To: ARENSWI@aspen.spole.gov
Subject: Directors Summary - August 96
Resent-Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 23:11:06 +1300
Resent-From: "CUSP"
Resent-To: william@skua.spole.gov
WBS 0
Director's Summary of Significant Activities
The Antarctic Support Associates (ASA) Project Director was aboard
the R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER in late August during the transit from
Hobart, Tasmania to Lyttelton, New Zealand. The primary purpose was
to review the performance of the multibeam underwater mapping system.
The ASA Management Committee met at ASA on 15 August 1996 to review the
status of ASA's taskings and the performance evaluation for Contract Year
Six.
The new ASA position of Assistant Project Director, Management
Systems was filled by Dr. Jay April seconded from parent company
EG&G.
WBS 1
In early August, the Sip-on-the-Web development team and the Director,
Science Support presented to the NSF/OPP Research Support Manager a
proposal for the next stage of the Sip-on-the-Web development. The
discussion focused on the expansion of the ASA tasking to include putting
the NSF/OPP proposal operations forms on the World Wide Web.
Dive Services hosted Oxygen Provider and Emergency Dive Accident
Management (EDAM) training at ASA Headquarters. Twelve personnel
involved in supporting dive operations from McMurdo and Palmer
Stations, plus the R/V POLAR DUKE and R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER,
attended the classes. Oxygen Provider certification was issued to
all participants by Divers Alert Network (DAN). EDAM training was
conducted by the Hyperbaric Medical Unit of Presbyterian/St. Luke's
Hospital of Denver. As a result of this training, ASA personnel are
prepared to respond to diving accidents and their corresponding
symptoms for the upcoming austral summer season.
The McMurdo Winter Instrument Technician and Facilities Engineer
brought the Crary Laboratory reverse osmosis system on line during
the month and trouble shot its operation with the vendor. This
system will provide cleaner feed water to the various Nanopure water
systems. This will lengthen the life time of treatment cartridges
and pay for the cost of the system in a few months time.
WBS 2
Capital equipment approvals were received and requisitions were
processed and submitted to the purchasing office for the NASU
40-passenger bus, NASU 15,000 capacity forklift, and the electric
forklift for Building 121 mentioned in the previous month's report.
An unplanned emergency traverse to Black Island was completed to
assess power supply generators on station. One generator suffered a
failure of a factory weld in a oil pan. Subsequent oil spill was
cleaned up, reported and repairs made to the generator were completed
during the reporting period.
All three planned C-141 WINFLY flights arrived at McMurdo Station.
On 4 August a recommendation was made by the Palmer Station
Physician to MEDEVAC an ASA employee to Punta Arenas on the 6 August
departure R/V POLAR DUKE. After communications with ASAHQ, the
employee embarked on the ship.
This event was reported separately.
On 8 August a heat tape failure caused a small fire on pipe
insulation underneath the BioLab building at Palmer Station. Damage
was contained to only a four foot section of sewer pipe. This event
was reported separately.
The Palmer Station Operations Manager accepted the vacated Palmer Area
Manager's position. The current Palmer Area Manager will vacate the
position on 13 September 1996.
South Pole personnel are enjoying a beautiful glow on the horizon as the
sun makes its way back to the bottom of the world. A stretch of clear
weather has allowed for the viewing of incredible shades of orange, pink,
purple, and blue as the sun creeps higher towards the horizon.
During the reporting period, a newly installed alarm signalled South
Pole Station personnel that a low temperature situation existed in
the Emergency Power Plant. Investigation showed that the boiler had
shut off due to a defective transformer. Electric heat was turned on
in the EPP until repairs could be made the following day.
