Choose the asymptotic time translation: , , with their derivatives , in asymptotically Cartesian coordinates. Use the usual differentiable falloff , , , and analogous falloff for allowed variations; impose the standard additional conditions needed for finite bulk integrals. These variations need not fix the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner energy.
Only the spatial curvature term produces the leading nonvanishing surface variation. Applying the variation of the Ricci scalar and applying integration by parts to its two derivative terms yields
The terms involving derivatives of the asymptotic lapse function, and the shift boundary terms, vanish under these falloff conditions. The displayed surface integral need not vanish: its integrand is and the area is .
Hamilton's equations require a Hamiltonian with a variation expressed by the bulk functional derivatives alone for the allowed variations. The unwanted term is exactly , so differentiability of the gravitational Hamiltonian at spatial infinity requires
Its variation cancels the surface term. On the constraint surface, . Restoring units inserts in the surface integral; the paper has set this factor to one. The original PDF has the standard equation ; the extra in the extracted TeX is a transcription error.