Title  : Environmental Assessment of USAP Food Waste Management
Type   : Antarctic EAM
NSF Org: OD / OPP
Date   : January 5, 1994
File   : opp94016

                 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF
         THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM'S MANAGEMENT OF
 FOOD AND FOOD-RELATED WASTES AT MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA
                        FOR 1993-1996

                       Prepared by the
                  Office of Polar Programs
                 National Science Foundation
                       Washington, D.C

1.0  PURPOSE AND NEED

NSF is responsible for the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) that supports a
substantial scientific research program in Antarctica, often in cooperation
with other countries.  The USAP maintains three year-round stations in
Antarctica:  McMurdo Station on Ross Island, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station, and Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.  McMurdo Station is
the major base for providing logistics support to scientific and operational
personnel working at McMurdo and South Pole and at numerous scientific field
camps on the continent each austral summer.  Logistic and operational support
are provided by the Department of Defense [the Naval Support Force Antarctica
(NSFA), U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force], the U.S. Department of Transportation
[U.S. Coast Guard], and a civilian contractor [currently Antarctic Support
Associates, Inc. (ASA)].

The National Science Foundation (NSF) proposes to establish a food waste
management program at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, from 1993 to 1996 through
disposal of small volumes of liquid food wastes, volume reduction, temporary
storage, and retrograde of food and food-related wastes from the Antarctic.
Food is imported to McMurdo Station by air or on the annual supply ship.  The
food is procured in the United States and New Zealand.  Food wastes originate
in the galley and consist of food preparation wastes, plate scrapings, food
scraps, perishable foods and cooking oil/lard.  Food-related wastes include
cardboard, food wrappers, napkins, and low density polyethylene plastic films
which contain food residues.  Food and food-related wastes average 100 tons
per year which is similar to the quantity produced by a U.S. town of 600
people.

On December, 30, 1992, NSF completed an environmental assessment of the USAP's
management of food wastes and food-related wastes at McMurdo Station,
Antarctica which covered food waste management through June 30, 1995.  Based
upon the December 1992 assessment, NSF decided to dispose of food and food-
related waste in a three-chambered, emissions controlled incinerator system
("interim incinerator"), dispose of limited amounts of ground food waste
through the domestic wastewater system, and to retrograde (i.e., remove) a
portion of accumulated food and food- related waste by ship to the United
States.

Because certain incinerator emissions monitoring data were unavailable at the
time the decision was rendered, NSF decided to re-evaluate the December 30,
1992 decision to incinerate after receipt of these data.  On January 22, 1993,
NSF published notice of the December 1992 environmental assessment in the
Federal Register inviting public comments for a 30-day period.  NSF received
written comments on the assessment from the Environmental Protection Agency,
Greenpeace, and the Environmental Defense Fund.  These comments, and NSF's
responses, are attached hereto.  The comments have been assigned numbers and
NSF's responses correspond to those numbers.

Subsequently, NSF halted incineration while it further reviewed options for
disposal of food and food-related wastes.  On
June 14, 1993, the Director of the Office of Polar Programs announced that
incineration of the food waste at McMurdo Station was no longer the proposed
action.  Although the proposed action is to remove most food wastes from the
Antarctic for disposal, this assessment also addresses alternative food
disposal options including incineration, open burning, or ocean dumping in
Antarctica.

This environmental assessment incorporates responses to comments received by
NSF on the December 1992 assessment, the newly received incinerator emissions
monitoring data, and additional information developed by NSF.  This
assessment, prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, CEQ
and NSF regulations, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the
Antarctic Treaty ("Protocol), is intended to aid the agency and the public in
understanding the environmental consequences if NSF were to implement the
proposed action for retrograding food and food-related wastes from Antarctica.

2.0  BACKGROUND

NSF recognizes the importance of protecting the environment in its waste
minimization, management and disposal plans.  USAP has taken significant steps
towards revising its operations to be environmentally sensitive and towards
correcting environmental problems inherited from earlier times.  Its recent
significant efforts include the USAP's Environmental Protection Agenda (NSF
1988), NSF's 1989 Five Year Initiative for Antarctic Safety, Environmental and
Health, a 1990 Interagency Agreement for a comprehensive waste management
study, NSF's 1991 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the
Antarctic Program, as well as specific environmental documents recently
prepared in connection with food waste management and disposal at McMurdo.

2.1  USAP's Environmental Protection Agenda

A significant portion of the USAP's logistic and scientific research
activities at McMurdo Station focus on the supply of needed materials and the
handling and processing or disposal of materials that no longer have a use in
on-site program support:  wastes, in general.  The USAP, under the NSF's
Special Five-Year initiative for Antarctic Safety, Environment and Health, has
made substantial progress in changing the way it manages wastes.  See infra at
2.2.  The effort at effecting such change was first articulated formally in
USAP's Environmental Protection Agenda (NSF 1988).  The Agenda called for
appraisal of waste production and management at McMurdo Station, with a focus
toward development of minimal-impact waste management systems as well as
monitoring and identification of potential impacts of waste processing and
disposal procedures.

The Agenda recognized solid waste as the most visible, and seemingly one of
the least tractable, of antarctic environmental management problems.  Ice,
cold, and geological setting make ground disposal difficult.  Antarctica's
unique value to science makes ground disposal undesirable as well.  Also, in
1987 USAP adopted a policy precluding ice staging and ocean dumping of solid
wastes or any toxic or hazardous wastes or substances.  The USAP has achieved
increasingly extensive retrograde (i.e., removal) of such solid waste
categories as metal scrap, old vehicles, pipe and tubing, broken tools,
wiring, batteries, tires, and construction materials and debris.

Management of food and food-related wastes at McMurdo presents unique
challenges.  Because of their inherent health risk and rapid decay properties,
food-related wastes remain a problem for USAP in developing and implementing
appropriate processing methods.  Food-related wastes cannot be rinsed or
cleaned and managed like other waste types due to the presence of food scraps
or residues.  At the time of the Agenda's publication, food wastes generated
at McMurdo Station were burned outdoors and feasible, practical and environ-
mentally-compatible technologies had neither been tailored, nor proven, for
effective use in the Antarctic.

2.2  NSF's Special Five-Year Initiative for Antarctic Safety,
Environment and Health and Implementation

The Initiative

In Fiscal Year 1989, the NSF instituted a major, multi-year Safety,
Environment, and Health Initiative.  The goals of the Initiative, now in its
fifth year, continue to be:

Safety:  to achieve year-round operations in the Antarctic with modern
technology and acceptable risk;
          Environment:  to clean up the debris of past operations, and to bring
present operations into agreement with current regulations, prevailing
attitudes, and current technology;

Health:  to improve medical facilities and to provide field parties with
safety experts who have medical training.

Implementation of the Initiative

Under the environmental component of the Initiative, NSF has undertaken a
variety of projects, including:

Wastewater Treatment and Outfalls.  The discharge of raw sewage and other
wastewater into the ocean at McMurdo while scientifically-defensible is
controversial.  The Code of Conduct adopted by the Antarctic Treaty parties
recommends, at a minimum, that all sewage be macerated and disposed of at a
location where there is ample opportunity for dispersal.  NSF has installed
a macerator at McMurdo.  To achieve maximum dispersion of the waste in the
receiving waters, NSF has installed an extended and submerged outfall.
Over the past four years, monitoring of biological, toxic, and other
harmful pollutant parameters have been undertaken.  This monitoring program
was developed to determine the impact of wastewater discharge on local
marine environments and on the sea water used to provide fresh water at
McMurdo, and to determine if additional wastewater treatment is needed.  A
summary of these parameters appears in Table 1.

Ambient Air Monitoring.  NSF initiated an ambient air monitoring program to
develop both baseline information and data on the potential environmental
impact of incineration, vehicle emissions, fuels handling and storage, and
generation of fugitive dust within and near McMurdo Station.

Assessment of the Current Solid-Waste System.  Argonne National Laboratory
Environmental Assessment and Information Sciences Division completed a
solid-waste management study of McMurdo in 1992.  The study evaluated
current solid-waste production and administrative and procedural
alternatives.  The study developed information on alternative techniques
and resources for improving waste management.  It recommended disposal of
food waste and food-related waste by incineration.
insert  table 1
table 1 page marker
The USAP began a program to separate aluminum, glass and scrap steel from the
waste stream in October 1989, and a year later began to segregate office
paper.  By February, 1991, all solid wastes at McMurdo Station other than
food-related wastes were stored in appropriate containers for retrograde, i.e.
removal,  to the U.S.  Early in the 1991-1992 austral season, USAP
discontinued the use of plastic and paper containers, cups and plates in the
McMurdo's galley to reduce the total volume of food-related waste originating
from the galley.  Tables 1 and 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
on USAP Management of Food Wastes during 1991-1992 at McMurdo Station,
Antarctica dated August 2, 1991 (August 2, 1991 EIA) (NSF 1991b) depicted
methods of handling food and food-related waste, and construction waste,
respectively, at McMurdo Station.

In addition, USAP clarified its station-wide waste management and separation
policies and protocols in February 1991 in order to provide enhanced waste
management guidance to USAP personnel and promote the proper disposal of
wastes (USAP 1991).  Specifically, the protocols provide for five distinct
categories of solid waste:  1) food wastes; 2) scrap metal; 3) construction
and demolition-related debris and scrap (including plastic and rubber);
4) non-specific burnables (e.g., cardboard, scrap lumber and broken pallets);
and, 5) recyclable cardboard.  In addition to the protocols, USAP enhanced and
expanded upon established programs for personnel education and enhanced
quality control and enforcement.

Prior to February 8, 1991, USAP disposed of food-related wastes by burning
them outdoors at the Fortress Rocks area of McMurdo Station.  USAP suspended
burning at the Fortress Rocks area on March 2, 1991, when asbestos was
discovered at the site.  Since that time, food wastes have been incinerated at
McMurdo Station and at Scott Base, or retrograded to New Zealand and the
United States.  Small quantities have been ground and macerated and disposed
of through the sewer outfall.  On March 22, 1993, NSF suspended operation of
the interim incinerator at McMurdo Station and it has not been operated since
then.

2.3  Waste Management Study

As part of the SEH Initiative, the USAP entered into an Interagency Agreement
with the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory in Fiscal Year
1990.  Under the agreement Argonne was to conduct a comprehensive study to
support USAP assessment of waste minimization, waste handling, and waste
processing and disposal options that could be available to the USAP in
developing a new waste management strategy and system.  The study identified
four solid waste categories:  food and food-related wastes, non-hazardous
waste, hazardous and nonhazardous fuels, oils and solvents, and hazardous
wastes.  The category of food and food-related wastes accounted for about 50%
of all solid wastes handled at the station.

During the Argonne study, the study group was also tasked with identifying if
any incinerator technology was practical and feasible for use at McMurdo
Station.  Given knowledge of the characteristics of the station's waste stream
and the context of antarctic operation, the study group researched available
technologies and developed recommended specifications for a high-temperature
thermal oxidation system (Pearson 1991) discussed in the interim incinerator
alternative.
In managing food-related wastes, USAP has looked at the broad picture -- not
only at the waste and its effects, but also at the sources of the waste and
waste minimization methods.  Various possibilities for solutions appear when
this is done.  Examples include placing restrictions on materials brought into
Antarctica; implementing different methods of waste-handling for various types
of wastes; and using education to change personnel expectations and behavior
that otherwise exacerbate the problem.

As a result, USAP has taken several steps to minimize the production of food
waste.  The civilian support contractor assumed responsibility for the food
services operation at McMurdo Station on October 1, 1992.  The contractor's
detailed meal planning and improved management has resulted in a decrease in
food waste.  This includes preparation of quantities carefully calculated to
match the station population and better planning for use of excess food at
subsequent meals.

A reduction in food waste has also been achieved through an innovative
procurement scheme for vegetable produce:  vegetables are cleaned and prepared
for cooking by a vendor in Christchurch, New Zealand.  All excess leaf, stalk,
and peelings are removed and the produce is then placed in nitrogen flushed
packaging prior to shipment.  The McMurdo galley is experiencing near zero
loss of vegetable produce as all preparation is accomplished in New Zealand:
a concrete example of waste minimization.

Another reduction has occurred in the area of cooking oils.  USAP designed and
implemented extraction/filter devices that capture fatty acids from cooking
oils.  Recovery of reconstituted oil will enable reuse of the product.

The most recent analysis of waste production at McMurdo produces the following
annual estimates.  These estimates are based on TEUs.  TEUs are Transport
Equivalent Units, a measure of volume based on a standard shipboard container,
8'x 8'x 20' (sometimes referred to as a milvan).

