Title  : Human Waste Handling-Kooyman
Type   : Antarctic EAM
NSF Org: OD / OPP
Date   : June 26, 1992
File   : opp93066


                                       DIVISION OF POLAR PROGRAMS
                                        OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
                                                     202/357-7766
MEMORANDUM

   Date:  June 26, 1992

   From:  Environmental Officer, DPP

Subject:  Environmental Action Memorandum (Human Waste Handling
            by G. Kooyman's "S-026" Field Activities)

     To:  Manager, Science Projects, DPP
          Manager, Polar Biology and Medicine Program, DPP


   REFs:  Safety, Environment and Health Program Policy
            Memorandum 90-1.  Pollution Control - Handling,
            Management and Removal of Wastes from Antarctic
            Inland Locations.  October 1, 1990.

          Environmental Action Memorandum (Award No. 87-15864,
            Proposal No. 90-40685; Kooyman, G.), Dated June 27,
            1990.






The referenced Environmental Action Memorandum of June 27, 1990,
was drafted in furtherance of the Division's intention of con-
sidering, on case-by-case and site-specific bases, exceptions to
U.S. Antarctic Program's policy on waste retrograde from field
camps.  Requests for such exceptions are considered when
initiated by a Principal Investigator and when supported by a
defensible rationale.

During the 1990-1991 research season, Dr. Kooyman's S-026 field
party was authorized to combust rather than remove certain wastes
(i.e., such combustible wastes as paper, cardboard, untreated
wood, kitchen wastes, and human faeces with the ash from such
burning deposited and retained in an appropriate waste receptacle
for return to McMurdo Station for retrograde).

For the upcoming 1992-1993 research season, Dr. Kooyman has
requested, and provided a rationale for, direct water column
(i.e., sea) disposal of human wastes generated during S-026
activities.  The rationale is defensible and S-026 is authorized
to dispose of human waste directly to the sea.  Disposal methods
                               -2-


for all other S-026 wastes remain as authorized in the
Environmental Action Memorandum dated June 27, 1990.




                                 Sidney Draggan


cc:  G. Kooyman (S-026)
     T. Johnson, ASA
     C. Reardon, ASA