TRACKING# MCDV9700.R02

RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (ROER)

Background Information

Stage of Action: Initial Decision ___ SIP _X_ Revised Scope ___ In-the-field change ___

Group sponsoring activity (i.e.; event #, proposal #, WBS#) S-084 (OPP95-27571)_______________

Scope/type of activity (i.e.; geology, tower relocation, traverse) GPS Monument sites, rock drilling and emplacement of steel tubes throughout Dry Valleys, Ross Island, and McMurdo Sound region

Principal contact(s) P.I.: Ian Whillans Ohio State Univ. & Larry Hothem USGS

Activity location(s) complete listing of projected sites is attached, will be updated following deployment

Intensity and Scope

Duration of activity (approximate dates): Austral Summers 1996 through 1998

Activity will occur in an area with special environmental and/or scientific management standards? Yes _X_ No ___

If yes, the site is located in: ____________________________ sector of the South Pole Station.
Taylor, Wright, Allan Hills, + area of the Dry Valleys
near Crozier, Beaufort and Franklin (name) rookery
____________________________ (name) SSSI or SPA
____________________________ (name) other special area

Is the activity consistent with current operations or long-range plans in terms of size, personnel, and/or footprint?
Yes _X_ No ___

Are complex, cumulative, large-scale, or irreversible effects likely? Yes ___ No _X_

Is activity likely to preclude or conflict with other foreseeable activities? Yes ___ No _X_

Activity is expected to create no significant (positive or negative) effects on the following environments/resources:
air _X_ aquatic _X_ marine _X_ terrestrial _X_ glacial _X_ historic _X_ aesthetic _X_

Are there EMI or EMR issues associated with this project? Yes ___ No _X_

Environmental Documentation

ACA permit required for: Flora/Fauna ___ SSSI/SPA ___ Not required _X_

Activity fits into a category of exclusion Yes _X_ No ___
If yes, which one? Small scale collection of geological _X_ and/or biological specimen ___
Routine, laboratory-based research ___
Seismic research utilizing explosives ___
Renovation and/or remodeling of existing facilities ___
Deployment of retrievable instrumentation ___
Use of weather/research balloons ___
Use of radioisotopes (in compliance with applicable laws) ___

If no, is additional assessment required? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, for which activities?__________________________________________________________

Do existing environmental document(s) adequately describe likely effects? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, list file name(s) of environmental document(s): __________________________________________

This Environmental Review was prepared by: Kristin Larson, OPP Contractor Env. Compliance Date: 10/4/96
Signature Block
This Environmental Review for the stage of the action cited on line one is adequate for the action to proceed as noted.
Yes ___ Yes, with mitigation (attached) _X_ No ___

If no, why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Responsible Official: Date:
s/ S. Borg Program Manager Antarctic Geology and Geophysics 10/4/96
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

To: File for S-084/ Grant No. OPP 95-27571

From: R. Cunningham & K. Larson, Environmental Compliance

Date: 4 October 1996

RE: Mitigation for ROER: S-084/Whillans

In reference to the Record of Environmental Review (ROER), the measures listed below should be observed by the field team while undertaking the proposed activity. Observance of the listed mitigation will ensure that the proposed activity is one that fits into the category of exclusion for small scale collection of geological specimen and creates less than minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.

  1. Placement and securing of the GPS monuments and antenna bases should be accomplished with assistance from USGS personnel. By employing experienced support personnel, there is a reduced likelihood of equipment loss and release to the environment.

  2. At the completion of the project, all non-native materials should be removed, and the site returned to near natural conditions.

  3. The location coordinates of all monuments must be reported to the ASA POC at the conclusion of each field season for inclusion in a Dry Valleys environmental database.

  4. The Principal Investigator should take reasonable steps to ensure that this activity is conducted in such a manner as to not compromise or preclude existing or foreseeable scientific investigations in the region.

  5. The project should be accomplished in accordance with the Dry Valleys Code of Conduct, adopted for the 1996-97 field season.
Stations for Rock Deformation Network S-084

Column:
ACount of numbers of prime stations (excluding microfootprints)
BIndication of whether photos exist at OSU (if No, Larry to bring some in August)
CName of site
DElevation
EName of a nearby planned NZ occupation

A B
C
D E
0 Arrival Heights
Radarsat, Ross Is77-52 S, 166-37 E 		100 IGS station, MCM4
volcanic
1 Arrival Heights
Radarsat, Ross Is77-52 S, 166-37 E 		100 Training practice
?CORS? station adjacent
volcanic
2 Bratina Is78-07 S, 165-20 E
off Brown Peninsula 		old footprint
volcanic 		BRAT
3 Mt. Heine78-05 S, 167-25 E
White Island 		old footprint
volcanic 		HEIN
4 Marble Point77-25 S, 163-52 E old footprint
marble, diorite
Paul Berkman installed two Bevis pins near here
and one in the cement collar around a drill stem
in Explorer's cove - they can be part of microfootprint 		WALT
5 Cape Roberts77-02 S, 163-05 E old footprint
site for continuous tracking?
granitoid 		ROBE
6 Cape Royds77-32 S, 166-07 E
Ross Island 		old footprint
volcanic 		ROYD
DANA
7 Mt. Fleming77-35 S, 160-10 E
above U.Wright Glacier 		2000 flat top/dolerite & quartzite
At far limit of rock exposure, north of suspected fault, good site
8 Mt. Dewitt, or77-12 S, 160-00 E
Robison Peak
head of MacKay Glacier 		2000 south of MacKay Gl fault
and near western limit mountains
dolerite & Beacon sandstone
9 Allan Hills, or76-40 S, 159-35 E
Coomba Hills, or
Carapace Nunatak 		2000 north of MacKay Gl fault
and near western limit rock outcrop
dolerite, Beacon, Kirkpatrick Basalt
10 next to77-43 S, 164-00 E
Herbertson Glacier 		1000 foothills of Royal Soc range, frost-shattered granite NH-1
11 Hobbs Peak77-53 S, 164-00 E 1500 this and Herbertson span the Blue Glacier fault
12 The Pyramid78-21 S, 163-30 E
next to Koettlitz Glacier 		815 south of Radian lineament (fault?)
granitoid
13 Mt. Crean77-55 S, 159-30 E 2500 west of Royal Society Range,
at far distance, Beacon SS, Ferrar Dolerite
14 Minna Bluff78-40 S, 167-00 E at edge of region of exposed rock
volcanic
15 Beaufort Island76-55 S, 167-00 E 500 at edge of rock exposure
volcanic
16 Franklin Island76-10 S, 168-20 E 300 available outcrop within Victoria Land
rift basin, volcanic
19 Cape Crozier77-30 S, 169-10 E
Ross Island 		avoid specially protected,
area, extreme limit exposure
volcanic 		POST
20 Cape Bird77-12 S, 166-20 E
Ross Island 		extreme limit for tilt isld
volcanic 		BIRD
21 Ant Hill on78-46 S, 161-30 E
west side of Skelton Gl 		1300 far side of Skelton Gl fault
marble, schist
22 Fishtail Point,78-40 S, 162-00 E
or Cocks Block,
east of Skelton Gl 		800 near side of Skelton Gl fault
granite or marbles
23 Neve Nunatak78-17 S, 161-00 E
head of Skelton Gl 		1700 far point for helicopter range
dolerite Go farther with TO?
(A better choice would be outcrops on the
west edge of Skelton Neve, which are much
farther west, and easily accessible by
Twin Otter, and even potentially by helo
depending on load).
24 not selected76-20 S, 163-00 E
on coast north of Granite Harbour 		0 northern extreme
25 not yet selected, 76-00 S
farther north still 		0
26 Scott Base77-50 S, 166-50 E 50 Italy / NZ station SBAS
27 Allan Hills Ice Sites

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