NEPA-DOE BHS EA for EIC.pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

FOR

THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION

OF THE

ELECTRON-ION COLLIDER

BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY

UPTON, NEW YORK

BROOKHAVEN SITE OFFICE

March 2021

DOE/EA-2138

i

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 SUMMARY

3.0 PURPOSE AND NEED

4.0 ALTERNATIVES

4.1 Alternative 1 – (Preferred Alternative)

4.1.1 Project Location and Description

4.1.2 Future upgrades and maintenance

4.1.3 Decommissioning and Restoration

4.2 Alternative 2 – No Action

5.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

5.1 Site Description

5.2 Ecology

5.2.1 Affected Environment

5.2.2 Effects of Alternatives on Ecological Resources

5.3 Water

5.3.1 Affected Environment

5.3.2 Effects of Alternatives on Water Resources

5.4 Land Use, Demography, and Environmental Justice

5.4.1 Affected Environment

5.4.2 Effects of All Alternatives on Land Use and Demography

5.5 Socioeconomic Factors

5.5.1 Affected Environment

5.5.2 Effects of All Alternatives on Socioeconomic Factors

5.6 Transportation Conditions

5.6.1 Affected Environment

5.6.2 Effects of Alternatives on Transportation Conditions

5.7 Cultural Resources

5.7.1 Affected Environment

5.7.2 Effects of Alternatives on Cultural Resources

5.8 Air Quality

5.8.1 Affected Environment

5.8.2 Effects of Alternatives on Air Quality

5.9 Climate

5.9.1 Affected Environment

5.9.2 Effects of Alternatives on Climate

5.10 Visual Quality

5.10.1 Affected Environment

5.10.2 Effects of Alternatives on Visual Quality

5.11 Parkland

5.11.1 Affected Environment

5.12.1 Effects of Alternatives on Parklands

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5.12 Noise

5.12.1 Affected Environment

5.12.2 Effects of Alternatives on Noise

5.13 Industrial Safety and Occupational Health

5.13.1 Affected Environment

5.13.2 Effects of Alternatives on Industrial Safety and Occupational Health

5.14 Radiological Characteristics

5.14.1 Affected Environment

5.14.2 Effects of Preferred Alternative on Radiological Characteristics

5.15 Natural Hazards

5.15.1 Affected Environment

5.15.2 Effects of Natural Hazards on Alternatives

5.16 Intentional Destructive Acts

5.16.1 Affected Environment

5.16.2 Intentional Destructive Acts, Effects on Alternatives

5.17 Utilities

5.17.1 Affected Environment

5.17.2 Effects of Preferred Alternative on Utilities

5.17.3 Effects of No Action Alternative on Utilities

5.18 Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF)

5.18.1 Affected Environment

5.18.2 Effects of Alternatives on EMF

5.19 Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

5.19.1 Affected Environment

5.19.2 Effects of Preferred Alternative on Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

5.19.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative on Waste Management and Pollution Prevention 44

5.20 Commitment of Resources

5.20.1 Commitment of Resources under the Preferred Alternative

5.20.2 Commitment of Resources under the No Action Alternative

5.21 Sustainability

5.21.1 Affected Environment

5.21.2 Effects of alternatives on Sustainability

5.23 Decommissioning and Restoration

5.24 Cumulative Impacts

6.0 ACRONYMS, INITIALS, AND ABBREVIATIONS

7.0 LIST OF AGENCIES CONTACTED AND PRESENTATIONS TO

STAKEHOLDERS

7.1 Agencies Contacted

7.2 Stakeholder Presentations

8.0 REFERENCES

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts and Controls for the No Action Alternative, and the Preferred Alternative Table 2: Summary of new buildings for the EIC complex Table 3: Low Income Status in Communities Adjacent to BNL Site Table 4: Common Noise Exposures Table 5: Recent History of Earthquakes within approximately 50 miles of Long Island (USGS 2020)

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Regional View of Brookhaven National Laboratory Location Figure 2: Aerial View of Brookhaven National Laboratory Core Developed Area Figure 3. Collider Accelerator Complex with EIC Complex Boundaries shown Figure 4: Geographic Layout of the EIC Complex Figure 5: Land Use within 1 mile of the BNL border Figure 6: Population within 1 mile of the BNL border

Environmental Assessment for Electron-Ion Collider

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of upgrading the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL or Laboratory) Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) to accommodate the addition of electron accelerator facilities in order to create an Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). Upgrading will allow further investigation into the basic structure of the atomic nucleus and its subatomic components in order to understand the basic structures governing all matter in the universe. This project would ensure the continued operation of the RHIC complex, the development of the EIC, and future operations of the EIC.

