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You are in:  Home » Publications » Bulletins » Bulletin 155 » ASMA 2

Bulletin No 155, October 2004

Twenty-seventh Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May – 4 June 2004

• SCAR Bulletin 155
• ASMA No 2
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Appendix E

Appendix A:

Environmental Code of Conduct for the McMurdo Dry Valleys

The McMurdo Dry Valleys ecosystem contains geological and biological features that date back thousands to millions of years. Many of these ancient features could be easily and irreversibly damaged by human actions. Unusual communities of microscopic life forms, low biodiversity, simple food webs with limited trophic competition, severe temperature stress, aridity and nutrient limitations are other characteristics that make the McMurdo Dry Valleys unique. This ancient desert landscape and its biological communities have very little natural ability to recover from disturbance. Research in such systems must aim to minimize impacts on land, water and ice to protect them for future generations.

Materials:

• Everything taken into the Area should be removed.
• Activities that could result in the dispersal of foreign materials should be avoided.

Waste and spill incidents:

• Water used for ANY human purpose should be removed and/or treated in a greywater evaporator (and residuals removed).
• All human waste should be collected and removed.
• Individuals or groups should always carry proper containers for human waste and gray water.
• Spill incidents should be reported to the appropriate National Program.
• The location of any spill should be recorded in the field report.

Energy:

• Solar and wind power should be used as much as possible.

Travel operations:

• Ground vehicle usage should be restricted to ice surfaces, or at Marble Point, Cape Roberts, and New Harbour.
• Designated helicopter pads should be used for helicopter landings.
• Markers that are clearly visible from the air should be used to mark helicopter pads.
• Helicopter operations should not use smoke bombs, except for essential safety purposes.
• Care should be taken to ensure that helicopter sling loads are properly secured.
• Fuel release is to be avoided.
• When travelling on foot, stay on established trails.
• Avoid walking on vegetated areas.
• Cairns should not be built in the Area.
• Be aware of Special Features and their guidelines.

Safety

• Individuals or groups should bring sufficient equipment into the Area to ensure safety.

Field camps: location and set up

• Campsites should be located as far away as practical from lakeshores, streambeds, Special Features, and long-term experiments
• If rocks are moved, they should be replaced in their footprint, with the salt-encrusted side face-down.
• Campsites should be re-used wherever possible.
• Field camp locations should be recorded in the field report.
• Ensure that equipment and supplies are properly secured.

Fuel and chemicals

• Steps should be taken to prevent the accidental release of chemicals including laboratory reagents and isotopes (stable or radioactive).
• When using chemicals or fuels, ensure that appropriate spill kits are available.
• Chemical and fuel containers should be securely positioned and capped.
• All fuel drums should be provided with some form of secondary containment.
• Fuel cans with spouts should be used when refueling generators. Generators and vehicles should be refuelled over drip trays with absorbent spill pads.
• Vehicle oil should be changed only over a drip tray.
• Any accidental releases of fuel should be cleaned up to the greatest extent possible and documented in activity reports.

Lakes:

• Explosives should not be used on a lake.
• Vehicles should be used on lake ice only when essential.
• Ensure that nothing is left frozen into the lake ice that may ablate out and cause later contamination.
• Avoid swimming or diving in the lakes, except when approved for scientific purposes.

Streams:

• Stream crossings should be avoided; when necessary, designated crossing points should be used.
• Avoid walking in the stream bed to avoid disturbing the stream biota.
• Avoid walking near stream sides to prevent erosion.
  Valley floor and sides:
• Avoid disturbing mummified seals or penguins.
• Avoid disturbing long-term soil experiments.
• Avoid disturbing the raised delta surfaces which mark ancient shorelines.

High Desert:

• Beware not to damage delicate rock formations.