Agenda - 12-15-2009 - Information Item 5

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Environmental Assessment Research Resources Facility Expansion S&ME Project No. 1357-02-823 September I5, 2003 1.0 Executive Summary This Environmental Assessment (EA) describes potential impacts associated with the cc:.st-uctio;~ of a ;=ew building at the Keseareh Resources Facility (RRF}, located in Orange County, North Carolina. This EA has been prepared for review by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hiil (UNC). The purpose of this EA is to provide State Agencies with information to determine if the planned project has a level of impact on the environment such that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. In the event that itripacts to the environment resulting from the Proposed Action are kept to a ]evel that does not evoke preparation of an EIS, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI}will be the anticipated conclusion. UNC is obligated under G.S. I I3A to perform this study. This EA was prepared in compliance with Chapter 25, Section .0500 of SEPA. Accordingly, this EA includes a discussion of the following items: 1) need for the proposed action; 2) a reasonable alternative to the proposed action; 3) methods proposed to mitigate or avoid environmental impacts; and 4) the environmental effects of the proposed activity and alternatives. This EA is organized in accordance with the guidance and format set forth in the North Carolina Department of Administration's Environmental Assessment Guidelines, dated Mazeh 1999. This EA was prepared by S&ME scientists, and pxovides a fair, objective and impartial analysis of the Proposed Action. The proposed development will take place within the grounds of the RRF. The RRF is located on an estimated 57-acre tract approximately 3,000 linear feet (lf) north of the intersection of Orange Chapel Clover Garden Road/Crawford Dairy Road (NCSR 1956) and Old Greensboro Road (NCSR 1005) in Orange County, North Carolina {- 35°54'10" North, 79°14'21" West). The subject property is depicted on Figure 1, Appendix 1. The facility includes aone-story, 6,616 sgr.aze-foot (sf) research building. A portion of the project area is fenced as pasture, and contains three heated shelters. Several storage buildings, an unoccupied farmhouse and a trailer used as a residence by an employee of the facility are also located on-site. An incinerator and storage refrigerator are located adjacent to the loading dock of the existing building.