ML20195J244

Alchemie,Inc Facility 2 - Oliver Springs Ecological Survey

ML20195J244
Person / Time
Site:	05000604
Issue date:	11/18/1988
From:	EDGE GROUP
To:	ALL CHEMICAL ISOTOPE ENRICHMENT, INC.
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ML20195J242	List: ML20195J234 ML20195J244
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NUDOCS 8812010376
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A# ADOCK 05000604 i i / i PDC i1 ' <;

ALL CHEMICAL IS0 TOPE ENRICHMENT, INC.

I FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS ECOLOGICAL SURVEY l

l Prepared for:

All Chemical Isotope Enrichment Inc.

Pine Ridge Office Park 702 South Illinois Avenue Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 Prepared by:

The EDGE Group 725 Pellissippi Parkway P.O. Box 22879

( Knoxville, TN 37933-0379 November 18, 1988

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EDGE

FOREWORD The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board requested that a survey of terrestrial flora and fauna be conducted at the All Chemical Isotope Enrichment Inc., Facility 2 - Oliver Springs to look for evidence of any threatened or endangered species. This report is submitted in response to that request.

On 11 November 1988 the site was surveyed for the' presence of threatened or endangered species as well as to determine if it provided potential habitat for such species. The assessment of potential habitat was deemed necessary because the season (late fall) precluded locating any j rare floral species that might be present. Moreover, the habitat assessment could also provide information on whether transient or seasonal faunal species might use the site.

This report sumarizes information on land use and the environmental ..

I setting of the surrounding area, presents an ecological description of the site, and provides an assessment of the potential habitat for

( threatened and endangered species. Responses from state and federal agencies on the proposed development are included in the Appendix.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS l

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

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2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT....................................... I  ;

2.1 Land Use.............................................. 1 2.2 Environmental Setting................................. 3 j t

3.0 ECOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE  ;

ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 SITE.............................. 7 t i

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SUMMARY

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f REFERENCES................................................. 14 PARTICIPANTS IN SITE SURVEY................................ 15 APPENDIX REGULATORY AGENCY RESP 0NSES........................... A-1 l

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LIST OF FIGURES PAGE

1. GENERAL TOP 0 GRAPHIC MAP, ,

ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 -

1 OLIVER SPRINGS, TENNESSEE........................... 4 l

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l LIST OF TABLES l

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1. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES RECORDED IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ALCHEHIE FACILITY - OLIVER SPRINGS.................... 9

2. FLORAL SPECIES LISTED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AND FOUND IN THE VICII.ITY OF THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS........................... 12 1

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc., (AlChemIE) Facility 2 for the enrichment of non-uranium, non-fissile elements will be i located withii, the Andy Justice Industrial Park in Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee. The industrial park, which is being dtveloped by the City of Oliver Springs, will comprise 247 ha (100 ac). The AlchemIE Facility 2 will consist of approximately 3780 m2 (42,000 ftt) including both administrative and production facilities. The site presently consists of pasture land, old field and fence row Vegetation, and secondary growth in the adjacent woodlands. Component species are typical of those characterizing this portion of eastern Tennessee. The ecology of the area and whether it is potential habitat for threatened or endangered species are discussed in more detail later i- this report.

2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 2.1 Land Use I

Regional land use around the AlChemIE Facility 2 is I agricultural, industrial /comercial, residential, and recreational.

( Agricultural. Farming still represents a significant portion r uf the total land use in the area despite the recent decline in agricultural activities. In the five-county area within a ten-mile radius of the AlCheu!E Facility 2 the percentage of total land area devoted to agricultural use is as follows:

Anderson - 20.3%, Roane - 27.8%, Knox 32.4%, Loudon - 52.9%,

l and Morgan - 19.8% (State of Tennessee,1974). Farms are relatively small and interspersed throughout areas of different land use. Principal cash crops are corn, tobacco,

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soybeans, and wheat. Pastures also constitute a large part of the agricultural land usage. More that 37,000 cattle were found in the five-county area in 1980, with most of these

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being in scattered herds of 20 to 30 animals. Although dairy ferms are prevalent in East Tennessee, no corrercial dairies exist within the 16-km (10-mile) radius of the site. Timber  ;

rescurces are also extensive; more than half the land in the five counties surrounding AlChem!E Facility 2 is in comercial forest.

1 Indus tri al / Commercial . The Andy Justice Industrial Park is located within the city limits of Oliver Springs near the l

l Tri-County Shopping Center. This center, as well as numerous other commercial enterprises, is situated adjacent to State Highway 62, the main thoroughfare between Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs. Five additional industrial parks are within the Oak Ridge city limits; companies occupying those sites represent numerous different research and production endeavors.

l The major industrial activities providing much of the j enployment in t.he five-county surreurding area are Department l cf Energy (DOE) and DOE-related nuclu r facilities. The largest of these are the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Plant.

Residential. Although the A1ChemIE Facility 2 is located within the City of Oliver Sprirgs, the surrounding area is primarily rural and has a relatively low population density.

Oliver Springs had a 1980 population of 3,600. Historically this population has remained stable and can be expected to be relat4vely constant. .4k Ridge, which is within a 16-km (10-mile) radius of the site, is the major population center in Anderson County and had a 1980 census of 27,662. The 3 closest residence to the site lies approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mile) to the northeast.

L Recreational. Many of the recreational opportunities within a 16-km (10-mile) radius of the site are associated with water-related activities afforded by the Clinch River and numerous lakes in the vicinity. Although hunting is not

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v allowed within the city limits, hunting of both la ye and ,

small game as well as migratory birds is an important recreational e ty in surrounding areas. Other activities include a stock c u race track, hiking trails, and scenic roadways.

2.2 Environmental Setting -

Topography. The site is located on the slopes of a small knoll that projects from the floor of poplar Creek Valley. "

The topography is flat to very gently sloping; maximum relief is about 9.3 m (30 ft), ranting from a low of 240 m (770 ft) on the western extremity to a high of 250 m (800 ft) on the l eastern side (see Figure 1). Slopes range from 16". near the , ,

western extremity to les than 5". in the central portion.

Soils. There are no detailed site specific investigations of ,

soil characteristics for the AlChemIE Facility 2. Based on ,

field experience in similar terrain, the soils on site are l

probably a combination of residual materials derived from the Conasauga shale and colluvial and alluvial materials. The colluvium represents an aggregation of soil materials which have been transported under the influence of gravity from topographic highs to a location downslope from their former j ,

position. Alluvial materials are derived from surface water deposition of suspended sediment and bedload. Soil depths on j

the site have not been determined but are estimated to range from 0 to 10 m (0 to 30 ft).