The EIC project is a partnership between Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in Virginia. While the accelerator facility housing the experiment is located at BNL a substantial portion of the detector development, magnet construction, and other supporting work will be conducted at TJNAF. The development and review of this EA has been coordinated with TJNAF and it has been determined that the scope of the work conducted at TJNAF falls under the 2007 Environmental Assessment, Proposed Upgrade and Operation of the CEBAF and FEL Accelerators and Construction and Use of Buildings Associated with the 2005 Ten-Year Site Plan at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia (DOE/EA-1534), which is incorporated into this EA by reference. Therefore, this EA will focus on work planned at BNL.

The Preferred Alternative is to design and construct an EIC using components of the existing RHIC facility and to cover all foreseen maintenance, upgrades - including new buildings, roads, electrical distribution and other enhancements within the RHIC/EIC Complex to ensure long-term operational success of the EIC. This will support the next frontier in nuclear physics fulfilling, in part, the scientific mission of the Department of Energy.

Alternatives considered are described. This EA will be used to determine whether a “Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)” to the environment would result from the development and construction of an Electron-Ion Collider with upgrades and enhancements to existing facilities to support operations of an electron-ion collider, or whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared.

This document complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 USC 4321-4347); the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508); and the DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR 1021).

2.0 SUMMARY

BNL is a national laboratory overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science (SC) of the DOE, and operated and managed by Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (BSA). BSA is a limited liability company, formed between Battelle Memorial Institute and The Research Foundation of the State University of New York (SUNY) on behalf of Stony Brook University (SBU). Located 60 miles east of New York City in Upton, NY, BNL conducts research in high energy and nuclear physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, environmental sciences, energy technologies and national security (See Figures 1 and 2). Among its missions, the Laboratory is charged with conceiving, designing, constructing and operating world-class, complex, leading-edge research facilities in response to the mission needs of DOE and to a large community consisting of university, industry, government and international users (BNL 2020).

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This EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with:

• The No Action Alternative in which no modifications beyond sPHENIX occur to the

RHIC, RHIC operates to end of planned experiments

• Development of an EIC and modifications/upgrades to existing facilities, construction of new facilities, development and construction of electron accelerators and associated detectors supporting the EIC

In the No Action Alternative, BNL would continue to operate the RHIC Complex (See Figure 3) in its current configuration and continue all activities within the current configuration including sPHENIX for the foreseeable future or until current experiments are completed.

A summary of the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives is presented in Table 1.

Full analysis of these topics is covered in the Environmental Impacts section of this document.

Figure 1: Regional View of Brookhaven National Laboratory Location

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Figure 2: Aerial View of Brookhaven National Laboratory Core Developed Area

1. Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider 8. Center for Functional Nanomaterials

2. NASA Space Radiation Laboratory 9. National Synchrotron Light Source II

3. Alternating Gradient Synchrotron 10. Computational Science Initiative

4. Alternating Gradient Synchrotron Booster 11. Tandem Van de Graaff and Cyclotron

5. LINAC and Brookhaven LINAC Isotope Producer 12. Accelerator Test Facilities

6. Tandem to Booster Tunnel 13. Medical Isotope Research Laboratories

7. Interdisciplinary Science Building

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Figure 3. Collider Accelerator Complex with EIC Complex Boundaries shown.

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Table 1: Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts and Controls for the No Action Alternative, and the Preferred Alternative

Comparison Factors The No Action

Preferred Alternative

General Information No change from the existing BNL operations.

No Change

Ecological Resources

No change from the existing BNL operations.

Approximately 10 acres could be cleared of which 3-4 acres were previously disturbed, remaining acreage cleared would be adjacent to previous disturbance.

Impacts to resources expected to be minimal and no impact to threatened or endangered species would be expected.

Water Resources No change from the existing BNL operations.

Increase in the amount of water needed for cooling using conventional cooling towers. Increased water needs for cooling towers may necessitate an additional well. Most water is returned to groundwater. Potential for violations of SPDES permit limits if alternative anti-corrosion chemicals used in cooling towers are ineffective or alternative cooling options are not possible. Water from impermeable surfaces is directed to dry wells or existing recharge basins.

Land Use, Demography, and Environmental Justice

No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No Change

Socioeconomic Factors No change from the existing BNL site conditions and operations.

No change.

Transportation No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

Minor Increase over current conditions mostly during construction similar to what has been seen with other recent construction. Operational period would see minor increases from research community.

Cultural Resources No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No impacts to cultural resources

Air Quality No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

Air quality would likely not change, electric purchases may be from renewable sources or offset by renewable energy credits where possible.

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Table 1: Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts and Controls for the No Action Alternative, and the Preferred

Preferred Alternative

Climate No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

Climate change is not likely to impact operations. Construction may result in some increase of greenhouse gasses from truck and machine operation. Operations would be expected to use energy efficiency measures and purchase of renewable energy or renewable energy credits, where possible, to offset GHG emissions.

BNL’s refrigerant management and recovery strives to reduce or eliminate releases.

Visual Quality No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

New structures at the bldgs. 1002 and 1010 areas of the EIC would be visible from the adjacent Peconic River but would not be visible from the William Floyd Parkway or neighborhood to the north.

