Wildlife Management Plan for the Oak Ridge Reservation

Sensitive Resources Assessment and Forest Analysis for the Proposed Versatile Test Reactor, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

“…Wetlands within the VTR construction are likely to be deemed Exceptional Tennessee Waters (ETWs) owing to (1) their history and utility in ORNL/DOE research and compliance sampling programs, (2) the presence of the only known state-listed four-toed salamanders (Hemidactylium scutatum) south of the ORNL campus (on the ORR), ( 3) the presence of the only known mud salamanders, an ORNL Focal Species (FS) for research and management, in Roane or Anderson County Tennessee (Carter et al 2020;Carter and Wade 2020), and (4) probable occurrence of state-and/or federally listed orchids (i.e., Platanthera flava var. herbiola and/or Platanthera integrilabia).…”

“…Impacts to FS and the Melton Branch ARA would represent impacts to long-term research and monitoring programs that involve ORNL, TDEC, DOE, and many of their government and university partners (Baranski 2009, 2011. Moreover, considerable effort is placed into development of management plans for FS (e.g., Giffen et al 2012;Roy et al 2014;McCracken et al 2015;Par et al 2015;McCracken et al 2017;Carter et al 2020), and loss of diversity or natural area on the ORR, and Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park represents additional potential impacts to research and science education.…”

“…Data deficiencies and potential resources that likely went undetected are indicated where possible. Accordingly, this report should facilitate more environmentally sound decisions during planning and development of the VTR site, provide a foundation for further assessment of sensitive and cultural resources, and help project managers better address regulatory guidance and DOE policies on sustainable development in compliance with, for example, the US Endangered Species Act (ESA), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Tennessee Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985, Tennessee Nongame and Endangered or Threatened Wildlife Species Conservation Act of 1974, several federal and state regulations regarding aquatic resource protection, and site-specific policies as outlined in various ORR management plans developed by ORNL and TWRA for DOE (e.g., Carter et al 2020). -1995) are especially relevant to quantify rare species, which are inherently difficult to detect.…”

Natural Resources Assessment for the SNS Second Target Station, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

“…Given that the primary planned construction area of the STS site contains extensive roost habitat for federally listed bats, and federally listed bats were detected via acoustic survey, at least informal consultation with USFWS should be initiated immediately (USFWS 2017). Minimally, informal consultation between DOE and USFWS will also be required for migratory birds under existing agreements between USFWS and DOE (66 FR 3853; for additional details of the responsibilities of DOE under the MBTA, see Carter et al 2020).…”

“…site-specific policies as outlined in various ORR management plans developed by ORNL and TWRA for DOE (e.g.,Carter et al 2020).…”