Additional soils information can be extrapolated from a

( foundation investigation of the cdjacent property [Tri-County '

Shopoing Center, located less than 330 m (1000 ft) east of the s i te'j . During the investigation, seven holes were

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.y=:u.w FIGURE-l. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHIC MAP,

( ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2-OLIVER SPRINGS, TENNESSEE

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5-drive sampled and two were power augered. The soils consisted of clayey silt and silty clays produced from in-place weathering of the bedrock. Borehole data indicate that there is not a distinct soil / bedrock interface; rather there is an interval of variably weathered shale that grades into fresh rock. Six of the boreholes refused, presumably on bedrock, at depths ranging from 2 to 7.6 m (8.5 to 25.3 ft) below grade.

Geology. ThegeologyoftheareaisdescribedbyMann(1963).

He stated that the site is underlain by Cambrian age shales, siltstones, and carbonate rocks of the Conasauga shale. The I

Conasauga shale conformably ovarlies the Rome formation, the contact being gradational and therefore difficult to place.

l The boundary is generally placed at the top of the uppermost thick sandstone bed in this sequence or approximately placed by the relative decrease in abundance of sandstone and siltstone chips in the residuum. The site lies within 330 m (1000 ft) of the trace of the Kingston Fault and is located in the axial region of a syncline. -

Hydrology. PoplarCreek,locatedabout156m(500ft) south

( of A1ChemlE Facility 2 is the largest surface water body in the vicinity. The drainage basin of Poplar Creek comprises 353 km: (136mit). The western portion of the basin lies in

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the Cumberland Mountains while the eastern portion lies in the r Valley and Ridge Province. The upper elevation of the western L

drainage divide is 970 m (3,200 ft) MSL. Poplar Creek then

, flows to the southwest towards the Clinch River; the L confluence of these two water bodies occurs at an elevation of 230m(735ft)MSL. The stream gradient in its reach adjacent

( to the site is less than 2%, and the stream morphology is one of broad meanders that span the valley floor, r

L Water quality and stream sediment data are available from

- Poplar Creek approximately 4 niles downstream from the site.

L These data were presented in the Environmental Report for AlchemlE Facility 2.

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• Because data for the site are not available, the ground water regime can only be described conceptually.

The depth of fresh water circulation is unknown. It is possible that the sandstones of the Rome formation and the presumably tightly cemented gouge of the Chattanooga Fault and Kingston Fault are impervious and act as barriers to groundwater movement. According to this hypothesis, the base of the Croasauga Group or the fault zones would define the limits of the Popular Creek bedrock aquifer. However, this conclusion cannot be corroborated without additional field I

study and subsequent analysis.

Generally, it can be presumed that groundwater within the site flows from the potentiometric highs on ridge crests to the potentiometric lows on valley floors and that the surface water system (Poplar Creek and its tributaries) serves as a constant head discharge boundary. The phreatic surface beneath the site is probably a subdued replica of the topography. Fluctuations in the phreatic surface are expected to correlate with the annual meteorologic cycle. Heavy precipitation during late winter and early spring probably correspond to phreatic surface highs. Alternately, the relatively dry periods during late summer and early fall probably correspond to phreatic surface lows.

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Meteorology. The closest meteorological data to Oliver r

Springs are from the Oak Ridge area. However, because of l their close proximity, variations in rainfall or temperature can be considered minimal. Moreover, wind data from the Oak l Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plan (ORGDP) located 13 km (8 mi) southwest of the site can be expected to be similar due to topographic features.

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The meteorology of the area is strongly influenced by its topography. The Appalachian Mountains to the east and the

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L Cumberland Plateau to the west have a protecting and moderating influence on the climate. Annual mean temperatures are approximately 15'C (58'F), with a January mean of 3.5'C (38'F) and a July mean of 25'C (77'F) (MMES,1986). The l annual mean precipitation is approximately 138.2 cm (54.4 in.)

based on data from 1948 through 1985) (NOAA, 1965-1985).

Precipitation is highest near the Cumberland Mountoins and lowest at the base of the Smoky Mountains, ranging from more than 147 cm (58 in) in the northwest to less than 117 cm (46 in)inthesoutheast(Rothschild,1984). Prevailing winds are almost equally split in two directions that are 180' apart.

l One direction is from the SW to WSW Sector, and the other is from the NE to ENE Sector. This streng alignment of the winds is due to the channeling effect induced by the ridge and valley structure of the area. The average wind speed for the OakRidgeareaisabout1.9m/sec(4.4 mph).

3.0 ECOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 SITE I

i lho AlchemlE Facility 2 is to be located in the Andy Justice Industrial Park, which will be developed adjacent to the Tri-County

( Shopping Center. The surrounding environment has a combination of industrial, comercial, and residential areas. The site per 3 presently consists of pasture and surrounding second-growth

( woodlands, with component species being typical of those found thecughout this region of Tennessee.

Except for a few ephemeral erosion channels in some parts of the site, Poplar Creek is the only main surface water body. However, it is too remote from the AlChemlE Facility 2 site to be of

( concern. Aquatic sampling was neither requested by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission nor conducted during this survey.

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A survey of the site as potential habitat for threatened and endangered species revealed no unique areas, which are usually aJsociated with such species. Furthermore, cattle have

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previously and are presently grazing in the pastures, producing a constantly disturbed environment and limiting the likelihood of the site potentially supporting rare species.

Table 1 delineates faunal species that have been recorded from the five-county area around the site and are listed by either the state or federal government as threatened or endangered. The possibility of locating many of these near the proposed site can be negated or stated as extremely unlikely by examining their preferred habitats.

Peregrine falcons and bald eagles are seldom far from large bodies of water. Peregrines especially preft:r rivers with overhanging bluffs. Although bald eagles have been sighted occasionally along the Clinch River, they would not be expected to be seen at the proposed A1ChemIE site. Golden eagles prefer deciduous mountain forests with high cliffs. They may be found in any habitat during migration, but such associations are transitory in nature. Ospreys are found near large lakes and rivers. Cooper's hawks frequent deciduous forests and are found less often in stands of conifers.

Conversely, sharp-shinned hawks prefer dense coniferous forests but are sometimes found in mixed or deciduous forests. Marsh hawks are found in marshes and open grasslands. The black-crowned night heron prefers marshes, swamps, and wooded streams and sometimes nests in pine stands. Considering thei usual habitats, none of these avian species should be found at the A1ChemIE Facility 2 site.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers have been found on the Cumberland Plateau and the western Smoky Mountains. Their preferred habitat is mature

{ pine stands. These woodpeckers excavate nesting and roosting cavities in living pines (usually 70 years of age or more) infected with fungal red heart disease. Although there are some Virninia l

and shortleaf pines at the proposed site, the trees are of insufficient size to support this species.

The decline in numbers of Bachman's sparrows has been an eni pa.

Loss of habitat does not appear to be the cause. Their preferred

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TABLE 1 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED FAUNAL SPECIES RECORDED l IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS Species Status I Coments Peregrine falcon FE, SE No nesting records in Tennessee (Falco peregrinus) for 25 years; uncommon to rare transient in spring and fall and very rare wintering bird.

