INTRODUCTION

1. The 1996/97 summer season for the Cape Roberts Project (CPR) was scheduled as the first of the two drill seasons. Unfortunately drilling was postponed because of unstable and potentially unsafe sea ice along the Cape Roberts coast after a major breakout of the sea ice in early July 1996. The Project Manager decided to utilise the extra time resulting from the postponement and continue to improve and test facilities, equipment and operating procedures at Cape Roberts.
2. CRP personnel worked at Cape Roberts on two separate occasions during the season. The main effort was in November and early December and then a smaller team returned in mid January 1997. The main tasks undertaken during the season were:

   a.	Deploy the drill rig and associated buildings onto the sea ice and trial the drilling system.
   b.	Deploy the main camp buildings onto the sea ice and erect the cold porch and mess and recreation tents.
   c.	Construct three frames or platforms on which to store drummed fuel.
   d.	install 110 volt wiring system in both laboratories.
   e.	Test radio, microwave and computer links between Cape Roberts (CR) and Scott Base (SB).
   f.	Refuel empty drums at Marble Point.

3. Antarctica New Zealand's Environmental Manager visited CR as did New Zealand's Environmental Assessment Review Panel (EARP). Water and soil samples were collected for testing as part of the on-going environmental monitoring of the Project and its impact on the CR and the surrounding area. Separate environmental reports and returns have been filed by the Project Manager, the Environmental Manager and EARP.
4. This year no Science Report has been done on the Project for obvious reasons.