Parkland No Change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No Change

Noise No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

Routine construction noise would occur during the construction period, noise would return to normal levels during operational period. New compressor buildings would utilize new quieter compressors.

Industrial Safety and Occupational Health

No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No Change

Radiological Characteristics

No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No significant change

Natural Hazards No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No Change

Intentional Destructive Acts

No change from the existing BNL site conditions.

No Change

Utilities existing BNL site conditions.

Project would result in increases in electric usage, increase in water, and increase in sanitary discharges. Water and sanitary increases are expected to be within historic ranges. New infrastructure for electric, water, and sanitary would be necessary (i.e. transmission lines, potable water lines, and sanitary lines).

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Table 1: Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts and Controls for the No Action Alternative, and the Preferred

Preferred Alternative

Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF)

No change from the existing BNL site conditions and operations.

New electric transmission lines would meet current standards and would be similar to existing infrastructure. EMF internal to the EIC would be managed to limit or eliminate personnel exposures.

Waste Management and Pollution Prevention (P2)

No change from the existing BNL site conditions and operations.

Minor Increase during demolition of unused RHIC components and construction of the EIC, returning to routine levels during operations. Reuse and recycling of materials would be maximized where possible.

Commitment of Resources

No change from the conditions.

Construction of the EIC would require steel, concrete, wood, copper, etc. to establish new accelerators and storage rings, and the associated structures needed to support the establishment of the EIC. Operation would utilize electricity, water, and helium.

Decommissioning and Restoration conditions

Same as No Action, decommissioning and restoration activities would be planned to minimize impacts.

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3.0 PURPOSE AND NEED

The mission of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Physics (NP) program is to discover, explore, and understand all forms of nuclear matter. NP supports experimental and theoretical research -along with the development and operation of particle accelerators and advanced technologies - to create, detect, and describe the different forms and complexities of nuclear matter that can exist in the universe, including those that are no longer found naturally.

The purpose of the EIC project is to deliver a fully functional Electron-Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory including the accelerator complex and one or more detectors. The EIC is necessary to understand the basic properties or building blocks of the nuclei; and how quarks and gluons, the particles that make up neutrons and protons are held together and interact. This will allow advancement of our understanding of nature; further fundamental science and technological innovations; and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States.

The DOE has identified a national need for the design and construction of an Electron Ion Collider which meets the full range of the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) 2015 Long Range Plan parameters, including:

• Collision Luminosity of at least 1x1033 - 1x1034/cm2/s

• Variable Center-of-Mass Energy of 20 -140 GeV

• One Interaction Region with the ability to add a second

• One Detector with the ability to add a second

• Complete the construction project in 10-15 years

• Deliver the facility within a cost range of $1.6B-$2.6B

• Consider the ability to collide polarized particles

• Maintain and operate the facility with routine improvements for the foreseeable future

The design and development of the EIC is being done under a partnership between BNL and TJNAF. The accelerator facility would be constructed and operated at BNL utilizing the existing RHIC accelerator facility and infrastructure, while substantial development and construction of magnets and detectors would occur at TJNAF. The work to be completed at TJNAF falls under the types of work historically accomplished there and a review of the proposed EIC work was evaluated and found to fall within the scope of the 2007 Environmental Assessment, Proposed Upgrade and Operation of the CEBAF and FEL Accelerators and Construction and Use of Buildings Associated with the 2005 Ten-Year Site Plan at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia (DOE/EA-1534), which has been incorporated into this EA by reference.

4.0 ALTERNATIVES

4.1 Alternative 1 – (Preferred Alternative)

4.1.1 Project Location and Description

Figure 3 depicts the general layout of the RHIC (future site of the proposed Electron-Ion Collider).

The RHIC Complex houses the accelerators that collide particles and will be utilized extensively for the development of the EIC facility.

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Facilities addressed in this EA include:

• AGS to RHIC Transfer Line (AtR) for injection of ions into the hadron accelerator

• Existing facilities associated with the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)

• Existing TJNAF facilities and operations (see DOE/EA-1534, incorporated by reference)

• New Facilities planned for EIC

Building an EIC will maintain and expand U.S. leadership in nuclear physics and accelerator science—fields of science that have impacts in health (diagnostic and therapeutic medical isotopes, accelerator advances for cancer treatment, and drug discoveries), national security (detector technologies for screening at borders, nuclear security), energy (methods to make and study computer chips, batteries, and electronics), and the development of computational tools for managing all kind of “big data” systems. The project will also serve as a training ground for numerous students (hundreds) who will apply their expertise in a range of careers that fuel the economy, provide for security, and pave the way to a healthier, brighter future for all. The project will push the state-of-the-art in particle accelerator and detector technologies, two areas with wide-ranging economic and health impacts.