Solid Waste                TEUs

Glass                       4
Wood                       75
Dry Burnables              50
Cooking Oils                1
Paper                       4
Plastic                    40
Cardboard                  30
Metal                      10
Construction Debris        45
Food Waste                 40
Hazardous Waste            80

Total                     379

In addition, there is currently a backlog of the following waste at McMurdo
Station awaiting retrograde:

Solid Waste                TEUs

Wood                       175
Glass                        8
Construction Debris         10
Metal                       50

Total                      243

2.4 Supplemental Environmental Impact Assessment
In October, 1991, NSF published a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(SEIS) on the U.S. Antarctic Program (NSF 1991a) that contains descriptions of
the materials and waste situations existing at McMurdo Station during the
1989-1990 austral summer research season as well as on-going efforts to
improve USAP's system of materials and waste management.  The SEIS evaluated
four alternatives for continued operation of the USAP.  The recommended
alternative called for completion of the ongoing Five Year Safety, Environment
and Health Initiative, completion of an ongoing materials and waste management
study, and implementation of the resulting recommendations.  The SEIS's
recommended alternative called for combustible waste, including food waste, to
be incinerated or retrograded to the United States or another country.

2.5  Food Management Decision at McMurdo

The August 2, 1991 EIA evaluated alternatives for food waste management,
including an assessment of on-site incineration technologies for October 1,
1991 through December 31, 1992.  Based on that assessment, a decision was
issued on August 2, 1991 to install and operate an interim three-chambered
incinerator for disposal of food waste and use the existing temporary
incinerator to incinerate food wastes until the interim incinerator became
operational.

USAP procured the interim incinerator system described in the August 2, 1991
EIA, and began installation and testing during the 1992 winter-over period.
The August 2, 1991 EIA anticipated that the interim incinerator would be
installed and operational at McMurdo Station in approximately December 1991.
Due to numerous unforeseeable delays, the interim incinerator was not fully
operational until January, 1993.  The logistical constraints of transporting
equipment and personnel to McMurdo Station as well as the need to customize
components of the interim incinerator to the unusual and harsh conditions of
Antarctica to obtain optimal operation contributed to the delay.

Due to the delay in installment of the interim incinerator, a
large backlog of food waste accumulated.  Some of this excess food waste was
incinerated at the Scott Base incinerator, and some was retrograded to New
Zealand by aircraft.  While test burning the interim incinerator, some
additional food waste was burned.

Despite these efforts, a backlog of approximately 57 tons of food waste
accumulated during the austral winter of 1992, which was retrograded to the
United States in refrigerated vans on the Greenwave in February of 1993.
Under a contract with a United States Department of Agriculture approved
facility in California, this waste was steam sterilized, compacted, and then
disposed of in an approved landfill.  The sterilization process involved
heating the waste above 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of two hours and
testing the material for spores to meet state requirements designed to verify
the effectiveness of the process.
On March 22, 1993, USAP announced that it had ceased operating the incinerator
while it completed this environmental assessment.  In October, 1993, USAP
announced that it had retrograded the backlog of food waste that had
accumulated since February, 1993 (approximately 80,000 pounds) to New Zealand
for disposal.

3.0 THE MCMURDO ENVIRONMENT
McMurdo Station Land Use

McMurdo Station (7755'S, 166 40'E), the major support station for the USAP,
is located on Ross Island, Antarctica.  The U.S. Navy began constructing and
operating McMurdo Station in 1955.  At the time, it was intended to be a
logistics base for the United States' expeditionary presence.  Since then, the
station evolved from a temporary logistics base into an established,
year-round station supporting both Antarctic scientific research and the
logistics needed to conduct that research.

Currently, the station is situated on approximately 200 acres (exclusive of
outlying buildings), and consists of more than 100 structures, extensive
storage yards, an ice pier, an annual sea-ice runway, a skiway, a helicopter
landing area, and other ancillary structures and features (e.g.,
communications antennae and unpaved roads).  In recent years, the average
austral summer population at McMurdo ranged from about 1150 in November to
about 600 in February.  During the austral winter (late February through early
October), the population at McMurdo usually ranges from 100 to 270 people,
depending on science support activities, and construction and maintenance
operations.

Climate and Weather

McMurdo Station is located on a southward-projecting peninsula of Ross Island,
which is on the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf.  Due to its location between the
frigid interior of Antarctica and the more temperate open ocean, its weather
is affected by cold air drainage flowing off the continent and ice shelf and
by strong cyclones from the Ross and Amundsen Seas.  McMurdo shares Ross
Island with an active volcano, Mt. Erebus, and a New Zealand station, Scott
Base.

Mean monthly temperatures at McMurdo range from -3C (26F) in December and
January to -28C (-18F) in August.  Extreme maximum and minimum temperatures
of 7C (42F) and -51C (-59F), respectively, were recorded during a 13-year
period at McMurdo.  The mean annual temperature is approximately -18C (0F).

Wind speeds at McMurdo may vary substantially in a short period but are
persistent in direction.  The persistence of east winds at McMurdo appears to
be primarily a function of the local terrain channeling air around Ross Island
(O'Connor and Bromwich 1988; Schwerdtfeger 1984).  Peak wind gusts are
generally around 20 meters/second (45 mph) in the summer months and 35
meters/second (78 mph) in the winter months.

Although strong winds are relatively common, so are light winds; for example,
over 13% of the observations for the 10-year period from 1973 through 1982
were reported as calm.  The average annual wind speed at McMurdo is 5.27
meters/second (11.8 mph).  Precipitation occurs only as snowfall, at an
average rate of 17.4 cm (6.84 in.) of water equivalent annually; ice fog is
common throughout the year.

Operations and Causes of Isolation

Work at McMurdo occurs throughout the year.  During the winter months,
however, activities are greatly curtailed.  The station population is reduced
to a minimum by out-going flights at the end of February.  No flight
operations occur from the end of February until the end of August, except for
a mid-June austral winter airdrop of mail and supplies (i.e., no landings).
Airplanes cannot safely land at McMurdo Station during the austral winter
because a variety of hazardous conditions including lack of adequate
navigation, airfield lighting, and landing aids, severe cold and winds and
darkness.  These conditions add great risks to normal aircraft and airfield
operations.  Only a few flights have been risked during the winter, and then
only in cases of extreme medical emergencies.

The first opportunity to reach McMurdo Station by air after station closure in
late February normally occurs during the last two weeks of August.  This high-
risk window of opportunity, known as WINFLY, is the first time during the
austral winter period that there is sufficient daylight at McMurdo Station to
support targeted aircraft landings.  WINFLY is limited to 6-8 flights over a
period of 3-4 days (depending on favorable weather conditions).  Only key
station personnel, supplies and equipment essential to preparing McMurdo
Station facilities for the new austral summer research season are transported
during WINFLY.  The austral summer research season traditionally begins on
October 1 of each year (weather permitting) with the phased arrival of USAP
participants--the "main body" of USAP personnel participating in a given
austral summer season.  That phased entry is termed MAINBODY.

Beginning in October of each year, wheeled aircraft (C-141s, C-5s and C-130s)
begin to provide access to McMurdo Station on a regular basis (weather
permitting).  These aircraft land on a sea ice runway.  Almost all science and
support personnel and cargo must be transported to McMurdo during October,
November and early December when the ice runway is thick enough to support
these aircraft.  After December 1, the chances of being able to land an
aircraft on sea ice begin to decrease rapidly and are virtually non-existent
by the mid-December.  For the remaining two-and-a-half months of the austral
summer, ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft provide air transport to and from
McMurdo.  LC-130s have much smaller payloads than C-5s and C-141s, and, as a
result, personnel transported by air and material and cargo supply by air
decrease dramatically during this period.

Resupply operations to McMurdo Station by sea begin in early January with the
arrival of a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) icebreaker, that opens a channel in the
sea ice covering McMurdo Sound for in-coming resupply ships.  Two resupply
ships, one for cargo and one for fuel, are able to reach McMurdo Station
through this channel.  Prior to the window for sea entry to McMurdo, sea ice
conditions and severe weather preclude entry, even by icebreaker, to the Ross
Sea.

The cargo ship is a specially designed ice-strengthened vessel which can
withstand the rigors of operating in the McMurdo environment.  The cargo ship
generally arrives at McMurdo in late January/early February, for a period of
approximately one week.  The cargo ship has a capacity of approximately 600
TEUs.  Because of the high cost of air operations and limited air capacity,
almost all solid waste goes onboard the cargo vessel for removal from
Antarctica.

Because of the harsh antarctic climate and resulting isolation of McMurdo
Station from late February through late August, USAP has only a short window
of opportunity within which to transport personnel, equipment and materials to
and from Antarctica.  As a result, USAP must determine well in advance when
personnel, equipment and materials can arrive in Antarctica, and then plan
meticulously to coordinate science, construction, personnel, and procurement
schedules with the transportation limitations during the Antarctic's short
window of opportunity.  A year's delay in any given project could result from
a failure to manage logistics to meet this crucial window of opportunity.

Air Quality

1.  Natural, Ambient Air Constituents.  The dominant factor affecting regional
air quality in the vicinity of McMurdo Station is Mount Erebus -- an active
volcano, located approximately 25 miles north of McMurdo, on Ross Island.
Data from Kyle et al. (1990) indicate that Mount Erebus' sulfur dioxide (SO2)
emissions range from 230 Megagrams (Mg)/day (507,000 pounds per day or
185,000,000 pounds per year) in 1983 to 25 Mg/day (55,000 pounds per day or
20,000,000 pounds per year) in 1984, 16 Mg/day (35,000 pounds per day or
13,000,000 pounds per year) in 1985, and 51 Mg/day (110,000 pounds per day or
41,000,000 pounds per year) in 1987.  In 1983, inferred hydrogen chloride
(HCl) and hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions from the volcano were 1200 Mg/day
(2,646,000 pounds per day or 965,600,000 pounds per year) and 500 Mg/day
(1,100,000 pounds per day or 402,000,000 pounds per year), respectively (Kyle
et al. 1990).

These amounts of pollutants affect not only regional air quality on Ross
Island but also McMurdo air quality.  For example, it is estimated, using an
EPA screening model, that an important fraction of the total SO2 at McMurdo
(perhaps as much as 50 percent for the short-term under worst case conditions)
may come from Mount Erebus. (Kyle et al. 1990).

2.  Anthropogenic Sources.  In addition to the air emissions from Mount Erebus
discussed above, there are anthropogenic emissions and air constituents at
McMurdo (Pearson 1991).

Boilers, furnaces, space heaters, electric generators, motor vehicle engines,
fugitive dust, petroleum storage tank vapors, aircraft operations, and ships
all emit atmospheric pollutants at or near McMurdo Station.  Quantitative
estimates of air pollutant emissions are provided in Table 4 of the August 2,
1991 EIA at McMurdo for the above sources (with the exception of sporadic ship
operations and fugitive dust emissions.  These estimates were made with
emission factor data from AP-42 (USEPA 1985a and 1985b) for each of the source
types in Table 4, except for aircraft operations.

Estimated emissions of fixed-wing aircraft set forth in Table 4 of the August
2, 1991 EIA were based on data that give amounts for the landing-takeoff cycle
for different aircraft (Seitchek 1985) and represent only those that occur on
the ground and during takeoff, climbout, approach and landing.  Main air
pollutants emitted by the above are nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, collectively
referred to as NOx), SO2, carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC),
and particulate matter under 10 microns in diameter (PM-10).  The PM-10
emission estimates in the August 2, 1991 EIA's Table 4 are conservative, as
total suspended particulate (TSP) matter emission factors were used to
generate the estimates.  Although other trace pollutants such as metals would
also be emitted by some of these activities, their levels in fuels is highly
dependent on the characteristics of the parent crude oil.

Another contribution to air emissions is the approximately 400 vehicles other
than aircraft used at McMurdo.  These include such diesel-powered, heavy
equipment as front-end loaders, caterpillar tractors, cranes, and scrapers.
There are trucks, vans, tracked-vehicles, and snowmobiles.  The exact number
of vehicles varies from year to year as program requirements change.

Loose soil disturbed by vehicle traffic on unpaved roads, helicopter landings
and takeoffs at an unpaved area, and wind erosion in areas used for collection
of construction fill are the major sources of airborne particulates at McMurdo
Station.  Because the amounts of dust generated by these activities are
difficult to model and have not been measured, they are not estimated here.
Another source of emissions is power generation at McMurdo, which is provided
by six diesel-electric generators, each having a capacity of 800 to 900 kVa.
Some of these units are in  maintenance or stand-by status at any one time.

3.  Establishment of Ambient Air Monitoring Program at McMurdo.

Recognizing the lack of baseline data on air quality at McMurdo Station, NSF
implemented an ambient air monitoring program at McMurdo Station.  In 1992,
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) prepared an ambient air
monitoring plan for McMurdo that established the following objectives:  (1) to
determine the highest concentrations of pollutants expected to occur in the
area covered by the network, (2) to determine representative concentrations of
selected air pollutants in areas of high population density (3) to determine
the impact on ambient pollution levels of significant sources or source
categories, and (4) to determine background levels of selected air pollutants
(Lugar, 1992).  INEL implemented the plan during the 1992-1993 season.

The objectives, quality assurance, and performance criteria established for
the monitoring network were consistent with the intent of U.S. E.P.A. State
and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) objectives and network design (40
CFR Part 58), and the U.S. EPA Quality Assurance Handbook (U.S. EPA 1977).