Sandhill crane FE, 50 Uncomon and local transient in (Grus canadensis) spring and fall migration and rare wintering species.

I Bald eagle FE, SE Uncomon to rare wintering birds (Haliaeetus and transients chiefly from August leucocephalus) to May.

Red-cockaded wood- FE, SE Very local and uncomon resident pecker (Picoides on Cumberland Plateau and Smoky borealis) Moulitains.

Bachman's sparrow SE Very rare to uncomon and local

( Ainfophila aestivalis) sumer resident; one of the rarest nesting songbirds in the state.

Golden eagle SE Uncomon winter visitor and (Aquila chrysaetos) transient, r Osprey (Pandion SE Fairly comon to comen spring and L haliaetus) fall migrant and very rare wintering species.

Cooper's Hawk ST Uncomon to rare permanent

{ (Accipitercooperii) resident.

I Sharp-shinned hawk ST Uncomon to rare permanent I (Accipiterstriatus) resident.

Grasshopper sparrow ST Absent from some former nesting l, (Amodraeus savannarum) grounds; uncomon to rare winter visitor.

Marsh Hawk ST Uncomon to rare transient in l (Circus cyaneus) spring and fall; uncemen to rare winter visitor; accidental in sumer, l

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TABLE 1 (CONTINUED)

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED FAUNAL SPECIES RECORDED IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ALCiiEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS Species Status I Coninents Black-crowned night ST Uncommon to rare and local heron (Nycticorax permanent resident.

nycticorax)

Gray bat FE, SE Not rare in Tennessee at this (Myotis crisescens) time but facing possibility of extinction in all parts of its range.

Indiana bat (Myotis FE, SE In danger of extinction in all parts of its range.

sodalis)

River otter ST Present status unknown.

(Lutracanadensis) 1 1

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5tatus: FE = Federally endangered SE = State endangered l ST = State threatened Source: Eagar and Hatcher, 1980 l

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habitat includes: open pastures; thick grass with low trees; open grassy woodlands; old fields with rocks and brambles; old fields with broomsedge, grasses, and sumac; an6 old fields grown up in bushes. Not only does the A1ChemlE Facility 2 site, at least superficially, fit these criteria but so do thousands of other acres within the state, l.oss of this particular area is not likely to adversely affect Bachman's sparrew because this species must be limited by factors other than available habitat, which seems plentiful.

Grasshopper sparrows frequent open grassy and weedy meadows, hay fields, pastures, cultivated cover crops, and grasses adjacent to

runways at airports. As with Bachman's sparrow, the reason for the dramatic decline in population numbers is unknown. There appears to be much suitable habitat (including that at the AlChem1E l

Facility 2 site) that no longer hosts this sparrow. It has been suggested that mowing of fields at times when young are in the

( nest, pesticides, and even subtle changes in vegetative composition may have contributed to their decline. Whatever the cause, it is highly unlikely that loss of the proposed site would adversely impact the species.

Of the three mammalian species included in Table 1. none should find appropriate habitat at the Oliver Springs site. Gray and

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Indiana bats both require caves. Gray bats prefer caves within one mile of major rivers or lakes, where they feed. Conversely, Indiana bats prefer caves in wooded areas. River otters have been re-introduced on a limited basis into the Smoky Mountains and C a berland Plateau. Status of the river otter is unknown throughout Tennessee, but it is known to inhabit streams, rivers, f and lakes bordered by woods -- none of which exist at the proposed AlChemIE site.

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Table 2 presents floral species listed by the state and federal governments that may be found in the general vicinity of the Oliver

[ Springs site. Of the 11 species, potential habitat exists at the

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i TABLE 2 l FLORAL SPECIES LISTED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AND FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS

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Status I Species TN Federal Habitat False Fox love T E River bluffs near waterline (Aureolar a patula)

Black snakeroot T T River bluffs near waterline (Cimicifuga rubtfolia)

Tall larkspur E Open rocky) woods and barrens (Delphinium exaltatum) (limestone i

Northern bush honeysuckle T River cliffs l

(Diervillalonicera)

Large fothergilla T Acid forest (Fothergilla major)

, Goldenseal T Limestone, moist woods

[ (Hydrastis canadensis)

Canada lily T Moist woods and edges I

(Lilium canadense)

Ginseng T Rich woods (Panax quinquefolius)

L Southern rein orchid S Shaded wetland

, (Platanthera flava) l

' On limestone near the lake Carey's saxifrage S T (Saxifraga careyana)

Lesser ladies' tresses S Woods over limestone (Spiranthes ovalis)

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I Status: E = Endangered T = Threatened

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site for only the Canada lily and goldenseal, neither of which is federally listed. Despite the fact that November is not the optimal time for conducting botanical surveys, the general I characteristics of the site suggest that neither species is likely present. These plants usually are not found in sites that have l

been disturbed such as this one has. The area has been subjected to extensive grazing by cattle and has been bush-hogged regularly.

A general survey of the site revealed no unique microhabitats that are usually associated with threatened or endangered species. The same conclusion was reached after the initial site survey was conducted in May 1987.

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SUMMARY

( The proposed site for the AlchemIE Facility 2 - Oliver Springs t

encompasses an area that is typical of many within this part of r Tennessee. It presently consists of pasture, seral old field and fence row vegetation, and secondary growth in the adjacent woodlands. Component species are typical of such areas.

( Assessment of the site as potential habitat for threatened and endangered species led to the conclusion that only a few species

( could possibly exist there, that the likelihood of their doing so was extremely minimal, and that the conversion of this pasture /old field to an industrial site would not adversely impact any species.

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I REFERENCES ,.

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Eagar D.C., and R.M. Hatcher. 1980. Tennessee's Rare Wildlife -

Volume I: The Vertebrates. Tennessee Department of Conservation, Nashville, TN. i i

Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., (MMES). 1986. Environmental Surveillance of the Oak Ridge Reservation and Surrounding Environs During 1985. ORNL - 6271. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1965-1985.

Local Climatological Data for Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.

Department of Comerce.

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Rothschild, E.R. 1984. Hydrology. ORNL-6026/V10. Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

( State of Tennessee. 1974. Tennessee Statistical Abstract 1974

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l PARTICIPANTS IN SITE SURVEY Ernie Buress - SAIC Maureen Cunningham - Independent Observer, M.S., Jotany, University of Tennessee, 1983 Monte Mcdonald - The EDGE Group Jane Tate - The EDGE Group e

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I APPENDIX REGULATORY AGENCY RESPONSES

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l United States Department of the Interior

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,M FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Post Of fice Box 845 Cookeville, TN 38501 June 11, 1987 Mr. Owight C. Flynn Senior Project Manger MCI Consulting Engineers, Inc.

