[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 45, Volume 3]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 45CFR671.12]



[Page 227-228]

 

                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE

 

                 CHAPTER VI--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 

PART 671_WASTE REGULATION--Table of Contents

 

                       Subpart D_Waste Management

 

Sec. 671.12  Waste disposal.



    (a)(1) The following wastes shall be removed from Antarctica:

    (i) Radioactive materials;

    (ii) Electrical batteries;

    (iii) Fuel (both liquid and solid);

    (iv) Waste containing harmful levels of heavy metals or acutely 

toxic or harmful persistent compounds;

    (v) Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, 

rubber and lubricating oils, treated timbers and other products 

containing additives which can produce harmful emissions or releases;

    (vi) All other plastic wastes except low density polyethylene 

containers (such as bags for storing wastes) provided such containers 

are incinerated in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section;

    (vii) Solid, non-combustible wastes; and

    (viii) Fuel, oil and chemical drums that constitute waste.

    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the 

obligations set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) (vii) and (viii) of this 

section shall not apply if the Director determines that the removal of 

such wastes by any practicable option would cause greater adverse 

environmental impacts than would be caused by leaving them in their 

existing locations.

    (b) All liquid wastes other than sewage and domestic liquid wastes 

and wastes referred in paragraph (a) of this section shall be removed 

from Antarctica to the maximum extent practicable.

    (c) Sewage and domestic liquid wastes may be discharged directly 

into the sea, taking into account the assimilative capacity of the 

receiving marine environment, and provided that such discharge occurs, 

wherever practicable, where conditions exist for initial dilution and 

rapid dispersal, and further provided that large quantities of such 

wastes (generated in a station where the average weekly occupancy over 

the austral summer is approximately 30 individuals or more) shall be 

treated at least by maceration. If biological treatment processes are 

used, the by-product of such treatment may be disposed of into the sea 

provided disposal does not adversely affect the local environment.

    (d) Residues of introduced animal carcasses, laboratory culture of 

micro-organisms and plant pathogens, and introduced avian products must 

be removed from Antarctica unless incinerated, autoclaved or otherwise 

sterilized.

    (e) Combustible wastes not removed from Antarctica other than wastes 

referred to in paragraph (a) of this section, shall be burnt in 

incinerators which reduce harmful emissions or discharges to the maximum 

extent practicable and the solid residue of such incineration shall be 

removed from Antarctica; provided, however, that USAP may continue to 

bury such combustible wastes in snow pits at South Pole Station, but 

must phase out such practices before March 1, 1995. Any emission or 

discharge standards and equipment guidelines which may be recommended by 

the Committee for Environmental Protection constituted or to be 

constituted pursuant to the Protocol or by the Scientific Committee on 

Antarctic Research shall be taken into account.

    (f) Sewage and domestic liquid wastes and other liquid wastes not 

removed from Antarctica in accordance with other provisions of this 

section, shall, to the maximum extent practicable, not be disposed of 

onto sea ice, ice shelves or grounded ice-sheet unless such wastes were 

generated by stations located inland on ice shelves or on the grounded 

ice-sheet. In such event, the wastes may be disposed of in deep ice pits 

if that is the only practicable option, provided the ice pits are not 

located on known ice-flow lines which



[[Page 228]]



terminate at ice-free land areas or in blue ice areas of high ablation.

    (g) No wastes may be disposed of onto ice-free areas or into any 

fresh water system.

    (h) Open burning of wastes is prohibited at all permanent stations, 

and shall be phased out at all other locations by March 1, 1994. If it 

is necessary to dispose of waste by open burning prior to March 1, 1994, 

allowance shall be made for the wind direction and speed and the type of 

waste to be burnt to limit particulate deposition and to avoid such 

deposition over areas of special biological, scientific, historic, 

aesthetic or wilderness significance.

    (i) Each unauthorized release of waste in Antarctic shall be, to the 

maximum extent practicable, promptly cleaned up by the person 

responsible for such release.