Environmental Review - Hanford LExC
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (NEPA) the National Science Foundation has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed construction of a Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) STEM Exploration Center (LExC) at Hanford, in Richland, Washington. LIGO Hanford is located on land owned by the United States and administered by DOE.
Per its 1993 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DOE, NSF has a permit to use the site for LIGO, which is operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with funding from NSF. In 2019, Caltech received a grant from the State of Washington to construct a LIGO STEM Observatory adjacent to the interferometer, in Richland, WA. Caltech has begun design work for this facility, calling it the LExC, and proposes to begin construction in October 2020. LExC has the potential to complement and enhance the existing Education and Public Outreach component of NSF's award for the operations of LIGO Hanford. NSF, as the permit holder, is therefore considering whether to authorize Caltech to construct and operate LExC within the boundaries of the land described in the permit issued by DOE. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NSF will conduct a review of potential environmental impacts of this proposal. NSF intends to conduct Section 106 consultation concurrent with the NEPA process.
Project contact information: Kimberly Pigford, (703) 292-7387, phy-envr@nsf.gov.
Draft Environmental Assessment
- The public is invited to comment on the Draft EA from June 23, 2020, through July 23, 2020. Comments should be submitted to phy-envr@nsf.gov.
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation
- Letter initiating consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)
- SHPO concurrence on preliminary Area of Potential Effects (APE)
- Ecological Survey Report [Revised October 2020 to incorporate input from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation]
- Assessment of Effects (anticipated in Spring/Summer 2020)