilize propane, perhaps the primary problem associated with failures of the current TEG, but rather JP-8 (diesel) fuel with superior cold weather performance. Additionally, the hybrid nature of the system will provide advantages. Renewable, environmentally safe energy (solar during summer months and wind year-round at Mt. Newell) will provide the primary source for power generation. The genset will serve as the secondary or tertiary power source. Sole reliance on the genset will likely occur only in the winter during prolonged windless periods.
The power system upgrade described in this document is not a major federal action that would have a significant effect on the human environment, within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The action is not one which would have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, within the meaning of the NSF’s implementing regulations for the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Therefore an environmental impact statement and/or a comprehensive environmental evaluation will not be prepared.
APPENDIX A: Antarctic TEG Outages (VNDA) 1991-1996
Year Station Month Outage Occurred Result 1991 Old TEG Lake Vanda June Five Month Outage 1992 New TEG Lake Vanda
Mt. Newell May
June Six Month Outage
Four Month Outage 1993 Lake Vanda
Mt. Newell October
April One Month Outage
Seven Month Outage 1994 Lake Vanda
Mt. Newell All Year*
June Five Month Outage 1995 Lake Vanda
Mt. Newell August
All Year* Three Month Outage 1996 Lake Vanda
Mt. Newell April
All Year* Seven Month Outage * "All Year" indicates that the TEG operated as required for the full year without failure.
Vice Commander