[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2142-2143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-853]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Construction of a 
Groundwater Interceptor Trench at the Weldon Spring Site

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Weldon 
Spring Site prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022, DOE 
Floodplain/Wetlands regulations. DOE proposes to construct a 
groundwater interceptor trench at the Weldon Spring Site, located in 
St. Charles County, Missouri. The proposed trench would be located 
within the 100-year floodplain of the Missouri River. 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. There are no practicable 
alternatives to locating the action in the floodplain. DOE will allow 
15 days of public review after publication of the statement of findings 
before implementing the proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mr. Steve McCracken, 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, Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Floodplain Statement of Findings for 
the Weldon Spring Site is prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. 
A Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement was published in the 
Federal Register on Monday, November 29, 1999, FR Doc. 99-30879, and a 
floodplain and wetlands assessment was prepared. The Record of Decision 
for Remedial Action for the Quarry Residuals Operable Unit of the 
Weldon Spring Site outlined field studies for evaluating the 
effectiveness of technologies to remediate uranium-impacted groundwater 
in the vicinity of the Weldon Spring Quarry. The DOE is proposing to 
construct a groundwater interceptor trench approximately 3.9 m (2.5 
miles) southwest of the site within the State of Missouri Weldon Spring 
Conservation Area. This action is intended to evaluate the 
effectiveness of remediation through the extraction of contaminated 
groundwater using a groundwater interceptor trench.
    Under this action, the DOE would construct a 550-foot long trench 
approximately 90 m (300 feet) south of the quarry. The trench would be 
located between the Katy Trail and Femme Osage Slough, within the State 
of Missouri Weldon Spring Conservation Area, and approximately 1.4 km 
(0.88 mile) from the Missouri River. The trench would be backfilled 
with granular material and will have a compacted clay cap. The 
groundwater interceptor trench would provide continuous groundwater 
access for an extraction system. Contaminated groundwater would be 
removed from the trench and directed to a treatment plant. The trench 
would be operated up to two years.
    This action is proposed to be located in the floodplain because the 
contaminated groundwater is restricted to a small area between the 
quarry and the slough. Access to this groundwater by means of a trench 
is possible only from within the floodplain. Periodic flooding of this 
area in the past has had no effect on contaminant distribution. The 
only alternative to the proposed action is no-action. Under the no-
action alternative, the trench would not be constructed and no attempt 
would be made to extract contaminated groundwater from the quarry area. 
There are no practicable alternatives to locating the action in the 
floodplain.
    The proposed action would conform to applicable federal, state, and 
local floodplain protection standards. Good engineering practices would 
be employed to control erosion and sedimentation to downstream surface 
waters and adjacent floodplain areas. Impacts to the floodplain would 
be minimized by the avoidance (to the extent practicable) of adjacent 
floodplain areas. No long-term adverse impacts are anticipated to the 
100-year floodplain of the Missouri River. No permanent structures 
would be constructed as part of the proposed action and the proposed 
excavation would not adversely impact floodplain storage capacity.
    DOE will allow 15 days of public review after publication of the 
statement

[[Page 2143]]

of findings prior to implementing the proposed action.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on January 5, 2000.
James L. Elmore,
Alternative Oak Ridge Operations, National Environmental Policy Act, 
Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-853 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P