The conventional facilities required for the EIC will include:

• the buildings and structures that will house the scientific equipment and utility systems

• the utility services (electric, water, sanitary, com/data) required to power, cool, occupy and communicate among the science facilities

• the site infrastructure modifications needed to provide access roads, parking and proper drainage for the EIC site and its facilities

Conventional facilities do not include the scientific apparatus and specialized equipment that accelerate particles and detect and analyze their collisions.

The new buildings proposed for the EIC will include (see Figure 4 for locations):

• four small “Alcove Buildings”

• two large Alcove Buildings

• Cryogenics Equipment Facility at RHIC 1006

• Kicker Power Supply Building at RHIC 1012

• Cryogenics Equipment Facility at RHIC 1002

• two-story Electron Injector Source Building at RHIC 1002

• Cryogenics Equipment Facility at RHIC 1010

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• two-story Radiofrequency (RF) Power Facility at RHIC 1010

• two-story Kicker Power Supply Building at RHIC 1012

• An arch-plate tunnel extension of approximately 100m at the 2 o’clock location

Please see Table 2 for a summary of anticipated building needs and approximate sizes:

Table 2: Summary of new buildings for the EIC complex

Building Designations Estimated GSQFT Remarks Alcove Buildings:

ALC-01, ALC-03, ALC-05, ALC-11 8,000 4 @ 2,000 SF ea.

Main Alcove Buildings:

ALC-07, ALC-09 10,000 2 @ 5000 SF ea.

Cryo Facility 1006 1,200

Kicker Power Supply 1004 9,000 Two stories Cryo Facility 1002 2,400 eSource Building 1002 21,200

Two stories, includes SHC facility.

Cryo Facility 1010 7,200 RF Building 1010 70,800 Two stories

Kicker Power Supply 1012 15,200 Two stories Tunnel Extension at 2 o’clock 4,200 Buried arch - plate

TOTAL 149,200 Gross SQFT

The envisioned construction type for each building will be reinforced slab on grade with perimeter footing, structural steel frame with composite reinforced concrete slab on metal deck for upper floors, and insulated metal panel exterior. Roofing may be a combination of standing seam metal roof, built-up bitumen or membrane roof systems.

Although the building design will generally involve standard commercial design and construction techniques, there are some additional considerations due to the specific requirements of the integration required with the existing accelerator facility. Unique types of equipment will be installed and operated in these buildings. For example, RF power equipment, lasers, cryogenics, large quantities of magnets and power supplies, and vacuum chambers required to perform at an ultra-high vacuum are all planned for installation in these spaces. In addition to buildings and structure design, systems for support of the scientific and experimental equipment, power distribution and other utilities will be required:

• power and water distribution facilities, storm and sanitary drain

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• Cooling tower and process water systems. The project will consider air-to-air and geothermal systems as alternatives to minimize or eliminate use of cooling tower water to minimize water consumption, chemical usage and biological growth potential.

• numerous tunnel access ports and

Special consideration will be given to the stability of the existing buried arch plate tunnel structure to eliminate instability by asymmetric unloading and loading of the tunnel during excavation and reburial. Consideration will also be made in some of the building designs to minimize sources of vibration and transmission of vibration that would impact beam stability in the accelerator and experimental beamline areas and laser spaces. There will also be specific temperature and humidity stability requirements in the accelerator, laser, cathode production and other laboratory spaces that will require HVAC system and control design that exceeds standard commercial practices. Building and tunnel designs and orientation will be such that future expansion or extension will cause minimal disruption; therefore designs will be readily extensible using standard techniques (i.e. modularity).

The EIC project scientific equipment would include:

• Addition of an electron injector consisting of a polarized, room temperature photo-electron gun and a subsequent 400 MeV S-band injector linear accelerator (linac) which will be installed in an existing straight tunnel connected to the RHIC tunnel.

• Addition of a spin transparent 400 Mev-18 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) with normal conducting magnets and superconducting RF cavities, to be installed in the RHIC tunnel including the transport line which connect the linac to the synchrotron.

• Addition of a 5 GeV-18 GeV electron storage ring (eSR) inside the existing RHIC tunnel.

• Modifications of the hadron ring RF systems to allow for 1320 bunches including a superconducting high frequency RF holding system, modification of the injection systems and provisions for path-length changes to allow for low energy hadron operation at the high energy revolution time, removal of the DX magnets which limit presently the achievable RHIC (proton) beam energy to 255 GeV.

• An EIC interaction region with superconducting final focus magnets, crab-cavities for both hadrons and electrons and a pair of spin rotators for electrons to provide longitudinally polarized beams in collisions

• Development and construction of a detector in the interaction region. Significant input from the user community will be required before the exact design is finalized.

• A strong-hadron-cooling facility to reduce and maintain the hadron beam emittance to the level needed to operate with the anticipated luminosity. This facility consists of a high current electron source (presently estimated at 100 mA) and a 150 MeV superconducting energy recovery linac followed by 150 MeV beam transport channels to propagate the electrons together with hadron beam in two vacuum sections called “modulator” and “kicker” sections. In between these two sections is a series of electron bunch compressors and strong focusing. An additional section of beam transport will return the beam to the linac for energy recovery.

