[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57408-57409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28194]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Floodplain Statement of Findings for a Proposed Time-Critical 
Removal Action at the Middlesex Sampling Plant Site and Vicinity 
Properties

AGENCY: Oak Ridge Operations Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for a proposed 
time-critical removal action at the Middlesex Sampling Plant Site and 
vicinity properties. DOE proposes to remove sediments containing 
elevated levels of uranium, radium, and thorium located in the 100-year 
floodplain of the South Drainage Ditch at the Middlesex Sampling Plant 
Site in Middlesex County, New Jersey. 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. DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of the statement of findings before implementation of the 
proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION OR TO COMMENT ON THE 
ACTION, CONTACT: Ms. Susan Cange, Former Sites Restoration Division, 
Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8541, Phone: 
(615) 576-5724, FAX: (615) 576-0956.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN/WETLAND ENVIRONMENTAL 
REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Assistance, EH-42, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 586-4600 or 
(800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain 
and Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register on July 
6, 1993 (58 FR 36192). DOE proposes to remove sediments containing 
elevated levels of uranium, radium, and thorium located in the 100-year 
floodplain of the South Drainage Ditch at the Middlesex Sampling Plant 
Site in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The proposed action would be 
located in a floodplain because the concentrations of these radioactive 
elements in the sediments exceed levels considered safe for humans and 
the environment. DOE is remediating the Middlesex Site in accordance 
with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act (CERCLA). The area to be disturbed would be approximately 
0.3 hectare (0.7 acre) and excavation would be limited to a depth of 
approximately 0.15-0.3 meter (6-12 inches). Alternative remedial 
actions for the Middlesex site are no action or complete excavation. 
There is no practicable alternative to the proposed action if the site 
is to be remediated. Remediation is necessary to protect public health 
and the environment. The proposed action would conform to applicable 
state and local floodplain protection standards. The following steps 
would be taken to minimize potential harm to or within the affected 
floodplain:
    1. The design and performance of excavation activities would 
incorporate guidelines contained in the document ``Standards for Soil 
Erosion and Sediment Control in New Jersey,'' prepared by the New 
Jersey State Soil Conservation Committee.
    2. During remediation operations the area of soil disturbance would 
be confined to the minimum necessary for successful completion of the 
cleanup.
    3. Care would be exercised to provide minimum practicable exposure 
of soils and sediments to erosion.
    4. A soil erosion and sediment control design would be prepared 
prior to any major soil disturbance. Soil erosion and sediment barriers 
would remain in place until the soil is stabilized by applicable 
measures.
    5. Disturbed soils on the banks of waterways would be protected by 
rip-rap, sandbags, sod, or approved mulch netting, as conditions 
warrant, in accordance with ``Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment 
Control.''
    6. Sediment-laden water from dewatering of trenches or other 
excavations would not be pumped directly into waterways.
    7. Trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vegetation within 25 feet of 
the stream bank or 25 feet from the edge of the low water flow, where 
the bank is not well defined, would be disturbed only where necessary 
for the remediation activities. Construction would be performed from 
one stream bank where possible, leaving vegetation on the opposite 
bank. Where practical, access roads to work sites would not be 
constructed along shoreline routes.
    8. Vegetative waste, including waste mulch not serving to control 
erosion or sediment, would not be disposed of in channels or on 
waterway banks.
    9. Remediation would not obstruct any streams and all streams would 
retain their original capacity for floodwaters. Therefore, the proposed 
action would not impede flow or increase flooding. 

[[Page 57409]]

    10. Areas affected by remedial activities would be restored to 
their original contours to the extent possible.
    11. Disturbed areas would be seeded and mulched in accordance with 
New Jersey soil erosion and sediment control standards.
    12. Areas in floodplains would not be used for storage purposes.
    13. Construction techniques to avoid or reduce adverse water 
quality impacts may include scheduling excavation during dry periods or 
when low or no flow is expected in drainageways or ditches and 
constructing a temporary diversion channel for any stream flow that 
occurs during remediation.
    14. Measures would be taken to minimize soil compaction and 
disturbance such as requiring heavy equipment to work in wetlands on 
mats, use of low ground pressure machines, or extended reach excavating 
equipment.
    15. Other mitigation techniques may include restoring surface and 
subsurface flow patterns, minimizing easement widths, and selecting 
dust control measures that minimize adverse impacts to avoid or 
minimize potential harm to streams or floodplains.
    DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of the statement of findings before implementation of the 
proposed action.

    Issued in Oak Ridge on November 2, 1995.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate NEPA Compliance Officer
[FR Doc. 95-28194 Filed 11-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P