[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 72926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31007]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos 
Site Operations; Notice of Floodplain Involvement for the Proposed 
Installation of a Permeable Reactive Barrier Within Mortandad Canyon at 
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

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

ACTION: Notice of floodplain involvement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA) Office of Los Alamos Site Operations plans to 
construct a multiple permeable reactive barrier within Mortandad Canyon 
at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The permeable reactive 
barrier (PRB) would be located within a floodplain area for the purpose 
of reducing the contaminant load within shallow groundwater. The PRB 
would be operated for about five years as a site-specific technology 
demonstration project. The site chosen for the PRB is in the central 
portion of LANL. In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, DOE 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 December 24, 
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: Everett Trollinger, Department of 
Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos 
Site Operations, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Telephone (505) 
667-5280, facsimile (505) 667-9998.
    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 November 2002, NNSA considered a proposal 
for constructing a PRB system at a narrow constriction in Mortandad 
Canyon within LANL where contaminated groundwater is confined to a 
small cross-section of alluvial materials. The entire PRB structure 
would extend about 120 feet from side-wall to side-wall within the 
canyon bottom. The PRB would consist of a ``funnel and gate'' system to 
direct contaminated groundwater into a centrally-located gate area of 
reactive materials. The impermeable funnel would be constructed of 
sheet piling driven to a depth of approximately 27 feet on either side 
of the canyon. The permeable gate would contain multiple buried cells 
of selected media designed to react with and reduce the concentration 
of contaminants in groundwater passing through the gate. The PRB would 
be left in place for about five years and its function would be 
monitored through a system of shallow monitoring wells that would be 
installed at the same time the PRB was constructed. Construction of the 
PRB and associated monitoring wells will commence in 2003 and be 
completed in less than 6 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 878544; 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 December 24, 2002.

    Issued in Los Alamos on November 26, 2002.
Ralph E. Erickson,
Director, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Office of Los Alamos Site Operations.
[FR Doc. 02-31007 Filed 12-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P