• An option to replace the existing branch tunnel at 2 o’clock with a larger tunnel section for the hadron cooling facility

• Development of an enhanced 2oK liquid helium (He) cooling capacity (cryo facility),

- Page 12 enhanced water-cooling capacity (cooling towers and chillers) as well as air-conditioning the RHIC tunnel.

All existing RHIC facilities would be utilized under both the No Action Alternative and the Preferred Alternative. Existing RHIC Facilities include:

• AGS to RHIC transfer line

• Hadron accelerators

• RHIC tunnel

• Interaction buildings at 1006 (STAR), 1008 (sPHENIX), 1010, 1012, 1002

• Cryogenic Plant at 1005 and Helium tank farm

• Facilities at 1004

• 1005 Office and Science Building

• Cooling Towers and Electrical systems

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Figure 4: Geographic Layout of the EIC Complex

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4.1.2 Future upgrades and maintenance

Future upgrades supporting operations for 15 to 20 years after construction ends and may include potential new detector(s) at a second interaction region. Experimental upgrades to accelerators may involve improvement of beam acceleration systems, beam control systems, beam monitoring systems, and beam extraction capabilities. These actions may also improve experimental facilities used by the experimental community, provide general environment and safety upgrades, and improve overall operations efficiency. Most of the actions typically require the installation of new or modified accelerator equipment or systems within the developed portion of the existing accelerator enclosures. These actions typically result from component failures or new scientific breakthroughs.

In order for science and technology development efforts to continue excellence in safety and environmental protection, there could be continued renovation and modernization of existing shops, offices and mechanical / electrical infrastructure in order to provide safe and efficient support facilities.

4.1.3 Decommissioning and Restoration

Decommissioning plans for each accelerator, accelerator facility, RHIC detectors (STAR, sPHENIX, etc.), EIC detectors, and support facilities would be developed near the end of their operating lifetime. In that way, plans would be in compliance with existing requirements at that time. At that point in time, the Laboratory will determine the wastes associated with decommissioning. Of the utmost importance will be to ensure the safety of the workers, protecting the public and the environment, and complying with the applicable state-, local-, and federal regulations. Key to safe decommissioning is managing the wastes from operations, or other hazardous materials that might remain in the facility after shutdown, as well as those wastes generated during decommissioning itself. Therefore, BNL will establish records during operations that identify the types and quantities of these materials. These records currently include spill reports, inventories of all chemicals, records on beam-loss events, hazardous waste records, radioactive waste records, area radiation surveys, work planning documents, and radiation work permit information.

4.2 Alternative 2 – No Action

The No Action Alternative would maintain the current conditions and operations of the RHIC complex. The RHIC mission would continue for the foreseeable future, and in addition to the routine maintenance and modifications of facilities and equipment, could include the development of the sPHENIX experiment. No additional ground disturbance would be expected under the No Action alternative.

5.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

This section describes the general environment in the area for the proposed alternatives along with specific environmental elements that may be affected. The effects of each alternative on these elements are presented within each subsection. Both alternatives have similar impacts, therefore the description of effects will be for all alternatives unless there is a variance between

- Page 15 alternatives. Variable effects under any specific target will be parsed out and a description of the effects will be detailed. For additional information on BNL, including detailed environmental monitoring results, please refer to BNL’s annual Site Environmental Report (BNL 2020).

5.1 Site Description

BNL encompasses a total of 5,265 acres (2,131 hectares) with most principal facilities located near its central developed area, which occupies approximately 1,820 acres (737 hectares). The remaining 3,445 acres (1,394 hectares) of the site are largely wooded and part of the Long Island Central Pine Barrens (CPB) region. The CPB is divided into two areas 1) the compatible growth area where development is allowed but must meet minimum standards; and 2) the core preservation area where development is not allowed except under rare exceptions. The central portion of BNL is within the compatible growth area as designated by the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (Commission), while the areas outside the central portions of the Laboratory are designated as Core Preservation Area by the Commission. The Peconic River is the major surface water feature found on the BNL site. Its headwaters start west of the BNL site, and it flows eastward through the RHIC complex leaving the site near the southeast corner of BNL. The onsite portions of the Peconic River have been designated as “Scenic” by the NYSDEC under the New York State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Act (NYS WSRRA). Under the Act, the NYSDEC has established a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) buffer on either side of the river which limits certain activities and development that are not compatible with the designation. BNL, as a federal enclave, is not bound by NY State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 57 establishing the Central Pine Barrens or the NYS-WSRRA.

However, DOE works within the spirit of these laws whenever possible by conducting review of standards and/or applying for appropriate permits. The majority of the proposed EIC complex, including likely disturbance areas, falls within the Core Preservation Area of the Central Pine Barrens and is completely within the 0.5-mile buffer of the Peconic River.

