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Gross, Ryan

From: Michael Payne - NOAA Federal [michael.payne@noaa.gov]

Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 9:18 AM

To: Gross, Ryan

Cc: Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal

Subject: Re: EPA inquiry re: NSF Ice Pier

Ryan, sorry to get back to you so late. I cant think of any reason given what we know that would require a 

permit at this time. The cable may be of concern but if you are concerned what mitigation do you have in 

mind? Whatever that is can be done to avoid 'takes' of mammals if at all possible in advance of releasing the 

pier. I dont know how big or 'towable' this is, but release in deep water would likely be a good thing as well. 

On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 11:14 AM, Gross, Ryan <Gross.Ryan@epa.gov> wrote: 

Michael,

Jennifer Skidmore told me that you would be making a determination regarding the NSF Ice Pier (see below). Could you

give me a time frame within which this determination will be made?

Thank you,

Ryan Gross, P.E.

Environmental Engineer

US Environmental Protection Agency

ph. 202‐566‐1810

From: Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal [mailto:jennifer.skidmore@noaa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 1:36 PM 

To: Gross, Ryan 

Cc: Michael Payne - NOAA Federal 

Subject: Re: EPA inquiry re: NSF Ice Pier

 

Ryan, 

I have forwarded your inquiry to Mike Payne who is the division chief for the marine mammal incidental take 

program. He will be in touch regarding whether or not you need an incidental take permit which will influence 

the ESA section 7 consultation process. 

Jennifer 
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On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 1:01 PM, Gross, Ryan <Gross.Ryan@epa.gov> wrote: 

Jennifer,

Sorry to bother you again, but did you ever hear back on who the ice pier was assigned to?

Thanks!

Ryan Gross, P.E.

Environmental Engineer

US Environmental Protection Agency

ph. 202‐566‐1810

From: Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal [mailto:jennifer.skidmore@noaa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 1:23 PM 

To: Gross, Ryan 

Subject: Re: EPA inquiry re: NSF Ice Pier

 

Thanks for touching base. Let me find out who this was assigned to. 

Jennifer 

On Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 1:14 PM, Gross, Ryan <Gross.Ryan@epa.gov> wrote: 

Jennifer,

I was wondering if you had heard anything back regarding the ice pier that I emailed you about a few weeks ago?

Thanks again for your help!

Ryan Gross

US EPA

From: Ryan Gross [mailto:Gross.Ryan@epamail.epa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 1:06 PM 

To: Gross, Ryan 

Subject: Fw: Voicemail
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Ryan J. Gross, PE 

Environmental Engineer 

Marine Pollution Control Branch 

US Environmental Protection Agency 

ph. 202-566-1810

----- Forwarded by Ryan Gross/DC/USEPA/US on 02/20/2013 01:06 PM -----

From: Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal <jennifer.skidmore@noaa.gov>

To: Ryan Gross/DC/USEPA/US@EPA

Date: 02/05/2013 02:01 PM

Subject: Re: Voicemail

Thanks for the info, I am making some inquiries and will get back to you regarding Section 7 consultation or 

MMPA incidental take authorizations. 

Jennifer 

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 1:55 PM, <Gross.Ryan@epamail.epa.gov> wrote: 

Jennifer,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

Briefly, NSF has asked EPA to issue them a permit to release a pier made of ice and 

reinforced with steel cable into the ocean from their McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Before I 

approve the permit, I am seeking consultation from NOAA regarding the probable impact of the 

pier on the native wildlife. I'm particularly interested in danger the steel cable may pose to large 

marine mammals.

Details of the pier's construction are included below. More information regarding the release of 

the pier can be provided upon request.

Thanks,

Ryan J. Gross

Ice Pier Description

 

The ice pier is necessary to allow vessels to dock and efficiently unload cargo at McMurdo 

Station. The materials and procedures used to construct the current ice pier are 

representative of the techniques that are expected to be used in the future. The current ice 

pier, which is approximately 244 m (800 ft) long, 92 m (300 ft) wide, and 6.7 m (22 ft) thick, 

was constructed during an austral winter season. Construction began when the frozen ice 

pack in McMurdo Sound reached a thickness of approximately 0.6 m (2 ft). A 0.6 m (2 ft) deep 

berm of snow was created on the ice pack around the perimeter of what would become the ice 

pier. Heavy-duty pumps were used to flood the bermed area with about 10 cm (4 in) of 
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seawater. The water froze solid in about 24 hours and the process was repeated in 10 cm 

layers until the ice reached a total thickness of approximately 1.5 m (5 ft). At this stage, holes 

were drilled in the ice around the periphery of the pier and sections of 2-inch diameter steel 

pipe (approximately 200 m total) were inserted vertically into the holes. The open space 

around each pipe was flooded with water and allowed to freeze, fixing the pipes in the ice pier. 

