[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-867]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 13, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Proposed K-1515 Sanitary 
Water Treatment Plant Improvements at the K-25 Site, Oak Ridge, TN

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for the proposed 
activities at the K-1515 area of the Oak Ridge K-25 Site, prepared in 
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. DOE proposes to replace the K-1515-C 
Lagoon with the construction of a new 1.1 million gallon lagoon (K-
1515-F) and discharge pipeline to the Clinch River. The proposed 
actions would take place in a floodplain located in Roane County, 
Tennessee.
    DOE prepared a Floodplain Assessment describing the effects, 
alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or minimize potential harm 
to or within the affected floodplain. DOE will 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: Ms. Nancy Hendrix-Ward, NEPA Program Manager, Environmental 
Restoration Division, Oak Ridge Operations Office, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Post Office Box 2001, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8541, (615) 
576-4642, or fax comments to (615) 576-6074. For further information on 
general DOE floodplain/wetland environmental review requirements, 
contact: Ms. Carol 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 activities at the K-1515 area of the Oak Ridge K-25 
Site, prepared in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. A Notice of 
Floodplain Involvement was published in the Federal Register on May 20, 
1993, 58 FR 29401. The proposed action would be an improvement to waste 
water treatment by directly replacing the K-1515-C Lagoon, which 
functions as a settling basin for effluent from the K-1515 Sanitary 
Water Treatment Plant at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site, and providing a 
direct discharge to the Clinch River. The purpose of this action would 
be to eliminate the use of the K-1515-C Lagoon as a settling basin 
because the lagoon has been declared ``waters of the State.''
    The project would involve construction and operation of a 1.1 
million gallon lagoon (K-1515-F), relocation of the discharge point by 
installing a discharge pipeline to the Clinch River; installation of a 
recycle line to the raw water tank; and installation of associated 
piping, pumps, instrumentation, wiring, and electrical controls. To 
meet effluent criteria, the discharge must be directed to the Clinch 
River since the water flow of the existing K-1515-C lagoon is 
insufficient. Approximately 110 linear feet of the discharge pipeline 
would be buried in the floodplain of the Clinch River. Temporary 
disturbances would occur in the floodplain during excavation of a 
trench and burial of the pipeline. The temporary disturbance would last 
approximately 2-3 weeks. After installation of the pipeline, the trench 
would be filled and the topography returned to the contours and 
elevations that existed prior to installing the pipeline. There would 
be no permanent impacts to the floodplain because the pipeline would be 
buried and would not change the topography or vegetation (currently a 
grassy mixture without trees) of the ground surface in the floodplain. 
Other alternatives, such as no action, installation of a pipeline from 
the City of Oak Ridge Treatment Plant, construction of a new treatment 
facility adjacent to K-1515, and rerouting the ``blue-line'' stream 
around the K-1515-C Lagoon were considered and evaluated in making this 
determination. A floodplain assessment was performed to assess 
potential hydrological impacts of the proposed action. It addressed (1) 
the potential for alteration of the Clinch River floodplain after the 
proposed actions, (2) the increase in water surface elevations during 
flood events, and (3) the potential impacts on nearby properties and 
the environment. Results of the floodplain assessment indicate the 
proposed action would have inconsequential hydrologic impacts; 
therefore, no alternatives or mitigation measures to the proposed 
action were considered. The 100- and 500-year floodplains are below the 
elevation of the proposed site for the new lagoon. The discharge pipe 
extending to the Clinch River would be buried and would not have an 
impact on the floodplain. Therefore, the floodplain assessment shows 
that the proposed action would not have any significant environmental 
impact; would have no adverse impact on the floodplain; would not cause 
impacts such as backwater effects or inundation of land, property, or 
individuals; and would not promote development in the floodplain. DOE 
will allow 15 days of public review after publication of the Statement 
of Findings prior to implementing the proposed action.
Lawrence H. Harmon,
Acting Director, Office of Waste Operations, Office of Waste 
Management, Environmental Restoration and Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 94-867 Filed 1-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P