Wolfs Fang Runway IEE, Appendix 2 South Pole and Atka Bay Visits IEE August 2017 APPENDIX 2 WOLFS FANG RUNWAY IEE SOUTH POLE AND ATKA BAY VISITS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AUGUST 2017 1 Wolfs Fang Runway IEE, Appendix 2 South Pole and Atka Bay Visits IEE August 2017 CONTENTS 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 2 Activities Considered ....................................................................................................... 4 3 Background ....................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Proposed changes in operations .......................................................................... 5 4 Legislative context and screening ................................................................................... 7 5 Environmental Impact Approach and Methodology ..................................................... 9 5.1 Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement .............................................................. 9 5.2 Approach ................................................................................................................. 11 6 Description of Existing Environment and Baseline Conditions ................................. 13 6.1 Study Areas, Spatial and Temporal Scope ........................................................ 13 6.2 South Pole and FD83 ................................................................................................ 14 6.2.1 Land Use South Pole .......................................................................................... 14 6.2.2 Land Use Fuel Depot Location 83 ..................................................................... 16 6.2.3 Physical Environment Region Description ....................................................... 16 6.2.4 Physical Environment South Pole ..................................................................... 17 6.2.5 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................. 18 6.2.6 Cultural/ Antarctic Heritage .............................................................................. 19 6.2.7 Wilderness and Visual Amenity ........................................................................ 19 6.2.8 Noise, Vibration and Local Air Quality ............................................................. 20 6.3 Atka Bay .................................................................................................................... 23 6.3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 23 6.3.2 Land Use ............................................................................................................ 23 6.3.3 Physical Environment Region Description ....................................................... 24 6.3.4 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................. 27 6.3.5 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................... 34 6.3.6 Wilderness and Visual Amenity ........................................................................ 34 6.3.7 Noise, Vibration and Local Air Quality ............................................................. 34 7 Analysis of potential impacts ........................................................................................... 36 7.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 36 7.2 FD83 and South Pole ................................................................................................ 37 7.2.1 Physical Environment - Snow and Ice Quality .................................................. 37 7.2.2 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................. 39 7.2.3 Cultural/ Antarctic Heritage .............................................................................. 39 7.2.4 Wilderness and Visual Amenity ........................................................................ 39 7.2.5 Noise and Vibration........................................................................................... 40 7.2.6 Local Air Quality and Atmospheric Emissions/Carbon .................................... 41 7.2.7 Environmental impact of aircraft crashes ........................................................ 42 7.2.8 Waste ................................................................................................................. 42 7.3 Atka Bay .................................................................................................................... 43 7.3.1 Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 43 7.3.2 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................. 43 2 Wolfs Fang Runway IEE, Appendix 2 South Pole and Atka Bay Visits IEE August 2017 7.3.3 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................... 46 7.3.4 Wilderness and Visual Amenity ........................................................................ 46 7.3.5 Noise and Vibration........................................................................................... 46 7.3.6 Local Air Quality and Atmospheric Emissions/Carbon .................................... 47 7.3.7 Fuels, Oils Storage and Handling ...................................................................... 48 7.3.8 Environmental impact of aircraft crashes ........................................................ 48 7.3.9 Waste ................................................................................................................. 48 8 Mitigation Measures ........................................................................................................ 49 8.1 FD83, South Pole and Atka Bay ................................................................................ 49 8.1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 49 8.1.2 Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 49 8.1.3 Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................. 50 8.1.4 Cultural/ Antarctic Heritage .............................................................................. 55 8.1.5 Wilderness and Visual Amenity ........................................................................ 56 8.1.6 Noise and Vibration........................................................................................... 57 8.1.7 Local Air Quality Atmospheric Emissions/ Carbon .......................................... 59 8.1.8 Emergency Preparedness and Response .......................................................... 60 8.1.9 Waste Management .......................................................................................... 61 8.1.10 Fuels Oils and Materials Storage and Handling Mitigation Measures ............ 63 9 Environmental Enhancement Opportunities ................................................................... 64 9.1 Removal of Redundant Equipment .......................................................................... 64 9.2 Sustainability of White Desert Operations .............................................................. 64 10 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................................................... 65 10.1 Whichaway Camp ................................................................................................. 65 10.2 Interactions with other activities ......................................................................... 68 11 Outline Environmental Management Plan ...................................................................... 68 12 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 69 13 References and BibliographyReferences and Bibliography ............................................. 70 3 Wolfs Fang Runway IEE, Appendix 2 South Pole and Atka Bay Visits IEE August 2017 1 Introduction This Appendix 2 Report has been prepared by White Desert and should be read in conjunction with the main report, Wolfs Fang Runway IEE Report. The IEE team which has completed the Appendix 2 Report comprises the following key staff: Table 1.0:IEE Report Team Position Name /Role Author Eleni Antoniades Snell Chartered Environmental Scientist EIA and Construction Environmental Management of Infrastructure White Desert Ltd Contact: [email protected] Author /Checker Stuart McFadzean Antarctic Operations Specialist Project Manager Wolfs Fang Runway, White Desert Ltd Contact: Stuart McFadzean [stuart@white- desert.com] Approver Patrick Woodhead, Director of White Desert White Desert Ltd Contact: [email protected] 2 Activities Considered White Desert is proposing to manage the delivery of a number of existing activities and logistics operations which have previously been sub-contracted to TAC. Specifically, these relate to intercontinental flights from Cape Town, South Africa to Antarctica and client visits to Atka Bay and the