State and trends of contaminated Antarctic sites

Antarctic environment (2016, 2011)

State and trends of contaminated Antarctic sites

Thala Valley

Terrestrial section of Thala Valley clean-up finalised; some material remains in the nearshore marine environment

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Thala Valley

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the 'State and trends' section, the following references also support this assessment:

Balks 2015

Balks MR (2015). Regional Assessment of Soil Change in Antarctica. In Status of the Worlds Soil Resources Main Report pp Rome Italy Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 520-526
SRC - GoogleScholar.

Camenzuli et al. 2015

Camenzuli D, Fryirs KA, Gore DB, Freidman BL & East S (2015). Managing legacy waste in the presence of cultural heritage at Wilkes Polar Record. 51 SRC - GoogleScholar, 151-9.

Kudinova et al. 2015

Kudinova AG, Lysak LV, Soina VS, Mergelov NS, Dolgikh AV & Shorkunov IG (2015). Bacterial communities in the soils of cryptogamic barrens of East Antarctica (the Larsemann Hills and Thala Hills oases). Eurasian Soil Science. 48 SRC - GoogleScholar, 276-87.

Raymond & Snape 2016

Raymond TC & Snape I (2016). Using triage for environmental remediation in Antarctica. Restoration Ecology DOI 101111rec12383.

Statham et al. 2016

Statham TM, Stark SC, Snape I, Stevens GW & Mumford KA (2016). A permeable reactive barrier (PRB) media sequence for the remediation of heavy metal and hydrocarbon contaminated water: a field assessment at Casey Station, Antarctica. Chemosphere, 368-375.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Terrestrial section of Thala Valley clean-up finalised; some material still left in nearshore and marine environment

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Old Casey Station

Historical fuel spill (1980s)

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Old Casey Station

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the 'State and trends' section, the following references also support this assessment:

Nydahl et al. 2014

Nydahl AC, King CK, Wasley J, Jolley DF & Robinson SH (2014). Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae. Environmental Toxicology, 34, 2004-12.

Stark et al. 2014

Stark JS, Johnstone GJ & Riddle MJ (2014). A sediment mesocosm experiment to determine if the remediation of a shoreline waste disposal site in Antarctica caused further environmental impacts. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 89, 284-95.

Statham et al. 2016

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Historical fuel spill (1980s)

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Casey Station main powerhouse

Fuel spill at main powerhouse (1999); contaminants reached the melt lake from which fresh water is obtained for the station

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Casey Station main powerhouse

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Method used to determine state: published literature and expert consultation

Method used to determine trend: published literature and expert consultation

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the 'State and trends' section, the following references also support this assessment:

Stark et al. 2013

Stark SC, Gardner D & Snape I (2013). Assessment of contamination by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons at Atlas Cove station, Heard Island. Polar Record, 39, 397-414.

Gore et al. 2006

Gore BD, Heiden ES, Snape I, Nash G & Stevens GW (2006). Grain size of activated carbon, and untreated and modified granular clinoptilolite under freeze-thaw: Applications to permeable reactive barriers. Polar Record, 42(2):121-126. doi:10.1017/S0032247406005109

Snape et al. 2003

Snape I, Riddle MJ, Filler DM & Williams PJ (2003). Contaminants in freezing ground and associated ecosystems: key issues at the beginning of the new millennium. Polar Record, 39, 291-300.

Filler et al. 2006

Filler DM, Reynolds CM, Snape I, Daugulis AJ, Barnes DL & Williams PJ (2006). Advances in engineered remediation for use in the Arctic and Antarctic. Polar Record, 42:111-120.

Snape et al. 2001

Snape I, Riddle MJ, Stark JS, Cole C, King CK, Duquesne S & Gore D (2001). Management and remediation of contaminated sites at Casey Station, Antarctica, 199-214.

Statham et al. 2016

Stark et al. 2014

Nydahl et al. 2014

Nydahl AC, King CK, Wasley J, Jolley DF & Robinson SH (2014). Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae. Environmental Toxicology, 34, 2004-12.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Fuel spill at main powerhouse (1999); contaminants reached the melt lake from which fresh water is obtained for the station

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Wilkes Station

Abandoned station (built in 1957); old tip site and fuel cache are still present and contain a large volume of contaminated material

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Wilkes Station

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the State and trends section the following references also support this assessment:

Camenzuli et al. 2015

Camenzuli D, Fryirs KA, Gore DB, Freidman BL & East S (2015). Managing legacy waste in the presence of cultural heritage at Wilkes Polar Record. 51 SRC - GoogleScholar, 151-9.

