Title : Collection of earth fill, McMurdo Type : Antarctic EAM NSF Org: OD / OPP Date : November 17, 1990 File : opp93011 DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS OFFICE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH 202/357-7766 MEMORANDUM Date: November 17, 1990 From: Environmental Officer, DPP Subject: Review of "Environmental Assessment for Collection (and Placement) of Earth Fill Material" To: Environmental Engineer, DPP Operations Research Analyst, DPP Environmentalist, ASA I have reviewed the memorandum, sent by the civilian support contractor's Environmentalist, requesting authorization for collection of additional earth fill materials during the 1990- 1991 research season. The request relates to my previous Environmental Action Memorandum (Blasting for, and Placement of, Fill Rock at McMurdo Station, Antarctica During the 1990-1991 Season); dated October 2, 1990 (copy attached). The request for authorization involves Program activities that can be expected to continue, and that are needed to provide appropriate Program support. The four areas being considered for fill gathering all have been disturbed by similar activity in the past, and do not exhibit any significant assemblages of antarctic wildlife. On page 3 of the Environmentalist's memorandum the total amount of fill material to be collected is stated as 7,500 cubic yards (5,000 cubic yards for road maintenance; and 2,500 cubic yards for ice pier maintenance). An attachment to that memorandum lists other projects requiring fill materials (i.e., hazardous waste yard; installation of new fuel tanks; berming of existing fuel tanks; placement of stanchions for fuel tanks, cover material for Fortress Rock Landfill; and, rebuilding areas behind dormitories). How much additional, new material will be needed to accomplish these projects? Total amounts to accomplish these projects should be listed in your request for authorization. A singular feature of the U.S. Antarctic Program's policy to limit collection of fill materials devolves from prior assessment as well as capture of relevant information about fill collection activities. See page 1, paragraph 2, item 3 of the attached environmental action memorandum. That memorandum also states that, "The Operations Research Analyst, DPP, shall compile pertinent information on this activity in a "local fill collection database" to inform future authorizations and decisionmaking as instructed by Safety, Environment and Health Program Policy Memorandum 90-2 (October 1, 1990)." Has such a database yet been set up, and has information relevant to the first authorization been captured in that database. This database may take any form that is most useful to the Program and its contractors (e.g., spreadsheet, database manager, or log book). Of course, electronic capture of this information is preferred. I will re-evaluate your request for this authorization when the questions of total amounts of fill needed and the employment of a capture database are satisfied. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact me. I believe that the plan to solely re-landscape previously, but not currently, disturbed areas is an appropriate approach to mitigitation of aesthetic impacts caused by past scraping. Sidney Draggan cc: Safety, Environment and Health Officer, DPP