[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9166]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

Floodplain Involvement for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Bayou 
Choctaw Facility, Iberville Parish, LA

AGENCY: Office of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: DOE hereby provides notice that the proposed installation of a 
crude oil degasification unit at the existing SPR storage facility at 
Bayou Choctaw, Louisiana would be located in a 100-year floodplain. The 
degasification unit would be used to remove excess gas from the stored 
petroleum to allow for safe distribution of the oil in the event of a 
drawdown.

DATES: Written comments should be postmarked by May 2, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to Mr. Hal Delaplane, 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (FE-423), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone (202) 586-4730, 
Fax (202) 586-7919.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING LOCATION MAPS, CONTACT: For general 
information on the DOE environmental assessment process, further 
information on general DOE floodplain environmental review 
requirements, or the status of a review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), please contact 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Executive Order 11988, 
Floodplain Management, and 10 CFR part 1022, Compliance with 
Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements, notice is given 
that DOE proposes to install a crude oil degasification unit at the 
existing SPR storage facility at Bayou Choctaw, Louisiana, which is 
located in a 100-year floodplain. Bayou Choctaw is one of four SPR 
storage facilities for which degasification is planned, but it is the 
only one that is located in a floodplain. The other facilities are: 
Bryan Mound, Texas, West Hackberry, Louisiana, and Big Hill, Texas.
    The Bayou Choctaw storage facility, which is located in Iberville 
Parish, Louisiana, approximately 5 miles west of the Mississippi River 
and 13 miles southwest of Baton Rouge, is situated within the 100-year 
floodplain. This location is designated Zone A (areas of 100-year 
flood; base flood elevation and flood hazard factors not determined) by 
the National Flood Insurance Program. Should a 100-year flood occur, 
the water surface elevation at the proposed oil degasification unit 
location would be approximately ten feet above mean sea level. The 
proposed construction of the oil degasification unit therefore would be 
located in the 100-year floodplain, although construction would be on a 
previously disturbed area within the fence line of the existing storage 
facility. Wetlands would not be involved. In accordance with DOE 
regulations for compliance with floodplain environmental review 
requirements (10 CFR 1022.12), DOE will prepare a floodplain assessment 
for this proposed action. The floodplain assessment will be 
incorporated in the environmental assessment (EA) prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. A 
floodplain statement of findings will be included in any finding of no 
significant impact that is issued following completion of the EA.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 7, 1994.
Jack S. Siegel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 94-9166 Filed 4-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P