10623 Outchtown Road P. O. Box 23010 Knoxville, TN 37933-1010 Re: All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc. (AIChem!E) Gas Centrifuge Stable Isotope Enrichment Facility Anderson Co., TN Oear Sir:

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reviewed the material provided dated May 16, 1987, concerning the above facility.

Adverse impacts to fish and wildlife resources could result from implementation of this proposal; however, due to manpower and funding limitations we cannot at this time provide significant comments.

Thank you for the opportunity for review and comment.

Sincerely,

_.'b .f'MNb~

David R. Parsons Acting Field Supervisor ORP/bb

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. DR TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT Of CONSERVATION 701 BROADWAY mwnsea anum AUGUST 27, 198/

MONTE C. MCDONALD MCI CONSULTING ENGINEERS. INC.

10628 OuTCHTOWN Ro. , P. O. Box 23010 KNUXVILLE, TN 3/933-1010 HE: ALL CHMICAL ISOTOPE ENRICHMENT, INC. 6AS CENTRIFUGE STABLE ISOTOPE ENRICHMENT FACILITY DEAR MR. MCDONALD lN RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER CONCERNING THE ABovE, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE DIVISION OF ECOLOGICAL SERvlCEA DATA BASE PRF,SENTLY INDICATES NO RECORDED OCCURHENCES OF ANY THHEATENED, ENDANGERED OR OTHEkWISE RARE SPECIES OF PLANTS CR ANIMA 61 IN THE I MM E D I AT E V I C I N I T '.' 0 F THE AREA IN QUESTION.

l HOPE THIS INFORMAfl0N WILL PROVE HELPFUL. IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL lHFORMAfl0N. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME l

A1 015//42-b552.

SINCERELY, s '/p g

• ACKJG OBERTA . HYLTON I

l ENvin0NMENTAL HEvlEw COORDINATOR DIVISION OF LCOLodlCAL SERvlCES HEH: PT j

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j .m. 3 .. . RECEVED s

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!" l137 s STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEAL.TH AND ENVIRONMENT M. C. l.

Dempster Building-Suite 200 305 Springdale Avenue, NW

( Knoxville, Tennessee 37917 5197 June 8, 1987 Mr. Dwight C. Flynn Senior Project Manager MCI Consulting Engineers, Inc.

10628 Outchtown Road Box 23010 r rooxville, TN 37933-1010 .

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Re: File No. 01-30000

Dear Mr. Flynn:

Please find enclosed a copy of the Divislen of Ai r Pollutlen Cent rol, l Chaoter 1200-3-9 Censtruction and Operatino Permits which you will need as guidance in applying for construction permits for the proposed All Chemical, Iso tope Enrichren t , Inc. , to be located in Andersen Ccunty. Also enclosed please find copies of ap'plicatien forms needed.

f if additional assistance is needed, please recontact this of fice at (615) 673-6035 or the 0! vision's central engineering of fice at (615) 711-3931.

$1ncerely,

'.).$ . kG N V. N. Malichts l Environrental Specialist Field Services Section Division of Ai r Pollutt en Cont rol V3M:dp cc: Division of Ai r Pollution Cont rol, Nashvilie

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RECiND DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

.'70r; JUN gg g i

wassvitte oistaict, comes or suoiwatas g . ..osioto ,

=*s=viste,tes%:sses 37:oa.ioto June 10, 1987 r,i, C, l, c

Regulatory Branch

SUBJECT:

A11 Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc. (A1ChecIE) Gas Centrifuge Stable Isotope Enrichment Facility Mr. Dwight C. Flynn f HCI Consulting Enginee rs , Inc.

?.0. Box 23010 Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-1010

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Dear Hr. Flynn:

[

Thank you for your Hay 26, 1987 letter requesting our input

[ with respect to permitting requirements of the Department of the

• Army for the subject. proposal.

We have reviewed the location of the proposed facility and deturmined that this proposal would not inpact waters of the United States over which the Corps of Engineers has regulatory jurisdiction. Therefore, no Department of the Ar=y Permit will

{ be required.

'd e appreciate the opportunity to co==ent on thJ subject f activity. If you have further questions regarding our permit program, please let us know.

m

, Sincerely

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John I. Case, J, ,

• Chief. Eastern Regulatory Section l

Operations & Readiness Division

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< . 75...y* .. .

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I TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION 701 BROADWAY N ASHVILLE. TENNESSEE 37219 5237 615/742 4716 June 16, 1987

( .

9 Dwight C. Flynn MCI Consulting Engineers P. O. Box 23010 ,

h Knoxville. Tennessee 37933 1010 Re All Chealcal Isotope Enrichment Stable !sotope Enrichment Facility. Oliver Springs. Anderson County

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Dear Mr. Flynna

( The above-referenced undertaking has been reviewed with re-gard to National Historic Preservation Act compliance by the participating federal agency or its designated representa-tive. Procedures for impleaenting Section 106 of the Act f are codified at 36 CYR 800 (51 FR 31115. September 2. 1986).

Based on available information. it is our opinion that, due I

I to the location and size of the area of potential effects and the scope and nature of the undertaking, the proposed project will have no effect on National Register or eligible properties. Therefore, unless project plans are changed or f National Register-eligible properties are discoverer

• during project implementation, no additional action is necs ;:ary to comply with the Act.

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The applicant or federal agency should keep this letter as evidence of compliance with Section 106. Questions or com-f sents should be directed to Joe Garrison (615)T42-6720.

Your cooperation is appreciated, Sincerely.

f

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Herbert t. . Harper k'"

Executive Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Hl.H:mb

s TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY L

tiu 23:111:22 0 I 4

[

6032 W. Andrew Johnson liwy.

Talbott, TN. 37877 L

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November 7, 1988

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( Mr. Bruce Clark Alchemie Co.

Pine Ridge Office Park, Suite 202B

( 702 S. Illinois Ave.

Oak Ridge TN 37830

Dear Mr. Clark:

[

In answer to your telephone request of October 27, our records do not show the occurrence of listed Endangered Threatened, or "In need of Management"

( species of Wildlife within a five mile radius of Oliver springs, Tennessee. )

1 Since it is impossible for TWRA to maintain an absolute updated survey of l

( all the State's wildlife forms, we offer this information, correct to the best of our knowledge,as an aid or guide to potential developers, f Under policy of the endangered Species act, it is the responsibility of L

the developer to make the final determination as to the occurrence of any  ;

protected species, and to notify TWRA imediately should any be discovered i in the development area.

I Sincerely

( flW/

D.W. Yambert Wildlife Biologist

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DWY:tfw

( cc: Dave Bishop Bob Hatcher File

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(

(

I The State of Tennessee m re m enostumtv r m oves

Engineering, Design & Geosciences Group,Inc.

i M ED Ge

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i ALL C1IEMICAL ISOTOPE ENRICIMFXt FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SFRINGS EC01E ICAL SURVEY I

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ALL CHEMICAL ISOTOPE ENRICHMENT. INC.

