[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21131]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement at the Pantex 
Plant, Amarillo, TX

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetland involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to conduct various activities within floodplains 
and wetlands on or surrounding the Pantex Plant in Carson County, 17 
miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas. The proposed activities would 
include Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) site 
characterization investigations such as environmental monitoring and 
surveillance activities as well as wastewater and storm water 
discharges. In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, DOE will prepare a 
floodplain/wetland assessment and will perform these proposed actions 
in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the 
affected floodplain and wetlands.

DATES: Comments on the proposed action must be received by September 
12, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this Notice should be addressed to: 
Floodplain and Wetlands Comments, Tom Walton, Public Affairs Officer, 
Public Affairs Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Amarillo Area Office, 
P.O. Box 30020, Amarillo, Texas 79177, (806) 477-3120, (806) 477-3185 
(Fax).
    Information on this proposed action, including a map of proposed 
activity locations, is also available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on general DOE floodplain 
and wetland environmental review requirements is available from: Carol 
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Oversight, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
4600 (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE proposes to conduct various activities 
within floodplains and wetlands on and surrounding the Pantex Plant. 
Site characterization activities would be conducted in support of the 
Permit for Industrial Solid Waste Management Site issued by the Texas 
Water Commission (now known as the Texas Natural Resources Conservation 
Commission) as part of DOE's effort to determine the nature and extent 
of any environmental contamination resulting from Pantex operations. 
These activities would occur within Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) 
6 (Playa Basin 1), SWMU 7 (Playa Basin 2), SWMU 8 (Playa Basin 3), SWMU 
9 (Playa Basin 4), and SWMU 10 (Pantex Lake). Additional 
characterization may be required as a result of the site being listed 
on the National Priorities List. Specific activities would include but 
not be limited to the following:
    1.1  Installation of monitoring wells. Monitoring wells would be 
drilled into the perched groundwater zone if found to be present in the 
proposed locations. If the perched groundwater is not present, wells 
may be completed into the High Plains Aquifer (locally known as the 
Ogallala Aquifer). Well drilling would involve limited driving of heavy 
equipment into the proposed areas for the purpose of drilling and 
boring. Twenty-four-hour pump tests would be conducted following 
completion of any monitoring wells. Water produced from any pump tests 
would be discharged to the playas if the analytical testing results 
allow for such disposition.
    1.2  Surface water samples, ditch sediment samples, and vadose zone 
samples. Surface water sampling would consist of collecting a sample 
bottle for surface water. Site access would be by wading. Sediment 
sampling would consist of taking a sample of the sediment with a hand 
auger or with a vibrating core sampling device. The sediment samples 
would typically be two inches in diameter and one foot deep. Access 
would be by walking or wading if water is present. Proposed boreholes 
for vadose zone samples would include borings ranging in depths from 4 
feet to 30 feet. Borehole drilling would involve driving a drilling rig 
to the site, drilling the boreholes, and collecting the core samples as 
the drilling progresses. The boreholes would be closed by backfilling 
with the cuttings and/or five percent bentonite/cement.
    1.3  Environmental monitoring and surveillance activities. DOE 
would conduct activities including: collection of groundwater, surface 
water, vegetation, soil, and sediment samples, installation and 
maintenance of environmental monitoring equipment, and routine 
monitoring and downloading of information from installed 
instrumentation in various locations within the wetlands and 
floodplains.
    In addition, DOE would continue to discharge industrial and storm 
water from existing outfalls to Playas 1, 2, and 4; discharge storm 
water to Playa 3, and discharge treated domestic wastewater to Playa 1.
    DOE proposes to assess any floodplains/wetlands impacts associated 
with Texas Tech University's agricultural operations including grazing 
in the wetlands and floodplains, and farming and related activities in 
the floodplains.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE 
will prepare a floodplain/wetland assessment for these proposed DOE 
actions which may be incorporated into the appropriate National 
Environmental Policy Act documentation. After DOE issues the 
assessment, a floodplain statement of findings will be published in the 
Federal Register.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on August 12, 1994.
Ned B. Larson,
Director, Office of Southwestern Area Programs, Environmental 
Restoration.
[FR Doc. 94-21131 Filed 8-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P