[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14227-14229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6910]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site Office; 
Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Fire Road Project at Los 
Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

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

ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.

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

SUMMARY: This Floodplain Statement of Findings is for the construction 
of improvements to existing firebreaks and access roads into remote 
forested areas at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for the purpose 
of providing reliable access for fire fighting crews. The improvements 
will focus on changes to drainage crossings and improved roadbeds 
within floodplain areas. Improvements would be minor and would mostly 
consist of installing culverts and stabilizing roadbeds. These roads 
are limited use roads that are restricted to official access only. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Withers, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site 
Office, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Telephone (505) 667-
8690, facsimile (505) 667-9998; or electronic address: 
[email protected]. 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: After the May 2000 Cerro Grande Fire event, 
NNSA developed a Wildfire Hazard Reduction Program for LANL. This 
program includes the improvement of firebreaks (also known as ``fuel 
brakes'') and fire roads for access to remote portions of LANL through 
the upgrade and maintenance of the existing fire road network. There 
are about 12 firebreaks and 40 fire roads at LANL that will be improved 
as part of this project (see the attached figure). These improvements 
will require the following: (1) Clearing each road of hazard trees 
(mostly these are dead or dying trees) to keep the road open and 
passable; (2) grading of the roads and realignment of sharp curves to 
improve drainage; (3) cut and fill of road areas where needed to 
accommodate heavy fire fighting equipment; and (4) installation of 
culverts only in areas where the substrate is unstable, so as to 
minimize the number of culverts requiring maintenance. Disturbed soil 
will be revegetated after work is completed. Firebreak and road 
improvements will commence in fiscal year 2003 and be completed over 
the next 9 months.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA 
prepared a floodplain/wetland assessment for this action. The NNSA 
published a Notice of Floodplain Involvement (volume 68, number 39). 
This notice announced that the floodplain/wetland assessment document 
was available for a 15-day review period at two public DOE reading 
rooms in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and that copies of the 
document could be obtained by contacting Ms. Withers at the above 
address. No comments were received from the Federal Register notice on 
the proposed floodplain action.
    Project Description: Implementing the proposed improvements to 
firebreaks and fire roads would allow the passage of emergency fire 
fighting vehicles into remote portions of LANL. Each road would be 
graded and drainage crossings would be improved. All of the drainage 
crossings on the roads in the project area receive intermittent flow 
during seasonal storms and spring runoff.
    Hazard trees that impede emergency vehicle passage would first be 
removed. Drainages would be graded to existing channel depth or crossed 
with a culvert. Most of the drainages are composed of hard substrate, 
and would not need a culvert. Where the substrate is soft and unstable 
and where the channel is much deeper than the roadbed, a culvert would 
be installed. Because of the high maintenance costs associated with 
culvert crossings, this method of drainage improvement would be limited 
to the extent practicable.
    All roads would be stabilized with drainage improvements. At 
appropriate locations, water bars and off-drains would be constructed 
in the improved road. Each of these drainage features would be 
stabilized with rock or erosion matting to prevent erosion. They would 
be built to temporarily impede flow without impounding water. This 
would reduce erosion and sediment transport into the streams. Steep 
slopes created by the road improvements would be rehabilitated using 
revegetation, soil stabilization mats, hydro mulching, and other soil 
stabilization methods, as appropriate. Fuel breaks would be treated the 
same as fire roads.
    Alternatives: Alternative methods were considered for constructing 
improvements to the firebreaks and fire roads at LANL. A combination of 
methods were selected that would minimize the environmental impacts and 
be the least disruptive to existing environmental resources in the 
area.
    Floodplain Impacts: The proposed action would have the potential 
for minimal impacts to the floodplain. Possible impacts of the proposed 
project on the floodplains would include movement or ponding of water 
within the project area and the subsequent displacement of sediment; 
however, these improvements are anticipated to improve existing 
conditions in the floodplain by correcting erosion problems with road 
crossings. Should a rain event occur during this activity, there may be 
some sediment movement down canyon because of the loosened condition of 
the soil from the clearing and construction activities.
    Floodplain Mitigation: Impacts to the floodplain would be minimized 
by following Best Management Practices at the construction area (such 
as the placement of silt fences, straw bales or wattles, or wooden or 
rock structures to slow down water runoff and run-on at cleared sites). 
Post-construction reseeding and re-vegetation along the sides of the 
stream channel will minimize soil disturbance and reduce or prevent the 
potential for soil erosion. Specific local mitigation actions for each 
fire road are described in section 6.1 of the floodplain/wetland 
assessment.
    No debris will be left at the work site. No vehicle maintenance or 
fueling would occur within 100 feet of the stream channel. Any sediment 
movement from the site would be short term and temporary.

    Issued in Los Alamos, NM on March 17, 2003.
Ralph E. Erickson,
Manager, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Los Alamos Site Office.
BILLING CODE 6910-01-P

[[Page 14228]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24MR03.000


[[Page 14229]]


[FR Doc. 03-6910 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-C