[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21541]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 31, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Replacement of Four 
Bridges on the Savannah River Site

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.
SUMMARY: This Floodplain Statement of Findings is prepared in 
compliance with 10 CFR Part 1022. It is designed to evaluate the impact 
to the floodplain of the Savannah River Site (SRS) resulting from work 
that is needed to replace selected bridges on SRS Roads 8-1 and 2-1. 
The scope of this project is intended to immediately replace three 
bridges because of deteriorated, decayed, or rotten timber piles. A 
fourth bridge would be scheduled for a later replacement. The proposed 
work would involve working in and close to the 100-year floodplain of 
Upper Three Runs and Tinker Creek. The creeks associated with these 
projects have average annual flows which are greater than 5 cubic feet 
per second and a Federal permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act is not expected to be required for the proposed work. These 
impacted areas would include:

     Replacement of Bridge 603-13G at the intersection of 
the stream Upper Three Runs Creek and SRS Road 8-1.
     Replacement of Bridge 603-14G at the intersection of 
the stream Tinker Creek and SRS Road 8-1.
     Replacement of Bridge 603-15G at the intersection of 
the stream Upper Three Runs Creek and SRS Road 2-1.
     Replacement of Bridge 603-39G at the intersection of 
the stream Tinker Creek and SRS Road 2-1.

DATE: Comments on this Statement of Findings are due on or before 
September 15, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Floodplain 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, PLEASE CONTACT: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, 
Director, Office of NEPA Oversight (EH-25), U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, Telephone (202) 
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.
    A location map showing the project sites and further information 
can be obtained from the Savannah River Operations Office (See 
ADDRESSES above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bridges on SRS Road 8-1 (603-13G and 
603-14G) which cross Upper Three Runs Creek and Tinker Creek will be 
replaced and raised with minimal short-term impact and no long-term 
impact to floodplains. A storm water and sediment control plan will be 
required prior to bridge replacement in order to minimize sediments 
eroding into the adjacent floodplain.
    The work required to replace these two bridges would be 
accomplished from the existing road beds using a crane for pile 
driving, erection, and demolition. This activity should not have any 
significant impact on the floodplain. The only disturbance to the 
stream is anticipated to be the installation of pilings to support the 
center span of the bridge. Prestressed, precast concrete beams shall be 
used to minimize pile installation in the stream by constructing longer 
spans. A small amount of sediment would be expected to go into the 
stream where the work is close to the channel and temporarily increase 
stream's sediment load level. These increased sediment loads would be 
less than that encountered after a heavy rain storm. The old bridge 
supports would be cut off at the stream bed. The bridges are to be 
replaced in kind at their present locations so that there should be no 
loss or long term impact to floodplains.
    The bridge (603-15G) that spans Upper Three Runs Creek on SRS Road 
2-1 would be replaced with minimal short-term impact and no long-term 
impact to wetlands or floodplains. The bridge (603-39G) that spans 
Tinker Creek on SRS Road 2-1 would be scheduled for replacement in the 
future as funding became available.
    The conditions of the bridges covered in this Statement of Findings 
do not meet Department of Energy, American Association of State Highway 
and Transportation Officials, South Carolina Department of 
Transportation, or Federal Highway Administration standards and 
guidelines and therefore severely limits the type of traffic that may 
utilize these bridges on the primary route to the Advanced Tactical 
Training Area. Fire control equipment and logging trucks use this route 
so that any delay in replacing these bridges would greatly limit the 
traffic count and load limits permitted along this route, and would 
constitute a safety hazard to SRS personnel. Repair was considered as a 
potential alternative but with the present condition of the bridges, 
the most cost effective method is replacement. The environmental impact 
of repairing these bridges was also evaluated and found to be nearly 
identical in scope to that of replacing the bridges. Bridge 
rehabilitation strategies were evaluated and concluded replacement of 
the bridges over rehabilitation for many reasons, but largely because 
replacement of deteriorated piles and backwalls would fail to improve 
the load carrying capacity of the bridges for vehicles crossing the 
structure. Timber pile and backwall replacement will cause the same 
environmental impacts if not, more, because the bridge deck and piling 
caps must be completely removed in order to drive new piles and 
construct concrete abutments at the edge of the stream in order to 
maintain existing span lengths. Replacement of the entire bridge 
structure allows the span to be lengthened sufficiently to permit 
construction of bridge abutments well away from the stream bed, thereby 
reducing impacts, and reducing construction costs.
    Several mitigation activities will be implemented to minimize 
potential impacts to the floodplain. Silt fences and other erosion 
control structures as needed will be installed to ensure there is no 
deposition in downslope areas. Long-term construction impacts in the 
floodplain and wetland areas will be minimized through the removal of 
any excess excavated sidefill and restoration to the original contours 
following completion of construction. An erosion control plan will be 
developed so that the proposed action complies with applicable State 
and local floodplain protection standards and further, to ensure that 
no additional impacts will occur due to erosion and sedimentation. Best 
management practices will be employed during construction and 
maintenance activities associated with this proposed action.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on this 25th day of August, 1994.
Donald F. Knuth,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Facility Transition and Technical 
Support, Defense Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-21541 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P