FACILITY 2 - OL!YER SPRINGS ECOLOGICAL SURVEY Prepared for:

All Chemical Isotope Enrichment. Inc.

l Pine Ridge Office Park

_ 702 South Illinois Avenue Oak Ridge. Tennessee 37830 h

I Prepared by:

The EDGE Group

-. 725 Pellissippi Parkway 4

P.O. Box 22879 Knoxville, TN 37933-0879

! -- November 18, 1988

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FOREWORD The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board requested that a survey of terrestrial flora and fauna be conducted at the All Chemical Isotope

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Enrichnient, Inc., Facility 2 - Oliver Springs to look for evidence of any threatened or endangered species. This report is submitted in response to that request.

On 11 November 1988 the site was surveyed for the' presence of threatened '

or endangered species as well as to determine if it provided potential habitat for such species. The assessment of potential habitat was deemed necessary because the season (late fall) precluded locating any rare floral species that might be present. Moreover, the h:bitat assessment could also provide information on whether transient er seasonal faunal species might use the site.

This report summarizes information on land use and the environmental ..

setting of the surrounding area, presents an ecological description of the site, and provides an assessment of the potential habitit for threatened and endangered species. Responses from state and federal agencies on the propos2d d3velopment are included in the Appendix.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT....................................... 1 2.1 Land Use.............................................. 1 2.2 Env i ranmental Se tti ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3.0 ECOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ,

7 ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 SITE..............................

13 4.0

SUMMARY

14 REFERENCES.................................................

15 PARTICIPANTS IN SITE SURVEY................................

APPENDIX RESPONSES........................... A-1 REGULATORY AGENCY

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LIST OF FIGURES PAGE

1. GENERAL TOP 0 GRAPHIC MAP, ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 -

OLIVER $PRINGS, TENNESSEE........................... 4 M

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_ LIST OF TABLES PAGE

1. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES RECORDED

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IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE  !

ALCHEMIE FACILITY - OLIVER SPRINGS.................... 9 k

2. FLORAL SPEC!ES LISTED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AND FOUND IN

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THE YlCINITY OF THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - Oliver SPRINGS........................... 12  ;

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

j The All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc., (A1 Chem!E) Facility 2  ;

for the enrichment of non-uranium, non-fissile elements will be located within the Andy Justice Industrial Park in Oliver Spring. l 3

Anderson County, lannessee. The industrial park, which is be hg [

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developed by the City of Oliver Springs, will comprise 247 ha (100 i ac). The A1 Chem!E Facility 2 will consist of approximately 3780 m8 l

" (42,000 f t8) including both adninistrative and production j facilities. The sita presently consists of pasture land, old field '

!- end fence roc ver,etation, and secondary growth in the adjacent woodlar.ds . Cc- .nent species are typical of those characteriting l L this portion of eastern Tannessee. The ecology of the area and j whether it is potential habitat .'or threatened or endangered I species are discussed in more detail 1cter in this report, f

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! 2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT i

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2.1 Land Use

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! Regional land use around the AlChem!E Facility 2 is [

L agricultural, industrial /comercial, residential, and l L

i recreational. [

I Agricultural. Farming still represents a significant portion  !

of the total land uit in the area despite the recent decline l l- in agricultural activities, in the five-county area within a i

! ten-mile radius cf the A1ChemlE Facility 2 the percentage of (

l- total Irnd area devoted to agricultural use is as follows: l Anderson - 20.3%, Roane - 27.8%. Knox - 32.4%,t.oudon - 52.9%,  !

andMegan-19.8%(StateofTennessee,1974). Farms are  !

relatively small and intersper w d throughout areas o- (

different land use. Principal cash crops are corn, t t. .co, l I soybeans, and wheat. Pastures also constitute 4 largt part of l the agricultural land usage. More that 37,000 cattle were f

l-found in the five-county area in 1980, with most of these  ;

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2

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being in scattered herds of 20 to 30 animals. Although dairy

- farms are prevalent in East Tennes e no comercial dairies exist within the 16-km (10-mile) r . if the site. Timber j resources are also extensivet more than half the land in the [

five counties surrounding A1 Chem!E Facility 2 is in commercial l forest.

Industrial / Commercial. The Andy Justice Industrial Park is H located within the city limits of Oliver Springs near thc  ;

Tri-County Shopping Center. This center, as well as numerous l other commercial enterprises, is situated adjacent to State  ;

Highway 62, the main thoroughfare between Oak Ridge and Oliver [

Springs. Five additional industrial parks are within the Oak j Ridge city limits; companies occupying those sites represent j numerous different research and production endeavors, i The major industrial activities providing much of the b employment in the five-county surrounding area are Department l

ofEnergy(DOE)and00E-relatednuclearfacilities. The i largen of these are the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the [

l Y-12 Plant.

i Residential. Although the A1 Chem!E Facility 2 is located ,

within the City of Oliver Springs, the surrounding area is (

pM marily rural and has a relatively low population density. [

l Oliver Springs had a l')80 population of 3,600. Historically [

this population has remain d stable and can be expected to be I relatively constant. Oak Ridge, which is within a 16-km l (10-mile) radius of the site, is the major population center  !

in Anderson County and had a 1980 census of 27,662. The closest residence to the site lies approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mile) to the northeast, u '

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Recreational. Many of the recreational opportunities within a 16-tm(10-mile)radiusofthesiteareassociaudwith f water-related activities afforded by the Clinch River and f numerous iakes in the vicinity. Although hunting is not

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allowed within the city limits, hunting of both large and

_ small game as well as migratory birds is an important recreational activity in surrounding areas. Otner activities include a stock car race track, hiking trails, and scenic roadways.

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2.2 Environmental Seiting Topography..The site is located on the slopes of a small knoll that projects from the floor of Poplar Creek Valley.

. The topography is flat to very gently sloping; maximum relief is about 9.3 m (30 ft), ranging from a low of 240 m (770 ft) on the western extremity to a high of 250 m (800 ft) on the eastern side (see Figure 1). Slope's range from 16% near the western extremity to less than 5% in the central portion.

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Soils. There are no detailed site specific investigations of soil characteristics for the A1ChemIE Facility 2. Based on field experience in similar terrain, the soils on site are .

probably a combination of residual materials derived from the Conasauga shale and celluvial and alluvial materials. The colluviur.: represents an aggregation of soil materials which have been transmrted under the influence of gravity from topographic highs to a location downslope from their former position. Alluvial materials are derived from surface water deposition of suspended sediment and bedload. Soil depths on

- the site have not been determined but are estimated to range from 0 to 10 m (0 to 30 ft).

