Antarctica New Zealand Initial Environmental Evaluation © A Apse, Antarctica NZ Pictorial Collection: K211 07/08 Development, Management and Execution of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme 2008/09 2 | P a g e Initial Environmental Evaluation 1. Introduction 5 2. Purpose, Location and Duration 7 3. Intensity 11 Description of activity 11 Use of chemicals 11 Installations 12 Field camps and fuel depots 14 Physical sampling 16 Activities on ice-free areas 16 Antarctic Specially Managed Areas 17 4. Permits 19 Entry and activities in Antarctic Specially Protected 20 Areas 5. Description of Environmental impacts 23 Initial environmental state 23 Methods and data used to predict impacts 28 Direct impacts 28 Indirect impacts 33 Cumulative impacts 34 Evaluation of impacts 41 6. Managing Environmental Impacts 50 Monitoring programmes 50 Mitigation and remediation 53 Alternatives 58 7. Conclusion 59 8. References 60 Annexes 62 Map showing area covered by IEE A Planned events for 2008/09 season B Antarctica New Zealand Code of Conduct C Antarctic Specially Protected Area Management Plans D Antarctic Specially Managed Area Management Plans E 3 | P a g e Executive Summary Antarctica New Zealand has prepared this Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) for all non- science activities supported by Antarctica New Zealand. This IEE has been prepared in accordance with Annex I (Article 2) of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctica Treaty, and in accordance with the requirements of the New Zealand Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act, 1994. Antarctica New Zealand, in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), made the decision to change the way in which we undertake an environmental impact assessment for our non-science activities. Instead of submitting a series of separate PEEs, a single Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) for all non-science activities supported by Antarctica New Zealand was prepared for the 2007/08 season and has again been prepared for the 2008/09 season (except for the Antarctic Heritage Trust (AHT), the Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) and the Latitudinal Gradient Project (LGP)). An IEE will be submitted on an annual basis. Prior to the 2007/08 season Antarctica New Zealand looked at the potential environmental impacts of an activity on an event-by-event basis. A series of Preliminary Environmental Evaluations (PEEs) were submitted annually which created a large administrative burden and ultimately did not allow for any flexibility within the programme. An IEE allows Antarctica New Zealand to assess the impacts of activities as a whole, and allows better consideration of cumulative impacts. This enables the mitigation of the impacts of the annual programme in a more comprehensive manner. Potential impacts associated with non-science activities supported by Antarctica New Zealand include disturbance to ice free areas, emissions and the creation of dust, impacts on the aesthetic and wilderness values of Antarctica, potential chemical and fuel spills, disturbance to flora and fauna, and contamination of the marine environment. The conclusion of this IEE is that the non-science activities supported by Antarctica New Zealand in the 2008/09 season will have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the environment, provided the described mitigation and monitoring measures are implemented. 4 | P a g e 1. Introduction 1.1 Antarctica New Zealand is a Crown Entity that was established on 1 July 1996 Permit Holder under the New Zealand Antarctic Institute (NZAI) Act (1996) to develop, manage, and execute New Zealand’s activities in respect of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Antarctica New Zealand’s vision and purpose have been developed through consideration of the future of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The guiding framework is provided by Antarctica New Zealand’s statutory functions and other relevant legislation, the Government’s Revised Statement of Strategic Interest and other related Government policy decisions and directions for New Zealand involvement with Antarctica. Vision Antarctica and the Southern Ocean: valued, protected and understood. Purpose Advancing appreciation, conservation and knowledge of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean for the benefits of New Zealand and the Southern Ocean for the benefit of New Zealand and the world community through leadership, partnership, and involvement in high quality Antarctica and Southern Ocean- related activities. The Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand will be the nominated holder of the Notification/Permit in relation to this IEE. 1.2 Under the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act 1994, Antarctica New Antarctica Zealand is required to prepare an environmental impact assessment for its (Environment activities in Antarctica in support of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme. al Protection) Act 1994 Under Section 18(2) of the Act, the IEE shall contain sufficient detail to enable an assessment to be made of whether the activity may have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, and shall include the matters referred to in Article 2 (1) of Annex I to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Under section 28 of the Act, certain activities are prohibited except in accordance with a permit issued under the Act. 5 | P a g e 1.3 Article 2(1) of Annex I of the Protocol requires a description of the Annex I to the proposed activity, including its location, duration and intensity, as well as Protocol consideration of alternatives to the proposed activity and any impacts that the activity may have, including consideration of cumulative impacts in the light of existing and known planned activities. 