[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18391-18392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9953]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement Notification for 
Implementation of the Wetland Mitigation Bank at the Savannah River 
Site (SRS)

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notification of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to implement a wetland mitigation bank program at 
SRS. A wetland mitigation bank is a regulatory accounting program which 
provides advanced compensation for unavoidable wetland losses due to 
development activities. The proposed action is needed to support future 
projects at SRS which would require wetland impact mitigation or 
compensation. The proposed action is embodied in an interagency 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DOE and several Federal and State 
environmental regulatory agencies. In accordance with title 10 CFR Part 
1022, DOE will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and will 
perform this proposed action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize 
potential harm to or within the affected floodplain or wetlands.

DATES: Comments on the proposed action due on or before April 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this assessment should be addressed to 
Andrew R. Grainger, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance 
Officer, Savannah River Operations Office, Building 773-42A, Room 212, 
Aiken, South Carolina 29808. The fax/phone number is (800) 881-7292. 
The e-mail address is [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL FLOODPLAIN/WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL 
REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office 
of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U. S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.
    A location map showing SRS and further information can be obtained 
from the Savannah River Operations Office (see ADDRESSES above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed DOE action entails the 
implementation of a wetland mitigation bank program at SRS, located 
near Aiken, South Carolina. A wetland mitigation bank is a regulatory 
accounting program which provides advanced compensation for unavoidable 
wetland losses due to development activities. The purpose of the 
proposed action is to provide the DOE Savannah River Operations Office 
(SR) with a compensatory alternative for unavoidable wetland losses 
associated with future authorized construction and environmental 
restoration projects in SRS wetlands. In addition, the proposed action 
would enable DOE-SR to gain credit for wetland restoration work that 
would not otherwise be accomplished through alternative programs or 
means. Future projects such as the remediation of waste sites and the 
repair and maintenance of roads and bridges on SRS probably will impact 
some wetland areas. By establishing a wetland mitigation bank prior to 
such impacts, DOE-SR can incorporate mitigation efforts required for 
new projects in a more timely manner. For future remediation and 
construction projects that require compensatory wetland mitigation, the 
bank would save the time and money needed to locate a suitable wetland 
for restoration and to obtain approval for its use.
    This proposed action would encompass both the general mitigation 
activities on SRS wetlands and the overall management of the resulting 
site ``banking'' program. In all instances, wetland impact avoidance 
and minimization would be employed prior to being able to use 
compensatory mitigation. This wetland mitigation bank would be a 
dedicated bank, to be used for SRS project needs only. The proposed 
action would be implemented in conjunction with the landscape-scale 
land use planning effort that is currently being developed at SRS. The 
existence of degraded wetlands, channelized streams, and thermally-
impacted swamp forests in proximity to a large tract of high-quality 
forested wetlands and old-age upland forest provide DOE-SR the 
opportunity to develop a bank with a high probability of success. A key 
advantage for establishing the bank at SRS is the presence of 
experienced land management and research groups on site.

[[Page 18392]]

    The scope of the proposed action is detailed in an interagency MOA 
between DOE-SR; the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District; 
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region IV); the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; the 
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control; and the 
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The U.S. Department of 
Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service will continue to coordinate 
with SRS wetland impact and mitigation issues, but legally was 
prohibited from becoming a signatory party to this MOA. The MOA 
established the basic components and inner workings of the SRS wetland 
mitigation bank. The MOA also established the mitigation banking review 
team, an interagency group designated to review and consult with DOE-SR 
regarding compensation proposals. This team consists of representatives 
of the same agencies which signed the MOA and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    The SRS wetland mitigation bank would involve the restoration and 
enhancement of small isolated wetlands, as well as major wetland 
systems scattered throughout the site's nonindustrialized area. The 
primary goal of the bank would be the restoration and enhancement of 
degraded Carolina bays and stream-side bottomland hardwood forest on 
SRS. Mitigation opportunities within the industrialized area may also 
be explored to provide mitigation sites where feasible.
    During implementation of the proposed action, potential activities 
that could take place in floodplain and wetland areas might include 
grading, timber harvest (e.g., removal of overstory upland trees in 
drained Carolina bays), placement of soils (e.g., plugging of drainage 
ditches or restoration of hydric soils), planting of hydrophytic 
vegetation, and monitoring and maintenance efforts. Some of these 
activities would require temporary construction access during certain 
restoration/enhancement projects. A number of mitigation activities 
would be implemented to minimize potential impacts to the floodplain 
and wetland areas. Operation of construction equipment in the wetland 
and floodplain areas would be minimized. Depending upon the type of 
mechanized construction equipment to be employed, the use of platform 
support mats may be required to minimize the impacts to the wetland 
soils in the project area. Silt fences and other erosion control 
structures as needed would be installed to ensure there is no 
deposition in the downslope wetland areas. Best management practices 
would be employed during construction and maintenance activities 
associated with this proposed action.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetland environmental review requirements (title 10 CFR Part 1022), 
DOE-SR will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this 
proposed DOE action. The assessment will be included in the 
environmental assessment (EA) being prepared for the proposed action in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA. A floodplain statement of 
findings will be included in any finding of no significant impact that 
is issued following the completion of the EA or may be issued 
separately.

    Issued in Aiken, SC, on April 2, 1998.
Lowell E. Tripp,
Director, Engineering and Analysis Division, Savannah River Operations 
Office.
[FR Doc. 98-9953 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P