[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4902-4903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1871]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Floodplain Statement of Findings for Operable Unit 2 
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 2 
Remedial Action. Operable Unit 2 is comprised of five sub-units or 
areas: the Solid Waste Landfill, Lime Sludge Ponds, Inactive Flyash 
Pile, South Field and the Active Flyash Pile. DOE proposes to protect 
human health and the environment by excavating waste exceeding 
Preliminary Remediation Levels (PRLs) not protective of the expanded 
trespasser and disposing of the waste in an on-property disposal 
facility (Note: Waste that does not meet waste acceptance criteria [an 
estimated 1%] for the disposal facility would be disposed of off-site). 
Excavation and construction activities associated with implementation 
of this alternative would involve a small portion of the 
[[Page 4903]] floodplain along Paddys Run in Fernald, Ohio. As a part 
of the Operable Unit 2 Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan, DOE prepared a 
floodplain/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 map), contact: Mr. Wally Quaider, Acting Associate Director, 
Office of Safety & Assessment, U.S. Department of Energy, 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 
Flooplain/Wetlands environmental review requirements, contact: Ms. 
Carol Borgstrom, Director, 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 Floodplain Statement of Findings for 
the Operable Unit 2 Remedial Action at the FEMP has been prepared in 
accordance with Executive Order 11988 and 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of 
Floodplain/Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register 
(FR) on January 4, 1995 (60 FR 446) and a floodplain/wetlands 
assessment was incorporated in the Operable Unit 2 Feasibility Study/
Proposed Plan (FS/PP). DOE is proposing to protect human health and the 
environment by controlling continuous migration of contaminants from 
the five waste areas within Operable Unit 2: the Solid Waste Landfill, 
Lime Sludge Ponds, Inactive Flyash Pile, South Field, and Active Flyash 
Pile. In order to eliminate the threat of a release to Paddys Run, 
limited excavation would occur in the floodplain. Direct physical 
impact to the floodplain would result from the excavation of 
contaminated sediments and lead bullets and fragments, the construction 
of a temporary haul road, and heavy equipment operating within the 
floodplain. Potential indirect impacts to the 100- and 500-year 
floodplain as a result of the remedial activities involving the 
Inactive Flyash Pile, South Field, and Active Flyash Pile include 
surface water runoff and sedimentation loading into the floodplain. 
Several alternatives were considered and evaluated in making this 
determination, including: no action, consolidation/containment, 
excavation and off-site disposal, and excavation and on-property 
disposal with off-site disposal of waste exceeding waste acceptance 
criteria (i.e., the preferred alternative). Direct and indirect impacts 
would occur during the implementation of any action alternative 
considered. However, no change in flood elevations would be expected 
because disturbed areas would be backfilled and regraded.
    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. The proposed remedial 
action has been designed to 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. 95-1871 Filed 1-24-95; 8:45 am]
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