[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58384-58385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28319]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Floodplain Statement of Findings for Fire Protection Systems
Upgrade at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
AGENCY: Office of Science, DOE.
ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.
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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for upgrading the
fire suppression and life safety systems in selected facilities at the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Roane and Anderson Counties,
Tennessee, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, Compliance with
Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements. Fire suppression
and life safety systems in many ORNL facilities are over 30 years old,
obsolete, and do not provide adequate fire protection for personnel,
equipment, and research activities. The installation of below ground
waterlines would include disturbances of the 100-year floodplain of
White Oak Creek (WOC). 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: Stanley D. Frey, U.S. Department of
Energy, Post Office Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6269, (423) 576-0136.
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, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Floodplain Involvement was
published in the Federal Register on September 16, 1999 (64 FR 50277),
and subsequently a floodplain assessment was prepared. The floodplain
assessment covers the installation of approximately 7,200 ft of
underground water mains (16-in-diameter piping installed in a loop
configuration) in the 6000 Area of ORNL and would include (as detailed
in the September 16, 1999, notice), but is not limited to: (1)
Constructing coffer dams or similar structures in WOC and its
tributaries; (2) routing the stream water around the disturbed channel
areas by constructing a bypass using a culvert or similar device; (3)
removing stream bed rock in preparation for the under-creek,
reinforced-concrete pipe trench; (4) pouring the concrete; (5)
embedding the pipeline in the concrete structure; (6) covering the
structure to the level of the original stream bed; and (7) routing the
stream water back into the stream bed. Activities outside the creek/
stream channel but within the floodplain area would include (1)
excavating a trench approximately 5 ft wide and 4 ft deep, (2)
installing the pipeline, and (3) covering the pipe with excavated fill.
No aboveground structures (i.e., fire hydrants, valves, etc.) would be
located in the floodplain area.
Alternatives considered in the assessment were (1) no action, (2)
installing water mains above the floodplain, (3) installing water mains
below ground by tunneling beneath the floodplain and creeks, and (4)
installing water mains below ground to provide water in a dependable
looped system. The no-action alternative would result in noncompliance
with DOE Order 420.1 (Facility Safety) and the potential failure of
fire suppression systems in the 6000 Area of ORNL. Installing water
mains above the floodplain would require additional equipment and
material (e.g., force main, insulation, etc.), and the increased number
of 90-degree turns will increase the possibility of pipe stress-
failure. Tunneling beneath the floodplain, creeks, and wetlands was not
considered practicable because of the shallow elevation of bed rock and
the difficulties associated with tunneling when compared to the
preferred alternative. Therefore, after considering the various
alternatives and the area to install the water mains, no other
practicable routes were available that would avoid the floodplain area
of WOC. The activities addressed by the floodplain assessment will
result in no measurable impact on floodplain cross-section or flood
stage, and thus do not increase the risk of flooding.
Water quality within WOC and its tributaries will be protected
during excavation to the extent practicable by several measures.
Administrative controls will be used to stop work during major storm
events. When excavations would remain exposed overnight, erosion
controls will be installed to prevent the transport of silt downstream
by stormwater flows. Additionally, silt dams will be constructed in
areas where the existing drainage right-of-way route deviates
significantly from the defined drainage channel. Restoration of
excavated areas will include grading to avoid steep or vertical slopes,
and to minimize ponding and backfilling. Areas of exposed soil outside
the stream channels will be mulched and reseeded with an annual grass
to minimize erosion and allow the natural seedbank to reestablish
vegetative cover.
Equipment and personnel in the floodplain area will be limited in
accordance with an approved Best Management Practices (BMP) plan, and
excavated hydric soils will be placed next to the site and reused as
fill material. In addition, silt fences will be installed to minimize
runoff into the floodplain in accordance with the BMP.
[[Page 58385]]
Underground piping installation activities addressed in the floodplain
assessment conform to applicable floodplain protection standards.
Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on October 20, 1997.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-28319 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
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