Additional soils information can be extrapolated from a foundat*oninvestigationoftheadjacentprgerty(Tri-County Shopping Center, located less than 330 m (1000 ft) east of the site]. During tne investigation, seven r,ies werc M

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$ .h I IGURE-l. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHIC MAP, l ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2-OLIVER SPRINGS, TENNESSEE 1

1-l l l 1

-5 drive sampled a'nd two were power augered. The soils consisted

_ of clayey silt and silty clays produced from in-place weathering of the bedrock. Borehole data indicate that there is not a distinct soil /bedrcck interface; rather there is an interval of variably weathered shale that grades into fresh rock. Six of the boreholes refused, presumably on bedrock, at depths ranging from 2 tu 7.6 m (8.5 to 25.3 ft) below grade.

Geology. The geology of the area is described by Mann (1963).

He stated that the site is underlain by Cambrian age shales,

_. siltstones, and carbonate rocks of the Conasauga shale. The Conasauga shale conformably overlies the Rome formation, the contact being gradational and therefore difficult to place.

The boundary is generally placed ati the top of the uppermost thick sandstone bed in this sequence or approximately placed by the relative decrease in abundance of sandstone and siltstone chips in the residuum. The site lies within 330 m (1000 ft) of the trace of the Kingston Fault and is located in the axial region of a syncline. .

Hydrology. Poplar Creek, located at,:ut 156 m (50d ft) south

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of A1 Chem 1E Facility 2, is the largest surface water body in the vicinity. The drainage basin of Poplar Creek comprises 353 km2 (136mi2). The western portion of the basin lies in the Cumberland Mountains while the eastern portion lies in the Valley and Ridge Province. The upper elevation of the western drainagedivideis970m(3,200ft)MSL. Poplar Creek then flows to the southwest towards the Clinch River; the

._ confluence of these two water bodies occurs at an elevation of 230m(735ft)MSL. The stream gradient in its reach adjacent to the site is less than ?.%, and the stream morphology is one of broad meanders that span the valley floor.

Water quality and stream sediment data are available from Poplar Creek approximately 4 miles downstream from the site.

These data were presented in the Environmental Report for A1 Chem!E Facility 2.

4 Because data for the site are not available, the ground water regime can only be described conceptually.

The depth of fresh water circulation is unknown. It is possible that the sandstones of the Rome formation and the presumably tightly cemented gouge of the Chattanooga Fault and Kingston Fault are impervious and act as barriers to groundwater movement. According to this hypothesis, the bate

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of the Conasauga Group or the fault zones would define the limits of the Popular Creek bedrock aquifer. However, this

- conclusion cannot be corroborated without additional field study and subsequent analysis.

Generally, it can be presumed that groundwater within the site flows from the potentiometric highs on ridge crests to the potentiometric lows on valley floors and that the surface water system (Poplar Creek and its tributaries) serves as a

" constant head discharge boundary. The phreatic surface beneath the site is probably a subdued replica of the

- topography. Fluctuations in the phreatic surface are expected to correlate with the annual meteorologic cycle. H'eavy precipitation during late winter and early spring probably correspond to phreatic surface highs. Alternately, the relatively dry periods during late summer and early fall probably correspond to phreatic surface lows.

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Meteorol ogy. The closest meteorological data to Oliver Springs are from the Oak Ridge area. However, because of their close proximity, variations in rainfall or temperature can be considered minimal. Moreover, wind data from the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plan (ORGDP) located 13 km (8 mi) southwest of the site can be expected to be similar due to topographic features.

The meteorology of the area is strongly influenced by its topography. The Appalachian Mountains to the east and the

L 7

k Cumberland Pla't' eau to the west have a protecting and

_ moderating influence on the climate. Annual mean temperatures are approximately 15'C (58'F), with a January mean of 3.5'C (38'F) and a July mean of 25'C (77'F) (MMES, 1986). The annual mean precipitation is approximately 138.2 cm (54.4 in.)

based on data from 1948 through 1985) (NOAA, 1965-1985).

Precipitation is highest near the Cumberland Mountains and lowest at the base of the Smoky Mountains, ranging from more than 147 cm (58 in) in the northwest to less than 117 cm (46 in) in the southeast (Rothschild, 1984). Prevailing winds are almost equally split in two directions that are 180' apart.

One direction is from the SW to WSW Sector, and the other is from the NE to ENE Sector. This strong alignment of the winds is due to-the channeling effect induced by the ridge and valley structure of the area. The average wind speed for the Oak Ridge area is about 1.9 m/sec (4.4 mph).

3.0 ECOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 SITE The A1ChemIE Facility 2 is to be located in the Andy Justice Industrial Park, which will be developed adjacent to tKe Tri-County Shopping Center. The surrounding environment has a combination of industrial, commercial, and residential areas. The site per se presently consists of pasture and surrounding second-growth

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woodlands, with component species being typical of those found throughout this region of Tennessee.

Except for a few ephemeral erosion channels in some parts of the site, Poplar Creek is the only main surface water body. However, it is too remote from the A1ChemIE Facility 2 site to be of concern. Aquatic sampling was neither requested by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission nor conducted during this survey.

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A survey of the site as potential habitat for threatenei and endangered species revealed no unique areas, which are usually

-- - associated with such species. Furthermore, cattle have l

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8-previously and are presently gra-ing in the pastures, producing a constantly disturbed environment and limiting the likelihood of the ,

site potentially supporting rare species.

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Table 1 delineates faunal species that have been recorded from the five-county area around the site and'are listed by either the state or federal government as threatened or endangered. The possibility of locating many of these near the proposed site can be negated or stated a'; extremely unlikely by examining their preferred habitats.

Peregrine falcons and bald eagles are seldom far from large bodies of water. Peregrines especially prefer rivers with overhanging bluffs. Although bald eagles have been sighted occasionally along the Clinch River, they would not be expected to be seen at the

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proposed A1ChemIE site. Golden eagles prefer deciduous mountain forests with high cliffs. They may be found in any habitat during migration, but such associations are transitory in nature. Ospreys are found near large lakes and rivers. Cooper's hawks frequent

- deciduous forests and are found less often in stands of conifers.

Conversely, sharp-shinned hawks prefer dense coniferous forests but are F.ometimes found in mixed or deciduous forests. Marsh hawks are found in marshes and open grasslands. The black-ci' owned night heron prefers marshes, swamps, and wooded streams and sometimes nests in pine stands. Considering their usual habitats, none of these avian species should be found at the A1ChemlE Facility 2

- f,i t e .

Red-cockaded woodpeckers have been found on the Cumberland Plateau and the western Smoky Mountains. Their preferred habitat is mature pine stands. These woodpeckers excavate nesting and roosting cavities ir living pines (usually 70 years of age or more) infected with fungal red heart disease. Although there are some Virginia and shortleaf pinas at the proposed site, the trees are of insufficient size to support this species.

The decline in numbers of Bachman's sparrows has been an enigna.

