XXVI ATCM Working Paper WP-002-NZ Agenda Item: IV CEP 4a NEW ZEALAND Original: English DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (CEE) FOR ANDRILL McMurdo Sound Portfolio Madrid, 9/20 de junio 2003 ANDRILL - The McMurdo Sound Portfolio An international research effort with the participation of Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (CEE) FOR ANDRILL McMurdo Sound Portfolio Antarctica New Zealand Private Bag 4745, Christchurch Administration Building International Antarctic Centre 38 Orchard Road, Christchurch January 22, 2003 2 CONTENTS 1. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY.....................................................................................11 2. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................13 2.1 What is ANDRILL?...............................................................................................13 2.2 The CEE process.................................................................................................15 2.2.1 What is a CEE and why is it needed?....................................................15 2.2.2 Process for preparing the Draft CEE .....................................................15 3. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITES ..............................................................17 2.1 Purpose and Need...............................................................................................17 3.1.1 Scientific justification..............................................................................17 3.1.1.1. Generic Science Themes and Objectives .............................19 3.2 Locations .............................................................................................................21 3.2.1 Why drill in McMurdo Sound?................................................................21 3.2.2 Drill sites ................................................................................................23 3.3 Duration ...............................................................................................................30 3.4 Nature and Intensity of the proposed activity.......................................................32 3.4.1 Overview................................................................................................32 3.4.2 Drilling Activities.....................................................................................34 3.4.2.1. Main steps in the drilling operation........................................34 3.4.2.2. Drilling Platforms ...................................................................34 3.4.2.3. Hot Water Drill.......................................................................36 3.4.2.4. Multipurpose Drill Rig ............................................................37 3.4.2.5. Sea Riser ..............................................................................37 3.4.2.6. Cementing.............................................................................41 3.4.2.7. Soft sediment coring .............................................................41 3.4.2.8. Drill fluid or 'mud' systems.....................................................41 3.4.2.9. Pressure control ....................................................................43 3.4.2.10. Downhole logging..................................................................44 3.4.2.11. Recovery of casing, sea riser................................................45 3.4.2.12. Explosives .............................................................................46 3.4.2.13. Core Management and Processing.......................................46 3.4.3 Camp activities.......................................................................................48 3.4.3.1. Overview of Camp Operations ..............................................48 3.4.4 Personnel...............................................................................................55 3.4.4.1. Shift operations .....................................................................56 3.4.5 Water supply..........................................................................................56 3.4.5.1. Sea ice ..................................................................................56 3.4.5.2. Ice shelf.................................................................................57 3.4.6 Waste.....................................................................................................57 3.4.6.1. Solid Waste ...........................................................................57 3.4.6.2. Liquid Waste .........................................................................57 3.4.7 Fuel management..................................................................................61 3.4.7.1. Fuel types..............................................................................61 3.4.7.2. Bulk fuel containment............................................................61 3.4.7.3. Daily fuel supply storage .......................................................62 3.4.7.4. Fuel usage ............................................................................62 3.4.7.5. Fuel handling procedures......................................................66 3.4.7.6. Lubricants..............................................................................66 3.4.8 Energy and emissions............................................................................68 3.4.8.1. Energy...................................................................................68 3.4.8.2. Emissions..............................................................................68 3.4.9 Transport................................................................................................70 3.4.9.1. Helicopter operations ............................................................70 3.4.9.2. Ship operations .....................................................................70 3.4.9.3. Vehicle operations.................................................................70 3 3.4.9.4. Roading requirements and site preparation ..........................71 3.4.9.5. Mobilisation ...........................................................................71 3.4.10 On site science ......................................................................................71 3.4.11 Storage areas ........................................................................................72 3.5 Alternatives ..........................................................................................................78 3.5.1 Alternative of not proceeding .................................................................78 3.5.2 Alternative regions .................................................................................78 3.5.3 Alternative locations and drill sites.........................................................78 3.5.4 Timing Alternatives ................................................................................79 3.5.5 Alternative drilling systems ....................................................................80 3.5.5.1. Alternative antifreeze fluids ...................................................80 3.5.6 Alternative Camp Operations.................................................................80 3.5.6.1. Alternative Storage areas......................................................80 3.5.6.2. Human waste alternatives.....................................................81 4. DESCRIPTION OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATE.............................................84 4.1 The Regional Setting ...........................................................................................84 4.2 Description of Environment at each of the four locations ....................................85 4.2.1 Weather and climate..............................................................................85 4.2.1.1. Wind ......................................................................................86 4.2.1.2. Temperatures........................................................................91 4.2.2 Terrestrial biota and soils.......................................................................95 4.2.2.1. Soils ......................................................................................95 4.2.2.2. Terrestrial biota .....................................................................95 4.2.3 Marine biota ...........................................................................................97 4.2.3.1. Benthic communities .............................................................97 4.2.3.2. Marine Birds ..........................................................................98 4.2.3.3. Marine Mammals.................................................................100 4.2.4 Ice and snow........................................................................................101 4.2.4.1. Sea Ice ................................................................................101 4.2.4.2. Ice Shelves..........................................................................102 4.2.5 Bathymetry; tides and currents ............................................................103 4.2.5.1. Circulation pattern of the south western Ross Sea .............103 4.2.6 History of human activities...................................................................106 4.2.7 Protected areas and other values........................................................108