5.2 Ecology

5.2.1 Affected Environment

The Laboratory has a comprehensive understanding of the various ecological resources present on-site through multiple efforts including an extensive biological investigation conducted in the mid-1990s called the Site Wide Biological Inventory (Lawler, et. al, 1995); the Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) (BNL, 2016); the establishment of the Upton Ecological & Research Reserve (Upton Reserve) in 2000; and the subsequent studies conducted under both the Upton Reserve and Natural Resources Program as well as volunteer work conducted by the Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast (FERN), a non-profit organization.

Additionally, work associated with the Peconic River remediation project provided extensive information concerning contaminants in sediments, fish, and vegetation associated with the river both before and after remediation.

Vegetation

Vegetation at BNL is for the most part typical of the Pine Barrens in which the site is situated. A 2003 aerial photo analysis of vegetation on-site identified 12 vegetation classes. Vegetation ranges from open lawns and early successional vegetation areas associated with the constructed portions of the Laboratory, to mature forests and pine plantations. Historically, much of the forested area of the BNL site has been disturbed by tree cutting for fuel (cord wood

- Page 16 industry 1800s) to extensive site-wide clearing of trees for the establishment of Camp Upton during World War I. The forests are in various stages of succession. More than 350 species of plants have been identified on the BNL site with thirty-three of these being identified as NY State designated threatened, endangered, rare, or exploitably vulnerable. Although some of the thirty-three plants may occur within the central portion of the RHIC complex they are not expected to be impacted by any construction or operational activities. One species that may be impacted is pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) which is known to grow on the tunnel berms at the 3 o’clock position.

Peconic River

What is now known as the Peconic River on the BNL site was considered swamp or wetlands prior to World War I. Starting with construction during World War I the wetlands were trenched or ditched to facilitate drainage and water flow to reduce the number of mosquitoes and related mosquito borne diseases. The on-site sections of the Peconic River and its tributaries continue to show evidence of these trenching activities with ditches ranging from 6 to 12 feet (1.8- 3.6 meters) wide and up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) deep along with side cast sediment. This ditching extends from an area west of the William Floyd Parkway, through the BNL site including the RHIC/EIC area, and past the BNL eastern boundary.

Invasive Species

The area of the proposed project contains several invasive species including Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) and phragmites (Phragmites australis). These species were intentionally introduced to the area as ornamentals (e.g.

Japanese Barberry), inadvertently transported to Long Island and BNL by visitors, or transferred through movement by animals. The proposed project area has invasive species isolated to berms of the RHIC, within the drainage ways leading to recharge basins within the central portion of the RHIC/EIC complex, and along roadways and tunnel areas (black locust); and areas in and near recharge basins (e.g. barberry, bittersweet, and Phragmites).

Threatened, Endangered, or Species of Concern

The Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was determined to be threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in May 2015. This is the only federally threatened or endangered species known on the BNL property. Other federally threatened or endangered species listed for the Long Island region are located some distance away either in coastal areas or the Hempstead Plains to the west. The NY State designated endangered eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma t. tigrinum) inhabits multiple wetlands on BNL including those found in the center of the RHIC/EIC complex. The RHIC/EIC Ring recharge basins have historically been documented to support tiger salamanders. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is known to utilize the BNL site and has been documented nesting on the High Flux Beam Reactor Stack in 2019. This species typically hunts smaller birds and rodents and is not expected to utilize areas within the RHIC/EIC complex for nesting. Species listed by NY State as species of special concern that are present in the area of the RHIC/EIC complex include the eastern spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), eastern hognosed snake (Heterodon platyrhinos), spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) and the eastern box turtle (Terrapene c. carolina). Other species of special concern that may periodically be seen in the proposed project are the Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi), the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), and osprey (Pandion haliaetus). A full listing of threatened, endangered,

- Page 17 special concern species and species of greatest conservation need may be found in the annual Site Environmental Report (BNL 2020).

Migratory Birds

Under the Laboratory’s Natural Resource Management Plan, bird surveys have been conducted through all of the major habitat types on site. Surveys have been conducted April through August annually since 2000, and a total of 134 species of birds have been documented.

Additionally, birding has been an avid pastime for many BNL employees. Between 1948 and the present, 216 bird species have been documented on-site and approximately 85 species routinely utilize BNL for nesting. A number of migratory birds listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as birds of conservation concern or special status are known on the BNL site including the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus), buff-breasted sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis), Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis), eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), red-headed woodpecker, semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), and wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) may utilize the Lab site and potentially be found within the proposed project area.

Mammals

A number of mammals utilize the various habitats at BNL, including the RHIC/EIC complex.

