Notice of Application of Emergency Provision Under the Antarctic Conservation Act
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Issuing agencies
Abstract
The Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, is giving notice that an emergency relating to considerations of human health and safety caused hazardous waste to be stored at McMurdo Station for more than 15 months. Hazardous waste in the form of batteries, biomedical waste, laboratory chemical waste, gas cylinders, hazardous debris, glycol, PCBs, petroleum-based compounds, solvents/paints/adhesives, radioactive material, and fuel contaminated soils and materials, with an aggregate of approximately 22,140 lbs. net weight, was, consistent with waste management best practices, segregated, packaged, and stored in a secured location for removal from the station.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 12740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04779]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Application of Emergency Provision Under the Antarctic
Conservation Act
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, is
giving notice that an emergency relating to considerations of human
health and safety caused hazardous waste to be stored at McMurdo
Station for more than 15 months.
Hazardous waste in the form of batteries, biomedical waste,
laboratory chemical waste, gas cylinders, hazardous debris, glycol,
PCBs, petroleum-based compounds, solvents/paints/adhesives, radioactive
material, and fuel contaminated soils and materials, with an aggregate
of approximately 22,140 lbs. net weight, was, consistent with waste
management best practices, segregated, packaged, and stored in a
secured location for removal from the station.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, Senior Advisor,
Environment at 703-292-7420.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The waste was to be removed in February
2022, at the end of the 2021-2022 season. In January 2022, the annual
cargo vessel sustained electrical damage on its voyage to Antarctica,
and had to return to port in California for repairs. Due to this delay,
the ship arrived to McMurdo Station later than anticipated, and the ice
pier at McMurdo cracked during the off-load and on-load of material.
This crack posed a serious safety concern for human life and the
vessel, making further waste removal operations impossible. The removal
of the remaining hazardous waste is a priority for removal during the
January-February 2023 time period.
(Authority: 45 CFR 671.17)
Erika N. Davis,
Program Specialist, Office of Polar Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-04779 Filed 3-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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