[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