Initial Environmental Evaluation
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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION For Ship-Based Tourism to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands October 2007-March 2012 Update August 2008 Multi-Year Document 1 Initial Environmental Evaluation for Ship-Based Tourism to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands October 2007 – March 2012 Update August 2008 Multi-Year Document CONTENTS OF IEE 1. CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................................... 6 2. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 7 2.1 Ship Operations and Insurance Provisions ............................................ In addition, the M.S. National Geographic Endeavour and National Geographic Explorer will also carry kayaks and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). ................ 8 2.2 Description of the Proposed Activity ................................................. 2.3 Alternatives ...................................................................... 2.4 Assessment of Potential Impacts ..................................................... 2.5 Minimization and Mitigation ....................................................... 2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................... 3. BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Scope of the Evaluation ............................................................. 3.2 Brief Company Descriptions ......................................................... 3.3 Ship Specifications ................................................................. 4. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Proposed Itineraries ................................................................ 4.2 Purpose and Value of Antarctic Tourism .............................................. 4.3 Location and Duration .............................................................. 4.5 Description of Proposed Activity ..................................................... 4.5.1 “At Sea” ................................................................................................................................ 15 4.5.2 Landing Operations and Site Selection ................................................................................. 15 4.6 Sub-Antarctic Islands -- South Georgia and the Falkland Islands ........................................... 18 4.7 Opportunistic Landings ............................................................................................................ 18 5. ALTERNATIVES TO PROPOSED ACTIVITY ................................................................. 19 5.1 Changes to Itinerary ................................................................ 5.2 Changes to Sites Visited ............................................................. 5.3 Changes to Number of Passengers .................................................... 5.4 Changes to Vessel Used ............................................................. 5.5 Changes to Zodiac or Small Boat Usage ................................................................................. 20 5.6 Alternative of Not Proceeding with Cruise Program ................................... 2 6. POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY ..................................................... 21 6.1 Affected Environment .............................................................. 2 6.2 Ship Operations ................................................................... 6.3 Passenger Activities Offshore and Zodiac and Small Boat Touring .......... 22 6.4 Passenger Activities Ashore .......................................................... 6.5 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................ 6.5.3 Ship Operations ..................................................................................................................... 29 6.5.4 Passenger Activities Offshore ............................................................................................... 29 6.5.5 Passenger Activities Ashore ................................................................................................. 29 6.5.6 Indirect and Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 30 7. MINIMIZATION AND MITIGATION ................................................................................ 32 7.2 Standard Operating Procedures ...................................................... 7.3 Itinerary Planning and Management .................................................. 7.4 Education and Experience of Staff .................................................... 7.5 Education of Passengers............................................................. 7.6 Landings ......................................................................... 7.7 Coordination of Vessels ............................................................. 7.8 Ship Operations ................................................................... 7.8.1 Oil and Oily Mixtures ........................................................................................................... 39 7.8.2 Garbage ................................................................................................................................. 39 7.8.3 Sewage .................................................................................................................................. 40 7.8.4 Ballast ................................................................................................................................... 41 7.8.5 Stack Emissions .................................................................................................................... 41 7.8.6 Avoidance of Harmful Interference with Biota .................................................................... 41 8. ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION ................................................................................ 42 9. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 42 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. 44 There are two types of Appendices. Section 11 includes those appendices attached to this document. Section 12 includes those appendices that will be incorporated by reference referring to a website location. *Note the IAATO website will be going through changes in the next 12 months and so exact reference files are not listed because they are likely to change. ................................................... 11 Appended Documents ............................................................ 11.1 Recommendation XVIII-I (1994) Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic ... 44 11.2 Recommendation XVIII-1 (1994) Guidance for Those Organising and Conducting Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic ....................... 44 11.3 Advance Notification ............................................................. 11.4 South Orkneys and Antarctic Peninsula Region Sites ................................. 44 11.5 Criteria Used by Expedition Leaders in Itinerary Planning and Site Selection for Expedition Cruising in the Antarctica Peninsula ........................................ 11.6 Boot, Clothing and Equipment Decontamination Guidelines for Small Boat Operations ...................................................................... 11.7 IAATO Procedures Upon the Discovery of a High Mortality Event .......... 44 11.8 Potential Impacts: Ship and Voyage Matrix ............................................ 11.14 Sample Table of Contents of the ISM for vessels ....................................... 3 12 Documents Incorporated by Reference ............................................. 12.1 Post Visit Report Parts 1 and 2 will have been amended for the 2007-2008 season. (Note this is an Excel File with drop down menus and is not easily viewed as a static document. (See www.iaato.org under “Operational Procedures” on the IAATO website.) ................................................................. 12.2 IAATO Bylaws (www.iaato.org under ‘About IAATO’). .......................... 45 Advance Notification .................................................................. *Note Appendix 11.3, Advance Notification-traditional document has been superseded by the new form created by the U.S. Department of State for the 2008-09 season. The website link to this document is http://demo.cerenade.com/Cerfs/edithtml.aspx?documentname=DS- 4131&categoryname=DS&width=1014 .............................................. A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 62 B. Phase One: Planning ................................................................ C. Phase Two: Adjustments in Itineraries ................................................................................. 63 IAATO PROCEDURES UPON THE DISCOVERY OF A HIGH MORTALITY EVENT (adopted by IAATO in 2007)....................................................................................................................... 67 Information required for high mortality event report: .................................................................