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- Loss of habitat does not appear to be the cause. Their preferred s

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TABLE 1 <

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED FAUNAL SPECIES RECORDED N IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS i

Status I Coments Species Peregrine falcon FE, SE No nesting records in Tennessee f' (~Falco peregrinus) for 25 years; uncomon to rare ,

transient in spring and fall and i very rare wintering bird. l

- Sandhill crane FE, SD Uncommon and local transient in (Grus canadensis,) spring and fall migration and rare wintering species.

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Bald eagle FE, SE Uncomon to rare wintering birds (Haliaeetus and transients chiefly from August >

1eucocepb4Tus) to May.  ;

Red-cockaded wood- 'FE, SE Very local and uncommon resident peckr,r(Picoides on Cumberland Plateau and Smoky barealis) Mountains.

Bachman's sparrow SE Very rare to uncomon and local (Aimophila aestivalis) sumer resident; one of the rarest  :

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nesting songbirds in the state. j Golden eagle SE Uncomon winter visitor and t

- (Aquilachrysaetos) transient.

Osprey (Pandion SE Fairly comon to common spring and t haliaetus) fall migrant and very rare wintering species.

Cooper's Hawk ST Uncomon to rare permanent ,

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(Accipity cooperii) resident.

Sharp-shinned hawk ST Uncomon to rare permanent resident. [

( M iter _ striatus)

Ordsshopper sparrow ST Absent from some former nesting ,

(Ammodramus savannarum) grounds; uncomon to rare winter  ;

visitor.  ;

Marsh Hawk ST Uncomon to rare transient in

- (Circuscyaneus) spring and fall; uncomon to rare (

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winter visitor; accidental in sumer. 7 t

- _- - - _ _ . - - - -f

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TABLE 1 (CONTINUED)

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED FAUNAL SPECIES RECORDED

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IN THE FIVE COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS 1

Species Status Comments Black-crowned night ST Uncommon to rare and local heron (Nycticorax permanent resident.

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nycticorax)

Gray bat FE, SE Not rare in Tennessee at this ,

(Myotis grisescens) time but facing possibility of l extinction in all parts of its i range.

IrM)anabat(Myotis FE, SE In danger of extinction in all parts of its range.  ;

ss$slis) i Qiver otter ST Present status unknown.

(Lutra canadensis) 1 Status: FE = Federally endangered 1 SE = State endangered i

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ST = State threatened ,

j Source: Eagar and Hatcher, 1980 f 4--

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1 mm

_.,_.,______..____.___,__,_.m . , , . _ . . . , _ _ _ . _ . _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ - . . . _ _ _ _ _ . _ - .. ,..

habitat includes: open pastures; thick grass with low trees; open

- grassy woodlands, old fields with rocks and brambles; old fields with broomsedge, grasses, and sumac; and old fields grown up in bushes. Not only does the A1ChemIE Facility 2 site, at least superficially, fit these criteria but so do thousands of other acres within the state. Loss of this particular area is not likely

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to adversely affect Bachman's sparrow because this species must be limited by factors other than available habitat, which seems plentiful .

Grasshopper sparrows frequent open grassy and weedy meadows, hay fields, pastures, cultivated cover crops, and grasses adjacent to runways at airports. As with Bachman's sparrow, the reason for the dramatic decline in population numbers is unknown. There appears to be much suitable habitat (including that at the A1ChemIE

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Facility 2 site) that no longer hosts this sparrow. It has been suggested that mowing of fields at times when young are in the nest, pesticides, and even subtle changes in vegetative composition may have contributed to their decline. Whatever the cause, it is highly unlikely that loss of the proposed site would adversely impact the species.

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Of the three mammalian species included in Table 1, none should find appropriate habitat at the Oliver Springs site. Gray and Indiana bats both require caves. Gray bats prefer caves within one

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mile of major rivers or lakes, where they f?ed. Conversely.

Indiana bats prefer caves in wooded areas. River otters have been re-introduced on a limited basis into the Smoky Mountains and

- Cumberland Plateau. Status of the river otter is unknown throughout Tennessee, but it is known to inhabit streams, rivers, and lakes bordered by woods -- none of which exist at the proposed AlchemIE site.

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Table 2 presents floral species listed by the state and federal governments that may be found in the general vicinity of the Oliver

. Springs site. Of the 11 species, potential habitat exists at the

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TABLE 2 FLORAL SPECIES LISTED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AND FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE THE ALCHEMIE FACILITY 2 - OLIVER SPRINGS Status!

Species TN Federal Habitat False Foxglove T E River bluffs near waterline (Aureolaria patula)

Black snakeroot T T River bluffs near waterline (Cimicifuga rubifolia)

Tall larkspur E Open rocky) woods and barrens (limestone (Delphicium exaltatum)

Northern bush honeysuckle T River cliffs (Diervillalonicera)

Large fothergilla T Acid forest

., (Fothergillamajor)

T Limestone, moist woods Goldenseal (Hydrastiscanadensis)

Canada lily T Moist woods and edges (Liliumcanadense)

Ginseng T Rich woods (Panax quinquefolius)

Southern rein orchid S Shaded wetland (Platantheraflava)

Carey's saxifrage S T On limestone near the lake (Saxifraga careyana)

- Lesser ladies' tresses S Woods over limestone (Spiranthes ovalis)

I Status: E = Endangered T = Threatened S = Special concern

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l site for only the Canada lily and goldenseal, neither of.which is

.- federally listed. Despite the fact that November is not the

' optimal time for conducting botanical surveys, the general characteristics of the site suggest that neither species is likely present. These plants usually are not found in sites that have been disturbed such as this one has. The area has been subjected to extensive grazing by cattle and has been bush-hogged regularly.

A general survey of the site revealed no unique microhabitats that are usually associated with threatened or endangered species. The same conclusion was reached after the initial site survey was conducted in May 1987.

4.0

SUMMARY

The proposed site for the A1ChemIE Facility 2 - Oliver Springs encompasses an area that is typical of many within this part of Tennessee. It presently consists of pasture, seral old field and fence row vegetation, and secondary growth in the adjacent woodlands. Component species are typical of such areas. .

Assessment of the site as potential habitat for threatened and endangered species led to the conclusion that only a few ' species could possibly exist there, that the likelihood of their doing so was extremely minimal, and that the conversion of this pasture /old field to an industrial site would not adversely impact any species.

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4 14 REFERENCES

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Eagar, D.C., and R.M. Hatcher. 1980. Tennessee's Rare Wildlife -

Volume I: The Vertebrates. Tennessee Department of Conservation, Nashville, TN. .

Martin Marietta Energy Systems., Inc., (MMES). 1986. Environmental

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Surveillance of the Oak Ridge Reservation and Surrounding Environs During 1985. ORNL - 6271. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1965-1985.

Local Climatological Data for Oak Ridge,' Tennessee. U.S.

Department of Cornerce.

Rothschild, E.R. 1984. Hydrology. ORNL-6026/V10. Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

State of Tennessee. 1974. Tennessee Statistical Abstract 1974.

