Proposed Amendments to Chapter 15, Article X: Wetland Conservation Areas
Nick Lewis - Garbage in, Garbage out in Antarctica
1. Garbage In, Garbage Out
Managing Impacts in Antarctica’s High Mountains
Nick Lewis
Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC
2. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
• ALE provides logistic support in West Antarctica:
• Government Research (National Operators)
• Private Expeditions
• Adventure tour programs e.g. Vinson, South Pole,
Emperor Penguins
• Purchased Adventure Network International (ANI) in 2003
• Headquarters in Salt Lake City
• Operations Centre in Punta Arenas, Chile
• Intercontinental runway, main camp and skiway at Union
Glacier, Ellsworth Mountains
• Satellite camps at Vinson, South Pole and Gould Bay
• 120 field, air and support staff
Who we are
4. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
Background
• Global Commons - Space, Oceans, Antarctica
• Early 20th Century: “Golden Age of Exploration” - separate
national projects (Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Mawson)
• 1920-40s: National claims; Roosevelt initiative for US
sovereignty; US suggestion for UN trustee arrangement and
subsequent rejection
• Proposal that control should be vested in hands of interested
bodies to allow promotion of science
• International Geophysical Year 1957-58
• Antarctic Treaty signed in Washington DC, 1961: Argentina,
Australia, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South
Africa, UK, USA and USSR
• Modern concern for Antarctic environment driven by whaling,
fishing, ozone hole, oil spills, climate change
• Protocol on Environmental Protection signed in Madrid, 1991
5. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
The Antarctic Treaty
• Antarctica is to be used for peaceful purposes only
• Freedom of scientific investigation and co-operation
• Free exchange of scientific data, observations and
personnel between expeditions and stations in
Antarctica
• Territorial claims are not recognised, disputed or
established by the Treaty
• Nuclear explosions and radio-active waste disposal
are banned
• All stations and equipment are open for inspection by
any Treaty member
6. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
The Environmental Protocol
• Designates Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted
to peace and science
• Sets out principles for environmental protection
• Bans all commercial mineral resource activity until
2041 when Protocol is reviewed
• Requires the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) of all activities before they are allowed to go
ahead
• 6 Annexes
I. Environmental Impact Assessment
II. Conservation of Antarctic Flora and Fauna
III. Waste Disposal and Waste Management
IV. Prevention of Marine Pollution
V. Area Protection and Management
VI. Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies
7. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
ALE Environmental Policy
• Activities to have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the
Antarctic environment
• Promote safe and sustainable tourism;
• Visitors to leave Antarctica with a greater understanding and
appreciation of its natural values;
• Engender a culture of environmental awareness, backed by suitable
training, within ALE staff and contractors;
• Full compliance with international and national environmental
regulations and requirements;
• Minimum disturbance of wildlife and natural habitats;
• Correct waste management including, where practicable, total
removal of waste from Antarctica;
• Re-use, recycle or licensed disposal of waste outside Antarctica;
• Use of renewable resources, where practicable;
• Monitoring of activities to verify minimization strategies;
• Regular environmental audit of practices; and
• Support of IAATO and encourage development of tourism
management strategies.
8. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
ALE Environmental Documention
• Advance Notification to US State Department
• Initial Environmental Evaluation to US
Environmental Protection Agency
• 5-Year
• Predictions on Personnel, Waste, Emissions, Locations
• Supplementary Information – annual updates
• Waste Management Permit from US National
Science Foundation
11. • Batteries power majority of electrical loads.
• Batteries are recharged by solar power, or by generator
as a backup.
• Generators also used for welding and other occasional
large loads in the Mechanical Workshop.
• Zoned, independent systems
• AC power distributed in camp by overhead power lines.
• AC to DC converters used to power existing distributed
DC loads.
Energy Supply
25. ANTARCTICLOGISTICS&EXPEDITIONS
Waste Management
• Annex III of Protocol: “Wastes generated at field camps shall,
to the maximum extent practicable, be removed by the
generator of such wastes”
• ALE aims to remove all its waste from Antarctica
• Removal of packaging prior to departure to Antarctica
• All hazardous wastes are removed
• Accidental spillage of fuels dealt with by Spill Response Plan
• Human waste:
• Both solid and liquid removed from Union Glacier
• All LD and Vinson trips remove solid wastes (Wagbags).
• Currently not practical for extended overland expeditions or climbing
expeditions to remove solid or liquid waste due to volumes and weight.
• Use of pee bottles on daytrips
• “Grey water” much harder to manage:
• Currently dumped at Union Glacier and VBC
• Continuing research into better method for future use.
30. VINSON WASTE MANAGEMENT
• BRIEF EVERY INCOMING GROUP AND REMIND DURING ASCENT!
• TOILETS:
• BASE CAMP, LOW CAMP & HIGH CAMP
• DESIGNATED CAMP AND TRAIL PEE HOLES
• USE OF PEE BOTTLES & WAGBAGS
• CLEANING OF WALLS…
• NEED FOR ACCURATE GPS WAYPOINTS AT END OF SEASON!
• GREY WATER DISPOSAL:
• SIEVES AND BUCKETS
• GARBAGE
• TOTAL REMOVAL!
• CACHES CAREFULLY MANAGED ON THE MOUNTAIN
• ALE RANGER PATROLS