[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18432]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Wetland Involvement for Interim Measures for the Mixed 
Waste Management Facility (MWMF) Groundwater at the Burial Ground 
Complex (BGC), Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina

AGENCY: Savannah River Operations Office (SR), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of wetland involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE-SR proposes to install a small metal sheet pile wall dam 
which would be positioned to impound about 0.49 hectares (1.2 acres) of 
water around and over the BGC southwest groundwater seepline. This 
action would be taken in cooperation with the South Carolina Department 
of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to reduce the amount of 
tritium contaminated water seeping to the surface from the BGC 
southwest plume and eventually discharging to Fourmile Branch, an 
onsite stream. This interim measure is intended to control the movement 
and discharge of contaminated groundwater until the final, more 
permanent corrective measure is taken. In accordance with 10 CFR 1022, 
DOE will prepare a wetland assessment and will perform this proposed 
action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or 
within the affected wetland.

DATES: Comments on the proposed action due on or before August 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: For further information, including a site map and/or copy of 
the wetland assessment, or to submit comments regarding this notice, 
contact A. R. Grainger, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Compliance Officer, Savannah River Operations Office, Building 742-A, 
Room 185, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A groundwater contaminant plume has been 
detected and is emanating from the Old Radioactive Waste Burial Ground 
(ORWBG) which is located at the southwest corner of the BGC at SRS. 
Tritium-contaminated water from this southwest plume is seeping to the 
surface at areas along the Old F-Area Effluent Ditch (OFED). Currently, 
groundwater that emanates from this seep combines with surface drainage 
from the immediate area to form a small stream in the southern portion 
of the OFED. Eventually, this stream mixes with F-Area discharge water 
which then flows into Fourmile Branch, an onsite stream.
    DOE-SR proposes to install a small metal sheet pile wall dam 
[approximately 1.5 to 2.1 meters (5 to 7 feet) high and 100.6 meters 
(330 feet) long] which would be positioned to impound about 0.49 
hectares (1.2 acres) of water around and over the BGC southwest 
groundwater seepline. The impounded 0.49 hectares (1.2 acres) has been 
determined to be jurisdictional wetlands. The proposed action is not 
within the 100-year or baseline floodplain.
    This action would be taken in cooperation with SCDHEC to reduce the 
amount of tritium-contaminated water seeping to the surface and 
eventually discharging to Fourmile Branch. The impoundment would retard 
surface water flow to Fourmile Branch by increasing travel time, 
thereby mitigating the discharge of tritium-contaminated water. In 
addition, a drip irrigation system is being evaluated to enhance the 
effectiveness of the interim measure. This feature would further 
minimize discharges to Fourmile Branch by pumping impounded water 
behind the dam during peak flow conditions to upstream locations.
    The interim measure will also address the remediation of volatile 
organic compounds (VOCs) from ``hotspot'' regions associated with the 
southwest plume area. Airlift recirculation wells will be installed in 
``hotspot'' regions where concentrations of VOCs have routinely 
exceeded drinking water standards. Airlift recirculation wells provide 
a means for removing VOCs from contaminated groundwater, through a 
combination of in place air stripping and airlift pumping processes.
    This interim measure is intended to control the movement and 
discharge of contaminated groundwater until the final, more permanent 
corrective measure is taken.
    Undertaking the proposed action will not affect DOE's ability to 
fully evaluate reasonable alternatives for the final action. An 
Environmental Assessment (EA) will also evaluate several alternatives 
to the proposed action.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with wetland 
environmental review requirements (10 CFR 1022), DOE-SR will prepare a 
wetland assessment for this proposed DOE action. The assessment will be 
included in the EA (DOE/EA-1302) that is being prepared for the 
proposed action in accordance with the requirements of NEPA.

    Issued in Aiken, SC, on July 7, 1999.
Lowell E. Tripp,
Director, Engineering and Analysis Division, Savannah River Operations 
Office.
[FR Doc. 99-18432 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P