[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 4902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1870]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Floodplain Statement of Findings for Operable Unit 1 
Remedial Action at the Fernald Environmental Management Project

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), Fernald Area Office

ACTION: Notice of Floodplain Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: This is to give notice of DOE's planned actions for the 
Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP), located approximately 
18 miles (29 kilometers) northwest of Cincinnati, Ohio. The subject of 
this Notice of Floodplain Statement of Findings is Operable Unit 1 
Remedial Action. Operable Unit 1 is comprised of eight sub-units or 
areas: Wastes Pits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the Burn Pit and the Clearwell. 
DOE proposes to protect human health and the environment by removing 
Operable Unit 1 waste pit contents, contaminated soils and liquids, 
treating the waste through drying, and disposing the waste off-property 
at a commercial disposal facility. Some of these activities take place 
in a floodplain located in Hamilton County, Ohio. As a part of the 
Operable Unit 1 Feasibility Study, DOE prepared a floodplain and 
wetlands assessment describing the effects, alternatives, and measures 
designed to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected 
floodplain. The assessment found that the proposed action would have 
minimal temporary or long-term impacts on the floodplain.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the DOE at the following 
address on or before February 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: For further information on this proposed action (including 
location maps) contact: Mr. Wally Quaider, Acting Associate Director, 
Office of Safety & Assessment, DOE Fernald Area Office, P.O. Box 
538705, Cincinnati, Ohio 45253-8705, Phone: (513) 648-3137, Facsimile: 
(513) 648-3077.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on general DOE 
Floodplain/Wetlands environmental review requirements, contact: Ms. 
Carol M. Borgstrom, Office of NEPA Oversight, EH-25, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, Phone: 
(202) 586-4600 or 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
for the Operable Unit 1 Remedial Action prepared in accordance with 
Executive Order 11988 and 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain/
Wetland Involvement was published in the Federal Register (FR) on 
October 18, 1994 (59 FR 52525) and a floodplain and wetlands assessment 
was incorporated in the Operable Unit 1 Feasibility Study. DOE is 
proposing to remove waste pit contents, caps and liners, treat the 
waste by thermal drying, and dispose of the waste at an off-site 
permitted commercial disposal facility. The proposed action would 
result in excavation and grading activities within the 100- and 500-
year floodplain of Paddys Run, due to the close proximity of the waste 
pits to the floodplain. Alternatives to the proposed action are no-
action, on-site disposal (treatment through vitrification), on-site 
disposal (treatment through cement solidification), and off-site 
disposal to the Nevada Test Site.
    The temporary and long-term impacts on the floodplain would be 
minimal. The Operable Unit 1 remedial activities would have temporary 
impacts on the floodplain in the short-term due to grading. In 
addition, a stone-lined drainage ditch would be constructed as part of 
grading activities in the waste pit area to promote positive drainage. 
The drainage ditch would only result in minor flow increases during 
rain events and would not result in significant changes in the flood 
elevations of Paddys Run.
    DOE has determined that there is no practicable alternative to the 
proposed remedial action and that this action has been designed to 
minimize harm to the 100- and 500-year floodplain of Paddys Run. 
Engineering controls (e.g., expeditious backfilling, silt fences, straw 
bales) will minimize indirect impacts such as runoff and sediment 
deposition to the floodplain. In addition, all physically disturbed 
areas of the floodplain will be regraded to near original contours, 
resulting in no change to flood elevations. Over the long-term, a 
positive impact on the floodplain would occur due to an increase in the 
floodplain area adjacent to the remediated waste pits, thus minimizing 
the magnitude of downstream flood events. Furthermore, the elimination 
of contaminated source term material currently located in the 
floodplain of Paddys Run would have a positive indirect effect. The 
proposed action does conform to applicable State and local floodplain 
protection standards. Before this action begins, approval would be 
obtained from State and Federal agencies having jurisdiction.

    Issued in Miamisburg, Ohio on January 18, 1995.
George R. Gartrell,
Acting Manager, Ohio Field Office.
[FR Doc. 95-1870 Filed 1-24-95; 8:45 am]
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