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P

's PARTICIPANTS IN SITE SURVEY "

i.

t Ernie Buress - SAIC t 1

Maureen Cunningham - Independent Observer, M.S., Botany, University of

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Tennessee, 1983 -

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Monte Mcdonald - The EDGE Group [

j- Jane Tate - The EDGE Group i

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-en e APPENDIX REGULATORY AGENCY RESPONSES O

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United States Department of the Interior .

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

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6 Post Office Box 845 Cookeville, TN 38501

- June 11, 1987 ,

Mr. Dwight C. Flynn Senior Project Manger -

MCI Consulting Engineers, Inc.

10628 Outchtown Road P. O. Box 23010 Knoxville, TN 37933-1010 Re: All Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc. (AIChem!E) Gas Centrifuge Stable Isotope Enrichment Facility Anderson Co., TN

Dear Sir:

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reviewed the material

- provided dated May 26, 1987, concerning the above facility.

Adverse impacts to fish and wildlife resources could result from implementation of this proposal; however, dun to manpo'wer and funding limitations we cannot at this time provide significant comments.

Thank you for the opportunity for review and comment.

Sincerely, J' Wkm-David R. Parsons Acting Field Supervisor ORP/bb 4

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.. '. : D57 TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION '

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701 BROADWAY N.TD+ESSEE 372194237 AUGUST 27. 198/

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MONTE C. MCDONALD MCI CONSULTING ENG NEERS. INC.

10628 uuTCHTOWN RD., P. O. Box 23010 KNUXVILLE, TN 3/933-1010

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RE: ALL CHNICAL }$0 TOPE ENRICHMENT, INC. 6AS CENTRIFUGE STABLE ISOTOPE ENRICHMENT FACILITY DEAR MR. MCDONALD:

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'r lH RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER CONCERNING THE ABovE, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE DIVISION OF ECotoGICAL SERVICES DATA BASE PRESENTLY INDICATES NO RECORDED OCCURRENCES OF ANY THREATENED, ENDANGERED, 0.1 OTHEkWISE RARE SPEclES OF PLANTS ON ANIMALS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE AREA IN QUEST 10N.

l HOPE THl3 INFORMAfl0N WILL PROVE HELPFUL. lF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME -

A1 015//42-6552.

SINCERELY,

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OBERTA . HYLTON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR DIVISION OF ECOLOGICAL SERVICES REH: PT eM

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iECEVED i 1 S.,L .....g STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT M' C' I' Dempster Building-Suite 200 305 Springdale Avenue, NW

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Knoxville, Tennessee 37917 5197 June 8, 1987 Mr. Dwight C. Flynn Senior Project Manager MCI Consulting Engineers , Inc.

10628 Outchtown Road Box 23010 Knoxvil1e, TN 37933-1010 .

Re: File No. 01-30000

Dear H.'. Flynn:

Please find enclosed a' copy of the Olvision of Air Pollution Control, Chaoter I200-3-9. Const ruction and Operating Permi ts which you will

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need as guidance in applying for construction permits for the proposed All Chemical, Isotope Enrichment, Inc. , to be located in Anderson County. Also enclosed please find copies of ap' plication forms needed.

• If additional assistance is needed, please recontact this offic'e at (615) 673-6035 or the Olvision's central engineering of fice at (615) 741-3931.

Sincere 1y,

'.E.

. ff N V. 11. Hallchis Envi rontrental Specialis t Field Services Section Olvision of Air Pollution Control Vi1M: dp cc: Olvision of Air Pollution Control, Nashville -

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RECEVD DEPARTMENT OF" THE ARMY NASHVILLE DISTRICT. CORM OF ENQiNEERS o

4 e o. som i070 JUN 11 W N AsNvitte. T EN N ES S E E 37202 1070 3 gf.'

June 10, 1987 .

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Regulatory Branch

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SUBJECT:

A11 Chemical Isotope Enrichment, Inc. (A1ChemIE) Gas Centrifuge Stable Isotope Enrichment Facility Mr. Dwight C. Flynn MCI Consulting Enginee rs , Inc.

P.O. Box 23010 -

Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-1010 .

Dear Hr. Flynn ,

Thank you for your May 26, 1987 letter requesting our input with respect to permitting requirements of the Department of the '

/ Army for the subject. proposal.

We have reviewed the location of the p*oposed facility and .

determined that this proposal would not icpact wa t e rs of the United States over which the Corps of Engineers has regulatory jurisdiction. Therefore, no Department of the Army Permit will

- be required.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the subject activity. If you have further questions regarding our permit program, please let us know. ,

m

.'3incerely, .

N 1 k.L John I. Case, J .

• Chief, Eastern Regulatory Section Operations & Readiness Division e 8 O

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-- TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION -

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ..

701 BROADWAY NASHVILLE. TENNESSEE 37219 5237

, 61Sf7424716 June 16 1987

- Dwight C. Flynn MCI Consulting Engineers P. O. Box 23010 Knoxville. Tennessee 37933-2030 Re All Chemical Isotope Enrichment Stable Isotope Enrichment Facility. Oliver Springs. Andsrson County

1. Deaa Mr. Flynn -

The above-referenced undertaking has been reviewed with re-gard to National Historic Preservation Act compliance by the' participating federal agency or its designated representa-tive. Procedures for implementing Section 106 of the Act are codified at 36 CFR 800 (53 FR 31115 September 2. 1986).

Based on available information, it is our opinion that, due to the location and sice of the area of potential effects and the scope and nature of the undertaking. the proposed project will have no effect on National Register or eligible properties. Therefore, unless project plans are changed or

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National Registe.-eligible properties are discovered during project implementation. no additional action is necessary to comply with the Act.

The applicant or federal agency should keep this letter as evidence of compliance with Section 106. Questions or com-ments should be directed to Joe Garrison (615)742-6720.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

Sincerely.

v Y f. 0

- Herbert L. Harper Executive Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer H L H .a b 4

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TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY C%KR4tEnsatt l k{/f9 _l m/- e 6032 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.

{ Talbott, TN. 37877 4 .

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November 7, 1988 Mr. Bruce Clark Alchemie Co.

Pine Ridge Office Park, Suite 2028 702 S. Illinois Ave.

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Dear Mr. Clark:

In answer to your telephone request of October 27, our records do not show the occurrence of listed Endangered Threatened, or "In need of Management" species of Wildlife within a five mile radius of Oliver springs Tennessee.

Since it is impossible for TWRA to maintain an absolute updated survey of all the State's wildlife forms, we offer this information, correct to the best of our knowledge,as an aid or guide to potential developers.

Under policy of the endangered Species act, it is the responsibility of the developer to make the final determination as to the occurrence of any protected species, and to notify TWRA intnediately should any be discovered in the development area.

Sincerely l# au/

D.W. Yambert Wildlife Biologist W

DWY:tfw cc: Dave Bishop Bob Hatcher File The State of Tennessee AN toVAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER