Constructing high energy accelerators under DOE´s “new culture” for environment and safety: an example, the Fermilab 150 GeV Main Injector proton synchrotron

Fermilab has initiated construction of a new Main Injector (150 GeV proton synchrotron) to take the place of the current Main Ring accelerator, “New Culture” environmental and safety questions have been addressed. The paper will detail the necessary steps that were accomplished in order to obtain the permits which controlled the start of construction. Obviously these depend on site-specific circumstances, however, some steps are universally applicable. In the example, floodplains and wetlands were affected and therefore the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance was a significant issue. The important feature was to reduce the relevant regulations to a concise set of easily understandable requirements and to perform the work required in order to proceed with the accelerator construction in a timely fashion. The effort required and the associated time line will be presented so that other new accelerator proposals can benefit from the experience gained from this example