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Environmental Impact Statement for Arecibor Observatory

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Environmental Impact Statement for Arecibor Observatory NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Environmental Impact Statement for the Arecibo Observatory Arecibo, Puerto Rico Final July 27, 2017 ES033114173203WDC Final Environmental Impact Statement for Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico Prepared for National Science Foundation July 27, 2017 Cover Sheet Final Environmental Impact Statement Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico Responsible Agency: The National Science Foundation (NSF) For more information, contact: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences Suite 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Virginia 22230 Abstract: The National Science Foundation has produced a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with potential funding changes for Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The six Alternatives analyzed in the FEIS are as follows: 1) collaboration with interested parties for continued science‐focused operations (the Agency‐preferred Alternative); 2) collaboration with interested parties for transition to education‐focused operations; 3) mothballing of facilities; 4) partial demolition and site restoration; 5) complete demolition and site restoration; and 6) the No‐Action Alternative. The environmental resources and concerns considered in the FEIS are biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, groundwater, hazardous materials, solid waste, health and safety, noise, socioeconomics, traffic and transportation, and visual resources. Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. ES-1 ES.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.2 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................... ES-2 ES.3 Public Disclosure and Involvement .............................................................................. ES-3 ES.4 Alternatives under Consideration ................................................................................. ES-4 ES.4.1 Alternative 1: Collaboration with Interested Parties for Continued Science- focused Operations (Agency-preferred Alternative)........................................ ES-4 ES.4.2 Alternative 2: Collaboration with Interested Parties for Transition to Education-focused Operations ......................................................................... ES-5 ES.4.3 Alternative 3: Mothballing of Facilities ........................................................... ES-6 ES.4.4 Alternative 4: Partial Demolition and Site Restoration ................................... ES-7 ES.4.5 Alternative 5: Complete Demolition and Site Restoration .............................. ES-8 ES.4.6 No-Action Alternative: Continued NSF Investment for Science‐focused Operations ........................................................................................................ ES-8 ES.5 Resources Not Considered in Detail ............................................................................. ES-9 ES.6 Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................... ES-9 ES.7 Impact Summary ......................................................................................................... ES-20 ES.7.1 Alternative 1: Collaboration with Interested Parties for Continued Science-focused Operations (Agency-preferred Alternative) ........................ ES-21 ES.7.2 Alternative 2: Collaboration with Interested Parties for Transition to Education-focused Operations ....................................................................... ES-22 ES.7.3 Alternative 3: Mothballing of Facilities ......................................................... ES-23 ES.7.4 Alternative 4: Partial Demolition and Site Restoration ................................. ES-25 ES.7.5 Alternative 5: Complete Demolition and Site Restoration ............................ ES-26 ES.7.6 No-Action Alternative: Continued NSF Investment for Science‐focused Operations ...................................................................................................... ES-27 1 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Background and Location .................................................................................... 1-2 1.2 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................ 1-5 1.3 Federal Regulatory Setting .............................................................................................. 1-7 1.3.1 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................... 1-7 1.3.2 National Historic Preservation Act ..................................................................... 1-7 1.3.3 Endangered Species Act ..................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Agency Notification and Collaboration ........................................................................... 1-8 1.5 Public Disclosure and Involvement ................................................................................. 1-8 1.6 Arrangement and Content of the Final Environmental Impact Statement ....................... 1-9 2 Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives .................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternatives Eliminated from Further Consideration ....................................................... 2-1 2.3 Alternatives Considered ................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3.1 Alternative 1 – Collaboration with Interested Parties for Continued Science- focused Operations (Agency-preferred Alternative)........................................... 2-2 2.3.2 Alternative 2 – Collaboration with Interested Parties for Transition to Education-focused Operations ............................................................................ 2-4 2.3.3 Alternative 3 – Mothballing of Facilities ............................................................ 2-5 2.3.4 Alternative 4 – Partial Demolition and Site Restoration..................................... 2-7 2.3.5 Alternative 5 – Complete Demolition and Site Restoration ............................... 2-8 2.4 No-Action Alternative – Continued NSF Investment for Science‐focused Operations ...................................................................................................................... 2-10 I TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 General Setting ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Vegetation ........................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 Wildlife ............................................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................. 3-3 3.1.5 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................. 3-3 3.1.6 Migratory Birds................................................................................................. 3-11 3.2 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 3-12 3.2.1 Proposed Action Area ....................................................................................... 3-21 3.3 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 3-26 3.3.1 Proposed Action Area ....................................................................................... 3-26 3.4 Groundwater .................................................................................................................. 3-27 3.4.1 General Setting ................................................................................................. 3-28 3.4.2 Groundwater Quality ........................................................................................ 3-28 3.5 Hazardous Materials ...................................................................................................... 3-29 3.5.1 Existing Site Contamination ............................................................................. 3-29 3.5.2 Use of Hazardous Materials .............................................................................. 3-30 3.6 Solid Waste .................................................................................................................... 3-31 3.6.1 Proposed Action Area ....................................................................................... 3-31 3.7 Health and Safety ..........................................................................................................
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