Virtual Information Meeting Presentation - FEIS ...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthE I S f o r U n d e r g r o u n d R e s e a r c h F a c i l i t y

Virtual Information Meeting

7.9.2014

F i n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t

Acquisition and Development of an Underground Safety Research Program Facility

08.05.2021


Meeting Purpose

During this meeting, CDC and GSA will:• Highlight the main themes of public comments on the Draft EIS.• Review additional studies completed / any changes to the Proposed Action.• Detail the additional information included in the Final EIS.

Welcome to the Information Meeting for the Acquisition and Development of an Underground Safety Research Facility Final EIS.


Proposed Action Overview

Purpose and Need: The purpose of the proposed action is to provide the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with an underground safety research facility that would allow for full-scale mine experiments and research that accurately simulate an underground mine. The proposed action is needed because NIOSH’s former underground testing laboratory, the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in Pennsylvania, was a leased facility and all efforts to purchase the facility or continue the lease on a long-term basis have failed. The facility is needed to help meet the NIOSH mission for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries related to the mining industry.

Proposed Action: Acquisition of a Site in Mace, West Virginia, and development of this Site into a new underground safety research facility for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).


The Proposed Action AlternativeThe proposed actions for the research facility in Mace, WV are:• Acquisition of the 461.35-acre

Site.• Development of the Site to

include a 164,000 GSF underground safety research facility.

• Above-ground facilities include parking, preparation and office space, storage and control facilities (17,000 to 25,000 GSF) on 5.5 acres, a fence, and formalization of the existing access road.

• There would be no active mining/this is not a production mine.• Underground tests would focus on new technologies to improve the health and safety

of the Nation’s underground mining workforce.


The Proposed Action Alternative• GSA has performed a

preliminary title search to identify ownership of the property.

• Following a Record of Decision, GSA would finalize a title search and boundary survey, should the proposed action alternative be selected.

• CDC has coordinated with the State Rail Authority regarding the existing railroad infrastructure on the property.

• Any final title review and opinion would be performed by the Department of Justice, which is standard practice for federal acquisitions.


National Environmental Policy Act

Environmental Impact Statement

The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, requires federal agencies to involve the public when making decisions that may impact the natural, cultural, and socioeconomic environment. CDC prepared the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed action to address the requirement.

CDC published the Draft EIS on February 14, 2019 for a 51-day public comment period and held a public meeting on March 6, 2019. CDC received sixty-one public correspondences, including verbal comments provided to the court reporter at the public meeting.

CDC prepared the Final EIS incorporating the comments and information received during the Draft EIS public comment period. The Final EIS and its appendices include the public comment report with CDC’s responses to substantive comments.

The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS and the 30-day wait period was also published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2021 (Docket No. CDC–2018–0057).


Draft EIS CommentsThe Final EIS and its appendices include the public comment report with all of CDC’s responses to substantive comments. This presentation is limited to high level changes. For in-depth responses, please see Appendix C of the Final EIS.

The comments were organized into the following topics:

• Purpose and Need• Minimum Criteria• Proposed Action Alternative• Public Involvement• Other NEPA Issues• Alternatives Considered but Dismissed• Mitigation Measures• Cumulative Impacts• Noise• Geology, Topography, and Soils

• Water Resources Table• Utilities• Biological Resources• Cultural Resources• Hazardous Substances• Land Use• Visual Quality• Transportation• Socioeconomics• Air Quality


Proposed Action - Construction

• Additional details on the construction methods, size, depth, and interior of the underground were incorporated into the FEIS (beginning in Section 2.1.2).

• The FEIS construction methods, including prevention of groundwater from entering the facility.

• Potential staging areas could include the area of above-ground facilities as well as the area near the entrance to the access road.

DEIS Comment Request: Additional information regarding the proposed action including construction methods.


Proposed Action - Operation

• Additional details on the operation of the fire suppression facility, including water use, potential smoke visibility, and chemicals used were incorporated into the FEIS (Section 2.1.3).

• The facility would not use PFOS or PFOA.

DEIS Comment Request: Additional information regarding the operation of the fire suppression facility and chemicals to be used, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

• Fire testing would include a small test every few days and larger tests once every few weeks.

• Water in the fire suppression facility would be recycled and self-contained.

• A filtering system would remove post-fire particulates.


Proposed Action - Operation

• Final EIS includes clarification that “settling ponds” would be stormwater collection ponds to manage stormwater runoff and not water from any operational facility.

• The Draft EIS noted water would be used to clean the underground facility after each test. As a result of public comment, the use of water in the cleaning process was removed from consideration.

• The Final EIS updates the cleaning methodology: Mobile sweepers would be used to remove the dust and other particulates. Compressed air would be used to blow off what little dust remains on the walls/ceiling. This dust would also be swept up with all collected particulates and placed in appropriate containers for proper disposal at an approved off-site location.

DEIS Comment Request: Additional information regarding the proposed action including how the facility would treat water used in the underground facility to prevent groundwater contamination.


