landings of DC-6 tourism aircraft (Swithinbank
gram on Antarctica, it may be necessary to reduce
1991).
other support activities and possibly science
programs during periods of peak construction
Environmental consequences of
activity.
developing other blue-ice runways
Blue-ice runways could be developed at other
locations in Antarctica to support scientific activi-
ties. If such runways were constructed, impacts
resulting from construction would be similar to
The proposed development of blue-ice and
those discussed for Mount Howe and Mill Glacier
compacted-snow runways to enhance the use of
and would be less than minor or transitory in
wheeled aircraft by the USAP would cause less
nature (that is, of no significant impact). Impacts
than minor or transitory environmental impacts
of using such runways would be similar to those
(that is, no significant impacts) and could contrib-
that occur for current LC-130 skiways that are
ute to the program's goal of reducing human im-
used to support field science parties as discussed
pacts to the Antarctic environment. Adverse
in the SEIS (NSF 1991). Should a major field base
environmental impacts that could result from the
be developed associated with such a runway, ad-
development and subsequent use of blue-ice and
ditional environmental documentation would be
compacted-snow runways include contamination
prepared.
of ice and snow from spills or leaks of fuel, oil,
and lubricants, contamination of pristine areas by
Environmental consequences of
atmospheric emissions from aircraft and equip-
the no-action alternative
ment used for construction and maintenance of
If no additional blue-ice runways are devel-
the runway, disturbance of sensitive wildlife re-
oped, there should be no new environmental im-
sources by low-flying aircraft, and degradation of
pacts associated with runway development.
the aesthetic environment associated with remote
LC-130s and Twin-Otter type aircraft would con-
sites where such runways would be located. Use
tinue to be used and landings would be made on
of wheeled aircraft could result in reducing the
snow and ice surfaces and existing skiways.
number of flights required to support USAP ac-
tivities on the continent that would in turn have
the environmental benefits of reduced fuel use
Cumulative
and emissions, fewer support personnel needed
environmental impacts
Cumulative environmental impacts from the
for operation and maintenance, and greater flex-
USAP developing blue-ice and compacted-snow
ibility for scheduling science activities that could
runways in Antarctica could occur if the numbers
reduce the numbers of support personnel required
of aircraft and flights to and on the continent
at peak seasons of the year.
increased. Increased use of aircraft would result
USAP is proposing to develop a compacted-
in increased emissions of atmospheric pollutants
snow or blue-ice runway on an ice shelf at the
from aircraft engines and from maintenance equip-
Pegasus site near McMurdo Station and is evalu-
ment and support activities. Additional person-
ating the remote possibility of developing 1) a
nel would be required to maintain and operate
blue-ice runway at Mount Howe, 2) expanding
aircraft and to handle cargo carried by these
the use of the runway at Mill Glacier, or 3) devel-
planes. More fuel would be required, and the risk
oping a compacted-snow runway at the South
of fuel spills and leakage of fuel, oil, and lubri-
Pole to transport construction materials and equip-
cants would increase in proportion to the number
ment for any rebuilding the South Pole Station. In
of flights added. These cumulative impacts can
addition, blue-ice runways may be developed else-
be minimized with appropriate planning. Use of
where in Antarctica to support scientific activities
wheeled aircraft for transporting cargo and pas-
and field camps.
sengers is more efficient than use of the ski-
Potential adverse impacts at all of these sites
equipped LC-130s. C-130s and C-141s use fuel
would be less than minor or transitory in nature
more efficiently, and fewer flights would be re-
(that is, they would pose no significant impacts).
quired to transport equivalent amounts of cargo
Fuel spills and leaks would be cleaned up to the
and passengers. To meet the USAP goal of reduc-
extent practicable and all contaminants removed
ing the overall environmental impacts of the pro-
from the snow and ice would be returned to
110
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