Fryirs et al. 2015

Fryirs K, Hafsteinsdóttir E, Stark S & Gore D (2015). Metal and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at Wilkes Station, East Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 27(2):118-133. doi:10.1017/S0954102014000443

Nydahl et al. 2014

Nydahl AC, King CK, Wasley J, Jolley DF & Robinson SH (2014). Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae. Environmental Toxicology, 34, 2004-12.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Abandoned station (built in 1957); old tip site and fuel cache still present and contain a large volume of contaminated material

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Tip site at Davis research station

Old tip site near Davis research station

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Tip site at Davis research station

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the 'State and trends' section, the following references also support this assessment:

Nydahl et al. 2014

Nydahl AC, King CK, Wasley J, Jolley DF & Robinson SH (2014). Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae. Environmental Toxicology, 34, 2004-12.

Sfiligoj et al. 2015

Sfiligoj BJ, King CK, Candy SG & Mondon JA (2015). Determining the sensitivity of the Antarctic amphipod Orchomenella pinguides to metals using a joint model of survival response to exposure concentration and duration. Ecotoxicology, 24, 583-94.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Old tip site

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Lake Dingle fuel-spill remediation

Fuel spill (2010)

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Lake Dingle fuel-spill remediation

2016

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the State and trends section the following references also support this assessment:

Raymond & Snape 2016

Raymond TC & Snape I (2016). Using triage for environmental remediation in Antarctica. Restoration Ecology DOI 101111rec12383.

AAD 2010

AAD (Australian Antarctic Division) (2010). Lake Dingle Fuel Contaminated Soil Remediation Project (Lake Dingle Cleanup Project, Tier 3 Project), AAD, Hobart.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Tip site at Mawson research station

Old tip site, large land-based debris removed. Some material remains in the nearshore marine environment

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Tip site at Mawson research station

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

Expert consultation supports this assessment.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Old tip site, large land-based debris removed; some material still left in nearshore marine environment

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Macquarie Island fuel farm

Historical fuel spill (1980s)

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Macquarie Island fuel farm

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

In addition to the references cited in the 'State and trends' section, the following references also support this assessment:

Jacobs et al., 2016

Jacobs, M. R., Edwards, M., Nesterenko, P. N., Shellie, R. A. and Chromatography, A. 2016. GÃ³recki T, Evaluation of a miniaturised single-stage thermal modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography of petroleum contaminated soils. Journal of, 1463 SRC - GoogleScholar, 162-8.

Wasley et al. 2015

Wasley J, Mooney TJ & King CK (2015). Soil invertebrate community change over fuel-contaminated sites on a subantarctic island: An ecological field-based line of evidence for site risk assessment. Integrated environmental assessment and management, 12, 306-14.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Historical fuel spill (1980s)

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Macquarie Island main powerhouse

Historical fuel spills (1980s–2000)

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Macquarie Island main powerhouse

20162011

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

Expert consultation supports this assessment.

Comments

Assessment remains the same as in 2011.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Historical fuel spills (1980s-2000)

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Casey fuel line leak (October 2015)

Leakage of 3500 litres of special Antarctic blend fuel from above-ground fuel line. Containment barriers were constructed and an extensive area (less than 5000 m²) of contaminated soil requiring treatment and remediation was identified

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Casey fuel line leak (October 2015)

2016

Antarctic environment

State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert consultation was used to determine state and trends.

Data/Information sources

Expert consultation supports this assessment.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Australian Antarctic Program’s station environment: Contaminated sites and pollution

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very good

Remediation activities completed; remediation monitoring continues

Good

Remediation in progress and/or containment of contaminants achieved

Poor

Preliminary impact assessment under way including identification of contaminants

Very poor

No action yet

Recent Trends

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Klekociuk A, Wienecke B (2016). Antarctic environment: State and trends of contaminated Antarctic sites. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary-77-state-and-trends-contaminated-antarctic-sites, DOI 10.4226/94/58b65b2b307c0

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

State and trends of contaminated Antarctic sites