[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5604]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Floodplain/Wetland Involvement for Bridge Replacement at Savannah 
River Site (F-Road Bridge 603-03G)

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetland involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to repair Bridge 603-03G located on F-Road on the 
Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina. The bridge to be 
repaired is located in the floodplain of Upper Three Runs Creek that is 
currently, and should remain, a relatively unimpacted floodplain. 
Repair activities would involve restoring and preserving decayed or 
rotten timber piles using a pile jacketing system. This involves 
setting fiberglass, concrete, or steel in place around the pile and 
filling the jacket with epoxy grout or concrete. Cofferdams (watertight 
temporary structures for keeping water from an inclosed area) will be 
required at each pile, and rip rap (foundation of broken stones) will 
be placed on each embankment under the bridge. Most of the work will be 
accomplished from the present roadbed using cranes and scaffolding or 
other work platforms attached to the bridge deck. In accordance with 
title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 1022, DOE will 
prepare a floodplain/wetland assessment and will perform this proposed 
action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or 
within the affected floodplain and wetlands.

DATES: Comments on the proposed actions are due on or before March 25, 
1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Floodplain/Wetlands 
Comments, Stephen R. Wright, Director, Environmental and Laboratory 
Programs Division, U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations 
Office, P.O. Box A, Aiken, South Carolina 29802. The phone number is 
(803) 725-3957. Fax comments to: (803) 725-7688.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL FLOODPLAIN/WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL 
REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office 
of NEPA Oversight (EH-25), U. S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone (202) 586-4600 
or (800) 472-2756.
    Further information, including a location map showing the repair 
site, can be obtained from the Savannah River Operations Office (see 
addresses above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE proposes to repair F-Road Bridge 603-
03G, that provides service to approximately 35 percent of daily SRS 
traffic. The present deteriorated condition of the bridge has resulted 
in load for the structure being restricted to a capacity of 15 tons 
gross weight that prevents tractor-trailers, fire fighting equipment, 
and other emergency vehicles from crossing the bridge and unless 
repaired, may be required to be closed to all traffic. Bridge supports 
to be repaired are in the floodplain of Upper Three Runs Creek that is 
currently, and should remain, a relatively unimpacted floodplain. The 
bridge will be repaired by restoring all deteriorated, decayed, or 
rotten timber piles having a section loss greater than 55 percent using 
a pile jacketing system. These activities will include: (1) A 
quantitative inspection on each timber pile that may include an 
underwater inspection and (2) pile restoration that will include 
setting a fiberglass, concrete, or steel jacket in place around the 
timber pile and filling the jacket with epoxy grout or concrete. Most 
of the work will be accomplished from the present roadbed using cranes 
to repair the bridge supports. Platforms may be lowered into the 
floodplain to support equipment and serve as a work base. These will be 
removed when the project is completed in approximately 2 months. A 
cofferdam may be installed around the piles to allow the water and mud 
to be pumped from around the pillars being repaired. This dam will be 
kept to the minimum size that is necessary to complete the task. At no 
time will mud pumped from the cofferdams be released into the stream. 
When repairs are complete, approximately 400 square feet of clean stone 
will be placed on the abutments at each end of the bridge inside the 
cofferdam to reduce sediment levels once the cofferdams are removed. 
The lower few feet of these slopes are in wetlands. Vegetation is 
sparse because of shade from the bridge. The impact will be limited to 
traffic near and under the bridge that will result in no long-term 
impact to the wetlands.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR 1022), DOE will 
prepare a floodplain/wetland assessment for this proposed DOE action. 
After DOE issues the assessment, a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
will be published in the Federal Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on this 4th day of March 1994.
Donald F. Knuth,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Facility Transition and Technical 
Support Defense Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-5604 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P