[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9405]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Proposed Waste Area 
Grouping 5, Seep Area D, Interim Removal Action at the Oak Ridge 
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

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 
Waste Area Grouping (WAG) 5, Seep Area D, interim remedial action at 
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), prepared in accordance with 
10 CFR part 1022. DOE proposes to conduct the proposed interim remedial 
action in the 100-year floodplain of White Oak Creek 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 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 area, 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.
    Further information on general DOE floodplain 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 leave 
a message at (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
for the proposed interim remedial action at WAG 5 at ORNL, prepared in 
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain/Wetlands 
Involvement was published in the Federal Register [58 FR 51624 (October 
4, 1993)] and a floodplain assessment was completed; no wetlands are 
involved in the proprosed action. DOE is proposing to capture and treat 
ground water that is emanating from Seep Area D as a means of reducing 
the amount of strontium-90 (\90\Sr) being discharged into Melton 
Branch, which contributes between 10 and 15 percent of the total amount 
of \90\Sr that passes over White Oak Lake Dam and enters the Clinch 
River.
    The proposed action is comprised of the following three components: 
(1) A collection component consisting of a collection structure; (2) 
in-ground treatment component using pipelines to carry ground-water 
discharge to and from a treatment chamber for capture of the \90\Sr in 
the ground-water discharge; and (3) a pumping and trucking component 
using a pipe transfer line to a truck transfer station for removal of 
ground-water discharge that has not been effectively treated for \90\Sr 
removal. Proposed activities associated with the Seep Area D interim 
removal action would involve less than a quarter of an acre of the 100-
year floodplain of White Oak Creek. The proposed action is not expected 
to adversely impact the floodplain or measurably change flood levels. 
Rather, the proposed action would have an overall positive effect on 
the environment and human health by reducing the amount of radioactive 
contaminants entering the riverine environment.
    The proposed activities associated with Seep Area D interim 
remedial action include extending an existing gravel road in the 
floodplain by about 150 feet to gain access to the seep area and 
installing a collection structure, a supply pipeline to, and discharge 
pipeline from, a treatment chamber located outside of the floodplain, a 
pipe transfer line to a truck transfer station also located outside of 
the floodplain, and a single power pole. During construction, a 
temporary dam, diversion pump, and flexible pipe would be installed in 
the floodplain to divert stream water around the construction site.
    The collection structure would consist of a gravel bed located 
under Melton Branch to intercept the ground-water discharge, a concrete 
cover to isolate the gravel bed from Melton Branch, and pumps and 
piping for transferring the discharge water to either the treatment 
chamber or truck transfer station. A different structure, but of 
similar design, would be installed if final field monitoring data 
indicate that such a structure would better divert and collect the 
ground-water discharge. Regardless of final design, the effects of any 
such structure on the floodplain would be negligible. Ground-water 
discharge in the seep area would be collected in the gravel bed and 
pumped either to the treatment chamber or a truck transfer station. The 
treatment chamber would contain an ion-exchange medium to remove 
\90\Sr. (An ion-exchange medium is a chemical compound, such as 
zeolite, that selectively adsorbs \90\Sr, thereby removing this 
radionuclide from the ground-water discharge.) Upon entering the 
treatment chamber, the ground-water discharge would pass through the 
ion-exchange medium and then be released to Melton Branch. Pumping to 
the truck transfer station would take place if the ion-exchange medium 
does not remove sufficient \90\Sr (the criteria for removal has been 
established at 90 percent as measured from water samples taken from the 
treatment chamber supply and discharge pipelines). Tanker trucks would 
transfer the ground water from the storage tank to the ORNL Process 
Waste Treatment Plant for processing. The Process Waste Treatment Plant 
is an existing, permitted facility.
    The proposed action has been designed to avoid or minimize impacts 
to the floodplain; negligible adverse impacts to the floodplain are 
expected to occur as a result of taking the proposed action. Best 
management practices would be strictly adhered to for all proposed 
activities. Sediment control measures, such as silt fences and 
diversion ditches would be used. Excavated soil would be sampled to 
determine the level of contamination, if any. To minimize the 
possibility of any contaminated soil entering the nearby creeks, 
contaminated soil would be disposed of according to ORNL construction 
guidelines. Where possible, disturbed areas would be graded to 
preconstruction contours, seeded, and allowed to return to their 
natural state. Construction is estimated to take between 3 and 5 
months. Construction activities would be scheduled during the dry 
season and would be substantially reduced and curtailed during 
unfavorable weather.
    Several alternatives to the proposed action were considered, 
including no action, in-ground treatment without a pipe transfer line 
to a truck transfer station, collection and transfer to the Process 
Waste Treatment Plant by tanker truck without in-ground treatment, 
collection and transfer to the Process Waste Treatment Plant by 
pipeline without in-ground treatment, and on-site treatment. The no-
action alternative was deemed least desirable because of the release of 
90Sr from the seep area since continued release would not be 
protective of human health and the environment. The other alternatives 
were excluded on the basis of efficiency, implementability, and cost. 
Effects upon the floodplain would not be measurably reduced under any 
of the other alternatives to the proposed action.
    The proposed action has been designed to avoid or minimize impacts 
to the floodplain and no significant adverse impacts to the floodplain 
are expected to occur. The proposed action does conform to applicable 
State floodplain standards. 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. 94-9405 Filed 4-18-94; 8:45 am]
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