[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47180-47181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22423]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Development 
of Soil Borrow Areas Near the Weldon Spring Site

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to develop 
two soil borrow areas at the Weldon Spring Site, located in St. Charles 
County, Missouri. The borrow areas would provide materials necessary to 
fill the Weldon Spring quarry. The proposed action will ensure 
continued protectiveness of human health and the environment. The 
proposed borrow areas contain a number of small wetlands and, in 
addition, one of the borrow areas is located within the Missouri River 
100 year-floodplain. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022, DOE is 
preparing 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 and wetlands.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than September 
14, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Steve McCracken, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project, 7295 
Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. Comments may be faxed to 
(636)447-0739.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION, CONTACT: Mr. Steve 
McCracken, U. S. Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site Remedial 
Action Project, 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304, (636)441-
8978.

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, DC 20585, 
(202)586-4600 or (800)472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE is conducting response actions at 
its Weldon Spring Site under the direction of the DOE Office of 
Environmental Management. The Weldon Spring Site is located in St. 
Charles County, Missouri, approximately 48 km (30 miles) west of St. 
Louis. As part of the overall cleanup of the Weldon Spring Site, the 
DOE is proposing to backfill an abandoned quarry, located approximately 
3.9 km

[[Page 47181]]

(2.5 miles) southwest of the site, within the State of Missouri Weldon 
Spring Conservation Area. The quarry was used for the disposal of 
chemically and radioactively contaminated materials between the 1940s 
and 1960s. Removal of bulk waste from the quarry was completed in 
October, 1995. This action is intended to mitigate physical hazards 
associated with an open quarry and eliminate ponded water in the sump.
    Two soil borrow areas are proposed as the source for the fill 
material. The primary area proposed for the excavation of borrow 
material is located approximately 0.37 km (0.23 mile) southwest of the 
quarry, within the Weldon Spring Conservation Area. This proposed 
borrow area is approximately 8 ha (20 acres) in size, bounded by Femme 
Osage Creek, Femme Osage Slough, and Little Femme Osage Creek, and is 
approximately 1.2 km (0.77 mile) from the Missouri River. One small 
palustrine forested wetland occurs within the area to be excavated, and 
several small palustrine wetlands occur in immediately adjacent areas. 
This proposed borrow area lies entirely within the 100 year floodplain 
of the Missouri River. A second area proposed for excavation of 
material, if necessary, is located approximately 1.7 km (1.1 miles) 
northeast of the quarry, and is also within the Weldon Spring 
Conservation Area. This proposed borrow area is approximately 1.2 ha 
(3.1 acres) in size and lies approximately 75 m (246 feet) from a 
perennial tributary of the Little Femme Osage Creek. Several small 
palustrine wetlands occur within, and adjacent to, the area proposed 
for excavation.
    Contaminated bulk materials and soil have been excavated from 
within the quarry and all exposed surfaces have been decontaminated. 
The proposed action would prevent any further migration of contaminants 
from the quarry. The anticipated volume of fill material required for 
the proposed action would be approximately 86,400 m3 
(113,000 yd3). Excavation depth within the principal borrow 
area would be approximately 2.4 m (8 feet); the additional borrow area 
also would be excavated to a depth of approximately 2.4 m (8 feet). 
Erosion controls would be installed down gradient from all excavations 
to prevent the transport of silt downstream by stormwater flows. 
Restoration of excavated areas would include grading to avoid steep or 
vertical slopes.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE 
is preparing a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed DOE 
action. After DOE issues the assessment, a floodplain statement of 
findings will be published in the Federal Register.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on August 19, 1999.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate Oak Ridge Operations, National Environmental Policy Act, 
Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-22423 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P