DOE/EA-1431 Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Los Alamos National Laboratory Trails Management Program, Los Alamos, New Mexico September 2, 2003 Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Site Office Environmental Assessment for the Proposed LANL Trails Management Program Contents Acronyms and Terms................................................................................................................................vii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................ix 1.0 Purpose and Need..............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Background..........................................................................................................................................2 1.3 Statement of Purpose and Need for Agency Action............................................................................8 1.4 Scope of This EA.................................................................................................................................9 1.5 Cooperating Agencies .........................................................................................................................9 1.6 Public Involvement............................................................................................................................10 2.0 Description of the Proposed Action and Associated Alternatives...............................................17 2.1 General Overview of Proposed Action (LANL Trails Management Program Alternative)..............17 2.1.1 Individual Project Planning Measures..................................................................................20 2.1.2 Repair and Construction Measures.......................................................................................22 2.1.3 Environmental Protection Measures.....................................................................................23 2.1.4 Safety Measures....................................................................................................................24 2.1.5 Security Measures ................................................................................................................25 2.1.6 End-State Conditions and Post-Repair or Post-Construction Assessment ...........................25 2.2 Trails Closure Alternative .................................................................................................................26 2.3 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................................27 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed.............................................................................................27 2.4.1 Open All Existing Trails at LANL for Unrestricted Recreational Use ................................27 2.4.2 Individual Specific Trails for Repair or Closure (non-programmatic).................................28 2.5 Related NEPA Actions and Documents ............................................................................................28 2.5.1 Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) ...............................................28 2.5.2 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Conveyance and Transfer of Certain Land Tracts Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and Located at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico (C&T EIS)..........28 2.5.3 Special Environmental Analysis – Cerro Grande Fire .........................................................29 2.5.4 Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Forest Health Improvement Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory..............................................................................................................29 3.0 Affected Environment.....................................................................................................................31 3.1 Socioeconomics.................................................................................................................................32 3.2 Ecological Resources.........................................................................................................................33 3.3 Cultural Resources.............................................................................................................................34 3.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................................35 3.5 Environmental Restoration................................................................................................................35 3.6 Transportation, Traffic, and Infrastructure........................................................................................36 3.7 Health and Safety ..............................................................................................................................36 3.8 Environmental Justice .......................................................................................................................36 3.9 Soils and Geology..............................................................................................................................37 3.10 Waste Management ...........................................................................................................................38 3.11 Air Quality.........................................................................................................................................38 3.12 Noise..................................................................................................................................................39 4.0 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................41 4.1 Socioeconomics.................................................................................................................................42 DOE LASO iii September 2, 2003 Environmental Assessment for the Proposed LANL Trails Management Program 4.1.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................42 4.1.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................42 4.1.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................43 4.2 Ecological Resources.........................................................................................................................43 4.2.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................43 4.2.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................44 4.2.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................44 4.3 Cultural Resources.............................................................................................................................45 4.3.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................45 4.3.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................45 4.3.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................45 4.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................................45 4.4.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................45 4.4.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................46 4.4.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................46 4.5 Environmental Restoration................................................................................................................46 4.5.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................46 4.5.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................46 4.5.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................46 4.6 Transportation, Traffic, and Infrastructure........................................................................................46 4.6.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................46 4.6.2 Trails Closure Alternative ....................................................................................................47 4.6.3 No Action Alternative ..........................................................................................................47