[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 43731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18372]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Permit Emergency Provision Under the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of permit emergency provision for hazardous waste stored 
in Antarctica at a location other than a permanent station for more 
than 12 months due to an emergency, as specified by Sec.  671.17.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Program of Environment Health and Safety (PEHS) in the 
Office of Polar Programs (OD/OPP), in accordance with Sec.  671.17, is 
giving notice that an emergency relating to considerations of human 
health and safety caused hazardous waste to be stored in a location 
other than a permanent station for more than 12 months.
    Hazardous waste in the form of batteries and contaminated snow from 
small glycol and oil spills has been stored at the Antarctica's 
Gamburtsev Province Project South camp (AGAP) since the late 2009 camp 
closeout. The waste was packaged into 42 sealed containers, with 
lithium and lead acid batteries filling 21 of the containers. The 
remaining 21 containers were filled with waste oil, soiled absorbents, 
contaminated snow from small spills, and approximately 5 gallons of 
glycol in a 55 gallon drum. The waste was strapped to plastic air force 
pallets and placed in a storage berm. At the time of packing, all 
containers were sound and there was no evidence of leaks. No one has 
been back to AGAP since the waste was stored.
    The South Pole Traverse (SPoT) was scheduled to remove this waste 
during the 2010-2011 season. The trip to AGAP was scheduled as a side 
trip between arriving at South Pole and starting the return trip to 
McMurdo. SPoT encountered bad storms on the way to South Pole. It 
arrived more than 1 week late, with one tractor incapacitated. With one 
less tractor to pull the load, the vehicles were travelling much more 
slowly. Despite this, SPoT set out for AGAP. However, 50 miles into the 
trip, a second tractor became incapacitated; further slowing progress 
and limiting the ability of SPoT to self rescue should they have 
further problems.
    If SPoT proceeded as planned they would have been in the field late 
in the season when many of the planes have left and Search and Rescue 
(SAR) capabilities are significantly reduced. There was concern that 
SPoT would not arrive in McMurdo before the last plane left the 
continent for the season. To avoid this potentially dangerous 
situation, the trip to AGAP to collect the hazardous waste was 
cancelled.
    In the 2011-2012 season SPoT's priority will be to collect the 
waste at AGAP. Spot will depart McMurdo for South Pole one week earlier 
than this past season to allow a greater buffer for weather and other 
delays. Further, SPoT will travel to AGAP with an extra tractor and 
driver to accommodate any breakdowns and help speed progress.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Polly A. Penhale at (703) 292-
7420.

Nadene G. Kennedy,
Permit Officer, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-18372 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P