Proposed Construction and Operation of a New Chinese Research Station, Victoria Land, Antarctica DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION January 2014 Polar Research Institute of China Tongji University Contents CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................................................... 1 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 2 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Purpose of a new station in Victoria Land................................................................................................... 9 1.2 History of Chinese Antarctic activities ...................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Scientific programs for the new station ..................................................................................................... 18 1.4 Preparation and submission of the Draft CEE ........................................................................................... 22 1.5 Laws, standards and guidelines ................................................................................................................. 22 1.5.1 International laws, standards and guidelines ................................................................................. 23 1.5.2. Chinese laws, standards and guidelines ....................................................................................... 23 1.6 Project management system ...................................................................................................................... 24 1.7 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 25 2. Description of Proposed Activity ......................................................................................... 29 2.1 Scope ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 2.2 Location .................................................................................................................................................... 29 2.3 Follow-up site selection ............................................................................................................................ 31 2.4 Principal characteristics of proposed activities ......................................................................................... 31 2.4.1 General specification of the station ............................................................................................... 32 2.4.2 Materials and personnel required .................................................................................................. 33 2.4.3 The mode of transport ................................................................................................................... 35 2.4.4 Medical security system ................................................................................................................ 38 2.5. Station construction and operation plan ................................................................................................... 38 2.5.1 Principles for design and construction .......................................................................................... 39 2.5.2 Station layout ................................................................................................................................ 40 2.5.3 Scale and functional zoning .......................................................................................................... 44 2.5.4 Fuel storage system ....................................................................................................................... 49 2.5.5 Water supply system ..................................................................................................................... 50 2.5.6 Waste water treatment and grey water recycling system ............................................................... 53 2.5.7 Hybrid Solar- Wind-Diesel power supply system ......................................................................... 56 2.5.8 Heating and ventilation system ..................................................................................................... 63 2.5.9 Structure and foundation ............................................................................................................... 69 2.5.10 Emergency facilities ................................................................................................................... 71 2.5.11 Special machineries .................................................................................................................... 72 2.5.12 Floating dock design and operation ............................................................................................ 73 2.5.13 Test and acceptance .................................................................................................................... 77 2.5.14 Transportation during construction period .................................................................................. 77 2.5.15 Engineering work in situ ............................................................................................................. 78 2.5.16 Upgradeability ............................................................................................................................ 78 2.5.17 Archive management .................................................................................................................. 78 2.5.18 Decommission of the station ....................................................................................................... 78 2.5.19 Objectives of minimum environmental impact ........................................................................... 79 2.6 Area of disturbance ................................................................................................................................... 80 2.6.1 Operation area ............................................................................................................................... 80 2.6.2 Duration and intensity of the construction .................................................................................... 80 2.6.3 Measures in line with standards .................................................................................................... 80 2.7 Waste collection and disposal system ....................................................................................................... 81 2.7.1 Waste sorting ................................................................................................................................ 81 2.7.2 Fuel drums .................................................................................................................................... 83 2.7.3 Hazardous wastes.......................................................................................................................... 83 3. Alternatives to the Proposed Activity .................................................................................. 84 3.1. No-action Alternative ............................................................................................................................... 84 3.2. Alternative locations around Ross Sea region .......................................................................................... 85 3.2.1 Description of proposed location 1 in the Oates Coast region ...................................................... 86 3.2.2 Description of proposed location 2 near Terra Nova Bay of Victoria Land .................................. 88 3.2.3 Description of proposed location 3 near the Cape Berks of Marie Byrd Land .............................. 89 3.2.4 Comparison of the proposed three locations ................................................................................. 90 3.3. Alternative sites on Inexpressible Island near Terra Nova Bay of Victoria Land ..................................... 91 3.4. Alternative designs ................................................................................................................................... 96 3.4.1 Alternative designs of layout ........................................................................................................ 96 3.4.2 Exterior designs ............................................................................................................................ 97 3.5. Transport alternatives ............................................................................................................................... 99 3.5.1 Air plus land transportation ......................................................................................................... 100 3.5.2 Marine plus land transportation .................................................................................................. 100 3.5.3 Evaluation of means of Transportation Alternatives ................................................................... 100 3.6. Wind turbine alternatives ....................................................................................................................... 101 3.7. Alternative waste management plans ....................................................................................................