[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48997-48999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24846]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Floodplain Statement of Findings for Removal Action at the St. 
Louis Airport Site (SLAPS), St. Louis, Missouri

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge Operations.

SUBJECT: Floodplain Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings prepared in 
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. DOE proposes to remediate soil with 
elevated levels of uranium-238, radium-226, and thorium-230 from areas 
in/near the Coldwater Creek 100-year floodplain at SLAPS. 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 proposed action would not 
result in the destruction of any floodplain or wetland and would be 
consistent with Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, and the President's 
policy of ``no net loss'' of wetlands in the United States. There is no 
practicable alternative to the proposed action, which would conform to 
applicable state and local floodplain protection standards. DOE would 
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: Mr. Steve McCracken, St. Louis Site Manager, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley, MO 63134, Phone: 
(314) 524-4083, FAX: (314) 524-6044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN AND WETLANDS 
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom, 
Director, Office of NEPA Oversight, EH-42, U.S. 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 Wetland Involvement was published in the Federal Register on August 
27, 1997 (62 FR 45403), and a Floodplain and Wetlands Assessment was 
incorporated in the engineering evaluation and cost analysis (EE/CA) 
prepared for SLAPS. Removal actions may include: (1) No action, or (2) 
removal of radioactively contaminated soil at SLAPS between McDonnell 
Boulevard and Banshee Road, behind the gabion wall which extends along 
that portion of Coldwater Creek; the ditch along the south side of 
McDonnell Boulevard; and, the ditch on the north side of McDonnell 
Boulevard, or (3) removal of radioactively contaminated soil at SLAPS 
between McDonnell Boulevard and Banshee Road, behind the gabion wall 
which extends along that portion of Coldwater Creek and the ditch along 
the south side of McDonnell Boulevard. The contaminated soil contains 
elevated levels of uranium-238, radium-226, and

[[Page 48998]]

thorium-230. Based on stakeholder participation, Alternative 3 was 
identified as the preferred alternative. This excavation (Alternative 
3) would extend approximately 70 feet to the east and approximately one 
foot below original grade (approximately 8-10 feet below the existing 
land surface). The excavated area would be backfilled with clean soil 
and a berm would be constructed on the eastern edge of the excavation 
to minimize runoff into the excavated area. Sediments in the ditch 
between the SLAPS fence and McDonnell Boulevard would be removed from 
the confluence with the creek to 70 feet east of the confluence in 
order to provide a clean buffer zone between SLAPS runoff and the 
creek. Drainage on the northern end of SLAPS (south of McDonnell 
Boulevard) would be rerouted through an engineered channel to prevent 
mobilizing sediment in the ditches during storm events prior to 
discharge into Coldwater Creek. DOE would temporarily store excavated 
material near the southeast corner of SLAPS prior to transport to an 
off-site, licensed waste disposal facility. There is no practicable 
alternative to the proposed action. 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 standard best management practices in accordance with U.S. 
Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service 
(formerly the Soil Conservation Service) methods, or the equivalent, to 
control erosion and siltation from excavations.
    2. Remediation operations would confine the areas of sediment and 
soil disturbance to the minimum necessary for successful completion of 
the project.
    3. Care would be exercised to provide minimum practicable exposure 
of sediment and soil to erosion.
    4. All erosion and sediment barriers would remain in place until 
the excavation is successfully stabilized by applicable measures.
    5. Disturbed sediment and soil in or adjacent to the floodplain and 
waterways would be stabilized or otherwise protected to prevent off-
site migration, as conditions warrant.
    6. Remediation would not obstruct Coldwater Creek and the creek 
would retain its original capacity for storing floodwaters. The 
proposed action would not impede flow or increase flooding along 
Coldwater Creek.
    7. Areas excavated in or adjacent to the floodplain not involved 
with drainage ditch modification would be restored to current grade and 
the proposed activities would not subject lives or property to any 
increased risk of flooding.
    8. DOE would not use areas within the floodplain for temporary or 
permanent storage of excavated sediment or soil.
    9. The proposed action would conform to applicable state and local 
floodplain and protection standards.
    10. The proposed action would not result in the destruction of any 
floodplain or wetland and would be consistent with the President's 
policy of ``no net loss'' of wetlands in the United States and 
Executive Orders 11988 and 11990.
    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, Tenn. on September 9, 1997.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate NEPA Compliance Officer.

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

[[Page 48999]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18SE97.000


[FR Doc. 97-24846 Filed 9-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-C