[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25064]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Wetlands Involvement for Atmospheric Radiation 
Measurement/Cloud and Radiation Testbed at Sandia National Laboratories

AGENCY: Kirtland Area Office, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE is proposing to establish an instrumented climate research 
site in the general vicinity of Barrow, Alaska, on the North Slope and 
adjacent Arctic Ocean. This site is being established to collect data 
on a long-term basis about the passage of sunlight and radiant heat 
through the earth's atmosphere. These data are needed to improve the 
predictive capability of computer models about changes in the 
concentration of atmospheric gases as a result of man's activities. 
Instrumentation and associated workspace would consist of a network of 
small facilities widely dispersed over an area extending up to 170 
miles from Barrow, much of which is tundra. Approximately six acres 
would be required, of which only a small amount would be actually 
disturbed. To avoid adversely affecting the permafrost, all facilities 
and equipment would be supported on pilings installed in conformance 
with approved arctic/permafrost construction methods and transported 
only when the tundra is completely frozen.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Susan Lacy, NEPA Compliance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Kirtland Area Office, P. O. Box 
5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5400, (505) 845-5542.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION, CONTACT:  Dan Dilley, 
Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Kirtland Area Office, P.O. 
Box 5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5400, (505) 845-6246.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Project Description

    DOE proposes to establish an instrumented climatic research site on 
the North Slope of Alaska and adjacent Arctic Ocean, in the vicinity of 
the community of Barrow. Known as a Cloud and Radiation Testbed 
measurement site, it would be the third site established worldwide to 
gather data about the passage of sunlight and radiant heat through the 
earth's atmosphere. These data are needed to improve the predictive 
capability of computer models regarding climatic changes resulting from 
man's activities and any resulting climatic changes. Instrumentation 
and associated support facilities would consist of a network of small 
facilities widely dispersed over an area extending up to 170 miles from 
Barrow. The major concentration of facilities would be established at 
an existing facility near Barrow and would occupy approximately five 
acres. Seven to ten additional smaller facilities occupying a few 
square yards each would be distributed at varying distances from the 
Barrow facility. The total area required for all facilities would be 
about six acres. All facilities would be supported on pilings and 
installed in conformance with approved arctic/permafrost construction 
methods. Facilities would be transported only when the tundra is 
completely frozen.

2. Wetlands

    A significant portion of the proposed action would be located on 
tundra, consisting of continuous permafrost. The permafrost extends 
from a few inches below the land surface to depths ranging from 600 to 
1200 feet and has been in a similar condition for several thousand 
years. The soil column is frozen from November until May. An active 
layer thaws every summer and varies from 0.5 to five feet deep. After 
the thaw, about 30 percent of the land surface is water. Implementation 
of measures designed to prevent or minimize disturbance to the 
permafrost would preclude adverse impacts.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR 1022), DOE will 
prepare a wetlands assessment for this proposed action. The wetlands 
assessment will be included as an integral part of the EA that will be 
prepared for this proposal in complying with NEPA.

    Issued in Albuquerque, NM on September 23, 1996.
Susan Lacy,
NEPA Compliance Officer, Kirtland Area Office, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 96-25064 Filed 9-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P