Arctic Waste Management
AMOS J. ALTER, Environmental Research Engineer
Alaska Department of Health and Welfare
SIDNEY E. CLARK, Acting Chief
Cold Climate Research
E. K. DAY, Associate Chief
Arctic Health Research Center
Alaska Water Laboratory
College, Alaska
INTRODUCTION
A heritage of an estimated quarter million waste-filled oil barrels dots the
landscape in the Alaskan arctic. Wastes that won't go-away, lack of safe water supply,
and a miscellany of abandoned solid wastes remain to challenge current developers.
Today occupancy and use of northern Alaska is for better living and economic
advantage. Occupancy and use of North Slope, Alaska are now subject to a desire for
environmental excellence (1,2,3) as well as the men — money — machine relationship
and arctic constraints. Sewage and industrial waste handling, solid waste management, and water supply systems are equally a part of the successful or failing operation.
The only biological, chemical and physical methodology and equipment for
water and waste management is predicated largely upon temperate climate experience (4,5). There is ample evidence to indicate that temperate climate solutions may
be less than desirable for cold region problems. There is serious need to look at
specific problems of occupancy of North Slope, Alaska and to develop concepts,
equipment, and methods appropriate to the need (5).
This discussion includes analysis of the arctic waste management problem,
identification of alternatives, and description of a demonstration physical- chemical
treatment system for experimental use.
THE NORTH SLOPE
In the region known as Alaska's "North Slope," freezing air temperatures may
occur any day of the year. Freezing occurs approximately 260 days of the average
year and the earth is frozen a 1000 ft or more in depth. Summer is intense but July
temperatures are close to 40 F. Daylight is continuous but thawing extends only a
few in. down from the surface. The upper strata of lake-covered and soggy-tundra
land generally exist as ice. Near the surface, ice or water make up 70 per cent or
more of the mass but the proportion lessens at depths of 20 or 30 ft and deeper.
Lenses or layers of almost pure ice are common throughout the soil cover and 10 to
15 F annual ground temperatures prevail at 20 to 30 ft depths.
This geographic area is the site for a projected multi-billion dollar, oil-triggered
industrial development. Prudhoe Bay, a plot of ground scarcely bigger than the state
of Rhode Island and populated by only a handful of people has become more
valuable than Manhattan. Occupancy has started on an ultimately estimated 1000 or
more sites within this region composed of about 1/50 of the land area of Alaska.
Temporary, semi-permanent and permanent facilities to house and support people
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