APPENDIX B: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PEGASUS RUNWAY
Development of Blue-Ice and Compacted-Snow
Runways in Support of the U.S. Antarctic Program*
National Science Foundation
Office of Polar Programs
Washington, DC
9 April 1993
that supports a substantial scientific research pro-
INTRODUCTION
gram in Antarctica, often in cooperation with other
The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) is propos-
countries. The USAP maintains three year-round
ing to develop one or more runways suitable for
stations in Antarctica: McMurdo Station on Ross
wheeled aircraft to support its scientific activities.
Island, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station,
Concepts for such runways include "blue-ice"†
and Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula
runways on glacier ice and runways on compacted
(Fig. B1). McMurdo Station is the major base for
snow. The Supplemental Environmental Impact
providing logistic support to numerous scientific
Statement (SEIS) on the USAP (NSF 1991) identi-
field camps on the continent each austral sum-
fied the development of such runways as an on-
mer. Logistic and operational support is provided
going USAP planning activity. The purpose of
by the Department of Defense (Naval Support
this Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE), the
Force Antarctica, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force),
equivalent of an Environmental Impact Assess-
the U.S. Coast Guard, and a civilian contractor
ment, is to evaluate in more detail potential envi-
(currently Antarctic Support Associates, Inc.).
ronmental impacts that might result from
An essential component of USAP logistic sup-
developing blue-ice and compacted-snow run-
port is provided by aircraft that transport person-
ways. This IEE is prepared by USAP in compli-
nel and cargo to McMurdo, the South Pole, and
field sites during the austral summer season (Oc-
ance with the National Environmental Policy
tober through February). A runway for wheeled
Act, the Antarctic Treaty, and the Protocol on
aircraft is constructed on the annual sea-ice at the
Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
start of each season and is used until early De-
(the Madrid Protocol) adopted by 26 countries in
cember when the sea ice begins to deteriorate.
1991.
Wheeled aircraft, including C-130 Hercules, C-
141 Star Lifters, and C-5 Galaxies, are able to land
on the annual sea-ice runway. They provide the
BACKGROUND
majority of the air transport needed for the initial
stages of USAP activities each season. During the
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is re-
rest of the season (December through February),
sponsible for the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP)
fixed-wing aircraft support is limited to ski-
equipped LC-130 aircraft and smaller aircraft (for
* Prepared by: Sidney Draggan, Jane Dionne, Peter E. Wilkniss,
example, ski-equipped Twin Otters) that can land
Erick Chiang, and Dwight D. Fisher; National Science Foun-
on skiways at Williams Field near McMurdo, the
dation, Office Of Polar Programs. George L. Blaisdell, Stephen
South Pole Station, and field sites. Availability of
L. DenHartog, and Wayne Tobiasson; Cold Regions Research
runways suitable for landing wheeled aircraft
and Engineering Laboratory. Robert M. Reed, Lance B.
during other parts of the season (or if feasible,
McCloud, J.T. Ensminger, J. Warren Webb, Richard B. McLean,
and Jeremy Holman; Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
throughout the year) would greatly enhance
Assessment Support.
USAP's ability to support science activities and
† In the context of this document, blue ice refers to both
help the program streamline its logistic support
naturally exposed ice in ablation regions and ice in the
efforts by increasing the flexibility and efficiency
"superimposed ice" region of glaciers and ice shelves. The
of aircraft operations.
Pegasus runway is located on superimposed ice.
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