Approximately 2,100 m (6,900 ft) of 1-inch steel cable was woven around the steel pipes 

providing a horizontal reinforcement mat for the first layer of the ice pier. 

 

The entire process was repeated three more times, until the ice pier was total of 6.7 m (22 ft) 

thick. However, the horizontal mat of steel cables was not employed in the final layer; thus, 

resulting in three layers of cable totaling 6,300 m (21,000 ft) in length. During the construction 

of the final layer, several wooden utility poles were embedded in the ice to provide support for 

electrical and communication cables. The wooded utility poles were natural and had not been 

chemically treated. Several shorter steel utility poles were frozen around the proximal edge of 

the pier, to attach the pier to the mainland via cables and to serve as bollards to moor vessels. 

Following completion of the ice portion of the pier, a 15-20 cm (6-8 inch) layer of 2 cm (3/4 

inch) or smaller locally quarried gravel was applied to the surface of the pier, to provide a nonslip working surface. Temporary structures were placed on the pier to support operations 

including a Jamesway hut, warm-up shack, and milvans containing spill response materials 

(see Figures 1 and 2).

At the end of each austral summer season, the pier is inspected, and if the pier needs to be 

resurfaced, much of the gravel is removed and stored for use the following season. During the 

past several operating years, the ice surface was in good condition and the layer of gravel did 

not have to be removed prior to the austral winter.” 

 

The 2012/13 changes in ice pier construction can be summarized as: 

 

1. The new pier is 354x200 ft (1/3 the sqft of the pier described above). 

2. The new pier thickness is currently ~15 ft but the general plan is for piers to be 

with a thickness of 15-20 ft). 

3. The new pier currently has ~11,500 ft of 1” cable ~ 5 ft from the pier bottom. 

4. There is a steel 6x6 in. mesh embedded 10 ft from the pier bottom. 

5. There is no Jamesway on the pier and thus the telephone poles to hold power 

lines are no longer placed on the piers. 

6. There will be two spill response materials containers (8x20 ft) placed on the pier.

7. We also have a stand-by spill response boat and trailer. We prefer to leave these 

on shore, if conditions allow it, rather than place these on the pier. However, local 

conditions will dictate placement during cargo off-load. 

8. The pier is covered with 6-10 inches of local gravel. The intent is to remove the 

gravel before winter; however, should there be a freeze/melt/freeze which embeds the 

gravel, the gravel may have to be left in place overwinter.

Ryan J. Gross, PE 

Environmental Engineer 

Marine Pollution Control Branch 

US Environmental Protection Agency 
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ph. 202-566-1810

Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal ---02/05/2013 01:30:26 PM---Hi Ryan,I got your voice mail 

message. If you could send me a brief description of your activities,

From: Jennifer Skidmore - NOAA Federal <jennifer.skidmore@noaa.gov>

To: Ryan Gross/DC/USEPA/US@EPA

Date: 02/05/2013 01:30 PM

Subject: Voicemail

Hi Ryan,I got your voice mail message. If you could send me a brief description of your activities, I can 

direct you to the correct person for consultation. 

Jennifer 

-- 

Jennifer Skidmore 

Office of Protected Resources 

Permits and Conservation Division 

Phone: 301-427-8401

Fax: 301-713-0376

-- 

Jennifer Skidmore 

Office of Protected Resources 

Permits and Conservation Division 

Phone: 301-427-8401

Fax: 301-713-0376

-- 

Jennifer Skidmore 

Office of Protected Resources 

Permits and Conservation Division 

Phone: 301-427-8401

Fax: 301-713-0376

-- 

Jennifer Skidmore 
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Office of Protected Resources 

Permits and Conservation Division 

Phone: 301-427-8401

Fax: 301-713-0376