ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS ADVENTURE NETWORK INTERNATIONAL Environmental Documentation Union Glacier 2013-14 Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC Adventure Network International Inc 3478 South Main Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 USA Tel: +1 (801) 266 4876 Fax: +1 (801) 266 1592 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.antarctic-logistics.com E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.adventure-network.com ALE Environmental Documentation Union Glacier, 2013 January 2014 Update Contents Multi-Year IEE of Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions Activities-2013 Update ................ 3 Vehicle Expedition to Leverett Glacier Supplementary Information 2013 ................. 77 Fuel Caching by Airdrop Supplementary Information 2013 ..................................... 83 National Science Foundation Waste Management Permit Application ...................... 90 WMP ACA 2011-WM-002 M1............................................................................... 101 Advance Notification .......................................................................................... 103 DOS Determination, August 21, 2013 .................................................................. 109 Cover image: Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter DHC6-300 landing at Union Glacier © Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC 2014 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC Page 2 of 109 ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS LLC Submission to the US Environmental Protection Agency Multi-Year Initial Environmental Evaluation of Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions Activities 2013 Update v3 ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS LLC 3478 South Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 USA Tel: +1 (801) 266 4876 Fax: +1 (801) 266 1592 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.antarctic-logistics.com Page 3 of 109 ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS LLC Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions Environmental Documentation 2013 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY This Initial Environmental Evaluation is submitted by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Federal Activities, to meet the requirements of Article 8 and Annex I of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the provisions of 40 CFR Part 8, “Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica; Final Rule”. The IEE is a multi-year application, as provided in Section 8.4(e) of the Environmental Protection Agency's Final Rule at 40 CFR Part 8, and contains details of ALE’s proposed activities in Antarctica for the five year period from the 2010–11 to the 2014–15 season. Advance Notification will be provided to the US State Department and an application to the National Science Foundation for a Multi-Year Waste Management Permit will be submitted. ALE is a Member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. 1.1 Description of the Proposed Activity Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE) proposes to offer standard programs, such as South Pole Flights, Mt Vinson, Ski South Pole All the Way, Last Degree, Ski Antarctica, etc., to the tourist market, and proposes to support expeditions that wish to travel in these areas. ALE also offers support to National Operators and peer-reviewed scientific expeditions. Large transport aircraft will be used for intercontinental flights between Punta Arenas, Chile and naturally formed, blue-ice runways at the Ellsworth Mountains. Ski aircraft will be used for transport within Antarctica. 1.2 Alternatives Five alternatives to the proposed activities have been examined and assessed for their likely environmental impacts: Establishment of Permanent Facilities Changes to Itineraries Changes in Intensity and Duration of Site Visits Changes to type of aircraft and vehicles used Don't Go Alternative All these alternatives were rejected for environmental, logistic or commercial reasons. 1.3 Assessment of Potential Impacts Likely impacts resulting from the proposed activities have been assessed, including emissions to air; fuel & oil spills; domestic waste water; solid waste; noise; physical disturbance; introduction of alien species and translocation of diseases; associated and dependent ecosystems. Cumulative impacts of the proposed activities are considered. 1.4 Minimization and Mitigation Measures to minimize and mitigate adverse impacts of the proposed activities are described. Potential impacts will be minimized by strict adherence to Antarctic Treaty Measures, Resolutions and Recommendations, the U.S. Antarctic Conservation Act, and IAATO guidelines. Standard procedures have been prepared and minimization will be further enhanced by contracting qualified staff, who will receive thorough training, client briefings, low client to guide ratios, and careful monitoring. 1.5 Conclusion Direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the proposed activities and alternatives are considered. It is concluded that the proposed activities, provided minimization and mitigation measures are followed, will have no more than a minor or transitory impact upon the Antarctic environment. Page 4 of 109 ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS & EXPEDITIONS LLC Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions Environmental Documentation 2013 Contents NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Description of the Proposed Activity ................................................................................. 4 1.2 Alternatives ................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Assessment of Potential Impacts ..................................................................................... 4 1.4 Minimization and Mitigation ............................................................................................. 4 1.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 4 1. Contact Details ...................................................................................................................... 8 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Environmental Documentation ......................................................................................... 8 2.2 Consolidation of Environmental Documentation ................................................................. 8 2.3 Legislation, Standards and Guidelines............................................................................... 8 2.4 Site Coordinates and Acronyms ....................................................................................... 9 3. Proposed Activities—General Information ................................................................................. 9 3.1 Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway ........................................................................................ 9 3.2 Duration of ALE’s Activities............................................................................................ 11 3.3 Extent of ALE’s Activities ............................................................................................... 13 3.4 Operational Overview ................................................................................................... 13 3.5 Camp Overview ........................................................................................................... 14 3.6 Runways ..................................................................................................................... 16 3.7 Location of Main Activities ............................................................................................. 18 3.8 Aircraft ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.9 Flights to and from Antarctica ....................................................................................... 22 3.10 Flights within Antarctica................................................................................................ 23 3.11 Vehicles and Other Combustion Engines ......................................................................... 24 3.12 Fire safety Equipment .................................................................................................. 25 3.13 ALE’s Environmental Policy ............................................................................................ 25 3.14 Policies and Standing Procedures ................................................................................... 26 3.15 Operator versus Contractor ........................................................................................... 26 3.16 Search and Rescue, and Medical Evacuation ................................................................... 28 3.17 Fuel, Caches and Fuelling ............................................................................................. 29 3.18 Waste Collection and Disposal ....................................................................................... 30 3.19 Renewable Energy Sources ........................................................................................... 32 3.20 Compliance with Protected Areas, Management Plans and Guidelines ................................ 32 4. Clients and Staff .................................................................................................................