1.4 This environmental impact assessment is intended to cover the activities Overview of related to the development, management and execution of the New Zealand activities Antarctic Programme between 26 August 2008 – 1 September 2009 in its normal areas of operation including Scott Base, stations operated by other Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, the surrounding areas, and outlying field camps. It excludes science events, which have all submitted separate EIAs to the Minister. 1.5 The activities covered under this IEE are likely to have no more than a minor Statement of or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, provided the mitigation Impact and monitoring measures are implemented. 6 | P a g e 2. Purpose, Location and Duration 2.1 Antarctica New Zealand’s objectives are defined by the functions set out in Purpose – Sections 5 and 6 of the NZAI Act (1996): NZAI Act To develop, manage, and execute New Zealand activities in respect of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular in the Ross Dependency; To maintain, and enhance the quality of New Zealand Antarctic scientific research; To co-operate with other institutions and organisations both within and outside New Zealand having objectives similar to those of the Institute. The activities covered by this Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) are in support of all of these objectives. 2.2 On 27 May 2002, Cabinet agreed to adopt the 2002 Revised Statement of 2002 Strategic Interest in Antarctica, which recorded New Zealand’s interest in Statement of maintaining a credible presence in the Ross Dependency, supporting high Strategic quality Antarctic science, and demonstrating best practice in environmental Interests stewardship. 7 | P a g e 2.3 The activities covered by this IEE therefore include: Activities under this IEE Maintaining a continuous presence in the Ross Dependency at Scott Base; Transport and logistics assistance to New Zealand Antarctic Programme events including maintenance of New Zealand programme infrastructure; Monitoring and management of environmental impacts arising from New Zealand Antarctic Programme activities; Movement of Antarctica New Zealand supported events in Antarctica for health and safety reasons, search and rescue training, activities at the invitation of other national Antarctic Programmes and for carrying out general duties; Movement of New Zealand government personnel in support of the development, management and execution of Antarctica New Zealand’s activities; and Movement of events to support scientific research, conserve the intrinsic values of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, and raise public awareness of the international significance of the continent. 2.4 The following activities are excluded from this IEE: Activities not under this IEE Events supported by New Zealand that do not support the development, management or execution of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme (individual science events are the subject of separate EIAs). Events that would normally be captured by this IEE but are of an environmental impact justifying an IEE or CEE in their own right. Expeditions and events not officially supported by the New Zealand Antarctic Programme. 8 | P a g e 2.5 This IEE covers activities carried out at the following sites (see Annex A): Location The area within a 200km radius of Scott Base (77°51S, 166°45E), including all of Ross Island, Beaufort Island, Bratina Island, Black and White Islands and the Minna Bluff area, the McMurdo Dry Valleys and Southern McMurdo Sound; The area within 100km radius of Mario Zuccelli Station (74°41.616S, 164°06.702E), including Gondwana Station and Adelie Cove; The area within a 100km of Cape Hallett (72°19S, 170°16E); The area within a 100km radius of South Pole Station (90°00S, 139°16W); The area within a 100km radius of Concordia Station (75°06S, 123°20E); and Transportation routes to and between these areas. Antarctica New Zealand non-science events will spend the majority of their time at Scott Base or in the local area of Scott Base (i.e. McMurdo Station, the Hut Point Peninsula area, the Antarctic Field Training area and two of the three runways - Pegasus and Williams Field). Travel outside the Scott Base area will be in relation to operational (including maintenance) support, science support, invited visitor trips, education, environmental and safety work, clean up work, management plan review work, observation and familiarisation, and safety and rescue training.