[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4024]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for Proposed Sampling at Solid 
Waste Management Units 94 and 95 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion 
Plant, Paducah, KY

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 
sampling at solid waste management units (SWMUs) 94 and 95. DOE 
proposes to conduct a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility 
Investigation (RFI) at SWMUs 94 and 95 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion 
Plant (PGDP) that would involve the collection of surface water, ground 
water, sediment, and soil samples at these SWMUs. Some sampling is 
proposed to occur in the floodplains of two creeks near PGDP in 
McCracken County, Kentucky. DOE prepared a floodplain assessment 
describing the effects, alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or 
minimize potential harm to or within the affected floodplains. 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. Robert C. Sleeman, Director, Environmental Restoration Division, 
Oak Ridge Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box 
2001, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8541, (615) 576-0715, (615) 576-
6074 (Fax).

    Further information on general DOE floodplain/wetlands 
environmental review requirements is available from:

Ms. 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 RFI sampling at SWMUs 94 and 95 prepared in accordance 
with 10 CFR part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain/Wetland Involvement for 
Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Activities at PGDP was 
published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1993, at 58 FR 51812, 
and a floodplain assessment has been prepared; no wetland will be 
involved in the proposed action. DOE is proposing to collect surface 
water, ground water, sediment, and soil samples to define the nature 
and extent of contamination in these media at two SWMUs on the site of 
the former Kentucky Ordnance Works near PGDP in McCracken County, 
Kentucky.
    Ground-water wells and deep soil borings would be placed within the 
100-year floodplain of an unnamed tributary to Big Bayou Creek at SWMU 
94 and within the 100-year floodplain of Big Bayou Creek at SWMU 95 to 
determine if the floodplains have been contaminated from past releases 
from the two SWMUs. Sampling would allow DOE to define the nature and 
extent of potential contamination in floodplain media. Two alternatives 
were considered--the no action alternative and an alternative that 
included performing the activities outside of the floodplain. Neither 
of these alternatives would provide the necessary characterization 
information and, therefore, are unacceptable alternatives. The proposed 
action does conform to applicable State floodplain protection 
standards.
    Minor temporary impacts would occur from construction of temporary 
access roads and drilling pads for heavy equipment used to install deep 
soil borings and wells. Some trees would have to be cut at SWMU 95 to 
clear new access routes. Existing roadways and clearings would be used 
to the greatest extent possible to minimize new road construction. New 
temporary roadways and drilling pads would require small amounts of 
gravel and rock fill for drilling equipment.
    All drilling pads and most access roadways would be reclaimed and 
revegetated at the conclusion of the project. Some roadways would be 
left in place for continued access to monitoring wells. The number of 
trees to be cut would be kept to the minimum needed to clear access 
routes. Standard engineering practices would control potential soil 
erosion from the sites. Access road and drilling pad construction and 
clearing vegetation for site access would not reduce the flood storage 
capacity of the floodplain, interfere with stream flow, or produce 
hazardous flood velocities. DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of 
public review after publication of the statement of findings prior to 
implementing the proposed action.
James J. Fiore,
Director, Office of Eastern Area Programs, Office of Environmental 
Restoration.
[FR Doc. 94-4024 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P