Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility: Buildings 4021, 4022, and 4621 Santa Susana Field Laboratory Ventura County, California Prepared for: North Wind Portage, Inc. and the United States Department of Energy Prepared by: North Wind Resource Consulting 0 June 4, 2020 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility: Buildings 4021, 4022, and 4621 Santa Susana Field Laboratory Ventura County, California August 13, 2020 This Biological Clearance has been prepared by a team of qualified professionals under the supervision of the senior staff whose seal and signatures appear below. Reviewed by Prepared by Approved by Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California August 13, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Project Description ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Field Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 4 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 5 References .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix A: Site photos ............................................................................................................................ A‐1 Figures Figure 1. SSFL Location .................................................................................................................................. 1 Figure 2. SSFL Areas ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Tables Table 1. Federally Listed Species Having the Potential to Occur at SSFL ...................................................... 3 Table 2. State Species Occurring or Having the Potential to Occur on SSFL ................................................. 4 Table 3. Species Encountered During Surveys (sign or visual) ...................................................................... 5 Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California i August 13, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility List of Acronyms DOE Department of Energy EIS Environmental Impact Statement NBZ Northern Buffer Zone RMHF Radioactive Materials Handling Facility SSFL Santa Susana Field Laboratory Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California ii August 13, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility Introduction The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is located in Ventura County, California and encompasses approximately 2,850 acres in the hills between Chatsworth and Simi Valley (Figure 1). SSFL was developed as a remote site to test rocket engines and conduct nuclear research as early as 1947. The SSFL has been split into four main areas (Figure 2). The Department of Energy (DOE) needs to complete remediation of SSFL Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone (NBZ) to comply with applicable requirements for cleanup of radiological and hazardous substances. These requirements include laws, regulations, orders, and agreements. To this end, DOE proposes to remove the DOE structures in Area IV of SSFL and clean up the affected environment in Area IV and the NBZ in a manner that is protective of the environment and the health and safety of the public and workers. Figure 1. SSFL Location DOE has removed many DOE‐owned facilities and support buildings from the Radioactive Material Handling Area (RMHF), but a couple remain. Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California 1 August 13, 2020, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility Figure 2. SSFL Areas Project Description Demolition activities were completed in various buildings at the RMHF as part of its cleanup agreements and to prepare the site for a final cleanup. At the moment, only buildings 4021, 4022, and 4621 remain. Building 4021: An empty radioactive material handling facility, consisting of a metal building with a concrete foundation. Half of the building was inaccessible due to radioactive contaminants. Other structure located between building 4021 & 4022: A vent structure that is part of building 4021. Building 4022: A radioactive materials handling facility, consisting of a metal building over seven below‐ grade vaults with vault covers. Building 4621: A hazardous material storage facility, consisting of a metal structure with a concrete foundation. Biological survey and protection operations will be conducted as stated in the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Remediation: Biological Assessment dated January 2018, “Prior to the ground disturbance associated with the initial phases of building demolition, soil remediation, and ground‐disturbing aspects of ground water activities, the Project Biologist will conduct pre‐project clearance surveys to ascertain the buildings are not being used by bats and native bird species, including owls and raptors. Vegetated areas will be surveyed for active bird nests and sensitive plant and wildlife species. Humane methods will be used to haze owls, raptors, native songbirds, and bats out of the structures prior to the initial phases of construction. Effective methods of deterrence may include the use of exclusionary netting, reflective flagging and/or flight diverters, sonic bird control devices, or a falconry service program. Building demolition will be conducted outside the breeding seasons of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and bats unless the buildings can be completely confirmed for the absence of nesting birds or roosting bats.” Demolition activities will include only the removal of buildings, and not any foundations, or slabs or asphalt. Utilities are physically isolated at the building perimeters. Pre‐demolition biological surveys were initially conducted in all buildings back in January 29‐30, 2020 to identify any avian or other wildlife Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California 2 August 13, 2020, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility species that utilize buildings and the surrounding pavement. This time, structures and buildings 4021, 4022, and 4621 were surveyed once again. Vegetation and wildlife habitat on SSFL include widespread plant communities’ characteristic of the region, such as chaparral, grasslands, oak and walnut woodlands, as well as communities that are localized in distribution and are associated with prominent sandstone outcrops on SSFL and nearby areas. Activities during this phase will only involve the demolition of above grade structures; therefore no flora or natural habitat will be disturbed. A list of special status species with a potential to occur is available in Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1. Federally Listed Species Having the Potential to Occur at SSFL Common Name Scientific Name Status Braunton’s milk‐vetch Astragalus brauntonii FE, CH Lyon’s pentachaeta Pentachaeta lyonia FE Spreading navarretia Navarretia fossalis FT Conejo dudleya Dudleya abramsii subsp. parva FT Santa Monica Mountains dudleya Dudleya abramsii subsp. parva FT Marcescent dudleya Dudleya cymose subsp. marcescens FT San Fernando Valley spineflower Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina PT California Orcutt grass Orcuttia californica FE Coastal California gnatcatcher Polioptila californica FT Least Bell’s vireo Vireo bellii pusillus FE California condor Gymnogyps californianus FE California red‐legged frog Rana draytonii FT, CH Quino cherspot butterfly Euphydryas editha quino FE Vernal pool fairy shrimp Branchinecta lynchi FT Riverside fairy shrimp Streptocephalus woottoni FE CH = critical habitat; ESA = Endangered Species Act; FE = federally listed as endangered; FT = federally listed as threatened; PT = proposed for Federal listing as threatened. Santa Susana Field Laboratory North Wind Resource Consulting Ventura County, California 3 August 13, 2020, 2020 Pre-Demolition Biological Clearance Survey for the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility Table 2. State Species Occurring or Having the Potential to Occur on SSFL Common Name Scientific Name Status Santa Susana tarplant Deinandra minthornii SR Malibu baccharis Baccharis malibuensis CRPR 1B.1 Slender mariposa lily Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis CRPR 1B.1 Late‐flowered mariposa lily Calochortus fimbriatus CRPR 1B.1 California screw moss Tortula californica CRPR 1B.2 Swainson’s hawk Buteo swainsonii ST Bank swallow Riparia riparia ST State Listed: SR = state listed as rare; ST = state listed as threatened. CRPR: 1B = California Rare Plant Rank 1B (rare, threatened, or endangered