[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 301-302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-97]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Proposed Sanitary Sewer 
System Upgrade Project at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for the proposed 
sanitary sewer project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) prepared 
in accordance with 10 CFR 1022. DOE proposes to upgrade the sanitary 
sewer system to provide adequate service in the main complex area and 
outlying regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation. Only certain sections of 
two subprojects would be located in a 100-year floodplain. The East 
Area Sewer Main subproject would include installing approximately 2,900 
linear feet of new sewer line that would lie within the 100-year 
floodplain of White Oak Creek located near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This 
line would be installed in a trench about 2 feet deep. After 
installation, the trench would be backfilled and compacted. Finally, 
the area would be graded to original contour and seeded. The Sewer Main 
to Outlying Areas subproject would install approximately 8,300 linear 
feet of new pipeline. The new pipeline would be located in the 100-year 
floodplain of White Oak Creek only where the pipeline crosses White Oak 
Creek and an unnamed tributary feeding the creek from the west. At 
these crossings, the pipeline would be placed on the existing causeways 
and adjacent to the roadway. After installation, the area would be 
returned to the original condition.
    DOE prepared a floodplain and wetlands assessment describing the 
effects, alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or minimize 
potential harm to or within the affected floodplain. DOE will endeavor 
to allow 15 days of public review after publication of the Statement of 
Findings before implementing the proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Information on the proposed action 
(including maps of potentially disturbed floodplain areas) is available 
from: Mr. Doyle Brown, Waste Management Division (EW-92), Oak Ridge 
Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Post Office Box 2001, Oak 
Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8541, or fax comments to (615) 576-5333. For 
further information on general DOE floodplain/wetland environmental 
review requirements, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Oversight (EH-25), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
for the proposed sanitary sewer upgrade project at ORNL. A Notice of 
Floodplain/Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register 
on October 4, 1993 (58 FR 51624). DOE proposes to upgrade the sanitary 
sewer system to provide adequate service in the main complex area and 
outlying regions of the reservation. These upgrades are needed because 
of the deterioration in portions of the system, which are approaching 
50-years of age; restrictive bends in sections of the piping; excessive 
surface and subsurface infiltration during heavy rains; infiltration of 
ground water; high cost and potential environmental damage of 
collecting, pumping, and hauling sanitary waste from holding tanks in 
the outlying areas; and lack of reserve capacity during peak periods of 
use. Of the proposed upgrades, only certain sections of two subprojects 
would be located in a 100-year floodplain. These subprojects would be 
the East Area Sewer Main and the Sewer Main to Outlying Areas.
    The East Area Sewer Main subproject would include the installation 
of approximately 2,900 linear feet of new sewer line that would lie 
within the 100-year floodplain of White Oak Creek. This line would be 
installed in a trench about 2 feet deep. After installation, the trench 
would be backfilled and compacted. Finally, the area would be graded to 
original contour and seeded.
    Currently, facilities in the outlying areas of the plant use either 
collection tanks or septic systems. The waste in the tanks is routinely 
pumped into trucks and taken to the main treatment plant. The cost of 
collection and maintenance of the sanitary facilities in the outlying 
areas continues to increase. Additionally, this existing system can 
negatively affect the environment. The objective of the Sewer Main to 
Outlying Areas subproject is to directly connect, via a pipeline, these 
facilities to the main sewage treatment plant. Approximately 8,300 
linear feet of new pipeline would be installed. The new pipeline would 
be located in the 100-year floodplain of White Oak Creek only where the 
pipeline crosses White Oak Creek and an unnamed tributary feeding the 
creek from the west. At these crossings, the pipeline would be placed 
on the existing causeways and adjacent to the roadway. After 
installation, the area would be returned to the original condition.
    Since the main facilities of ORNL were built along White Oak Creek, 
some upgrade projects naturally fall within the floodplain. This is the 
case with the new sewer line in the East Area. The only practical route 
lies between White Oak Creek and Southside Avenue, an area within the 
floodplain. The creek also separates the main complex from the outlying 
areas. Thus, the sewer line to the outlying areas must cross over the 
existing causeways to avoid the installation of new, separate 
crossings.
    Several alternatives were evaluated. A no action alternative was 
evaluated for both subprojects. Two alternative routes for the new 
sewer main in the East Area were examined. An alternative route for the 
sewer main to the outlying areas was not evaluated since the only 
practical route follows the existing creek crossings.
    The proposed upgrades occurring in the floodplain would not have 
any long-term effects upon the floodplain or surrounding environment. 
Only during construction could the project potentially affect the 
floodplain or the aquatic life in White Oak Creek and the impacts, if 
any, would be negligible. During construction, sediment could be 
introduced into the creek and unnamed tributary. DOE will prepare a 
sediment control plan identifying the best management practices to be 
employed during construction to minimize potential harm to or within 
the affected floodplain. Control measures would include the use of 
sediment and erosion control fences to minimize siltation. Procedural 
measures would include excavating trenches of the minimum size and 
performing construction activities during dry periods. Immediately upon 
installation of sections of the sewer line, the trench would be 
backfilled and compacted. The area would then be graded to the original 
contour and seeded. The upgrade project would conform to all applicable 
State and local floodplain protection standards.
    DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of the Statement of Findings prior to implementing the 
proposed action.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on December 21, 1993.
Mark W. Frei,
Director, Office of Waste Management Projects, Office of Waste 
Management, Environmental Restoration and Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 94-97 Filed 1-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P