Proposed Action - Fenceline

Previously Proposed Fenceline(Majority of Parcel Boundary)

Revised Proposed Fenceline(Surface Facilities Only –Follows Road and Facilities)

DEIS Comment Request: The proposed fenceline should be reduced/not surround the entire property due to concerns for visual and wildlife impacts.


Groundwater – Existing ConditionsThe Site is underlain by the Mississippian aquifers of Greenbrier and Mauch Chunk Groups. The northwest half is Greenbrier Limestone, which is karstic and permeable. The southeast half, where the majority of the underground facility would be located, is described as relatively impermeable and it is not recognized as a major source of extractable groundwater.

Site is located within the larger Monongahela River watershed, in the smaller Tygart Valley River and Upper Tygart Valley River watersheds.

Areas to the southwest of the Site are located in the Elk River watershed.

In 2017 and 2018, borings indicated the Greenbrier Formation underlying the Site is highly competent with limited fractures and no apparent dissolution features to provide significant groundwater transmissivity to groundwater wells.


Aquifer TestDEIS Comment Request: Complete a groundwater study to determine the flow, direction, and yield of all aquifers in the area as well as available groundwater and potential impacts from drawdowns associated with the Proposed Action.

As a result of public comment, in 2020 CDC conducted an aquifer test to evaluate the available groundwater resources on-site and potential connectivity with surrounding wells. • An aquifer pumping test with three borings:

• Two borings were monitoring wells.• One boring was the pump/test well.

• November 9 through 22, 2020: well drilling and installation activities.• Conducted a 12-hour constant rate aquifer test between November 20 and

November 21, 2020.


Aquifer Test Results

• The Greenbrier Formation in the project area is highly competent. • The aquifer in the project area has low transmissivity.• Groundwater resources available on the project area are limited.• The sustainable pumping rate at the project Site is less than 1 gallon per minute.• Based on the observations of the testing, the risk of negative effects on off-site

groundwater wells is low.

The aquifer test (pump test) indicated that drawing water in the project area did not influence the water levels in monitoring wells. While this test indicated a lack of

connectivity, it was not 100% conclusive. As a result, CDC included extension of the public waterline from the Pocahontas Public Service District as a mitigation measure

in an abundance of caution and to address public concern.


Water Line Extension Coordination• CDC coordinated with the Huttonsville (Randolph County) and Pocahontas Public

Service Districts (Pocahontas County) to discuss the potential for extending public water lines to the project area and within one-mile radius of the proposed underground testing facility.

• Huttonsville Public Service District (PSD) indicated that extending their water line was not desirable because they have fewer properties that they could potentially serve with the extension.

• Pocahontas PSD indicated interest in extension of their water line due to additional demands within their service area.

• E.L. Robinson Engineering Company, the engineer of record for the Pocahontas PSD, prepared a preliminary engineering report (PER) for the Pocahontas County PSD to determine the operational and financial feasibility associated with the proposed Linwood to Mace Water Extension Project.


Preliminary Engineering Report• The Pocahontas PSD’s PER identified two alternatives:

Alternative 1: extend potable water from the Pocahontas PSD’s eight-inch diameter main in Linwood and serve all customers on most of the existing side roads adjacent to the project path. 91 residences/businesses could be served. Pocahontas PSD would cover additional costs of water line extension to

customers not within the 1-mile radius of the NIOSH Underground Safety Research Facility.

Pocahontas PSD would fund the expanded area included in Alternative 1 (see Alternative 2, below).

Alternative 2: differs from Alternative 1 in that residences not adjacent to the proposed path of the water main would not be provided with potable water service. 72 residences/businesses could be served. Any new residential construction, within the 1-mile radius of the Site, completed

during the construction period would be connected to the public system, if requested.

CDC would fund construction of Alternative 2 inclusive of connection of residences within the 1-mile radius of the Site.


Preliminary Engineering Report


Preliminary Engineering Report• Pocahontas PSD’s PER stated the existing raw water source for the water treatment

plant is Shavers Lake and noted the existing water treatment plant has available capacity.

• Pocahontas PSD, with its engineer of record E.L. Robinson, determined the preliminary route and feasibility of the water line extension.

• Any requests for additional expansion of the water line should be submitted to the Pocahontas PSD for consideration.

• Due to additional ground disturbance associated with this potential mitigation measure that the CDC is exploring, preliminary review of impacts associated with the waterline extension is included in the Final EIS. Pocahontas PSD would prepare a site-specific environmental assessment report,

design and construct the project, if selected in the Record of Decision. CDC, pending funding appropriations approval, would pay for extension of the

waterline to the 1-mile radius of the project Site and connection to homes within that radius, if desired. Connection would be voluntary. Pocahontas PSD would be responsible for long-term maintenance and any additional expansions.


Water Mitigation MeasuresWhen a mitigation measure is included in the Record of Decision, CDC is legally committed to applying the mitigation measure to the project.