A number of meteorological records at South Pole Station were set
during the period: On day 25 a maximum temperature of -36.2 C/-33.2 F
broke the previous record maximum temperature of -38.0 C/-36.4 F set
in 1989, and on the same day a maximum pressure of 719.0 mb smashed
the previous record high pressure mark for August which was 716.4 mb
set in 1974. On day 28 a maximum temperature of -42.0 C/-43.6 F broke
the previous record maximum temperature of -43.1 C/-45.6 F set in
1988. On day 30 a peak wind of 29 kts/33 mph tied the previous peak
wind record set in 1978. On day 31 a maximum temperature of -38.6
C/-37.5 F broke the previous record maximum temperature of -41.7
C/-43.1 F set in 1977.
WBS 3
The Director, Logistics, traveled to Orange, California, and gave an
Antarctic program presentation to the Holmes and Narver, Inc., Management
Club.
The Director, Logistics, hosted a day-long TQM goal setting seminar
with the Logistics Division Employees. Goals and performance
criteria were set in each work center.
The Director, Logistics, developed and presented an extensive logistics
briefing to representatives of each ASA work center to help them better
understand the USAP Logistics system.
The Director, Logistics, traveled to Christchurch to attend the
NZDEF (New Zealand Defense Forces) conference, to meet with Antarctic
New Zealand (AntNZ) representatives on future NZDEF support, and to
work on NASU transition issues. The NASU transition focused on
staffing and budgeting. While reviewing the NASU facilities/land
lease, the Director recommended a course of action that will save NSF
$25,000 in lease costs in FY98.
A large team effort made WINFLY '96 a tremendous success. To begin,
the dedicated efforts of ASA Medical and Travel permitted 98 percent
of the 109 WINFLY airline tickets to be purchased in advance.
For the first time in USAP history, C-141 aircraft were used to deliver
WINFLY passengers and cargo to McMurdo. The use of C-141 aircraft saved
$543,000 over the cost of equivalent airlift using C-130 aircraft. ATO's
recommendation to use C-141 aircraft instead of C-130s has improved USAP
WINFLY operations and has set a new standard. The C-141s delivered 142
passengers and 69,205 pounds of cargo, 19,705 more pounds than planned.
This cargo figure includes 8,810 pounds of Kilo Air cargo moved early to
take advantage of the additional ACL provided by the C-141s.
Supply personnel were cross-trained in February to prepare cargo for the
first WINFLY flight. This permitted all WINFLY cargo to be staged before
the first flight arrived. ATO personnel arrived on the first flight and
assumed responsibility for aircraft backloading and hazardous material
certification.
Ninety-five percent of the WINFLY cargo was delivered by surface
which illustrates the advance planning that was accomplished by the
USAP participants to achieve this high rate of surface shipment. In
addition to the transportation savings, the early arrival of this
cargo permitted Christchurch employees to devote more of their time
supporting the R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER.
In addition to supporting WINFLY flights during weather delays,
Christchurch Operations transferred to and from the R/V NATHANIEL B.
PALMER 446 pieces of cargo weighing 66,626 pounds, and assisted 377
northbound and southbound passengers.
PTS implementation prior to WINFLY has created an added challenge
this season. The passenger processing work centers of Travel,
Medical, and Christchurch Operations have implemented alternatives to
compensate for the reduced automated information flow during PTS
development. Their advance planning and close attention to detail
ensured this year's performance would not be degraded by the
interruption of PTS support.
ATO personnel attended the Post Award Conference with Petroleum
Helicopters, Inc. (PHI), held at ASA Headquarters on 1 August. PHI
was briefed on the USAP logistics system, and dialogue was opened to
determine the appropriate shipping configuration for the contractor
helicopters to be shipped to the ice on the first C-5 mission of the
1996/97 season.
The Director, Logistics, and the Manager, ATO, attended the 1996 New
Zealand Defense Forces Conference sponsored by NASU Terminal
Operations on 15 August. The Manager presented the 1996/97 airlift
and sealift schedules to the combined USAP/NZDEF audience and
provided a brief overview of 1996/97 NZDEF support activities.
During the conference, the NZDEF agreed to the ATO proposal that the
14 McMurdo NZMILDET personnel be delayed two weeks in their
deployment to McMurdo Station due to decreased support requirements.
As a result, the McMurdo NZDEF detachment will deploy on 12 October
rather than 1 October.
The MCS, Central Supply, and the Supervisor, Supply Operations,
attended a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Customer Service seminar to
discuss submission of requisitions directly to DLA, thereby avoiding
the middleman services provided by CBC Port Hueneme. If direct
requisitioning of Department of Defense stocks can be accomplished,
the CBC labor cost of $20,000 can be eliminated.
Two major purchases were initiated to reduce cost over the long
term. The purchase of a drum washer will permit drums to be cleaned
and reused for fuel which could save $20,000 annually. A hydrostatic
test station will save $17,000 annually in testing, and if used to
fill nitrogen bottles from the McMurdo liquid nitrogen plant it could
save an additional $25,000. Total potential savings for these two
innovative ideas is $63,000 annually.
WBS 5
McMurdo Station experienced 108 mph winds during the third week of
August. The winds caused snow drift in several buildings and damage
such as Dormitory 205's loss of 100 feet of siding. On the first
flight of Winfly on 19 August 1996, the Engineering Division deployed
Ms. Deb Sweda, Maintenance Coordinator, and Mr. John Haywood,
Construction Coordinator, to McMurdo. Mr. Mike Varney, Lead Facility
Engineer for CSEC, also deployed to McMurdo during Winfly.
WBS 6
Bids for the Waste Management subcontract were received during the
period. Three bidders (Philip, Rollins, and Laidlaw) attended the
prebid meeting and indicated interest in bidding on the contract,
however, only two bids (Philip and Laidlaw) were received by the bid
deadline. The Director, SEH and Waste Managers began evaluation of
the received bids during the period. Contract award recommendation
will be submitted to NSF for approval during the next reporting
period.
The Manager, Hazardous Waste attended the SCALOP Symposium held in
Cambridge, England and presented a paper on USAP Spill Response.
The presentation was well received, and summarized the development,
philosophy and recent history of USAP Spill Response.
The Manager of Hazardous Waste met with the Louisiana State
Department of Environmental Quality regarding the potential
importation of hazardous and radioactive waste from Palmer Station as
part of the R/V Polar Duke's final northbound journey for
decommissioning. Results of these meetings indicate that importation
of these wastes will likely not present significant problems.
Radioactive wastes present several significant issues regarding
interstate compact agreements and potential limitations on disposal.
These issues are currently under investigation, however, they do not
appear to preclude importation of radioactive waste from Palmer
Station. State officials were very cooperative and offered
assistance in completing the necessary planning and obtaining
approvals.
WBS 7
The month of August has been focused on completion of the FY96
program plan. The IS managers have thoroughly reviewed each WBS for
possible under runs from what was planned in FY96 and provided NSF
with a prioritized listing of recommended reprogramming for these
funds. This reprogramming was subsequently approved by NSF during a
meeting at NSF between the ASA IS Director and the ABM.
The individual managers have been reviewing and making final changes
to the FY97 work plans, assembling task lists for all full time
employees who will be deploying, and adding refinements to the draft
FY97 program plan. Most of the changes that occur at this stage of
the cycle are based on revised requirements to support science and/or
changes to planned personnel support as individuals either change
their plans or become non-physically qualified and therefore unable
to deploy.
IS has been successful in hiring several key full time positions in the
engineering and software support areas and we are proceeding as planned
with the completion of our hiring cycle for the stations.
The Phase I implementation plans for the DOS to Windows migration
has been accepted by management and is proceeding. All equipment and
software is on order and we expect to start receiving equipment in
September.
The PTS system still remains a very high priority of effort. The
team has been quite successful in a very short period of time. There
was a delay in the completion of the manifesting portion of the
software to allow focus and completion of the HR module. Training
for NSF will occur in the first week of September. The manifesting
section is scheduled for completion prior to this training. A
re-evaluation of deployment and positioning of key staff to support
PTS is ongoing.