[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43300-43302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16241]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos 
Site Operations; Notice of Floodplain Involvement for the Construction 
and Operation of a 12-inch Natural Gas Pipeline in Los Alamos Canyon at 
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos 
Site Operations, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain involvement.

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SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of 
Los Alamos Site Operations at the Department of Energy (DOE), plans to 
grant an easement to the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to 
construct, operate, and maintain a 15,000 foot, 12-inch diameter 
natural gas transmission line on DOE-owned land at Los Alamos National 
Laboratory (LANL). The new gas line would begin at an existing valve 
station at the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon, cross under the streambed 
to avoid encroaching on wetlands, and continue upstream for about two 
miles. The gas line would then cross back under the stream to connect 
with an existing gas line. The proposed easement would be 50 feet wide 
and would parallel an existing electric power line. Portions of the gas 
line will be constructed in the 100-year floodplain of Los Alamos 
Canyon, as identified in the location map.
    In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, NNSA has prepared a 
floodplain/wetland assessment and will perform this proposed action in 
a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the 
affected floodplain.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than July 12, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Elizabeth Withers, 
Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office 
of Los Alamos Site Operations, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544, 
or submit them to the Mail Room at the above address between the hours 
of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Written comments may 
also be sent electronically to: [email protected] or by facsimile to 
(505) 667-9998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Milton West, Department of Energy, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, Albuquerque Operations 
Office, P.O. Box 5400, Building 388, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-
5400. Telephone (505) 845-4452, facsimile (505) 284-7191.
    For further information on General DOE Floodplain Environmental 
Review Requirements, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Compliance, EH-42, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20585-0119. Telephone (202) 
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756, facsimile (202) 586-7031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In August 2001, NNSA considered a proposal 
for constructing a new 12-inch natural gas pipeline to provide 
additional natural gas capacity to Los Alamos County and LANL. A 50-
foot right-of-way would be cleared along the length of the easement to 
facilitate construction and operation of the gas line. The proposed 
project would be located at the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon parallel to 
an intermittent stream and along an existing electric power line. 
Stream crossings would be accomplished by tunneling under the streambed 
to avoid wetland areas. Portions of the gas line construction would 
occur in the 100-year floodplain. The floodplain/wetlands assessment 
will discuss engineering best management practices that will be 
implemented to control erosion and sedimentation from the construction 
activities. Construction of the gas pipeline would begin in the spring 
of 2003 and be completed in approximately six months.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA 
has prepared a floodplain/wetland assessment for this action, which is 
available by contacting Elizabeth Withers at the previously identified 
addresses, phone and facsimile numbers. The floodplain/wetland 
assessment is available for review at the DOE Reading Room at the Los 
Alamos Outreach Center, 1619 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544; and 
the DOE Reading Room at the Zimmerman Library, University of New 
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. The NNSA will publish a floodplain 
statement of findings for this project in the Federal Register no 
sooner than July 12, 2002.

    Issued in Los Alamos, NM, on June 20, 2002.
E. Dennis Martinez,
Acting Director, U. S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Office of Los Alamos Site Operations.
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[FR Doc. 02-16241 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
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