[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9416-9417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5122]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Floodplain Statement of Findings for Site Investigation
Activities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant Area of Responsibility
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.
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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for Site
Investigation Activities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Anderson County,
Tennessee, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, Compliance with
Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements. DOE proposes to
conduct site investigations and preliminary engineering activities
within the boundaries of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant as required under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
underground storage tank (UST) regulations or other regulations and
directives. Some site investigation activities may occur
[[Page 9417]]
within 100-year or 500-year floodplain of streams at the plant. DOE has
prepared a floodplain assessment describing the possible effects,
alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or minimize potential harm
to floodplains or their flood storage potential. DOE will allow 15 days
of public review after publication of the Statement of Findings before
implementation of the proposed action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert C. Sleeman, Director,
Environmental Restoration Division (EW-91), DOE Oak Ridge Operations
Office, Post Office Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Telephone: (423)
576-3534, Facsimile: (423) 576-6074
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN 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, Telephone: (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Floodplain Involvement was
published in the Federal Register on October 4, 1993, (58 FR 51624) and
subsequently a floodplain assessment was prepared. The floodplain
assessment covers a variety of intrusive and nonintrusive preliminary
engineering and site investigation methods and techniques that may be
used at one or more sites at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant Site. These
activities include (as detailed in the October 4, 1993, notice), but
are not limited to: ``(a) sampling of air, surface water, groundwater,
sediments, surface and deeper soils; sampling of terrestrial and
aquatic biota; and measurement of meteorological characteristics; (b)
drilling of boreholes to obtain soil/geological samples (some of the
boreholes would be completed as groundwater monitoring wells); digging
soil test pits by hand or backhoe; (d) taking a variety of nonintrusive
surveys (such as radiological surveys); (e) taking intrusive surveys
(such as with soil penetrometers and similar devices); and (f)
conducting underground tests (such as aquifer pump, tracer geophysical
log, vertical seismic profile, and seismic tests).''
Alternatives considered in the assessment were (1) no action, (2)
prohibition of site investigation activities in floodplains, and (3)
restricting site investigation activities to outside the floodplain
when practicable alternatives exist, i.e., data quality would not be
compromised. Only a few sampling locations, such as those needed for
surface and sediment samples, and a minimal number of boreholes or
wells and soil test pits are expected to be in floodplains. Most of the
activities addressed by the floodplain assessment will result in no
measurable impact on floodplain cross-sections or flood stage, and thus
do not increase the risk of flooding. Those activities that are
identified from site-specific data as possibly impacting negatively
upon the floodplain (e.g., installation of flumes and construction of
access roads) may require separate floodplain assessments and the
implementation of mitigative measures, e.g., construction during low
precipitation periods, prompt stabilization and restoration of affected
areas, minimizing vegetation removal, and the use of mats and wide-
tracked vehicles. Alternatively, DOE may opt to omit the activity or
relocate the activity to an alternate site. Site investigation
activities addressed in the floodplain assessment conform to applicable
floodplain protection standards.
Issued in Oak Ridge, TN on February 11, 1997.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate National Environmental Policy Act
Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-5122 Filed 2-28-97; 8:45 am]
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