nick lewis - garbage in, garbage out in antarctica
TRANSCRIPT
Garbage In, Garbage OutManaging Impacts in Antarctica’s High Mountains
Nick LewisAntarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC
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• 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
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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
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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
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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 AnnexesI. Environmental Impact AssessmentII. Conservation of Antarctic Flora and FaunaIII. Waste Disposal and Waste ManagementIV. Prevention of Marine PollutionV. Area Protection and Management VI. Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies
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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.
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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
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Union Glacier Camp
Air operations
Staff accommodationANI operations
Guest area
• 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
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Water Production
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Fuel Management
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Meals
Cooking
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Pollution Prevention
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Oil Spill Plan
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Conservation of Flora & Fauna
Lichens
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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.
Womens Toilets
URINE
Human Waste
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MOUNT VINSON (16,050’/4892m)
• 32 miles and 9,000 feet of ascent • Temps down to -40 F • Winds to >60 knots• 5-8 days• 50° ice• 60 pound loads
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
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SEPARATION OF FOOD WASTE FROM GREY WATER
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Summit Plateau
High Camp & Repeater
Top of fixed ropes
Shinn Camp
Summit Cache
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Waste Management on Ski Expeditions
USE OF GIS FOR MONITORING
WE AIM TO REMOVE EVERYTHING!