The largest mammal found at BNL is the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which is present in numbers exceeding 30 per square mile (12 per sq. kilometer). Recent implementation of deer management has significantly lowered the number of deer within the constructed portion of the BNL campus. BNL also provides habitats for small mammals such as bats, mice, squirrels, rabbits and medium-sized mammals such as raccoons (Procyon lotor), red fox (Vulpes velox), and grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Virtually all known mammal species found on the BNL site may utilize the area of the RHIC/EIC complex.

Since 2011 BNL has been documenting presence of bats on the BNL site. Bat species identified include the federally threatened northern long-eared bat, little brown bat (M. lucifugus), eastern small-footed bat (M. leibii), big brown bat (Eptisicus fuscus), red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and hoary bat (L. cinereus). All but the small-footed bat have been confirmed through capture or observation. The small-footed bat has been documented using acoustic surveys. All of these species may utilize trees during summer and the myotids may utilize buildings during other seasons.

Reptiles and Amphibians

BNL is home to 28 species of reptiles and amphibians. The various species are distributed throughout BNL but may be localized depending on their habitat requirements. Reptiles like the eastern box turtle may be found in virtually all habitats on-site, whereas many species of snakes and other turtles are localized near wetland resources. Frogs and toads are isolated around wetlands during breeding periods but may be found moving away from wetlands to forage for food during the late spring through summer months. Several salamander species can be found in and adjacent to wetland areas on-site. These salamanders include the NY State designated endangered eastern tiger salamander, marbled salamander (A. opacum), red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), and red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Additionally, four-toed salamanders (Hemidactylium scutatum) are known to inhabit specific habitats along

- Page 18 the Peconic River containing tussock sedge (Carex stricta) and/or sphagnum mosses (Sphagnum sp.).

Fish

There are six species of fish known from the Peconic River on BNL including the NY State designated threatened banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), chain pickerel (Esox niger), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus), and brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus). The swamp darter (Etheostoma fusiforme) a NY State designated threatened species is also known to use the Peconic River but has not been confirmed within the onsite stretch of the river. These species of fish utilize a variety of habitats within the river from slow moving backwater areas to deep open water pools. During high flow period’s fish have been documented as far upstream as the ponds within the RHIC/EIC complex. In these rare cases fish had to overcome multiple barriers to fish passage. In general fish can only move up and downstream during extreme high water and flow periods which typically occur every 10 to 15 years.

5.2.2 Effects of Alternatives on Ecological Resources

Projected power and water requirements, and disturbance areas associated with the proposed EIC will not have impacts on ecological resources as new power transmission will be routed through previously disturbed areas and water discharges will be to existing basins, new dry wells, or the Sewage Treatment Plant which has a capacity of 2.3 mgd. Increases/decreases in radiological emissions are expected to be roughly equivalent to current conditions and existing or new shielding will ensure ALARA principles are met. Waste generation will be identified as specifically as possible and follow approved procedures to prevent ecological impacts.

Effects on Threatened, Endangered, or Species of Concern

The recharge basins and ponds that serve the RHIC and proposed EIC are known tiger salamander habitat. Discharges of storm water from the northern portions of the AGS complex and southern area of the RHIC including cooling tower blowdown are routed to recharge basins in the southern portion of the RHIC Ring (interior to Renaissance Rd.) where the northern most basin provides marginal habitat for tiger salamanders. The ponds associated with the Peconic River in the northern most area of the RHIC/EIC Complex provide habitat for tiger salamanders.

In wet years and/or during heavy precipitation events water flows in the upper Peconic from west of the William Floyd Parkway under the accelerator tunnel at the building 1010 area.

Monitoring of water has found no contaminants from existing operations that would cause impact to protected species. Tiger salamanders are known to move in an area extending more than 1000 ft. from wetland habitats and have been found in sumps, manholes, and other structures that may retain water. When they are found they are moved to appropriate habitat.

Surveys within the RHIC wetlands have documented a healthy, reproducing population.

Construction and operation under the Preferred Alternative are not expected to alter existing habitat of tiger salamanders. Furthermore, cooling tower discharges to basins have not impacted tiger salamanders or their habitat.

The northern long-eared bat (federally threatened) primarily utilizes trees for roosting during summer months. Winter hibernacula are suspected to occur somewhere on Long Island and possibly at BNL. This bat has been documented on the BNL site as early as March suggesting that there may be a small population of this bat overwintering either on or in the vicinity of BNL.

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Bats in the genus Myotis are known to enter and utilize buildings for roosts and on rare occasions bats have been seen or captured in buildings of the RHIC complex. For buildings that may undergo demolition, BNL conducts multiple surveys using either acoustic monitoring or visual searches to ensure that no bats are impacted. In existing buildings, when bats are found or reported as nuisance animals, they are captured when possible, and released without harm.

Under the Preferred Alternative a small amount of clearing would remove trees near the building 1010 area that had been previously cleared during construction of RHIC and at the building 1002 area. Neither clearing would be significant enough to reduce forest habitat supportive of summer roosting bats.

