• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

4.1 INTRODUCTION

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA direct Federal agencies to follow the standard format contained in 40 CFR Parts 15001508 for preparation of an EIS. However, the regulations allow Federal agencies to use different formats if "the agency determines that there is a compelling reason to do otherwise" (40 CFR 1502.10). Due to the complex, interwoven nature of the activities discussed in this EIS, the number of sites involved with these activities, and the inclusion of additional sites as possible alternatives for relocation of these activities, DOE has determined that a modified format would better serve the public interest and more efficiently satisfy the regulatory requirement for clear presentation of the Proposed Action, the Alternatives, and the associated environmental consequences.

In applying the standard format, agencies frequently use separate chapters for discussions of the affected environment and environmental consequences. This EIS, however, is formatted such that the affected environment for Pantex Plant and associated environmental consequences are contained in chapter 4, while the affected environment and environmental consequences associated with the other sites are contained in chapter 5. Furthermore, both chapters are internally formatted so that the discussion of each aspect of the affected environment at a site (e.g., water resources, air quality, transportation, etc.) is followed by discussions of the impacts to that aspect for the Proposed Action, No Action, and Pit Storage Relocation Alternatives, respectively. Subsequently, the cumulative impacts to that aspect of the environment and potential measures to mitigate adverse environmental impacts are discussed.

This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the methodologies used to characterize each aspect of the affected environment and assess potential impacts to that aspect. In accordance with the CEQ regulations, the affected environment is defined comprehensively to include the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with that environment (40 CFR 1508.14). In the interest of presenting the reader with the relevant information in the most practical manner, the discussions in this chapter are limited to summaries of key information. Additional information and discussions of analyses are contained in the appendixes.

The descriptions of the affected environment provide a baseline for understanding the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the Proposed Action and Alternatives. The scope of the discussions varies by resource areas to ensure that all relevant issues are included.

For land resources and geology and soils, discussions include Pantex Plant Site and its surroundings, generally an area within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of Pantex Plant Site and referred to as the Region of Influence (ROI) for each resource. This information provides a basis for understanding both direct effects and the overall resource base that could be affected by the changes in the activity levels at Pantex Plant.

Ambient conditions are described for air quality, acoustics (noise), and water resources. Discussions focus on air quality and noise conditions at the site boundaries and the surface water bodies and groundwater aquifers that could be affected. This information serves as a basis for analyzing key air and water quality parameters to obtain results that can then be compared to regulatory standards. Biotic and cultural resources conditions are described for the area within the boundaries of Pantex Plant Site and also at Pantex Lake.

Socioeconomic conditions are described for the counties and communities that could be affected by regional population changes associated with the changes in the activity levels at Pantex Plant. The socioeconomic Region of Influence (ROI)ROI is large enough to account for growth related to direct project employment as well as secondary jobs that may be induced by the changes in the activity levels at Pantex Plant. The socioeconomic ROI for Pantex Plant includes four counties: Carson, Armstrong, Potter, and Randall.

In addition to those natural and human environmental resources discussed above, the affected environment sections include a number of issues related to ongoing DOE activities at Pantex Plant. These issues involve plant facilities and infrastructure, intrasite and intersite transportation, waste management, and radiological and hazardous chemical impacts on human health during normal operations and accidents, including risks from potential aircraft accidents.

In accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)CEQ regulations, the environmental consequences discussions provide the analytical detail for comparisons of environmental impacts associated with the changes in the activity levels at Pantex Plant. Discussions are provided for each environmental resource and relevant issues that could be affected.

For comparison purposes, environmental concentrations of emissions and other potential environmental effects are presented with appropriate regulatory standards or guidelines. However, compliance with regulatory standards is not necessarily an indication of the significance or severity of the environmental impact for NEPA purposes.

The purpose of the analysis of environmental consequences is to identify the potential for environmental impacts. The environmental assessment methods used and the factors considered in assessing environmental impacts are discussed in section 4.2, Impact Assessment Methodologies, and in the appropriate appendixes. The potential for impacts to a given resource or relevant issue is described in the introduction to each section that follows (sections 4.3 through 4.17).