A variety of air pollutants, including many for which the U.S. EPA has
established National Ambient Air Quality Standards, were selected for
monitoring, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NO/NO2/NOx), and
carbon monoxide (CO), as well as Particulate Matter with a diameter less than
or equal to         10 micrometers (PM10) and Total Suspended Particulate
Matter (TSP).  Utilizing historical wind data, a sampling network consisting
of three locations was elected.  The three sites selected were:  8-Site for
predominantly upwind location, Hut Point, for a predominantly downwind site,
and Central McMurdo, near building 155, as the "worst case urban" location.
The monitoring plan called for one set of continuous gas analyzers to be
permanently located at Hut Point, and a second set of analyzers to be rotated
on a bi-weekly basis between the Central McMurdo and 8-Site locations.  The
methodology for collecting the samples is fully discussed in EG&G Idaho,
Inc.'s Report  "Results of PM10 and TSP Monitoring at McMurdo Station,
Antarctica" authored by Robert M. Lugar, May 1993.

The first samples were collected between November of 1992 and February of
1993.  The concentrations of SO2, NO2, and CO measured during this initial
monitoring effort were below all applicable U.S. National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS).  SO2, NO, NO2, and NOx were detected at both Hut Point and
Central McMurdo in the low parts per billion (ppb) range.  CO levels at both
locations were near or below the 0.1 ppm level of detection.  The localized
impact of vehicle and ship emissions on the ambient concentrations of SO2 and
NOx were observed at Hut Point.  No prominent evidence of any direct effect of
Mount Erebus SO2 emissions were observed during this initial monitoring
effort.
PM10 concentrations ranged from below the detection limit of 2.2 g/m3 measured
at 8-Site, to a maximum concentration of 37.5 g/m3 measured at the Central
McMurdo site.  All measurements were below the U.S. National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for PM10 of 50 g/m3 (annual arithmetic mean) and 150 g/m3
(24 hour maximum).  Based on PM10 data collected from selected U.S. cities,
the summer seasonal PM10 levels measured at the central McMurdo location were
comparable to concentrations found in Santa Fe, New Mexico or St. Cloud,
Minnesota (U.S. EPA 1992).

TSP levels ranged from 6.1 g/m3 at 8-Site to a maximum of 675.5 g/m3
measured at the Central McMurdo site.  From 1971 to 1987, TSP was used by the
U.S. EPA as the indicator for particulate matter pollution.  In 1987, PM10
replaced TSP as the regulatory indicator for particulate air pollution.  As
expected, TSP concentrations measured higher than PM10 levels at all
monitoring locations.  Due to a very limited TSP data set, a reliable
conclusion cannot be ascertained regarding mean TSP levels.  The elevated TSP
levels relative to PM10 concentrations at the central McMurdo location is most
likely explained by the resuspension of larger particulate matter from the
nearby roadway by vehicular traffic and wind.

Fuel Transportation and Storage

A fuel tanker vessel arrives annually at McMurdo in late January and refuels
McMurdo Station.  McMurdo has 18 steel bulk fuel storage tanks, which have a
combined capacity of approximately 34 million L (9 million gallons).  Each
year, fuel is unloaded from the tanker through a pipeline that connects the
ice pier to the bulk storage tanks.  Fuel is transported from the bulk storage
tanks to its ultimate destinations by pipelines, hoses and wheeled tanker
trucks.  Fuel for the sea-ice runway and Williams Field is moved by truck or
tractor or by portable hose that connects the McMurdo fuel distribution system
to storage tanks and bladders at the two runways.

As part of its program of environmental management, the USAP has instituted
several improvements in fuel handling at McMurdo Station.  NSF records show
that a common cause of fuel spills were from leaks from rubber bladders and
seals and fitting.  In response, NSF took several measures to diminish the
chances of oil leakage from these sources.  NSF replaced the flexible hose for
the fuel transport line between McMurdo and Williams Field with a new "dry
break" fuel hose in December, 1990.  The new "dry break" fuel hose has only 13
fittings, compared to over 700 in the old fuel transport line.  NSF is also
upgrading the fuel storage facilities at South Pole, Williams Field, and
Marble Point.  In addition to improving transport and storage facilities, USAP
has developed and implemented a Station Spill
Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Plan and Station Spill
Contingency Plan.

Ecological Resources

1.  Marine ecosystems.  The ocean waters at McMurdo Station are
cold, nutrient rich, and have naturally high dissolved oxygen
concentrations (Figure 1).  McMurdo Sound has dramatic spatial
variations in primary production, current patterns, and benthic
marine populations.  Although conditions vary widely across the
Sound, regional conditions are stable.  For example, because the
eastern part of the Sound near McMurdo Station has
southward-moving currents that are rich in nutrients, the benthic
populations that occur there are diverse.
INSERT FIGURE 1
2.  Marine mammals and birds.  Ross Island and adjacent McMurdo
Sound provide breeding sites for such marine mammals and bird
species as Weddell seals, Adelie penguins, and Emperor penguins.
About 1500 adult Weddell Seals use Erebus Bay each year to raise
pups (Testa and Siniff 1987).  Each year about 150,000 pairs of
Adelie penguins and 36,000 pairs of Emperor penguins use this
area for breeding (Wilson 1983).  The closest penguin rookery to
McMurdo Station is located approximately twelve miles north of
McMurdo at Cape Royds.  Because penguins require access to
unfrozen waters for survival, penguins do not appear at McMurdo
Station during the austral winter.  Penguins are sporadically
sighted at McMurdo during the austral summer following the ice
breaker's opening of the channel.  Weddell seals and migratory
skuas are the most conspicuous wildlife in the immediate vicinity
of McMurdo Station.  Laws (1990) notes that guano and feces from
bird and seal colonies on land enter the antarctic marine
environment at levels substantially greater than does human
sewage from antarctic facilities.  Antarctic skuas were regular
avian scavenger visitors to McMurdo Station during the austral
summer, in search of food until the closure of the Fortress Rocks
area.

3.  Terrestrial ecosystems.  Because more than 97% of
Antarctica's 14-million-km2 (5.4-million-square miles) land mass
is covered by ice, exposed rock and other substrate available to
support terrestrial ecosystems is limited.  Surface materials in
the immediate vicinity of McMurdo Station have been disturbed by
human activity.  Little vegetation exists in the immediate
vicinity of McMurdo Station because of surface disturbance.  A
study of plant communities has recognized six plant associations
in the Ross Island area, ranging from lichens and mosses to algae
(Longton 1973).  Laws (1991) notes that airborne pollution
effects on antarctic vegetation are localized and very limited.
Using data from a monitoring survey near one fairly large
station, he noted that after 10 years of station operation heavy
metal accumulations in lichens were evident only within 250
meters downwind.  The terrestrial fauna of the Ross Island area
are invertebrates; no terrestrial vertebrates are native to the
area.  The invertebrate groups range from protozoans to insects
and mites.

McMurdo Sanitary Waste Disposal System

Article 5 of Annex III of the Environmental Protocol to the
Antarctic Treaty provides that sewage and domestic liquid wastes
may be discharged directly into the sea, taking into account the
assimilative capacity of the receiving marine environment and
provided that:

(a) such discharge is located, wherever practicable, where
conditions exist for initial dilution and rapid dispersal;
and
           (b) large quantities of such waste (generated in a station
where the average weekly occupancy over the austral summer is
approximately 30 individuals or more) shall be treated at
least by maceration.

Wastewater at McMurdo Station has been consolidated into one
outfall with a subsurface discharge into McMurdo Sound.
McMurdo's galley, located in Building 155, is incorporated into
this system.  The system incorporates a macerator in the
discharge line that grinds solids passing through the system, and
dilution with excess brine, a byproduct of potable drinking water
generation.  The outfall is located approximately 70 meters
offshore (50 meters beyond the outfall quay), and is submerged
17.5 meters below the surface and 1.5 meters above the bottom of
the Sound.

The outfall is located near the mouth of Winter Quarters Bay
which is contaminated with oil, other hydrocarbons, and some
heavy metals.  Consequently, the sea floor adjacent to the
outfall may be influenced by the conditions in Winter Quarters
Bay.  Benthic communities in the Bay are nonexistent or contain
only low numbers of opportunistic species.  There is a steep
gradient of increasing abundance and diversity in benthic
communities with increasing distance from Winter Quarters Bay.
Infaunal communities in other portions of McMurdo Sound are some
of the richest in the world.

McMurdo Water Monitoring

NSF consulted with EPA for assistance in implementing a water
quality monitoring program at McMurdo.  EPA recommended using the
Clean Water Act as guidance.  Based on this guidance, NSF
developed a program to evaluate the impact of the discharge on
marine biota, address water quality standards, and analyze for
potential toxic substances in the discharge.

The water quality monitoring program is divided into three areas:
biological monitoring; ambient water quality monitoring; and
effluent monitoring.  NSF has monitored the outfall discharge for
the past four years to determine plume characteristics and to
collect data for future assessment of the need for additional
sewage treatment.  During the 1992-1993 austral season, NSF
implemented the other components of the monitoring program.

Biological Monitoring.  Biological monitoring is intended to
include periodic surveys of the biological communities and
populations most likely affected by the discharge to enable
comparisons with baseline conditions.

The biological monitoring program currently underway consists of
three elements:  community and population studies,
bioaccumulation of contaminants in biota and sediments, and
bioassays.  Over the past three years, the program has documented
concentrations of chemical contaminants, changes in community
patterns, as well as the toxicity of some sediments to
invertebrate species and infaunal communities.  The primary
contaminants are petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment of Winter
Quarters Bay, a former dump site located adjacent to the outfall
pipe.  Bioassay experiments found that biological changes
observed in benthic communities around McMurdo Station were most
likely caused by hydrocarbons, PCB and PCT concentrations.
(Lenihan and Oliver, Benthic Marine Pollution Around McMurdo
Station, Antarctica:  A Summary of Findings, 57 Marine Pollution
Bulletin Vol. 25).  The wastewater effluent is not a source of
these contaminants.

Water Quality.  The wastewater quality monitoring program is
intended to provide data for comparison with U.S. water quality
standards and measure the concentration of toxic pollutants which
have been identified or could reasonably be expected to be
present in the discharge.

Table 1 on page five contains an analytical summary of the
McMurdo wastewater components.  Based on wastewater samples
collected during the 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons, the
wastewater was characterized as domestic sewage with no unusual
levels of heavy metals or toxic substances.  Ten additional
wastewater samples were collected during the 1992-1993 season.
The only unusual reported characteristics were elevated
concentrations of copper and lead.  These metals originated from
the plumbing system due to the corrosiveness of the water.  As a
result of these data, NSF installed a pH balancing system in June
1992 which has increased the pH of the water, and eliminated
leaching of lead from the plumbing and reduced copper levels in
the water.  As part of the new reverse osmosis water treatment
facility, a system will be installed to increase the alkalinity
of the water and decrease its corrosivity.

Organic compounds, with the exception of one sample containing
acetone (220 /l but not detected in most other samples) were
detected at very low levels (Tables 2,3,4).  The levels are far
below all available marine water quality criteria.  Analysis of
sea ice cores indicates no adverse impacts from organic compounds
in the effluent and receiving waters.

Currently, drinking water for McMurdo Station is produced from
sea water via flash evaporation (distillation).  Although the
plume from the wastewater discharge may disperse in the region
near the water intake for the flash evaporators during episodic
reversals of the ocean currents, the wastewater discharge does
not adversely impact drinking water quality.  The flash
evaporators essentially distill salt water, producing pure fresh
water from the process.  Tests of the distilled water for
INSERT TABLE 2
INSERT TABLE 3
TABLE 3 page marker
TABLE 3 page marker
TABLE 4
bacterial and viral contamination have confirmed the purity of
the system.  In addition, a chemical disinfectant (chlorine) is
added to the fresh water derived from the flash evaporators in
order to maintain a disinfectant residual in the potable water
distribution system.  This water treatment is consistent with
current U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act requirements (i.e. 40
CFR Parts 141 & 142).

Based on engineering considerations, the existing flash
evaporators will be replaced with several reverse osmosis (RO)
units in the near future.  (See Initial Environmental Evaluation,
Replacement of the Sea Water Desalination System, McMurdo
Station, dated May 18, 1993).  The existing water intake systems
will be utilized for the RO units.  Sand filters will be added to
the intake system, removing particulate material from the salt
water prior to encountering the RO membranes.  A chemical
disinfectant (chlorine) will be added to the fresh water produced
from this RO process in order to prevent environmental bacteria
from colonizing the distribution system.

Effluent Monitoring.  The effluent monitoring program is intended
to provide quantitative and qualitative data to measure toxic
substances in the effluent and the effectiveness of any toxics
control procedures or programs.  This section will also discuss
characteristics of the effluent.

Table 5 contains data from effluent samples collected over a
four-year period.  With respect to standard wastewater
parameters, McMurdo's wastewater effluent is typical of domestic
wastewater with the exception of increased total dissolved solids
(TSD).  The increased levels of TSD result from the addition of
brine from the potable water plant to the wastewater stream.
Organic and inorganic parameters have already been discussed
above.

Although the data indicates that the wastewater has expected
elevated Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), there is no evidence of
decreased dissolved oxygen levels in the marine water quality in
the outfall region.

Placement of the outfall and maceration of the effluent
substantially increase dispersion of the waste water stream.
Ocean currents effectively disperse the effluent over a larger
area.  Placement of the pipe well below the surface of the water,
combined with the warm temperature of the effluent, result in
considerable spreading through the water column.  The
concentrations of effluent diminish rapidly short distances from
the outfall pipe.

In the immediate vicinity of the outfall, sediments were
organically enriched by settled solids in the sewage effluent and
TABLE 5
table 5 pagemarker
table 5 pagemarker
table 5 pagemarker
support a community similar to those around sewage outfalls in
temperate latitudes.  Furthermore, a notable accumulation of
organic debris was observed in 1992 in the immediate vicinity of
the outfall.  NSF is currently assessing the options and
feasibility for additional sewage treatment at McMurdo.

Historic Sites and Monuments

Historic sites and monuments are recognized as part of the
continent's scenic, aesthetic, and historic values.  Historic
sites and monuments within walking distance of McMurdo include
Scott's "Discovery" Hut and Vince's Cross on Hut Point, the
Richard E. Byrd Memorial at McMurdo Station, and the Polar Party
Cross on Observation Hill.  Other Ross Island historic sites
include the huts at Cape Royds, Cape Evans, and Cape Crozier and
the cross on Wind Vane Hill, all accessible by helicopter from
McMurdo.

Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) and Sites of Special
      Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

The most heavily protected areas in Antarctica are SPAs.
Antarctic Treaty member nations designate SPAs to "preserve their
unique natural ecological system".  Also, Antarctic Treaty
members have designated SSSIs, for which management plans are
prepared.  These areas are protected if there is "a demonstrable
risk of interference" with scientific research or if the site is
of "exceptional scientific interest".  The only protected area in
or near McMurdo Station is the Arrival Heights SSSI located one
mile from the center of McMurdo.  This site is designated as an
SSSI because it is an electromagnetically quiet area, offering an
ideal site for recording data associated with auroral and
geomagnetic investigations.  Since prevailing winds at McMurdo
are easterly, the winds over McMurdo head west, away from the
Arrival Heights SSSI.  The next closest protected site is the
Cape Royds SSSI located about 12 miles from McMurdo Station.
There are no SPAs in the vicinity of McMurdo.

4.0  ALTERNATIVES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

A.  Alternatives to Accomplish Agency Proposal

The following alternatives were developed in consideration of the
proposed action:

oAlternative A1.  Current volume reduction, disposal of small
 volumes of liquid food wastes, and indefinite storage of
 wastes at McMurdo Station.  This alternative is the "No
 action" alternative required for comparison of the
 environmental effects among alternatives;

o            Alternative A2.  Retrograde food wastes on annual supply
 ship to the United States;

oAlternative A3.  Retrograde food wastes to New Zealand;

oAlternative A4.  Retrograde food wastes by open ocean dumping
 outside of the Antarctic Treaty Area;

oAlternative A5.  Retrograde food wastes to the United States
 via aircraft.

Alternative A1.  Current volume reduction, disposal of small
volumes of liquid food wastes, and indefinite storage of wastes
at McMurdo Station.  This alternative is the "No action"
alternative required for comparison of the environmental effects
among alternatives.

This alternative is a continuation of current practices for the
reduction of the volume of food wastes (discussed above),
disposal of small volumes of liquid wastes, and subsequent
indefinite storage of wastes at McMurdo Station.

STOCKPILING OF SOLID FOOD WASTES

Food waste accumulates at an annual rate of approximately 100
tons a year at McMurdo.  There are inadequate facilities to store
this waste indoors.  Indefinite stockpiling of the food waste
would attract scavenging antarctic birds.  To minimize dispersal
of the food waste into the Antarctic environment and interference
with antarctic bird's normal eating habits, USAP would need to
place the waste in plastic bags and triwalls, which would then
be placed in milvans.  USAP would require 90 additional milvans a
year to store this waste, as a cost of $270,000 annually.  The
milvans, however, would not keep the food waste from decomposing
once ambient temperatures warmed above 32 degrees Fahrenheit
during the austral summer.

DISPOSAL OF LIQUID FOOD WASTE THROUGH THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM

USAP is currently processing and disposing of limited amounts of
liquid food waste through grinders into the wastewater system at
McMurdo Station.  This category of food wastes is predominantly
water and therefore cannot be efficiently incinerated.

Historically, liquid food waste and water with food residue from
the galley was discharged into the McMurdo waste water system.
Examples include:  leftover coffee, juices, and soups; water from
food preparation and kitchen clean-up.  For convenience, this
category of food waste is referred to as liquid food waste.

The August 2, 1991 EIA examined the alternative of installing
food grinders in McMurdo's galley to accommodate disposal of
solid food waste through the wastewater system.  Since food
grinding equipment was not available at the time of the
assessment and there was limited understanding of the potential
impact on dissolved oxygen levels in the Sound from the
introduction of additional amounts of food waste into the
wastewater system, this was not a preferred alternative.

USAP estimates that during the austral summer when the McMurdo
population is the highest, the daily quantities of this liquid
waste are as follows:

Residue coffee                     10 gallons
Residue juices                      7 gallons
Residue soups                       5 gallons
Milk                                3 gallons
Dishwater                          50 gallons
Steamkettle water                 200 gallons
Water from galley cleaning        200 gallons
Vegetable rinsewater               60 gallons
Food preparation water             70 gallons

            Estimated daily total  605 gallons

These numbers reflect the minimization efforts discussed above
and vary from day to day.

USAP installed new grinders in the food galley in October, 1991
to provide an additional step in processing liquid food wastes
prior to maceration and dilution with brine in the wastewater
system.

Environmental Effects

McMurdo and Environs

NSF considers the indefinite accumulation of 200,000 pounds of
food and food-related wastes year after year unacceptable because
of environmental as well as safety and human health concerns.
There is insufficient storage capacity for this food waste; and
once ambient temperatures warmed above 32F during the austral
summer, there would be an unacceptable stench from the indefinite
accumulation of food waste.  NSF's experience has been that
occasional high winds have caused some dispersion of stored food
wastes.  Also, with increasing warm austral summer temperatures,
scavenging antarctic birds could exacerbate dispersion.
Scavenging by these birds could also interfere with their normal
eating habits.  This alternative would not provide acceptable
long-term management for food wastes at McMurdo.

The liquid food waste comprises a small component of the total
daily wastewater production at McMurdo Station.  During the
austral summer daily wastewater production at McMurdo is
approximately 100,000 gallons per day (SEIS Appendix F, Table
F.1).  The liquid food waste and water with food residues from
the galley constitute approximately .6% of this total wastewater
output.  The additional grinding that this waste receives prior
to maceration and dilution with brine further reduces food
particle size which is expected to enhance assimilation.

Any adverse impact from increased nutrient levels from the liquid
food waste in such a relatively large nearshore environment with
a large wildlife population is unlikely.  These waters are
characteristically high in nutrients of concern (i.e, nitrogen,
phosphorus and carbon), have very high concentrations of
dissolved oxygen (and are not prone, therefore, to
eutrophication) and exhibit unexpectedly high productivity.
According to INEL effluent monitoring data collected during the
1992-1993 austral summer season, there is no evidence of
decreased dissolved oxygen levels in the marine water quality in
the outfall region.  Their studies also show that the
concentrations of effluent diminish rapidly short distances for
the outfall pipe.  In addition, the liquid wastes do not contain
toxic organics and comprise only 0.6% of the total wastewater
output.  For these reasons, the input of ground liquids and high-
water content food residues is not expected to adversely impact
the marine environment.

Outside of Antarctica

The "No Action" Alternative would have no direct environmental
impacts outside of Antarctica.

Costs

The annual cost for 90 milvans would be $270,000.

Public Health

Indefinite stockpiling of food wastes has the potential to create
health risks and the stench would be a public nuisance.

Alternative A2.  Retrograde food wastes on annual supply ship to
the United States.

This alternative is similar to Alternative A1, except that the
food and food-related wastes would be removed from Antarctica to
the United States rather than remain in storage at McMurdo
Station.

In February, 1992, USAP retrograded approximately 57 tons of food
waste to the U.S. on the annual supply ship.  The food waste was
placed into lined triwall containers for transport.  The food
waste with highest water content was placed in clear plastic bags
prior to being placed in the triwall.  For transport to the U.S.,
the food waste triwalls were placed in refrigerated vans onboard
the M/V Greenwave.

Upon return to the United States, U.S. Department of Agriculture
regulations mandate certain disposal procedures.  These require
food waste to be properly contained in leakage proof containers,
and removed to an appropriate disposal facility for incineration,
sterilization or grinding.

The food waste was disposed of through a contract with a U.S.D.A.
approved facility in California which steam sterilized,
compacted, and then disposed of the food waste in an approved
landfill.  The sterilization process involves heating the waste
above 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of two hours and
testing the material for spores in order to meet state
requirements designed to verify the effectiveness of the process.

USAP projects that food and food-related waste will accumulate at
McMurdo at an annual rate of 190 milvans (150 milvans of food-
related waste and 40 milvans of food waste).  Retrograding all
this food and food-related waste to the United States poses two
problems for USAP:  storage of the waste at McMurdo until the
arrival of the ship and the limited capacity of the M/V
Greenwave.

Storage of accumulated food waste presents significant problems.
There are no buildings, warehouses, or refrigerated milvans
available for storage of this waste.  Because of the long
planning and logistics cycle, procurement, shipment, and
installation of additional storage space for this waste would
take approximately two years.  The food waste must be kept at or
near a frozen condition to prevent spoilage, facilitate packaging
and enhance hygienic handling conditions.  As the weather warms
prior to the arrival of the annual resupply ship, scavenging
Antarctic birds will be attracted to the food waste if proper
storage cannot be provided.  This could interfere with the birds'
normal eating habits and could lead to the developing dependence
on human activity for their food supply.

Food-related waste, much of which is composed of light-weight
material, requires storage in milvans.  Winter conditions at
McMurdo Station are characterized by continuous darkness and
significant winds.  Loading the milvans in an unprotected outdoor
setting with poor visibility and exposure to the winds might
result in dispersion of the waste materials over wide areas of
McMurdo.

To address these storage problems, USAP would need to
redistribute the allocation of milvans now at McMurdo which will
have negative impacts on other environmental activities.  There
are currently 175 milvans at McMurdo available for transporting
waste from McMurdo.  USAP planned to use 125 of these milvans to
address the backlog of other solid waste (construction wood and
scrap metal) currently at McMurdo.  If these milvans are diverted
to storing food and food-related waste, this could result in
delays in removing the other solid wastes from McMurdo.

The Greenwave has a capacity of 600 milvans or TEUs.  This
includes a maximum capacity of 44 refrigerated vans which must be
transported on deck accessible to the crew for daily checks on
the refrigeration system.  Four of the refrigerated vans must be
used for science, leaving 40 available for food waste.  The total
annual requirement for retrograding all other waste (hazardous
waste, scrap metal, construction debris, etc.) is approximately
379 milvans.  Another annual requirement is general cargo,
primarily returning scientific equipment and samples, at 185
milvans annually.  As discussed above, the annual accumulation of
food waste and food-related waste is 190 milvans.  In addition, a
backlog of 243 milvans of other solid waste (construction wood
and scrap metal) is awaiting retrograde from McMurdo.  Thus, the
annual retrograde requirement of 754 milvans exceeds the capacity
of the vessel by 154 milvans if all food waste is retrograded.
Furthermore, USAP could never remove the backlog of 243 milvans
of other solid waste.

A tub grinder could be used to achieve a 3 to 1 reduction in the
volume of food-related waste.  This would reduce the annual
milvan requirement for food-related waste from 150 to 50 milvans.
Although a tub grinder would lower the annual milvan requirement
for total numbers of milvans for retrograde, USAP could still not
remove all solid waste and cargo present at McMurdo when the
Greenwave arrives.

To remedy this situation, USAP could charter additional ship time
on the Greenwave to allow the ship to return to New Zealand to
unload cargo followed by a second port call at McMurdo (commonly
known as a double shuttle).  The double shuttle would also
increase USAP's capacity to deliver more sorely needed milvans to
McMurdo.

The food waste and food-related waste would be retrograded to the
United States for disposal.  Because the Greenwave's port of call
is Port Hueneme, California, and NSF pays for use of the ship on
a per diem basis, it is most cost effective to offload the food
waste at a port on the west coast.  USAP is currently finalizing
contractual arrangements to dispose of the food waste in the
greater Seattle area.  USAP is presently engaged in on-going
discussions with U.S.D.A. and E.P.A. officials as well as State,
County, and local health department officials to obtain any
necessary approvals or permits for disposal of the food waste in
the State of Washington.  Since U.S.D.A. regulations require the
food waste to be sterilized or incinerated upon entry into the
United States, the food waste will either be incinerated in a
municipal incinerator and landfilled, or sterilized by
composting.

Longer term methods to reduce volumes of food and food-related
waste

As noted above, the large volume of food and food-related waste
produced at McMurdo Station significantly taxes the limited
capacity for storage at McMurdo and onboard the cargo vessel.
For this reason, USAP is researching technologies to further
reduce the volume of food waste and food-related waste as part of
the waste management system at the Station.

Dewatering.  One way to reduce the volume of food waste is to
acquire a mechanical filter press dewatering system to remove
excess moisture from the food waste.  The device could be
installed in the existing Building 155 near the galley and the
extracted water would enter the sewage system.  The $30,000
device would be electrically driven, and minimally increase power
requirements at the Station.

Dewatering decreases the volume of food waste by approximately
50%.  This would reduce the total food waste milvan annual
requirement to 20.  A reduction in the quantity of food waste
would reduce the energy costs associated with storing the food
waste at McMurdo, loading the waste on the ship, and transporting
the waste to its site of disposal.  Additional energy savings
would be the lower number of refrigerated vans required to be in
operation during ship transit.  Dewatering is the first step for
subsequent incineration or pelletizing.  Dewatering should not be
used if the food waste will be composted.

Pellitizing.  The pelletizing process utilizes a dehydrator and
extruder to produce small dry pellets suitable for animal feed.
This technology is beginning to become commercially available.
The dehydration process would create some air emissions and would
require additional power.  The moisture content would be even
further reduced than by simple mechanical dewatering.
Refrigerated vans would not be required for shipment as the
product is stable.  Storage and transportation energy
requirements would also be reduced because of the relatively
light weight of the pellets.  This system would be expected to
cost about one million dollars and would require a dedicated
building.  Additional costs may be partially offset by income
from sale of the pellets.  Such a system would take two to three
years to install.

Composting.  Invessel composting has been successfully used in
small communities in the United States.  This system is totally
enclosed and modular in design which could lend itself to the
McMurdo environs.  Food waste is suitable for composing because
it has suitable amounts of nitrogen and carbon.  Composting is
another method of significantly reducing the volume of food waste
prior to shipment--estimated at 70%.  This method could also
reduce waste paper.  Composting would require a building at
McMurdo dedicated for this purpose.  The cost is estimated at
$500,000 and this could be partially offset by sale of the
compost.  Exhausts from the composter would be treated by a
scrubbing unit.  The system would probably take three years for
implementation at McMurdo.

As noted above, USAP is also researching the possibility of
composting the waste at a facility in the State of Washington.

Environmental Effects

McMurdo and Environs

Retrograding virtually all food waste to the U.S. by ship would
have a positive effect on the McMurdo environment because
disposal would occur outside the Antarctic Treaty area.  Problems
associated with dispersal of stockpiled food and food-related
waste could be mitigated by providing an adequate number of
milvans or other storage facilities for the waste.  Proper
containment would prevent the waste from being scattered in the
McMurdo area by winds or native wildlife.  To a large extent, it
would prevent native Antarctic birds from becoming dependent on
the waste as a food source.

Outside of Antarctica

As discussed above, USAP is planning on bringing the food waste
to Washington State.  In accordance with U.S.D.A. regulations,
the food and food-related waste would either be sterilized (by
composting) or incinerated at U.S.D.A. approved facilities prior
to disposal in an authorized landfill.

In Washington State, local governments (cities and counties) have
lead responsibility for solid waste management.  Each county is
required to prepare a comprehensive solid waste management plan.
These plans describe existing solid waste handling facilities and
long-range needs.  Local jurisdictional health departments are
responsible for issuing permits for solid waste handling
facilities.  The health department must investigate each
application to determine whether the proposed site and facility
meets all applicable laws and regulations and conforms with the
comprehensive waste management plan.  The State Department of
Ecology reviews every solid waste management facility permit to
ensure that the proposed site conforms with applicable laws and
regulations and the comprehensive waste management plan.

The 1991 Washington State Solid Waste Management Plan considers
composting a key component to reaching the state's 50% recycling
goal.  The State encourages composting of organic solid wastes
and using the finished compost product as a soil amendment or
mulch.  To further this goal, the State of Washington Department
of Ecology awarded five compost study grants in 1991 to local
governments.  These grants supported research to enhance current
markets and uses, develop new markets, obtain technical
information about product quality, test new collection and
processing methods for compost and explore appropriate
applications for compost products.  Ecology had identified 17
regulated composting facilities in Washington.  The Minimum
Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling (MFS) regulate
composting.  USAP disposal of waste by composting would be
consistent with the State goal to foster use of composting.

The Washington Solid Waste Management Reduction and Recycling Act
establishes energy recovery and incineration of separated waste;
and energy recovery and incineration of mixed wastes; as the
third and fourth priorities for the collection and management of
solid waste in the State of Washington.  RCW 70.95.010(8)(c)(d).
Incinerators are regulated under MFS.  According to Washington
State Department of Ecology, Publication #92-103, Solid Waste in
Washington State, First Annual Status Report, January 1993),
Washington has seven regulated incinerator facilities.  These
facilities are permitted annually by the local jurisdictional
health department with review by the State Department of Ecology.
Pursuant to the Solid Waste Incinerator and Landfill Operators
Act, the State has also developed a landfill and incinerator
operator certification program.

The Incinerator Ash Residue Act and the rules implementing this
Act (Special Incinerator Ash Management Standards) also require
municipal solid waste incinerators to have an approved Generator
(Ash) Management plan in place.  Landfill facilities which
receive the ash residue from municipal solid waste incinerators,
ash monofills, are also regulated in Washington.  The State
Department of Ecology has permit authority for ash monofills.
Ash monofills in Washington are regulated by Special Incinerator
Ash Management Standards which set permitting, construction and
operating standards for ash monofills.  These standards are
generally more stringent than standards for municipal solid waste
landfills.  Washington has three ash monofill landfills (Solid
Waste in Washington State, First Annual Report).  In 1991,
monofills in Washington disposed 45,851 tons of incinerator ash.

According to Washington State officials, in 1992, 468,000 tons of
municipal waste was incinerated statewide.  McMurdo's total
annual accumulation of food waste comprises only .01%  of the
annual waste incinerated in the State of Washington, an
inconsequential quantity.  The State incinerator facilities have
the capacity to dispose of McMurdo's waste, and this incremental
quantity of waste would have a negligible environmental impact.

Costs

Normally, USAP spends $1.8 million for the Greenwave's single
trip to McMurdo.  A double shuttle would cost the Government an
additional $3 million for the additional ship time, charter of
commercial shipping services from New Zealand, additional
stevedoring, and extended deployment of the Coast Guard
icebreaker to provide ice escort service to the Greenwave.

The Greenwave's port of call is Port Hueneme, California.  It
will take approximately 15 days of additional vessel time to
transport the waste to Seattle, offload the waste, and return the
vessel to Port Hueneme, a cost of approximately $390,000 ($26,000
per day).

Since U.S.D.A. regulations require the food waste to be
sterilized or incinerated upon entry into the United States, the
food waste will either be incinerated and landfilled, or
sterilized by composting.  Either method of disposal would cost
approximately $176.50 per ton, or $17,650 per year.

Public Health

Because the food waste would be transported in refrigerated vans,
the public health risk to personnel on the ship is negligible.
The public health risk from disposal in the United States is also
negligible.

Alternative A3.  Retrograde food wastes to New Zealand.

This alternative would require the concurrence of the host
country, taking into account public opinion surrounding such a
retrograde.  USAP has discussed with New Zealand representatives
the possibility of continuing to retrograde food waste to New
Zealand for landfilling or incineration.

1991-1992 Austral Summer Season.  At the beginning of the 1991-
1992 austral summer season (October 3, 1991), the Senior U.S.
Representative Antarctica declared that a critical, emergency
situation with respect to accumulated food-related wastes existed
at McMurdo Station.  Approximately 31,500 kilograms (70,000
pounds or 35 tons) of food-related wastes had accumulated since
the close of the 1990-1991 season.  In addition, the food-related
waste was thawing due to the rise in temperature, and the influx
of austral summer personnel had begun.  Due to budgetary
developments, the USAP faced the possibility of being shut down
on short notice.  The USAP needed to take swift action to ensure
the proper disposal of the accumulated waste in the event of an
unplanned evacuation.  USAP staff in Washington, Christchurch and
at McMurdo Station were tasked with investigating options for
processing or disposal of this waste, and choosing and
implementing a workable option under these emergency conditions.

Discussions between the NSF Representative, New Zealand and the
Christchurch City Council on these emergency circumstances led to
an agreement, subject to the approval of the New Zealand Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) for a shipment of food-related
waste to be retrograded from McMurdo Station to Christchurch, New
Zealand.  The MAF granted USAP a permit (R91/BIO/347) to retro-
grade food wastes to Christchurch.  On October 23, 1991, eighty-
six (86) food waste filled triwall cardboard containers were
retrograded to Christchurch.  The waste load weighed approxi-
mately 32,814 kilograms (72,920 pounds) [31,082 net kilograms
(69,070 net pounds)].  The operation was successful with all
parties stating satisfaction with the outcome.

A second shipment of similar food waste weighing about 9,000
kilograms (20,000 pounds, 10 tons), which eliminated the backlog,
was made on November 14, 1991.  This shipment experienced some
thawing of the frozen waste with subsequent leakage apparent from
4 of 24 triwall boxes.  Solutions to this problem of containment
of any future shipments offered at the time were to:  1) enclose
each triwall box in plastic; and 2) deliver leak-proof dumpsters
to McMurdo.

Subsequent discussions and correspondence (Christchurch City
Council 1991; National Science Foundation Representative, New
Zealand 1991a) between the NSF Representative, New Zealand and
the Christchurch City Council led the USAP to request approval
for the retrograde of an additional three to four shipments
between December 19, 1991 and February 22, 1992.  An agreement
was reached wherein USAP would be allowed to retrograde food-
related wastes to Christchurch, New Zealand until October 16,
1994.

In addition, two analysts from the New Zealand Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries visited and inspected food operations
at McMurdo Station between November 29-30, 1991 (National Science
Foundation Representative, New Zealand 1991b).  The audit report
prepared by the analysts indicate that the retrograde of food-
related wastes from McMurdo Station, Antarctica should entail
insignificant risks of exposing New Zealand biota to exotic
disease agents.  Also, they recommended that the permit
(R91/BIO/347) remain in force subject to monitoring of each
consignment to ensure compliance with conditions of the permit.

1992 Winterover Period.  Food-related wastes generated by the 280
personnel on station during the 1992 winterover period (182 days)
was estimated at about 0.68-0.90 kilograms per person per day
(1.5-2.0 pounds).  Continuing problems associated with efficient
processing of food-related wastes in the temporary incinerator,
delays in bringing the interim incinerator to full operation, and
a decision not to use the Scott Base incinerator during that
period led to accumulating food-related wastes as during the 1991
winterover period.  By July 12, 1992, the NSF Representative on
station estimated there were 65 triwall cardboard boxes (about 21
metric tons) of combustible food-related waste at McMurdo.  He
projected that this number of food-related waste filled triwall
boxes would rise to about 114 (about 40 metric tons) by the
beginning of October 1992.  On October 2, 1992, 59 triwall boxes
of food-related wastes were retrograded to New Zealand, using C-5
air transport.  The weight of the shipment was about 28,200
kilograms (62,665 pounds, 31 tons).

                           TABLE 6
       Dates and Amounts of Food Waste Retrograded to
              New Zealand for Landfill Disposal

                Dates          Approximate Weight
                               in Kilograms (Tons)
         October 23, 1991     31,500 kilograms (35)
         November 14, 1991     9,000 kilograms (10)
         October 2, 1992      27,000 kilograms (30)
                        Total 67,500 kilograms (75)

Current Situation.  Although USAP has a permit from the Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries until October, 1994, USAP also needs
approval from local officials to dispose of the food waste at
landfill sites.  In the past, USAP has obtained permission from
local officials to retrograde the food waste to New Zealand on a
case by case basis.  USAP has discussed the possibility of
retrograding food waste to New Zealand on a more regular basis
with New Zealand and local officials.  This waste could be either
landfilled or incinerated in the Christchurch vicinity.  NSF
utilized space available on aircraft departing from McMurdo to
Christchurch in October, 1993, to transport approximately 80 tons
of the current 1993 winter season backlog of food waste to
Christchurch for disposal.

Logistical considerations.  Space available on existing aircraft
could be used to transport food waste to New Zealand in October
and November in any given year while the ice runway is in
operation.  Food wastes could also be shipped to New Zealand on
the annual supply ship in February.  The food waste would have to
be stockpiled outside during the winter-over period and then
again between November and February, once the ice runway closed.
In addition, USAP would need to transport the food waste in a
frozen state to avoid leakage, a government condition for
retrograde.  If the food waste were retrograded by ship, freezer
containers would be required.

Environmental Effects

McMurdo and Environs

Retrograding food waste to New Zealand by aircraft and/or supply
ship would have a positive effect on the McMurdo environment
because disposal would occur outside the Antarctic Treaty area.
Stockpiling problems could be mitigated by storing the waste in
any available shipping containers or by combining this method of
disposal with retrograde to the United States on the annual
supply ship.

Outside of Antarctica

The total annual person days at McMurdo Station is approximately
220,000, while the total annual person days in Christchurch, New
Zealand, is approximately 100 million.  Assuming that the food
waste production is similar at both locations, McMurdo's food
waste would represent no more than 0.5% of that produced by
Christchurch.  This increase in food waste is negligible and
would have no discernable environmental effect.

Costs

Based on inquiries, the cost of incineration in New Zealand
greatly exceeds the cost of incineration in the United States.
However, the transportation costs should be significantly less as
the incremental cost ($390,000) for the ship to carry waste
beyond California for disposal in Washington would not be
incurred.

Public Health

New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries officials
visited McMurdo Station to examine the food waste prior to
issuing a permit.  They determined that retrograding the food
waste to New Zealand would not pose an undue health risk.

Alternative A4.  Retrograde food wastes by open ocean dumping
outside of the Antarctic Treaty Area.

Open ocean dumping of food waste (i.e., pulped trash and pulped
garbage) would be permissible under the Marine Plastic Pollution
Research and Control Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-220, Title II) if
done beyond 50 nautical miles of 60S.  However, the USAP has
adopted a policy against such practices.

Environmental Effects

McMurdo and Environs

Same as Alternative A2.

Outside Antarctica

Food waste would be introduced into the ocean.

Costs

Some costs would be associated with pulping the trash and
removing plastics.

Public Health

USAP does not anticipate any public health risks associated with
ocean dumping.

Alternative A5.  Retrograde food wastes to the United States via
Aircraft.

This alternative would retrograde all food waste by aircraft to
the U.S. for disposal.  Under this alternative, C-141s would be
used because they are more readily available than other aircraft
and have demonstrated their ability to perform such tasks.
Retrograding could take place only during the approximately eight
weeks the ice runway is open to wheeled aircraft (from October to
the first week in December).  Disposal in the U.S. would follow
the same procedures as previously discussed in Alternative A2.

During the austral summer season, USAP aircraft play an important
role in deploying personnel, supplying Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station and McMurdo Station with provisions and fuel, and
otherwise supporting scientific research.  Runway and parking
space for aircraft at McMurdo is already overtaxed by previously
scheduled flights.  Each of the essential activities supported by
currently scheduled flights would have to be significantly
curtailed to make room for flights retrograding food wastes.

Environmental Effects

McMurdo and Environs

Retrograding food waste to the U.S. by aircraft would have a
positive effect on the McMurdo environment because disposal would
occur outside the Antarctic Treaty area.  The additional flights
departing McMurdo would require that additional fuel be
transported, stored, and transferred to the aircraft at McMurdo,
providing some additional risk of petroleum spills.  In addition,
there would be additional fuel consumption and associated air
emissions.

Outside of Antarctica

This alternative would increase the consumption of fuel for
flights from New Zealand to the United States.  Otherwise, the
impacts would be the same discussed in Alternative A2.

Costs

This alternative has a high cost.  Aircraft would have to be
secured through the Air Mobility Command which may not give this
mission a high priority.  This alternative is much more costly
than retrograding by ship and offers no environmental benefits.

Public Health

Food handling could pose a health risk if food was allowed to
warm above freezing.

B.  Alternatives Studied and Eliminated From Further Evaluation

In the development of this environmental assessment, the
following alternatives were considered and eliminated from
further evaluation:

oAlternative B1.  Incinerate food wastes in three-chambered
 incineration system;

oAlternative B2.  Incinerate food wastes in both the temporary
 two-chambered incinerator and the three-chambered incinerator;

oAlternative B3.  Utilize the two-chambered incinerator at New
 Zealand's Scott Base;

o            Alternative B4.  Ice staging or ocean dumping within the
 Antarctic Treaty Area of food wastes accumulated at McMurdo
 Station; or

oAlternative B5.  Open Burning.

Alternative B1.  Incinerate food wastes in three-chambered
incineration system.

The alternatives in section B, like the alternatives discussed in
section A, would include disposal of small volumes of liquid
wastes within the wastewater system, waste reduction methods,
sorting of solid food wastes, and placement of solid food wastes
in temporary storage.  Note that the no action alternative in
section A would store all waste on-site with no further
treatment.

The Protocol expressly endorses incineration as a means of
disposal in Antarctica.  In 1991, NSF ceased open burning of
solid wastes at McMurdo Station, as it continued to implement a
comprehensive waste management program including segregation,
recycling, and waste minimization.  During this transition
period, NSF adopted incineration as an interim, environmentally
preferable method of disposing of food wastes.  Meanwhile, USAP
continued to examine other alternative methods of disposal and
gather additional incineration emissions monitoring data.  In
March, 1993, NSF halted incineration while it further reviewed
options for disposing of food wastes.  On June 14, 1993, the
Director of the Office of Polar Programs announced that
incineration was no longer the proposed action.

Interim Incinerator

Argonne's National Laboratory's extensive studies of McMurdo's
materials and waste characteristics strongly suggested that
incineration would be the most practical, reliable, and cost
effective method of processing McMurdo's food-related wastes
(i.e., in the context of antarctic operations) in an
environmentally-compatible manner.  Based on Argonne's
recommendation and various environmental assessments, USAP
decided to install an interim incinerator at McMurdo in 1991 to
dispose of food and food-related wastes as an interim measure,
while continuing to examine other long-term options for disposal
of food wastes.

According to waste management studies performed by Argonne
(Argonne National Laboratory 1992), and based upon engineering
design, technical and operational specifications developed by
Antarctic Support Associates, Inc., a high-temperature thermal
oxidation system (i.e., interim incinerator) was fabricated by
Brule Engineering of Blue Island, IL.
As described in the August 2, 1991 EIA, the incinerator system
was designed to destroy food-waste related organic matter through
the use of a high-temperature oxidation combustion process.  The
incinerator included a third combustion chamber to reduce oxides
of nitrogen produced by burning.  In addition, a gas clean-up
system scrubbed acid gases from exit gases and filtered out
remaining particulates.  The incinerator system had opacity,
SO2/NO and O2 monitors.  The system also included components
which prepare the appropriate feedstock and collect ash
residues. (Figure 2).  The incinerator system was designed to
achieve 99.99% destruction of all organics.  A detailed
description of the interim incinerator system may be found in the
August 2, 1991 EIA.

Performance Acceptance Testing.  ASA ordered the incinerator from
Brule Engineering on condition that it be operationally tested in
the U.S. prior to shipment to Antarctica.  Clean Air Engineering
of Palatine, IL was employed by Antarctic Support Associates,
Inc. to conduct performance acceptance testing of the interim
incinerator.  The performance acceptance testing took place on
November 8, 1991.  Emissions-related parameters estimated
included levels of particulate, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide
and opacity.  Operations-related parameters included process
conditions, and time.  Over an 8.5 hour time period consisting
of two runs, about 1800 pounds of waste were oxidized.  The waste
burned during the test was designed to simulate McMurdo Station
waste. (Clean Air Engineering, 1991)

The acceptance test burn system did not include any of the post-
incineration components that were installed at the McMurdo
Station facility, including the dry scrubber, bag house, heat
exchanger, and induced draft fan.  In particular, the lack of the
induced draft fan precluded attaining the desired combustion
temperature of 1600 degrees.  The average temperature during the
test burn was 1350 degrees F.  The emissions from the installed
incinerator system were expected to be significantly lower than
the results of the acceptance test, as a result of the addition
in Antarctica of these emission control devices.
insert fig. 2
Table 7 contains the results of the performance acceptance
testing.  Table 8 contains the EPA standards of performance for
municipal waste combustors.  These EPA standards apply to
incinerators located in the United States with a capacity to burn
at least 250 tons per day of waste.  In contrast, the McMurdo
incinerator has a capacity to burn less than two tons per day.
However, because EPA standards do not yet exist for smaller
incinerator systems, USAP utilized these emission standards as
guidelines.  Table 9 converts the performing acceptance testing
data to a form comparable to those guideline emission standards.
All of the testing parameters were within the guideline emission
standards except for particulates.  NSF expected the subsequent
installation of the pollution control components (dry scrubber
and baghouse) at McMurdo Station to significantly lower the level
of particulate emissions.

McMurdo Station Feedstock.  As noted in the August 2, 1991 EIA,
the interim incinerator included a system to provide for the
inspection and removal of unsuitable items from the feedstock.
Feedstock items were limited to food waste (i.e., preparation
wastes, plate scrapings), food-related waste (e.g., napkins, food
packaging materials), and selected wastes from dormitories and
other administrative buildings (e.g., tissues, paper towels, and
other similar wastes).

USAP added human fecal material from field camps to the
incinerator feedstock because of the difficulty experienced with
disposal by other alternatives.  This reduced handling and health
risks, as well as problems with introducing the frozen waste into
the wastewater macerator.  The addition of this relatively small
quantity of waste to the feedstock did not adversely impact on
the incinerator emissions because fecal materials are residues of
food from digestion.

Pollution producing materials were removed from the incinerator
feedstock.  Prohibited items included materials known to contain
concentrations of toxic metals, such as batteries, metal scrap
and cans including aerosol cans, and newspaper and magazine
paper.  Any item containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were
excluded from the feedstock.  This includes plastics containing
PVC and high concentrations of chlorine.  High-density plastics
were also excluded.

                           TABLE 7
                  Parameters and Results of
               Performance Acceptance Testing
                     Interim Incinerator
             [Using Methods 3A, 5, 7E, 9 and 10]

                                    Run 1     Run 2    Average
Start Time (approx.)              1:04 pm    3:50 pm
Stop Time (approx.)               2:21 pm    4:55 pm
Process Conditions
Auxiliary Burners
   Kerosene Usage (gal/hr)             5        5
Main Incinerator
 Maximum Waste Burn Rate (lb/hr)     300      300
 Chamber Temperature (F)           1350     1350

 Gas Conditions
 Temperature (F)                   1256     1258       1257
 Moisture (volume %)                   8.9     7.9         8.4
 O2 (dry volume %)                    11.7    13.1        12.4
 CO2 (dry volume %)                    7.5     5.5         6.5

Volumetric Flow Rate
   acfm                             2635     2643       2639
   dscfm                             735      745        740

Particulate
 gr/dscf                          0.0203   0.0219      0.0211
 lb/hr                            0.128    0.140       0.134

Nitrogen Oxides
   ppm                                77       79         78
   lb/hr                           0.404    0.424      0.414

Opacity
   Percent                             5        5          5

Carbon Monoxide
   ppm                                39       10         25
   lb/hr                           0.125    0.033      0.079

*  The acceptance test burn system did not include any of the
post-incineration components that were installed at the McMurdo
Station facility, including the dry scrubber, bag house, heat
exchanger, and induced draft fan.
                                                 TABLE 8
                        Summary of "Standards of Performance for
                                Municipal Waste Combustors"
                     [From 56 Federal Register 5506; February 1991]

  Parameters                 Emissions Limit          Test and Section
                                and Section
------------------        ------------------------   -------------------
Dioxins/Furans              30 ng/dscm                  Method 23
                             S 60.53                     S 60.58d(1)

Particulate Matter          34 mg/dscm                  Methods 1,3 & 5
                             S 60.52a                    S 60.58b(1), (2)
                                                         and (3)

Opacity                     10 %                        Method 9 (Opacity
                            S 60.52 (b)                 Limit)
                                                        S 60.58b(7)

Oxygen                      No Limit                    Method 5 [Either
                            S 60.58b(3)                 Oxygen or Carbon
                                                        Dioxide must be
                                                        run simultaneously
                                                        with Method 5

Carbon Dioxide              No Limit
                            S 60.58b(3)

Sulfur Dioxide              80 % reduction or           Method 19, S 5.4
                            30 ppm, whichever           Method 19, S 4.3
                            is less stringent           S 60.58e(1) & (2)
                            S 60.54a

Hydrogen Chloride           95 % reduction or           Method 26
                            25 ppm, whichever           S 60.58f(2)
                            is less stringent
                            S 60.54d

Nitrogen Oxides             180 ppm                     Method 19, S 4.1
                            S 60.55a                    S 60.58g(1)

Carbon Monoxide              50 ppm                     No Method Listed;
                            S 60.56a                    S 60.58h requires
                                                        CEMS
-----------------          -----------------           -------------------
Although these standards apply to incinerators in the U.S. with a larger
volume than the Interim Incinerator, USAP has utilized these EPA emissions
standards as guidelines.

                           TABLE 9
      Conversion of Performance Acceptance Testing Data
                             to
       Form Comparable to Standards of Performance for
                 Municipal Waste Combustors

  Parameter          Actual         Corrected to       Emission
                     Reading        7 % Oxygen Dry     Standard

  Particulate       0.0211 gr/dscf  0.0345 gr/dscf     0.015 gr/dscf
                    47.8 mg/dscm    78.2 mg/dscm

  Nitrogen          78 ppm              128 ppm           180 ppm
  Oxides (NOx)

  Carbon            25 ppm               41 ppm            50 ppm
  Monoxide (CO)

  Opacity            5%                no correction       10%

   Conversion Equation:
Where  C = Concentration of Parameter Corrected
             To 7 Percent Oxygen On A Dry Basis
      CS = Measured Concentration of Parameter
       O2 = Oxygen Content of Gas = 12.4% (Dry Volume)

Example Calculation:
    NOx = 78 ppm (20.9 - 7) / (20.9 - 12.4) = 128 ppm

Minimization of Dioxins and Furans.  While any act of combustion
produces trace quantities of dioxins and furans (Dioxins and furans
are polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated
dibenzofurans. All are solids at ambient temperature with high melt-
ing and boiling points and limited solubility in water.)as unwanted
by-products (Acharya, et al. 1991), their control in incineration
technologies relies on control of the nature of the feedstock as
well as of the combustion process.  While scientific opinion on
the human health and environmental risks of dioxins and furans
is, as yet, inconclusive (Gallo, et al. 1991; Roberts 1991), the
USAP designed the incinerator system to minimize their
generation.
The interim incinerator was engineered to provide design features
that include components allowing human feedstock item
discrimination, combustion controls, high temperature, and gas
monitors which effectively minimize the formation of dioxins and
furans.  Chlorine in the feedstock is of primary concern in the
formation of dioxins and furans.  To reduce the amount of
chlorine:  (1) polyvinyl chloride containing items and
chemically-treated lumber were excluded from the feedstock; and
(2) the incineration system itself was designed without copper in
the ducting or components in the heat recovery and gas cleanup
systems to catalyze the formation of dioxins and furans; and
(3) a baghouse and dry gas scrub was included.

Installation of Interim Incinerator.  The combustion chamber
components arrived at McMurdo in December, 1991, but additional
critical components of the incinerator system did not arrive
until late February, 1992.  During March and April 1992, USAP
installed various components of the incinerator system and
completed fabrication of supporting facilities.  Combustion
chamber firing and testing began in May, 1992.  Installation
progressed slower than scheduled due to necessary modifications
to ancillary equipment and limited space in the enclosing
structure. Construction and installation of supporting equipment
continued during May and June, 1992.

Determining the best mix of wet and dry feedstocks was important
to operation of the incinerator.  The feedstock mix consisted of
approximately 0.7 pounds of galley waste to each pound of dry
burnable waste.  This resulted in a capacity of approximately 220
pounds per hour.  At that burn rate, during the austral summer
when the McMurdo population is at peak, the interim incinerator
was operated two eight-hour shifts per day.  During the winter
season, the incinerator was operated much less frequently.

ASA established numerous procedures for operating the interim
incinerator, including safety guidelines (such as hearing and eye
protection) and data collection.  During incinerator operation,
the operators continuously recorded temperatures in the
incinerator chambers, temperatures at various points in the duct
work between the incinerator and the stack exit, pressures, and
charge rates.

In late July and August 1992, testing with representative waste
began, and problems were experienced with the conveyors,
shredders, and mills feeding materials to the incinerator
chambers (Figure 2).  Work on required modifications continued
into November to increase the system's efficiency.

Interim Incinerator Emissions Testing.  Although some testing was
performed in the U.S. as part of acceptance tests, both
operational and emissions testing continued in the Antarctic.

1.  Stack Emission Testing.  No U.S. emissions standards exist
for incinerators with as small a capacity as that of the interim
incinerator.  As noted earlier, USAP chose to use EPA standards
for larger municipal solid waste incinerators (greater than 250
tons per day) located in the United States as guidelines for
evaluating the performance of the interim incinerator.  These
standards are found at 56 Federal Register 5506 (February, 1991).

To evaluate emissions from the incinerator, USAP's civilian
contractor engaged a testing firm certified in:  (1) incinerator
performance acceptance testing (previously discussed); and
(2) the sampling, analysis and interpretation of incinerator
stack gas emissions.

The continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) became
operational in mid-November, and monitored the incinerator
emission for oxygen, opacity, and nitric oxide, and sulfur
dioxide.  The emissions testing subcontractor certified the
accuracy of the CEMS, and it was routinely operated by ASA
contract employees.  During operation of the incinerator, the
operators continuously recorded readings from the CEMS.

In November, 1992, USAP, utilizing the CEMS, reported testing
results for opacity, sulfur dioxide and nitric oxides.  The
results for sulfur dioxide and nitric oxides were well within
acceptable standards.  With respect to opacity, two readings
exceeded the standards--one was attributable to an equipment
failure and the other to a testing error.  The contractor reports
that the Dynatron 1100M Opacity Monitor installed on the stack
had read zero or one percent over 95% of the time since
installation in mid-November.

USAP collected additional CEMS data during December, 1992 (Table
10).  The CEMS data for the parameters of opacity, sulfur
dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide emissions are analyzed for 21 days
of intermittent operation in December.  Table 11 gives a summary
of the parameters calculated from the data for comparison with
EPA standards for larger MWC's.  Data points were not used if the
charge time was less than zero, indicating that no waste was
being burned.  These data points correspond to the start-up or
shut-down periods exempted by E.P.A. regulations for larger MWC's
in the U.S.

Opacity:  Gases discharged from a large MWC must exhibit an
opacity no greater than 10%.  Figure 3 shows that with the
exception of the December 5, 7, and 8, readings of zero opacity
were obtained for all other days.  All daily averages were well
below the 10% limit.  It is noted that the 10% standard is a 6-
minute average, but the CEMS data is collected usually at half-
hour intervals.  Misalignment of the opacity monitor can occur
when the instrument temperature exceeds 1300 degrees F.  During
table 10
table 11
fig. 3
occurrences of high opacity readings, no visible emissions were
ever observed coming from the stack.

Nitrogen Oxygen Emissions:

Gases discharged from a large MWC shall not contain greater than
180 parts per million by volume nitrogen oxides corrected to 7%
oxygen on a dry basis.  The average arithmetic daily values
(NO_AVG) are calculated, then the following formula is used to
correct this value to 77% on a dry basis (NO_7PER(dry)):

NO_7PER(dry) = NO_AVG x [13.9/(20.9 - O2_AVG)]/.97

This formula assumes the moisture content is 3%.  Figure 4 gives
the daily average values for December.  The nitrogen oxide
emission standard was exceeded 4 out of the 21 days of operation
with a daily average for all operating days for the month of
December equal to 132.86 ppmv.  The days that the standard was
exceeded were in succession at the beginning of the month.

The highest daily average for NOx of 88.27 was recorded on
December 8, 1992 (corresponding to a value of 211.54 ppm
NO_7PER).  If the relative accuracies for NOx and O2 were applied
to this value, at the lower limit the NOx value (corrected for
moisture and 7% oxygen) would be under the MWC standard of
180 ppmv.  This point is made to show that the nitrogen oxide
emissions for December are very close to the standard.  Even
though four of the twenty-one NOx values exceeded the performance
standard, by applying the accuracy measurements they would be in
compliance.  It is noted that the SM8100A CEMS which measures
nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide was calibrated on
December 10, 1992 and after this calibration was performed, the
nitrogen oxide levels for the remainder of the month were below
the standard level.

Sulfur Dioxide Emissions.  After the initial compliance test is
completed, discharges of SO2 from a large MWC plant in the U.S.
shall not exceed 30 parts per million by volume, corrected to 7%
oxygen (dry basis).  For MWCs that do not run continuously,
compliance is determined by using a daily geometric mean of all
hourly average values for the hours during the day that the
affected facility is combusting MSW.

The geometric mean daily values are calculated, then the
following formula is used to correct this value to 7% oxygen on a
dry basis:

SO2_7PER(dry) = SO2_PER  x [13.9/(20.9 - O2_AVG)]/.97

The above assumes that the moisture content is 3%.  Figure 5
gives the daily geometric averages for December.  There were no
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
values which exceeded the 20 ppmv standard, and the daily average
for the 21 days of operation in December was 16.9 ppmv.

The emissions subcontractor conducted additional stack monitoring
testing for CO2, opacity, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate emissions, hydrochloric
acid, lead, cadmium, mercury, dioxins and furans in early
December, 1992, in accordance with the E.P.A. new source
performance standards for municipal solid waste incinerators
located in the U.S. greater than 250 tons per day.  EPA provided
specialized dioxin and furan sampling supplies to USAP for INEL's
use at McMurdo Station.  This testing was completed on
December 10, 1992 and the samples were shipped to EPA
laboratories in North Carolina for analysis.

The EPA standards apply to incinerators with a capacity to burn
at least 250 tons per day of waste and the McMurdo incinerator
has a capacity to burn less than two tons per day.  However,
these reference standards are the most stringent federal U.S.
standards published to date and are useful for comparison.
Regulatory standards do not exist for two of the nine parameters
tested:  total hydrocarbons and PM-10.  Results for five of the
parameters tested met the referenced regulatory standards for
particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide,
and trace metals.  Results for two of the parameters, hydrogen
chloride and dioxins, exceeded the comparative standards and were
higher than anticipated.  (See Table 11).

EPA standards provide two different methods for complying with
hydrogen chloride levels; a procedure for sampling incinerator
emission stack sampling (the method used by INEL), and a
procedure which compares HCl levels before and after the dry
scrubbing system.  In the latter case, a relative rather than an
absolute standard applies, i.e. a 95% reduction in HCl is
required.  Normally, a dry scrubber removes SO2 prior to HCl.
The very low levels of SO2 emissions imply that the dry scrubber
is achieving the 95% reduction in HCl.  However, the testing
contractor did not perform this second test.

A variety of steps could be taken to reduce the dioxin/furan
levels.  Reducing the levels of paper in the feedstock, operation
of the incinerator at higher temperatures, and installing new
methods for stoking and mixing the waste in the incinerator would
help maintain proper air flow and temperatures throughout the
incinerator cycle.  Installation of a glass viewing port would
allow observation of the primary combustion chamber without
disrupting air flow.  Staffing of the incineration to allow
continuous operation would reduce emissions produced during lower
temperatures during start-up and shut-down.  Improvements to the
lime scrubbing systems such as changing to a wet or semi-wet
system and adding substances such as charcoal would further
decrease dioxin emissions.
Disposition of McMurdo Station Ash.  All residual ash generated
from the incinerator is removed from McMurdo Station pursuant to
provisions of the Antarctic Treaty.  As tasked by the NSF, DOD
established a contract with a waste disposal firm to properly
dispose of the ash in accordance with applicable State and
Federal law.

The incinerator system produced two types of ash; fly ash and
bottom ash.  Fly ash includes particles entrained in the
incinerator exhaust gas and unreacted lime from the gas scrubber.
Fly ash was collected by filters in the interim incinerator
baghouse; on a time basis a burst of compressed air backflowed
through the filter bags shaking off collected gas.  The fly ash
then fell into two hoppers at the base of the baghouse which
funneled the ash into 55 gallon drums.  These drums were
connected to the baghouse by an airtight system to prevent fly
ash from becoming airborne.  Fly ash levels in the drum were
checked by the operators routinely.  Once the drums were over 3/4
full, they were removed, closed, labeled and sent to the waste
yard for removal from Antarctica.

Approximately 1300 pounds of fly ash and discarded baghouse
filters were returned to the United States in February 1993 on
the M/V Greenwave.  These materials are a Department of
Transportation regulated corrosive solid material and were first
shipped to the contractor's storage, transfer and disposal
facility in Reedsville, North Carolina and then sent to a secure
landfill in Pinewood, South Carolina.

Bottom ash is composed of non-combustible material left in the
furnace and is removed from the incinerator prior to each start-
up.  The ash was scraped off the top of the primary chamber
grate, and off the floor of each chamber through access doors in
the back of the incinerator.  The bottom ash was scraped into a
rectangular funnel that extends from a 55 gallon drum.  After the
ash in the drum cooled, it was transferred into triwall
containers for removal from Antarctica.

A little over 31,000 pounds of bottom ash was returned to the
United States on the MV/Greenwave in February, 1993.  This
material is a non-RCRA California state regulated waste.  Ash was
fully characterized and was acceptable for storage, transport,
and disposal in the United States.  It was shipped to the
contractor's transferring facility in Millington, Tennessee and
disposed of in a landfill in Memphis, Tennessee.

Costs.  As discussed above, the incinerator has not been operated
since March 22, 1993.  If NSF were to decide to operate the
incinerator again, several costs would have to be expended.
First, NSF would need to replace the existing heat exchanger
because it is damaged.  This would cost approximately $30,000.
Second, NSF would incur costs implementing methods to reduce
dioxin levels, such as installing a glass viewing port, and
improving the lime scrubbing system.  In addition, NSF would
retest the incinerator to ensure that the mitigation steps
actually resulted in lower dioxin emissions and that the
emissions meet HCl guidelines.  The total cost to restart the
incinerator is estimated to be $200,000.

Environmental Effects.  As noted above, the Protocol specifically
endorses incineration as an environmentally acceptable means of
waste disposal in Antarctica.

Ambient air quality monitoring data was gathered between November
1992 and February 1993.  The interim incinerator was in operation
during this time period and is located near the Hut Point
monitoring site.  This data indicates that the concentrations of
SO2, NO2, and CO at all three monitoring locations at McMurdo
were below all applicable U.S. National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS).  SO2, NO, NO2, and NOx were detected at both
Hut Point and Central McMurdo in the low parts per billion (ppb)
range.  The localized impact of vehicle and ship emissions on the
ambient concentrations of SO2 and NOx were observed at Hut Point.
CO levels at both locations were near or below the 0.1 ppm level
of detection.

The Interpoll and CEMS monitoring data indicates that the interim
incinerator emissions for sulfur dioxide, opacity and nitrogen
oxides are below the guidelines for incinerator emissions and
meet the design specifications.  The interim incinerator would
contribute an approximate 1% addition to the SO2 concentrations
at McMurdo.  The Interpoll data also demonstrated that the
incinerator emissions for carbon monoxide and trace metals such
as lead, cadmium and mercury were also below the guidelines.

The Interpoll incinerator emission testing results for dioxins
and HCl levels, however, were higher than the guidelines.  A
second test measuring the HCl reduction achieved by the dry
scrubber is likely to demonstrate that the dry scrubber is
achieving a 95% reduction.  Although, as discussed above, NSF
could take steps to mitigate the levels of dioxin emissions and
reduce their environmental impact, the Director of the Office of
Polar Programs stated on June 14, 1993 that incineration would no
longer be the proposed action.

Alternative B2.  Incinerate food wastes in both the temporary,
two-chambered incinerator and the three-chambered incinerator.

After the closing of the Fortress Rocks landfill in February of
1991 and the cessation of open burning, USAP was confronted with
the problem of a growing backlog of food-related waste.
Following preparation of environmental documentation assessing
the possible impacts, USAP authorized the incineration of food
and food-related wastes in a temporary incinerator on June 14,
1991.  The temporary incinerator is described in the August 2,
1991 EIA.  Operation testing of the temporary incinerator and
engineering changes continued to be made throughout the 1991
winterover period.  Even with some incineration of food and food-
related wastes occurring, these wastes continued to accumulate
throughout the 1991 winterover period as the two chamber
incinerator lacked the capacity to handle the total volume of
food waste.

The August 2, 1991 EIA determined that the temporary incinerator
lacked the capacity to address the entire food waste requirements
of McMurdo Station.  This was confirmed at season opening when
food and food-related waste was being produced at McMurdo Station
at the rate of about 10 dumpsters per day but the temporary
incinerator was able to process this food and food-related waste
at a rate of only 4 dumpsters per day.  On August 2, 1991, USAP
decided to utilize the temporary incinerator until the interim
incineration system became operational.

Temporary Incinerator Emissions Testing.  On January 7, 1992, a
combustion analyzer probe was placed in the exhaust gas stack
of the Temporary Incinerator to monitor three parameters:
percent oxygen, carbon monoxide, and temperature (Table 12).  The
Temporary Incinerator had been pre-heated using its auxiliary
fuel burners.  Testing was done as three loads of waste were fed
into the incinerator and as each of these loads completed
burning.

                                      TABLE 12

              Results of Temporary Incinerator
                      Emissions Testing
               Performed at McMurdo Station on
                       January 7, 1992

Time     Percent      CO    Combustion   Temp        Remarks
         Oxygen(ppm)        Efficiency   (F)
0915                                           First load of waste added.
0920      13.0       950
0921       0.7      3530     ---        1180   Waste loaded.
0922       3.8      3528     ---
0924      14.3      1860     67%
0925       0.6      3167     ---               Waste loaded
0926                3330                1132
0930                3549                       Air compressor turned on.

Key:  CO = Carbon monoxide
      ppm = parts per million
      --- = display shown on analyzer
In January, 1992, a fan was installed on the stack to improve
draft.  Use of the fan in combination with feeding waste into the
charge hopper at a steady, controlled rate rather than
overstuffing the hopper, raised the oxygen levels high and
lowered the emissions levels.  In November, 1992, stack opacity
of the temporary incinerator averaged five percent.

Environmental Effects.  Although there have been some
improvements in minimizing the emissions output from the
temporary incinerator, it remains inferior to the interim
incinerator because the latter has a third chamber, gas clean-up
system which reduces the emissions of particulates or pollutants,
and an extensive continuous monitoring system.

After the interim incinerator became fully operational, the
temporary incinerator was deactivated.  Use of this incinerator
is inappropriate in view of the more efficient interim
incinerator, were incineration in Antarctica deemed to be a
preferred alternative for disposing of McMurdo food waste.

Alternative B3.  Utilize the two-chambered incinerator at New
Zealand's Scott Base.

One of the alternatives (Alternative II-E) examined in the August
2, 1991 EIA was to utilize the two-chambered incinerator
regularly used at Scott Base by the New Zealand Antarctic
Programme.  This base is about two miles from the McMurdo Station
and is about one-twentieth the size of the U.S. Station.  The
capacity of this incinerator is 680 pounds per 8 hour day.  The
Scott Base incinerator specifications are contained in Table 13.
Wastes processed by the New Zealand program in their incinerator
include:  (1) food scraps; (2) paper waste and products;
(3) untreated timber; (4) hydroponic plant remains; and (5) low
density plastic rubbish bags (containing burnable wastes).

Scott Base's Incinerator lacks any emissions control or
monitoring equipment (Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research 1987; Geddes 1990), but has been used by the New Zealand
Antarctic Programme for the processing of combustible wastes
including food-related wastes.  The installation and operation of
the Scott Base incinerator has never been environmentally
assessed by the New Zealand Programme.

The August 2, 1991 EIA considered the capacity of the Scott Base
incinerator inadequate for the total quantity of food-related
waste produced at McMurdo.  It was recognized, however, that a
portion of that waste might be processed at Scott Base, if
permission were granted by the New Zealand Antarctic Programme.

During the 1991-1992 austral summer research season, New Zealand
officials granted USAP permission to use Scott Base's two-
chambered incinerator to allow the processing of a rapidly
TABLE 13
Scott Base Incinerator Specifications

            Component                   Specification
Primary Chamber
   Total Capacity                       1.5 cubic meters
   Waste Capacity                       1.2 cubic meters

Waste Type
   Paper, wet kitchen garbage,
    plastics                            Type '2'
   Calorific Value                      9400 Kilojoules/Kilogram

Capacity for Burning                    310 Kilograms/hour/day
Fuel Type                               Arctic Diesel
Burners
   Primary
-        Type                           Nuway C2
-        Supplier                       Heating Services Ltd.
-        Output                         500,000 Kilojoules/hour
-        Quantity                       1
-        Nozzle                         3 gallons/hour 45 degrees

   Secondary
-        Type                           Nuway C2
-        Supplier                       Heating Services Ltd.
-        Output                         500,000 Kilojoules/hour
-        Quantity                       1
-        Nozzle                         2.75 gallons/hour 70 degrees

Combustion Air Fans
   MacDonald Industries                 200 cubic feet/minute
                                        6 degree w.g.
Electrical Control System
   Supplier                             Cameron Electrical
   Voltage                              240, 1 ph

Component Settings
   Burn Timer 2MT                        60 minutes
   Burn Out Timer 1MT                   150 minutes
   Primary Temp. Controller              Red -  400 degrees C
                                       Green - 1000 degrees C
   Secondary Temp. Controller            Red - 1050 degrees C
                                       Green - 1200 degrees C
Panel Temperature                        +/- 15 degrees C
Panel Low Temperature                      + 05 degrees C

accumulating backlog of food-related wastes.  Between November,
1991 and January, 1992, USAP sporadically disposed of some of its
food waste in the Scott Base incinerator.  The incinerator had
difficulty handling the high water content of the food waste,
which made the effort highly labor intensive.

The NSF Winterover Representative, McMurdo Station, did not
continue to process food wastes in the Scott Base incinerator
during the 1992 winterover period.  This was due to a requirement
to have, at least, one waste management worker spend the entire
day at Scott Base's incinerator to attend to the processing
operation.  This could not be done as there were only three waste
management workers at McMurdo Station during the 1992 winterover
period; and their work schedules at McMurdo Station were full
because they were working on the interim incinerator.  The NSF
Winterover Representative anticipated that McMurdo Station's
interim incinerator would be operational shortly, and capable of
reducing the accumulating backlog of food-related wastes.

McMurdo's interim incinerator did not become operational on
May 1, 1992, as originally planned.  Although the majority of the
backlog was retrograded to New Zealand, a single load of food-
related waste was burned at the Scott Base incinerator on
September 15, 1992.  All ashes were removed from the Scott Base
Incinerator and packaged for retrograde to the United States.

Environmental Effects.  The New Zealand Antarctic Programme was
unable to supply any information about the emissions from the
Scott Base incinerator and the device does not incorporate any
monitoring equipment.  The Scott Base incinerator lacks a third
chamber and the pollution control equipment found on the interim
incinerator system.  In addition, based on program experience,
the older design and smaller capacity of the Scott Base
incinerator clearly preclude its use as a primary means of food-
waste disposal for the USAP.

Alternative B4.  Ice staging or ocean dumping within the
Antarctic Treaty Area of food wastes accumulated at McMurdo
Station.

The USAP has adopted a policy against such practices, making this
alternative unavailable.

Alternative B5:  Open Burning.

This alternative is unacceptable to USAP and is less
environmentally sound than incineration or retrograde.  In
addition, it is contrary to the principles of the Environmental
Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty to phase out open burning; when
signed in October of 1991, USAP stated that we would make all
efforts to voluntarily comply with the Protocol until its enters
into force.
5.0 RECOMMENDATION

The Head, Antarctic Staff, Polar Coordination and Information
Section, Office of Polar Programs, recommends cessation of
incineration of food wastes at McMurdo Station, and adopting a
combination of Alternatives A2 and A3 for management and disposal
of food waste at McMurdo Station, which provides as follows:

1)  Continue implementation and enhancement of waste
    minimization.

2)  Continue grinding, maceration, dilution and discharge into
    the Ross Sea of limited amounts of liquid food wastes and
    water with food waste residue, with impact monitoring;

3)  Retrograde waste to the United States on the annual supply
    ship.

4)  Retrograde waste to New Zealand on aircraft or on the annual
    supply ship.

5)  Examine feasibility and environmental compatibility of using
    composting, pelletizing or other methods of on-site
    processing to reduce the quantity of food and food-
    related waste retrograded to the U.S. and New Zealand.

/s/ Tom Forhan                        January 5, 1994
_________________________               ____________________
Thomas F. Forhan                        Date
Head, Antarctic Staff,
Polar Coordination and Information Section,
Office of Polar Programs
National Science Foundation
6.0 PREPARERS AND INDIVIDUALS CONTACTED IN PREPARATION OF THIS EA

Carol Andrews, Environmental Engineer, Antarctic Support
Associates (ASA)

Paul Berkman, Safety and Occupational Health Division, Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics) Environmental Protection
Department of the Navy

David Bresnahan, Systems Manager Operations and Logistics, Polar
Operations Section, OPP, NSF

Arthur J. Brown, Head, Safety, Environmental & Health
Implementation Team, Polar Operations Section, OPP, NSF

James Chambers, Deputy Project Director, Continental Systems, ASA

Shih-Cheng Chang, Environmental Engineer, Polar Operations
Section, OPP, NSF

Alan B. Crockett, Center for Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment, EG&G Idaho, Inc.

Robert Cunningham, NEPA Compliance Manager, Polar Coordination
and Information Section, OPP, NSF

Erick Chiang, Manager, Polar Operations Section, OPP, NSF

Jane V. Dionne, Acting Environmental Officer, OPP, NSF

Anita Eisenstadt, Assistant General Counsel, Office of General
Counsel (OGC), NSF

Thomas F. Forhan, Head, Antarctic Staff, Polar Coordination and
Information Section, OPP, NSF

Terry Heide, Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of
Indian Affairs

Terry Johnson, Environmentalist, ASA

Eric Juergens, Director, ASA Safety, Environment & Health, ASA

Dr. Peter Karasik, Associate NEPA Compliance Manager, Polar
Coordination and Information Section, OPP

Miriam Leder, Assistant General Counsel, OGC, NSF

Robert M. Lugar, Environmental Technology Unit, EG&G Idaho, Inc.

Craig Martin, Director, Engineering, ASA

Terry Melton, Operations Manager, McMurdo Station, ASA

Charles K. Paul, NSF Representative, New Zealand, OPP, NSF

Dr. Carol Roberts, Deputy Director, OPP, NSF

Walter H. Stevenson, Office of Air Quality Standards,
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

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                          APPENDIX

Vegetation near McMurdo Sound, continental Antarctica.  Canadian Journal of
Botany 51:2339-2346.