Mitigation measures specific to residential water include:

• Extend the public water supply from the Pocahontas PSD and connect all residents within a 1-mile radius of the Site to public water.

• 1-mile radius was identified based on watershed boundaries, topography, and general location of existing residential homes. Testing and analysis indicate that potential adverse impacts on wells are highly unlikely.

• CDC would seek the funding and authority to extend the water line as a first step in the process, should the Proposed Action Alternative be selected for implementation in the Record of Decision.


Water Mitigation MeasuresMitigation measures specific to residential water include:

• Sample wells within a 1-mile radius of the Site before, during and immediately after construction, if authorized by homeowners.

• CDC would provide homeowners with all data regarding their individual well, but well monitoring information on all wells would not be available to the general public.

• Should homeowners outside of the 1-mile radius experience changes to their well during construction, they should contact CDC. Resolution would be handled on a case-by-case basis.

• CDC would monitor on-site wells during construction and operation of the facility and would analyze homeowners’ wells should conditions indicate additional monitoring is appropriate.


Additional Mitigation MeasuresSection 4.9 of the Final EIS provides a detailed list of all proposed mitigation measures associated with the Proposed Action Alternative.

• These mitigation measures are grouped by potential impact topic, including noise and vibration, geology, topography, and soils, water resources, and biological resources.

• For utilities, as noted in the response to public comments, CityNet confirmed extension of the fiber optic network would be feasible but has not confirmed it would be completed. However, CDC would not own the line. If the line were extended, CDC could let CityNet know that additional residents would be interested in using this service.

• Federal agencies are prohibited from funding mitigation measures where there is no potential adverse impact on a resource, such as broader community programs.


Traffic DEIS Comment Request: Concern regarding potential impacts on traffic along Route 219 based on the Traffic Technical Report analysis in the Draft EIS.

The Draft EIS included a conservative analysis that assumed all materials would be disposed of off-site and that all material associated with site preparation would be hauled off within a four-month period.

To address public concerns on traffic and transportation, CDC reviewed and adjusted the assumptions to reflect a more realistic construction approach. CDC assumes they could use up to two-thirds of the materials on-site for fill and access road surface. To maintain a conservative assumption, the Final EIS assumes up to 50 percent of materials are reused on-site, reducing the overall number of truck trips. Additionally, the Final EIS now includes stockpiling of materials on-site allowing disposal off-site to occur evenly across the construction period. These revised assumptions resulted in an average of ten dump truck trips per day.


Vibrations DEIS Comment Request: Request a map that showed the distance that pressure waves or vibrations would be felt. Commenters also requested CDC pay for any damages to surrounding structures as a result of the project. • A map for both

construction and operational impacts has been included in the FEIS (Section 4.1.3).

• CDC added the following mitigation measure to the Final EIS: CDC would complete preconstruction surveys to document existing conditions for surrounding structures prior to beginning construction and would make appropriate repairs, should any occur.


Vibrations


CavesDEIS Comment Request: Include additional information regarding caves in the vicinity.

• All known caves within the vicinity of the Site were included in the analysis in both the Geology and Biological Resources Sections.

• Caves were reviewed for their potential to contain suitable habitat for bats.

• A table was included in Section 3.2.2 that detailed each cave.

• Known caves within the Site were located with GPS.


Additional SurveysDEIS Comment Request: Survey the entire Site to identify caves, springs, sinkholes, seeps, wetlands, and streams on the property.

CDC surveyed all areas of potential surface disturbance, as required by regulatory agencies. • Total Site: 461 Acres• Area Surveyed: 77 Acres• Area of Potential Disturbance: 12

acres

A survey of the entire area is not required, as more than 97 percent of the Site would remain undisturbed.


TourismDEIS Comment Request: Request analysis of impacts on tourism, including potential impacts on traffic, air quality, water quality, noise, light pollution, viewshed and visual quality including smoke and curb appeal.

• CDC reviewed potential impacts on tourism as requested by commenters. Some impact topics, including water quality and noise, are impact topics analyzed in the EIS. CDC included additional information in the Final EIS why viewshed and visual quality, air quality, and light pollution would not impact tourism (Section 1.8).

• The facility would include security lighting in the parking area and wall packs along the building as well as at the entrance and gate, which would be set back from the roadway. The access road would not be lit. When appropriate, CDC would aim to include fully shielded and low color temperature lights. Most employees would leave the Site by 5:00 PM, further reducing the potential for lighting other than security lights.

• The viewshed analysis confirmed the facility is not visible from Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

• The fenceline was removed from surrounding the property, including along Route 219.


Next Steps

• Conclusion of the 30-day wait period on August 15, 2021.

• Under the current schedule, the CDC Record of Decision is anticipated in late August 2021.

• Pending identification of the Proposed Action Alternative as the selected alternative and subject to available funding, construction of the underground safety research facility is expected to be completed in approximately 4 years.


Thank you for your attendance

Virtual Information Meeting Presentation - FEIS ...

Documents

Transcript of Virtual Information Meeting Presentation - FEIS ...