Effects on Migratory Birds

Radiation exposures from operations will be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) to all life and much less than DOE, EPA or other regulatory limits. The current RHIC program has not had any documented impacts on migratory birds and therefore the No Action Alternative is not expected to have impact.

Under the Preferred Alternative, clearing of trees at building 1010 and building 1002 areas may result in minor loss of nesting habitat but are not expected to have impacts on concerned species like black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) that are found throughout the BNL site. Based on experience with other construction projects, cleared areas and construction sites may be attractive to Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), a ground-nesting shorebird. Should this happen, nests are protected by symbolic fencing (stakes and flagging) and birds allowed to raise chicks. In instances where nests cannot be protected removals are carried out by individuals that possess appropriate permits. Since neither alternative will result in disturbance to wetlands within the center of the RHIC/EIC complex impacts to shorebirds are not expected.

New buildings are not expected to have large expanses of glass that would result in bird strikes.

Increased water use associated with cooling towers would result in increased amounts of water diverted to either recharge basins or sanitary which ultimately gets recharged to one of four basins after treatment. The basins are routinely used by shorebirds and increase flows would expand the available area for use.

Effects on Mammals

Radiation exposures will be ALARA to all life and much less than DOE, EPA or other regulatory limits. Larger animals, like deer, may enter bermed areas covering accelerator facilities, but do not receive significant radiological dose due to ALARA practices. BNL manages nuisance animals through the Natural Resource Management Plan. Nuisance animals such as rodents, raccoons, skunks, and opossums are occasionally reported as getting into buildings. When this happens, larger animals are trapped using live traps and appropriately released. Extensive efforts are made to identify where animals can enter buildings and the openings are sealed.

Effects on Reptiles and Amphibians

Radiation exposures will follow ALARA practices to minimize effects on all life and much less than DOE, EPA or other regulatory limits. There will be no significant changes to liquid effluents with any of the alternatives. The project will follow current practices and will only return secondary non-activated process cooling-water to the local groundwater. Cooling tower blow-down, if used, will be to the same outfalls currently used at RHIC or will be diverted to sanitary.

The use of cooling towers, chillers, or geothermal systems will be determined as the project progresses. Anti-corrosion chemicals that may cause periodic permit excursions do not appear

- Page 20 to impact amphibians. Use of chilled water or geothermal systems would eliminate discharges to basins. Recharge basins receiving discharges, either storm water or cooling water, will continue to provide limited habitat for both reptiles and amphibians.

Effects on the Pine Barrens

The RHIC/EIC Complex is wholly within the core preservation area of the Central Pine Barrens. New construction of buildings at building 1002 and 1010 areas and roads leading to these two areas would total less than 10 acres of which approximately 4 acres had been previously disturbed. Clearing will be minimized where possible. Radiation exposures will be ALARA to all life and much less than DOE, EPA or other regulatory limits. Direct radiation exposures from operation of the EIC are not expected to be greater than the current RHIC operations which are roughly equivalent to background.

5.3 Water

5.3.1 Affected Environment

Water resources associated with BNL include both surface waters and groundwater.

Surface Water

BNL lies within the headwater region of the Peconic River watershed. The Peconic River is a groundwater fed stream. Standing and flowing water is observed during periods of high precipitation and high water table conditions. During extended periods of low precipitation, the Peconic River and its associated wetlands can be completely dry. Starting in late 2014 all discharges to the Peconic River from the sewage treatment plant were diverted to groundwater recharge basins. As a result, the Peconic River has reverted to a naturally functioning stream.

Coastal plain ponds and ephemeral wetlands are also found throughout the site and provide habitat for a number of wildlife species including tiger salamanders. The Peconic River and its associated wetlands are the key wetland features on BNL. Several recharge basins are also found within the developed portion of the BNL site with some providing habitat to various wetland dependent species and are further discussed under impact to ecological resources in Section 5.2.2 above.

Scenic River Corridor

The onsite portions of the Peconic River have been designated as “Scenic” by the NYSDEC under the New York State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Act. Under the Act, the NYSDEC has established a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) buffer on either side of the river which limits certain activities and development that are not compatible with the designation. The entire RHIC/EIC Complex are within the boundaries of the Scenic River Corridor. Any actions causing disturbance within the river channel or within 100 ft. (30 m) of a designated wetland would require a freshwater wetlands permit and/or a Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Act permit from the NYSDEC.

Groundwater

BNL is situated over a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated sole-source aquifer system that is the primary regional source of drinking water. The underlying groundwater

- Page 21 is further classified by New York State as Class GA groundwater, which is defined as a source of potable water. Federal drinking water standards, NYS drinking water standards as well as NYS ambient water quality standards (AWQS) for class GA groundwater are used as goals for groundwater protection and remediation.

Groundwater flow directions across the BNL site are influenced by natural drainage systems:

eastward along the Peconic River, southeast toward the Forge River, and south toward the Car-mans River.