TRACKING# MCDV9800.R01

RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (ROER)

Background Information

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

Group sponsoring activity (i.e.; event #, proposal #, WBS#) S-042B

Scope/type of activity (i.e.; geology, tower relocation, traverse) Time Lapse Photography At Lake Hoare

Principal contact(s) Peter Doran, Principal Investigator

Activity location(s) Lake Hoare, Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Intensity and Scope

Duration of activity (approximate dates): January, 1998 to January, 1999

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.
Lake Hoare_______________ area of the Dry Valleys
____________________________ (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 ___ and/or biological specimen ___
Routine, laboratory-based research ___
Seismic research utilizing explosives ___
Renovation and/or remodeling of existing facilities ___
Deployment of retrievable instrumentation _X_
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 _X_
If yes, list file name(s) of environmental document(s): _______________________________________

This Environmental Review was prepared by: Scott Perkins, ASA Environmental EngineerDate: 12/17/97
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/ Dr. Polly Penhale January 7, 1998

TIME LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY AT LAKE HOARE

Field party members of S-042B intend to place a camera and weather sensing equipment at Lake Hoare, Taylor Valley, Antarctica. The equipment will be mounted on a tripod and will remain in place from January, 1998 until January, 1999, although it may be removed as early as mid-November, 1998. The purpose of this equipment is to provide time-lapse photographic images and complementary weather measurements. The equipment will most likely be placed on a small island near the northern shore of Lake Hoare approximately 100-150 meters from the current science camp location. There is a small chance that the equipment will instead be located on the shoreline at the western edge of the lake by the Suess Glacier.

A Sony digital video camera, Campbell data logger, wind monitor, humidity sensor, temperature sensor, heater, and two solar arrays with charge regulators will all be mounted on a tripod. The video camera will be housed in a sealed aluminum pressure chamber which in turn will be housed in a plastic, weather-proof container filled with insulation (similar to the containers currently used on the LTER meteorological stations). At the base of the tripod will be the power supply. It will consist of two 40 amp-hour and two 80 amp-hour sealed gel-cell batteries. These batteries will be housed in a wooden crate similar to those used for the LTER meteorological stations.

The camera container will be secured on top of the tripod, and the tripod securely tied down, to ensure there is no movement of the camera over the course of the year. Eyelet bolts on the camera container will be connected to three stainless steel cables which will be deadman-anchored to the ground with t-bar or similar metal rods. This will require that three T-shaped holes be dug approximately 0.3 meters deep into which the anchors will be buried and covered with rocks. At the conclusion of the project, once all equipment has been removed, these holes will all be filled in and the site returned to its original appearance.

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